Mouse poop, exposed wiring, contamination risk at Wichita restaurants, hotel
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State inspectors found pest, temperature, sanitation and plumbing violations in Wichita.
- Several businesses faced repeat or imminent hazards; one closed voluntarily pending repairs.
- Inspections aim to prevent foodborne illness; the public may file complaints with state.
Mouse poop, exposed wiring, no hot water, old salsa and ranch, cleanliness issues, spoiled cabbage and chili peppers, foods that weren’t kept cold or hot enough, workers that didn’t follow proper hand-washing practices, contamination risks and more are among violations state 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 and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from Nov. 9-15.
Inspectors found few or no violations that same week at more than 60 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Kansas Department of Agriculture 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 may 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 Nov. 20 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
But you can search food safety and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance inspections
Burritos Eben-Ezer (mobile vendor/food truck), 1702 S. Meridian in Wichita — Three violations on Nov. 10 during a follow-up inspection. Beans were thawing at room temperature, cooked beef wasn’t kept hot enough, jalapeños and bread stored in non-food-grade bags. Next inspection: Nov. 20.
Countryboy Taste (mobile vendor/food truck), 4925 S. Broadway, Suite 1022 in Wichita — Six violations on Nov. 14 during a routine inspection. No sanitizer test strips available, general cleanliness issues, no sanitizer available on food truck, no written plan for vomiting or diarrhea, worker touched his glasses and face with gloved hands and then handled fish, raw foods including catfish and chicken weren’t cold enough. Next inspection: Nov. 24.
Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1523 S. Ridge Road in Wichita — Two violations on Nov. 10 during a follow-up inspection. Repeat violation for exposed wires for hearing impaired safety features in hotel, repeat violation for missing plate covers for wireless internet access points in multiple rooms. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Mirai Ramen & Sushi, 6254 E. 37th St. North, Suite 180 in Bel Aire — Nine violations on Nov. 12 during a routine inspection. Employee failed to wash hands before food preparation, undated ramen broth in walk-in cooler, opened container of pickled ginger was stored at room temperature instead of in refrigeration, fly strip located directly above prep table, ramen broth was not cooled to the proper temperature within the required timeframe, improper glove use when handling raw chicken, jalapeños were stored in non-food grade plastic bag, raw seafood was thawing in sealed vacuum packaging which can increase the risk of harmful bacteria forming, expired fried squid (dated Nov. 5). Next inspection: Nov. 22.
Oliver C Store 1, 2001 S. Oliver in Wichita — Four violations on Nov. 12 during a licensing-operational inspection. The business didn’t have a three-compartment sink for washing and sanitizing coffee pots, no sanitizer available for coffee pots, no sanitizer test strips available, no paper towels at restroom hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Nov. 22.
Plentibloom Market & Cafe, 100 N. Broadway, Suite 225 in Wichita — Six violations on Nov. 13 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Raw eggs weren’t cold enough in the walk-in cooler, spoiled cabbage and chili peppers, undated sliced turkey and heavy cream, hot foods (rice, beef, beans) weren’t kept hot enough, cold foods (butter, cream cheese, sweet potatoes, soup, almond milk, milk) weren’t kept cold enough, expired foods (salsa dated Oct. 27, ranch dated Oct. 27, garlic ranch dated Oct. 10, tomato paste dated Nov. 4), onions were stored in a non-food-grade container. Next inspection: Nov. 23.
Quick Pick, 3733 N. Arkansas in Wichita — Four violations on Nov. 12 during a routine inspection. Mouse droppings along baseboards in storeroom and office area, harborage conditions for pests in storeroom including boxes and unused racks, no paper towels in customer restroom, expired over-the-counter medications were for sale. Next inspection: Nov. 22.
Yaacoub Meat Market, 6100 E. 21st St., Suite 160 in Wichita — Nine violations on Nov. 13 during a routine inspection. No written plan for vomit or diarrhea, no water at three-compartment sink, stacks of styrofoam food containers weren’t protected from contamination, no hot water in facility, the business didn’t cease operations during an imminent health hazard (no hot water), large accumulation of meat residue on meat cutting saw, no verifiable employee illness policy on site, personal food items were contaminating a cutting board, no water at three-compartment sink. The business voluntarily closed over the violations. It was in compliance when it reopened the next day.
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.
