Roaches around ice cream, moldy and old food, filth at Wichita KS restaurants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Eight Wichita-area businesses failed food safety checks from Aug. 17–23, 2025.
- Inspectors cited pest infestations, expired food and unsanitary kitchen tools.
- Most violations were corrected quickly; follow-up inspections are scheduled.
Roaches in an ice cream shop, bugs, rodent poop left by an ongoing pest infestation, moldy and expired foods, dirty kitchen conditions 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. Eight restaurants, hotels and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from Aug. 17-23.
Inspectors found few or no violations at more than 50 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Locations 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 be temporarily shut down over violations.
Places that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on Aug. 27 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
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 inspections
Asian Groceries, 6249 E. 21st St. in Wichita — Four violations on Aug. 19 during a follow-up inspection. Repeat violation for visible red meat debris on the bandsaw blade, repeat violation for whole packaged fish in retail freezer with no labeling and bottles of orange soda without English labeling, repeat violation for no toilet tissue provided in restroom, repeat violation for approximately 15 one-pound containers of raw chicken liver with no safe handling instructions. Next inspection: Oct. 19.
Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 1261 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Seven violations on Aug. 22 during a complaint inspection. Food debris buildup under ice cream station and kitchen equipment, can of fly spray stored directly next to clean equipment and sealed bag of ketchup, flies landing on surfaces including cutting boards and a metal pan of sliced cheese, gnats in kitchen area, one live roach found in back storage area, ant on wall next to kitchen sink, five dead roaches inside plastic containers above ice cream station, ice machine and soda nozzles with buildup of pink and black debris, dirty tomato slicer, chicken patties held below required hot holding temperature, moldy strawberries and onion, moldy potatoes and tomatoes. Next inspection: Sept. 2.
Church’s Texas Chicken, 3824 E. Harry in Wichita — Four violations on Aug. 19 during a complaint inspection. Gravy and corn in steam table were held below required hot holding temperature, walk-in cooler wasn’t cold enough, mac and cheese and raw chicken weren’t kept cold enough, no time markers for roasted chicken and tenders held under heat lamp, walk-in freezer had ice buildup causing frozen foods to thaw. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
El Rancho Motel, 4510 S. Broadway in Wichita — One violation on Aug. 21 during a follow-up inspection. Two small roaches seen in Room 23, one in sink in vanity area and one on wall. Room 23 was closed until all evidence of pests is eliminated and the room is reinspected. Next inspection: Sept. 21.
Elisabeth’s Lounge, 6160 E. 21st St. in Wichita — Seven violations on Aug. 22 during a complaint inspection. Raw eggs stored on wire shelf touching bags of raw peppers and above ready-to-eat dressings and ketchup, no written cleanup plan for vomit or diarrhea, the only thermometer on site was a meat thermometer with no batteries, no sanitizer test strips available, no paper towels at kitchen hand-washing sink, non-food grade hose attached to water spigot at four-vat sink, can of residential roach and ant killer stored below hand-washing sink in bar, disinfectant and glass cleaner not labeled for use in dishwasher was attached to a commercial dishwasher. Next inspection: Sept. 1.
Friends University Dining Hall, 2100 W. University in Wichita — Three violations on Aug. 19 during a complaint inspection. Eggs stored above container of cooked bacon, two food dicers stored with dried food debris on blades, “kitchens have had issues with rodents since the start of this school season,” approximately 20 rodent droppings in mop closet under shelving and by door entrance, approximately 15 rodent droppings under dry storage area in downstairs kitchen. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
Jump Start, 1228 SE Louis Drive in Mulvane — Two violations on Aug. 22 during a routine inspection. Pan holding shredded cheese in cold make table has large crack with tape holding it together, opened bottles of window cleaner and soap stored above sealed containers of pickles and snack foods. Next inspection: Sept. 1.
Southrock Billiards & Sports Bar, 2020 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Seven violations on Aug. 18 during a routine inspection. Open package of hot dogs was not dated, ice used as exterior coolant for fruit tray was also being served for drinks, four dirty food container lids stored as clean, bag of cooked sausage wasn’t dated properly, old bologna and black olives, old pizza sauce and turkey, old ham, pan of raw burger stored directly above case of beer in walk-in cooler, raw eggs stored above beer in walk-in cooler, no consumer advisory for undercooked burgers. Next inspection: Aug. 28.
Where to complain
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.
