11 must-try Wichita dining stories for food lovers to enjoy

Wichita’s dining scene is bursting with fresh, new flavors.

A unique steakhouse will turn heads with golf cart parking, golden toilets and the largest corkscrew in Kansas. Cottage Crumbs, a gluten-free bakery and cafe opened by a Wichita mom of 10, now serves cakes, breads and pizzas using her family’s recipes.

Meanwhile, the downtown Express Kitchen is offering faster, customizable meals for busy diners, and Todd’s Creole Kitchen will bring upscale Southern cuisine with New Orleans flair to a sleek, revamped space.

Greg Hiser is the owner of KVH Chophouse, which will be one of Wichita’s most upscale restaurants when it opens. By Denise Neil

NO. 1: NEW WICHITA STEAKHOUSE WILL HAVE PRIME FOOD, GOLDEN TOILETS, ‘LARGEST CORKSCREW IN KANSAS’

Greg Hiser’s west-side steakhouse is delayed mainly because he keeps coming up with ideas to make it nicer. Get an inside look at KVH Chophouse. | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

Jason Rickard and his brother, Jordan, are the owners of FioRito Ristorante at Douglas and Hillside. They’re about to open a new upscale Mediterranean restaurant called Raha. By Courtesy

NO. 2: FIORITO CO-OWNER TAPPED TO OPEN AN UPSCALE RESTAURANT AT NEW WICHITA PICKLEBALL VENUE

The restaurant will repurpose the dining space at the new Tap N Paddles. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

The former Eddie’s Cafe space near Central and Tyler has a new tenant: a gluten-free bakery cafe called Cottage Crumbs. By Courtesy photo

NO. 3: WICHITA MOM OF 10 OPENS GLUTEN-FREE CAFE AND BAKERY USING HER FAMILY’S FAVORITE RECIPES

It serves a rotating selection of baked goods plus pizzas and sandwiches. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

NO. 4: ELDERSLIE FARM, KNOWN FOR FANCY MULTI-COURSE MEALS, ADDING OPTION AIMED AT EVERYDAY DINERS

Most people who attend the farm’s prix fixe dinners are there for birthdays or anniversaries, the owner says. “We want to see all those people for more simple nights out.” | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

Bubbles Champagne Bar has been open since June on the ground floor of Eaton Place. It’s already expanding. By Denise Neil

NO. 5: DOWNTOWN WICHITA CHAMPAGNE BAR’S BIG EXPANSION INCLUDES MORE SEATS, A DOUGLAS-FACING PATIO

The bar has quickly gained a following, its owner says, and after eight months, it needs more room. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

The staff at the new Abode Bistro & Bar: from left to right, operations manager William Cody Lonergan; bar manager Julie McKenzie; owner Daniel Mariotti; general manager Paige Cernohous; and chef Bruno Golac. By Denise Neil

NO. 6: NEW RESTAURANT WITH A SANTA FE VIBE WILL LET CUSTOMERS CHOOSE THEIR OWN DINING ADVENTURES

The restaurant has a bar on one side and an upscale bistro on the other. Each will have its own menu. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

The dining room at Ooo LaLa Stone Pho seats 181 and has a big chandelier in the center. By Denise Neil

NO. 7: SOUTH WICHITA RESTAURANT CLOSES, BUT OWNER SAYS HE WILL REOPEN IT SOON IN A NEW SPOT

It’s taking over another restaurant building on Wichita’s south side that’s about to become vacant. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

A fire on Feb. 10 forced the Jimmie’s Diner on George Washington Drive to close. By Courtesy

NO. 8: A FIRE FORCED THIS RESTAURANT TO CLOSE BACK IN FEBRUARY, BUT IT’S ABOUT TO REOPEN

The restaurant will look a bit different when customers return. | Published April 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

Kristopher Rue assembles a bowl at Express Kitchen, a new concept by the owners of The Kitchen. By Denise Neil

NO. 9: REIMAGINED DOWNTOWN WICHITA RESTAURANT IS OPEN, SERVING HEALTHIER FOOD FASTER

If the concept is a success, the owners said, they hope to open more locations across Wichita. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

Chef Roger Cox plans to serve Creole, Cajun and Southern dishes at his new Hey Y’all Creole & Southern Kitchen

NO. 10: HEY Y’ALL: THIS WICHITA CHEF IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH NEW CONCEPT OFFERING CREOLE, SOUTHERN FOOD

It will start as a ghost kitchen then graduate to a food truck. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

Chris Tincher, left, is almost ready to open his new Todd’s Creole Kitchen at 13th and Tyler. He’s pictured with his son, Hadden Tincher, who also is the restaurant’s general manager. By Denise Neil

NO. 11: OWNER OF WEST WICHITA RESTAURANT TURNS BEACHY SPORTS BAR INTO SLEEK FRENCH QUARTER EATERY

The restaurant, which will serve Creole fare and seafood, should be open by the end of the month. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Neil

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported and written by Denise Neil, and edited by McClatchy journalists.