Wichita Eagle: Restaurants

Wichita to get its first taste of Twelve, Freebirds and Bud E. Rooster’s

Denise Neil — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:13 CDT

Wichita can go weeks and weeks with nothing new to eat.

Then, everything opens at once.

Three interesting and noteworthy restaurants have either just opened or will open in Wichita during the next week.

If you liked Frida’s, you’ll love Molino’s Mexican Cuisine

Denise Neil — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:20 CDT

Frida’s used to be my favorite Mexican restaurant in Wichita. Specifically, I loved the piratas — big grilled tacos in flour shells with carnitas and a sticky, melty queso holding the wonderful concoction together.

But in 2010, Frida’s owner Mario Quiroz closed his restaurant, unable to draw in enough business while road construction closed down most routes to his front door.

Now, I have a new favorite Mexican restaurant, which is technically also my old favorite. In April, Quiroz opened Molino’s Mexican Cuisine at 1064 N. Waco, in the little spot right next to Juarez Bakery that briefly held another good Mexican restaurant, Las Tias de Beto.

Summer dining events a treat for area foodies

Denise Neil — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:30 CDT

Wichita’s well-established foodie events have some new competition this year.

The usual chef-cookoffs that dot the calendar throughout the summer and early fall are now being joined by new food-focused fundraisers dreamed up by local charities – a “Restaurant Week” and a burger competition among them.

Following are some new and classic food-focused events that are coming up in the next several months.

Moe’s Sub Shop serves up no-frills flavor

Philip Warren — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:29 CDT

It’s increasingly difficult to find local submarine sandwich shops amid the established national chains. Luckily for Wichitans, Moe’s Sub Shop is around to satisfy cravings for a classic Italian sub.

Located in a small strip mall on South Hydraulic, Moe’s has been slinging out subs to devoted regulars for years. With only a few tables, what the interior of the restaurant lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere. An old arcade game, yellowed pennants and assorted memorabilia give Moe’s dining area unique character.

The menu consists of several basic sub sandwiches in three different sizes, plus salads and lasagna. There are customizable options for cheeses, veggies and condiments on all subs, including Miracle Whip (why anyone would put that on food is beyond me).

Oh Yeah China Bistro a hidden gem

Ching Brubaker — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:56 CDT

Oh Yeah China Bistro is a hidden gem in northeast Wichita.

The restaurant is tucked into a commercial strip behind other restaurants on Rock Road, so not many people know about it. However, after you give Oh Yeah a try, it’s likely to become one of your favorites.

Oh Yeah’s interior is upscale, and the owners have opted for cloth instead of paper napkins. The menu is extensive, and almost everything can be made without meat or vegetarian style. In fact, in a previous life – from 2009 until 2011 – the owners operated the restaurant as a vegetarian place called Zen.

Three food and drink events this week

Denise Neil — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:00 CDT

Three food and drink events this week

Food Trucks at the Fountains: The monthly gathering of Wichita food trucks is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the WaterWalk Pavilion and will feature local truckers such as the Flying Stove, MMM Sandwiches, Cakeface Bake Shop and B.S. Sandwich Press. R&J Concessions also will be there. The gathering is adding a new vendor, too — Wichita-based festival vendor Bakerman Concessions, which specializes in cinnamon rolls. The gathering will have live music, and representatives from the Kansas Humane Society will be there ready to perform on-site adoptions.

Large portions, friendly service at Felipe’s Jr.

Ching Brubaker — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19 CDT

My husband, Brian, and I have been loyal Felipe’s Jr. customers for the past two decades.

I used to work down the street from their old Harry and Rock Road location, so I ate there frequently, sometimes several times a week. Even after the restaurant moved to its current Harry and Webb location, I continued to be a regular. We’ve visited the restaurant less often in the last few years, but it continues to be one of our favorites.

Brian and I were craving Mexican food on a recent Friday night after a long workday, so we decided to swing by Felipe’s Jr. on the way home. It had been months since our last visit, but the same smiling faces welcomed us with warmth and familiarity. That’s the advantage that locally owned, family-run businesses have over chain restaurants.

This year’s Wichita Ribfest will have more than ribs and music

Denise Neil — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:03 CDT

Last year was the first year for the Wichita Ribfest — a sticky, saucy three-day gathering of professional rib vendors from around the country — and it was a near-complete success, said Christine Pileckas, Intrust Bank Arena’s director of sales and marketing.

The only setback was dealt by Mother Nature, who delivered a stormy, windy night that forced Intrust Bank Arena officials, who put on the event, to cancel the final night of activities.

It kept the attendance tally at about 10,000, which was 5,000 short of what the arena hoped for.

Make plans now to treat Mom to a Mother’s Day meal

Denise Neil — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:06 CDT

Mother’s Day is Sunday, so it’s beyond time to decide where to take mom to eat.

Here’s a list of places in Wichita making special plans to feed Mom on her special day.

Brunch buffets

Ninza delivers unique, delicious sushi rolls

Denise Neil — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:02 CDT

It’s tucked back in Northwest Centre at 13th and Tyler — a strip center with lots of vacancies. (Talliano’s Pizzeria just closed its restaurant there in March after 10 years in business.)

But Ninza Sushi Bar, a new restaurant owned by Ada Yang and her boyfriend, California-trained sushi chef Seong Han, is worth finding.

The owners’ youthful attitude shows in their playful and delicious sushi rolls, made with unique ingredients and presented in dramatic fashion — some piled high on plates, others leaping with flames.

Cinco de Mayo specials in Wichita

Denise Neil — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:51 CDT

Several Mexican restaurants are joining in on the Cinco de Mayo fun. Following are a few that have planned activities, but check with your favorite restaurant, as they’re likely to be in fiesta-mode as well.

1. Carlos O’ Kelly’s El Guapo Challenge: The locally-based Mexican chain is changing up its annual eating challenge to make it a little more reasonable. Instead of asking patrons to eat a seven-pound burrito, as they have in past years, they’re challenging customers to eat five enchiladas and one brisket taco in ten minutes. If they do, they’ll get the food free plus get a commemorative T-shirt. It’s $15 for those who don’t finish in time. Also, Carlos O’ Kelly’s is offering $3 big draws of beer and daiquiris, $2.50 bottled beers and $5 jumbo margaritas. Wichita’s Carlos O’ Kelly’s are at 7703 E. Douglas, 527 S. Ridge Road Circle, 3025 N. Rock Road and 4872 S. Broadway.

2. The fast-food taco chain is offering its queso for 5 cents for a 2-oz. serving all day Saturday and Sunday. Wichita’s Taco Bueno restaurants are at 417 N. Hillside and 3530 N. Rock Road.

Connie’s Mexico Cafe celebrates 50 years in business

Denise Neil — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:21 CDT

Carmen Rosales said she feels tired just thinking about it.

It was 1963, and she was 15 years old. Her parents — Rafael and Connie Lopez — had just opened their little Mexican restaurant on North Broadway.

Carmen’s job was to roll the balls of homemade tortilla dough her mother prepared into rounds. Day after day. Ball after ball.

Three Asian food additions

Denise Neil — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:53 CDT

Three Asian food additions

Pho Mc, 1675 S. Rock Road, 316-440-5859: The new Vietnamese restaurant opened a couple of weeks ago and serves pho, Vietnamese sandwiches known as banh mi, Chinese dishes and more. It’s owned by Minh Tran and his wife, Kim Chi, and is open daily for lunch and dinner

With Kosta, Wichita now has a Greek restaurant

Denise Neil — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:28 CDT

Wichita has been mourning the absence of an authentic Greek restaurant since Lakis Restaurant at 3219 S. Oliver closed in the late 1990s. “Does Wichita have any Greek restaurants?” is one of the most frequent questions I get from readers (second only to “Is Wichita ever going to get a Cheesecake Factory?”).

The answer to the second question is now and likely always will be no.

But the answer to the first question is now yes.

Two new food trucks and a food truck party in the works

Denise Neil — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:44 CDT

Three bites of food truck news

The Hopping Pita – delayed: Melad Stephan’s roving Lebanese food truck, which chef Roni Attari will run, has been delayed while a new generator is shipped. The truck should be running soon, Attari said, but he doesn’t know when. In the meantime, people who drive through Old Town Square often can see the green-and-yellow truck parked nearby.

New restaurant news (April 12)

Denise Neil — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:07 CDT

New restaurant news

Molino’s Mexican Cuisine, 1064 N. Waco: Mario Quiroz, former owner of the popular Frida’s, which closed at 1580 W 21st St. in 2010, will reopen a version of the restaurant in the former Las Tias de Beto spot, right next to Juarez Bakery. He hopes to have it ready by the end of April and will serve everything he used to serve at Frida’s and then some. He’ll have the piratas, the tacos, the salsa bar and will add other dishes. He’s also making the restaurant full-service rather than order-at-the-counter. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Hundreds of sips of wine at Winefest’s Grand Tasting

Denise Neil — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:27 CDT

Swirl. Sniff. Sip. Repeat.

The annual Midwest Winefest is days away, scheduled to start Thursday with the popular (and sold-out) Old Town Walkabout and ending April 20 with a Grand Tasting featuring more than 350 wines.

The wine and food sampling event, now in its 18th year, grows in popularity every year, especially as more people in Wichita develop an appreciation for wine, organizers say.

Dining Panel review: Fresh ingredients, friendly service the norm at Thai Tradition

Natasha Creasman — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:39 CDT

Thai Tradition is one of those restaurants that used to be a staple in our dining rotation, but for whatever reason, we rarely visit anymore. No bad experience, no bad memories. We moved west, and alas, Thai Tradition stayed east.

With the profusion of new (or new to us) restaurants to try, this reliable standard just dropped off our radar. But when the entire family was craving spring rolls, Thai Tradition was the only option that we considered. It was as good as, if not better than, we remembered, so we returned a week later. It’s safe to say that it is securely back on our rotation.

While the decor could use an update (it features hunter green and dark red circa 1992), the interior is clean and comfortable. The lighting is dim, which makes for bad pictures for Dining Panel reviews but provides nice ambiance. Also, while it seems most restaurants are getting louder and louder, Thai Tradition is comfortably quiet, making an actual conversation during dinner possible. Shocking, I know.

Area restaurants providing Easter buffets

Denise Neil — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:44 CDT

Once the eggs are hunted and the church service ends, it’s time to eat.

This year, as always, several Wichita restaurants will be providing special buffets, many of which will include waffles, prime rib and more.

Among them:

Metro Grill food as good at the Waterfront as it was in the mall

Denise Neil — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:48 CDT

Michael Gonzalez might be Wichita’s most unpredictable — and most predictable — chef.

Gonzalez rose to local foodie fame in 2005, when he opened a sandwich and hot dog cart in the food court at Towne East Square. It was an instant success, partially because his crunchy sandwiches were freshly made with gourmet ingredients, elevating them above typical food court fare. And Gonzalez, whose theatrical kitchen style has shades of Emeril Lagasse, attracted big crowds that would result in long lines.

His professional and personal life have been filled with drama during the past several years, though. Gonzalez opened a second location in Andover, only to battle for control of it in a marital dispute. He got it, but sold the restaurant to a former employee in early 2011. Later that year, he partnered with owners of Encore nightclub to serve his food out of their bar, but that was short-lived.