Ants in chips, food kept on floor, cockroaches, grime at Wichita KS restaurants
Ants in chips, cockroaches, filthy kitchen conditions, food stored directly on the ground, a general lack of sanitation, contamination risks and more are among violations Kansas Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Five restaurants, hotels and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from April 27 to May 3.
Inspectors found few or no violations at 70 other businesses deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Establishments can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can’t be fixed right away.
Violations are common. Most of the time, businesses correct issues in front of an inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately are serving food that’s more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but a business may temporarily shut down over violations. Places that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this story was compiled on May 8 using information available from the state on that date. It only contains places in Sedgwick County. But you can search food and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance food and hotel inspections
Bella Luna Cafe, 2132 N. Rock Road, Suite 107 in Wichita — Seven violations on May 1 during a complaint inspection. Violations include food being stored directly on the floor, no sanitizer test kit at the bar, food dispensing bottles with old labels and debris, rust stains and food debris on drain inserts, leaks at kitchen and bar hand-washing sinks, chemicals stored above food and surfaces that touch food, water wasn’t hot enough at hand-washing sinks, gallon of milk wasn’t labeled with its opening date. Next inspection: May 12.
China Go Grill, 1230 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Fourteen violations on April 28 during a complaint inspection. Violations include employee who used a dirty rag to dry his hands after washing, several foods including raw beef and vegetables weren’t kept cold enough, general sanitation throughout the restaurant “needs improvement,” dirty utensil storage container, cockroaches crawling by a stand mixer, Vaseline in dry goods storage area, employee washed hands at the wrong sink, the restaurant has no plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, containers of sauce and chicken batter were stored directly on the ground, improper glove use, old chicken, duct tape around handle of pot that was touching rice, dead cockroaches in storage and sink areas, restaurant was using ramekins instead of scoops with handles for dry goods. Next inspection: May 8.
El Capitan Seafood & Grill, 410 N. Hillside, Suite 500 in Wichita — Two violations on May 1 during a follow-up inspection. Violations include shrimp broth that was not kept cold enough, back flow prevention issue at a sink. Next inspection: July 1.
Lawrence Elementary School, 3440 W. Maple in Wichita — Two violations on May 2 during a routine inspection. Violations include an unlabeled bottle of cleaner, missing back flow prevention device in custodial closet inside cafeteria. Next inspection: May 13.
Mexico Viejo Mexican Restaurant, 6960 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Ten violations on April 29 during a modified complaint inspection. Violations include raw eggs that were not kept cold enough, cooked cheese quesadillas were not kept hot enough, no paper towels at kitchen hand-washing sink, pork carnitas were not cooled properly, raw beef was not kept cold enough, buildup of grease and food debris around and under kitchen equipment, food splattered on walls, holes in food storage bins can let pests and other contaminants in, employee didn’t wash hands and change gloves after handling raw meat, ants in chips, trail of ants around food and food preparation areas. Next inspection: June 28.
Where to complain about food, hotel safety
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.
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.
The violation summaries were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
