Cockroaches, mice, no sanitizer or hand-washing, filth at Wichita restaurants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Seven Wichita food or lodging businesses failed inspections Nov. 16–22.
- Inspectors documented pests, temperature lapses, sanitation and hand-washing failures.
- State reinspections scheduled; persistent issues can prompt closures or enforcement.
Mouse poop, rodents in rice, cockroaches in a box of sauces, dirty conditions, employees who didn’t wash their hands properly, no sanitizer, bugs around pizza-making equipment, no hot water 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. Seven restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from Nov. 16-22.
Inspectors found few or no violations that same week at more than 70 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. 26 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
360 Deli & Grill, 11309 E. Kellogg, Suite 125 in Wichita — One violation on Nov. 19 during an inspection that was a follow-up to administrative order. Foods, including chicken and beef, were held at improper temperatures (repeat violation). Next inspection: Jan. 19.
Bao Xing, 6100 E. 21st St., Suite 190 in Wichita — Ten violations on Nov. 19 during a routine inspection. Employee washed hands in ware washing sink instead of dedicated hand-washing sink, dead cockroaches found in box of sauces, exterior door not properly sealed which allows pest entry, several foods including sliced chicken and BBQ pork were not labeled with their preparation dates, mouse droppings throughout facility, live cockroaches in kitchen, flies in kitchen, trash dumpster was too close to the back door, the restaurant wasn’t using a pest control service, clutter created areas for pests, large amount of chewed paper in cabinets, bucket of ice melt stored in direct contact with pans, fly on clean cutting board, mouse droppings on lids and pans in clean storage, no paper towels at hand-washing sinks, bag of rice contaminated by rodents and rodent feces. Next inspection: Nov. 29.
Bionic Burger, 3257 E. Harry in Wichita — Ten violations on Nov. 21 during a complaint inspection. Chili wasn’t kept hot enough, dirty ladle was in clean storage, restaurant was using the wrong kind of insecticide in building, raw hamburgers were stored above ready-to-eat hot dogs, bottle of bleach water wasn’t labeled, not enough sanitizer on wiping cloths used for cleaning, cheese and chicken weren’t kept cold enough, employee touched raw bacon and then touched a hamburger bun without washing hands or changing gloves, chipped and cracked spatulas, issue with mop sink. Next inspection: Dec. 1.
Dollar Tree, 2120 N. Woodlawn, Suite 414 in Wichita — One violation on Nov. 18 during a routine inspection. Dead mouse found in glue trap near receiving door. Next inspection: Nov. 28.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, 7626 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Two violations on Nov. 18 during a modified complaint inspection. Cockroach egg sac near pizza line and dead cockroach next to salad cooler, live adult and nymph cockroaches around pizza make line and pizza oven. Next inspection: Nov. 28.
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, 1930 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Five violations on Nov. 18 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Cooked rice wasn’t kept hot enough, raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food, dish machine was not properly sanitizing dishes, restaurant was using the wrong type of insecticide in the building, no sanitizer on wiping cloths used for cleaning. Next inspection: Nov. 28.
Powerhouse Nutrition ICT, 4100 E. Harry, Suite 40 in Wichita — Four violations on Nov. 22 during a routine inspection. No hot water in facility, employee washed their hands in cold water, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, no written plan for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea. Next inspection: Dec. 2.
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.
