Cooked?
El Ranchero
- gradeGrade A
- inspection score13 pts
- critical violations1
- last inspectedFebruary 19, 2026
- address160-20 46 Avenue, Queens 11358
- cuisineMexican
- phone7183218429
Is El Ranchero clean?
El Ranchero is currently Grade A from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), from an inspection on February 19, 2026. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads clean 😇.
What did inspectors find at El Ranchero?
These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on February 19, 2026, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.
- 🚿plumbing acting upAnti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
- 🧫equipment / surface issuecriticalSwollen, leaking, rusted or otherwise damaged canned food to be returned to distributor not segregated from intact product and clearly labeled DO NOT USE
- 🛠️facility / equipment issueDishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to codeNon-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
- 🗑️garbage situation out of pocketPesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
When was El Ranchero last inspected?
El Ranchero has 6 inspections on record going back to August 17, 2023, averaging 25 points.
| date | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | Grade A | 13 pts |
| June 20, 2025 | no grade issued ⏳ | 33 pts |
| January 31, 2025 | no grade issued ⏳ | 2 pts |
| January 28, 2025 | closed by the city | 47 pts |
| December 11, 2023 | Grade B | 18 pts |
| August 17, 2023 | no grade issued ⏳ | 36 pts |
El Ranchero vs East Flushing
East Flushing runs 61% clean across 47 tracked restaurants — 27 clean, 7 mid, 10 cooked.
Against the 47 spots Cooked tracks in East Flushing, this one comes out cleaner than 43% of them.
Other spots in East Flushing
How New York grades restaurants
New York City health inspectors score violations in points, and lower is better: 0–13 points earns an A, 14–27 a B, and 28 or more a C. Every restaurant is inspected at least once a year, and the letter has to be posted in the window. A restaurant that scores 14 or more on the first inspection of a cycle does not get a letter right away — it stays “Grade Pending” until a re-inspection settles it, which is why some spots here show an hourglass instead of a letter. Cooked only ever shows a letter the city actually posted; we never infer one from a score.
Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) via NYC Open Data. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated February 19, 2026. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.