Rice weevils, rotten salad, cockroaches, sticky residue & more at Wichita restaurants
Eleven restaurants, hotels and other businesses in Wichita and surrounding Sedgwick County towns that serve or sell food or rent rooms to the public were out of compliance during recent food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
The businesses were cited for a number of violations, including cockroaches, mouse feces, weevils infesting rice, crusty build-up on a water dispenser, grease and other filth in kitchens, rotten salad, “sticky residue,” a dirty paint drill used to mix food, old pasta, and more, according to Nov. 10-16 inspection reports.
Information about the businesses and a summary of their violations appear below. The businesses listed are all in Sedgwick County. The list was compiled Nov. 21 using information available in the KDA’s statewide inspections database on that date.
More than 40 businesses passed their inspections during the same period. A list of those also appears below. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.
Business owners and managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com to comment on inspection results that appear in this story. Comments will be added to the online version of this article.
More details about inspections are in The Eagle’s searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.
Out-of-compliance inspections
Best Western Plus Wichita West Airport Inn, 3800 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Six violations on Nov. 14 during a routine inspection. No written plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, crusty limescale buildup on hot water dispenser, fluctuating temperatures in reach-in cooler, missing and old logs related to food times and temperatures, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, country fried steak on breakfast buffet wasn’t kept hot enough. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 201 N. Seneca in Wichita — Two violations on Nov. 13 during a modified complaint inspection. Grease and food debris under equipment which can attract pests, live cockroaches found behind service panel by soft-serve ice cream machine, fruit flies around and below soda machine. Next inspection: Nov. 23.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, 535 S. Ridge Road Circle in Wichita — Five violations on Nov. 14 during a routine inspection. Employee didn’t wash hands between glove changes, no log recording temperatures for vacuum-packaged gravy, “significant build up” of food debris on floor of dry storage area, unlabeled spray bottles of glass cleaner, no hand drying supplies at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Gambino’s Pizza, 1520 S. Webb in Wichita — Seven violations on Nov. 12 during a routine inspection. No written plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, rotten lettuce and tomatoes in salad, pizza and salad ingredients weren’t cold enough in cold holding table and at salad bar, meats were not labeled with the correct package opening or preparation dates, old pasta, food debris and “sticky residue” on surfaces that touch food including cutting boards and preparation tables, sticky and greasy residue on surfaces throughout the restaurant including door handles and storage racks. Next inspection: Nov. 22.
The Hill Bar & Grill, 4800 E. Douglas in Wichita — Six violations on Nov. 14 during a routine inspection. Hand-washing sink was being used for storage, no verifiable employee illness policy in place, no equipment to test strength of some types of sanitizer, several foods including pulled pork and black bean patties were not cold enough in lowboy coolers because they were not maintaining temperature, no written plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, fried onions were kept at room temperature, queso and chili weren’t kept hot enough. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Jake’s Fresh Bakes, 220 W. Douglas in Wichita — Three violations on Nov. 14 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Gallon of milk wasn’t labeled with the date it was opened, no paper towels at hand-washing sink in kitchen, no hot water at bathroom sinks. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Mirai Ramen & Sushi, 6254 E. 37th St. North, Suite 180 in Bel Aire — Three violations on Nov. 14 during a follow-up inspection. Employee made a sushi roll after touching a soiled rag, employee didn’t wash hands after handling a sanitizer rag, raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat sauce. Next inspection: Jan. 14.
New Paradise Biryani Pointe, 1648 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Eighteen violations on Nov. 12 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Bowls stored in direct contact with dry seasonings and rice, significant build-up of food debris in a walk in cooler, sauce was stored with scoop inside food, blocked hand-washing sink in kitchen, gaps and holes in back exit door, lamb meat in reach in cooler was not cold enough, food debris and grease on floor and in kitchen, dirty towels and equipment, rice is infested with weevils, containers of onion and flour were stored on the floor, sheet of dough was stored “very close to the floor and employee’s shoes,” cockroach crawling on floor by dishwasher, rodent feces through restaurant including on dough mixer and inside of a clean frying pan, restaurant couldn’t show inspector any records proving they had recently had pest control treatment, dirty brooms and hose stored by kitchen door, food seasonings spilled on floor, no lids on containers of dry seasonings, raw eggs weren’t kept cold enough, several containers of lamb and sauce weren’t labeled with their preparation dates, curry seasoning was stored in a trash bag instead of a food-grade container, dead mouse and several cockroaches were on sticky traps and dead cockroaches were on the floor, restaurant was storing a pot and cloth bag in a hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Jan. 12.
Pho Special, 2409 E. Pawnee in Wichita — Ten violations on Nov. 14 during a routine inspection. No date marking on kimchi, egg rolls left out at room temperature, roaches and egg sacks were on food and other surfaces throughout the kitchen, flying insects on surfaces and food, roaches on paper towel dispenser by sink, living and dead roaches found inside of a reach-in-cooler at a drink station and inside of a can opener attachment, “built up grime and food debris” on surfaces and equipment that touch food including a meat slicer and knives, employee washed gloves instead of changing them and washing her hands, the restaurant didn’t have posted the proper warnings about consuming raw eggs and undercooked meat, condensed milk was stored at room temperature, the restaurant’s sanitizing sink wasn’t big enough for its largest stock pots, no plan to clean up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, clean knives were stored in a dirty space between a wood bench and a wall. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Tacos y Gorditas Los Torres Mexican Fast Food, 901 E. Harry in Wichita — Six violations on Nov. 12 during a routine inspection. Meat wasn’t labeled or marked with its preparation date, no test strips for measuring concentration of chlorine sanitizer, raw bacon was stored above ready-to-eat foods including cheese and sour cream, raw eggs were stored above cooked meats, no food in the restaurant except for nacho cheese was labeled with its package opening or preparation dates, dirty food blenders, restaurant was using a dirty paint drill that isn’t food grade for mixing food. Next inspection: Nov. 22.
Yokohama Ramen Izakaya, 6434 E. Central in Wichita — One violation on Nov. 15 during a follow-up inspection. Several foods including raw shrimp and cooked chicken weren’t cold enough in a refrigerated preparation table. Next inspection: Jan. 15.
The violation summaries above were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
How do businesses fail inspections?
Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause a foodborne illness, when a problem can’t be fixed right away and more. Examples include plumbing problems, serving food that’s more than a week old, pest infestations and employees mishandling food.
Violations are common. Most businesses immediately correct issues that could cause a public health risk, such as a food-borne illness, in front of an inspector.
Typically, businesses are reinspected within 10 days to ensure they are following the rules.
It’s rare for a business to shut down. But it can happen over major problems like sewage backups, pest infestations, and water or power outages. Closures are usually temporary and voluntary.
The lists in this story include only businesses from Sedgwick County. But you can search food and lodging inspection results anywhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
What to do if you have a complaint
If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.
To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
These businesses passed inspections
- All Saints Catholic Parish School Food Service, 3313 E. Grand in Wichita
- Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 996 E. Connolly Court in Park City
- The Arsenal Nutrition & Supplement Depot, 215 S. Maize Road, Suite 103 in Wichita
- Challenger Intermediate School, 325 N. Walnut in Goddard
- Cheney Elementary School, 126 W. Fifth Ave. in Cheney
- Cheney High School, 800 N. Marshall in Cheney
- China’s Bar & Grill, 127 N. Main in Cheney
- Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy, 2055 S. 143rd St. East in Wichita
- Cocoa Dolce Chocolates, 2441 N. Maize Road, Suite 123 in Wichita
- Countryboy Taste (mobile vendor/food truck), 1932 S. Estelle in Wichita
- Derby Plaza Theaters, 1300 N. Nelson in Derby
- Dollar General Store, 6227 N. Broadway in Park City
- Emerson Biggins/Rock Island Live, 808 E. Douglas in Wichita
- Firehouse Subs, 2901 N. Rock Road in Derby
- Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 616 S. Ridge Road in Wichita
- Horace Mann K-8 Dual Language Magnet School, 1243 N. Market in Wichita
- IHOP, 1906 N. Rock Road, Suite 900 in Derby
- Jump Start, 4003 S. Broadway in Wichita
- Kirby’s Beer Store, 3227 E. 17th St. in Wichita
- Las Adelitas Cafe, 120 E. First St., Suite 102 in Wichita
- Las Vaquitas Mexican Food, 128 E. Madison in Derby
- Los Pumas (mobile vendor/food truck), 2290 S. Oliver in Wichita
- McDonald’s, 8100 E. 21st Court North in Wichita
- Mulvane High School, 1900 N. Rock Road in Mulvane
- Mulvane Middle School, 915 N. Westview in Mulvane
- New Paradise Biryani Pointe, 1648 S. Rock Road in Wichita
- Panda Kitchen Express, 217 S. Meridian in Valley Center
- Panera Bread, 420 S. Ridge Road in Wichita
- Pumphouse, 825 E. Second St. in Wichita
- Solly & Jude’s, 400 S. Emporia, Suite 100 in Wichita
- St. Cecilia Catholic School, 1912 W. Grand in Haysville
- St. Mark’s Elementary School, 19001 W. 29th St. North in Colwich
- Starbucks, 3000 N. Rock Road, Suite 4000 in Wichita
- Supplement World, 1535 S. Oliver in Wichita
- Taco Shop Remote Kitchen, 1544 S. Washington in Wichita
- Towne Place Suites Wichita East by Marriott, 9444 E. 29th St. North in Wichita
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 2768 N. Maize Road in Wichita
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 9730 E. 21st St. in Wichita
- Valley Center High School, 9600 N. Meridian in Valley Center
- Valley Center Intermediate School, 737 N. Meridian in Valley Center
- VFW Post #3115 Wichita Memorial, 4801 W. Douglas in Wichita
- Wichita Public Schools Nutrition Services Food Production Center, 3850 N. Hydraulic in Wichita
- Wildflower Coffee (mobile vendor/food truck), 10565 N. Meridian in Valley Center
- Ziggy’s Pizza East, 12115 E. 21st St., Suite 101 in Wichita
Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
