Cockroaches, bugs in liquor, old food, greasy kitchens at Wichita KS restaurants
Living and dead cockroaches, bugs in bottles of alcohol, employees who touched food with their bare hands, old food, greasy kitchens 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. Twelve restaurants, hotels and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations Jan. 25-31.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 40 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 include 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 Feb. 5 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
B&D African Market, 3212 E. Pawnee, Suite 200 in Wichita — Five violations on Jan. 29 during its first operational inspection after licensing. No paper towels at restroom sink, roach on trash can, American cheese not kept cold enough, packaged dry fish stored directly on floor, no written plan for vomit or diarrhea cleanup. Next inspection: Feb. 7.
Blue Hook Cajun Seafood & Bar, 2244 N. Webb in Wichita — Three violations on Jan. 28 during a follow-up inspection. Current shell stock tag not kept on container, shell stock tags did not have the last sale or serving date listed, shell stock tags were not kept in chronological order. Next inspection: Feb. 6.
Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 444 E. Pawnee in Wichita — One violation on Jan. 26 during a modified complaint inspection. Approximately 10 roaches in the electrical cabinet under dessert topping station. Next inspection: Feb. 5.
China Go, 3700 N. Woodlawn, Suite 105 in Wichita — Six violations on Jan. 27 during a complaint inspection. No written plan for vomit or diarrhea cleanup, rodent bait spread on floors, old cooked chicken, rodent droppings throughout restaurant, half-inch gap at back door, large spray device labeled “Pet’s Control” with no further chemical information was on floor next to sink. Next inspection: Feb. 6.
Denny’s, 4024 E. Harry in Wichita — Five violations on Jan. 29 during a modified complaint inspection. Sausage links were not kept hot enough, employee cracked raw egg then handled clean plate without removing gloves and washing hands, buildup of food debris and grease throughout kitchen and under equipment, several dead roaches on sticky traps, employee scratched nose then handled clean plate without washing hands. Next inspection: Feb. 7.
Emerson Biggins, 2330 N. Maize Road, Suite 100 in Wichita — Six violations on Jan. 30 during a complaint inspection. Blanched fries were not kept hot enough, employee placed cheese slices on burger and touched other food with bare hands, problems with sanitizer in washing machine, employee handled raw burger patties then handled ready-to-eat cheese slices without changing gloves or washing hands, old chicken tacos, pan placed on top of trash can. Next inspection: Feb. 9.
Family Dollar, 1330 N. Oliver in Wichita — One violation on Jan. 26 during a follow-up inspection. No hot water in restrooms. Next inspection: Feb. 26.
Haven Restaurant & Lounge, 315 N. Mead in Wichita — Twelve violations on Jan. 29 during a complaint inspection. No written plan for vomit or diarrhea cleanup, milk and whipped cream were not labeled with their package opening dates, spoiled habanero peppers, undercooked burgers are offered without a consumer advisory disclosure, no paper towels at hand-washing sinks, leaky plumbing, cooked sausage and romaine lettuce not labeled with preparation dates, cabbage not dated, old cheesecake mix and ranch dressing, old cooked rice, broken food thermometer duct-taped together, raw eggs stored above open and unprotected cases of cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, dirty knives, food debris and grease on sides of kitchen equipment, container of cooked rice was not dated. Next inspection: Feb. 8.
Rain Bistro & Lounge, 518 E. Douglas in Wichita — Nine violations on Jan. 29 during a complaint inspection. Heavy grease buildup along sides of food prep equipment, living and dead roaches on glue traps, live roaches crawling on preparation table by grill and by main food preparation line, old cheesecake and ranch dressing, old black olives, wall-mounted vegetable dicer had dried food debris on blades, two plates stacked and stored as clean had dried food debris on them, grease and food debris around equipment throughout restaurant, chili sauce and enchilada sauce were not kept hot enough, dead bugs in liquor bottles, boxes and unused kitchen equipment were creating pest harborage areas, household-use-only insecticide was in kitchen and on chemical storage shelf. The next inspection was not listed.
Rice & Roll by Bao Xing, 6100 E. 21st St., Suite 190 in Wichita — Three violations on Jan. 28 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Rear exterior kitchen door propped open which allows pest entry, dozens of fresh mouse droppings in kitchen and dining areas, no paper towels at hand-washing sink behind register. Next inspection: March 2.
Sam & Nancy’s Cafe, 151 N. Main in Wichita — Six violations on Jan. 26 during a routine inspection. Potato soup was not kept hot enough, old chili and hot dogs, old salsa and ham, old chicken, no written plan for vomit or diarrhea cleanup, cream wasn’t labeled with its package opening date, raw chicken and raw beef stored above loosely covered bucket of pickles, ready-to-eat hot dogs stored next to raw chicken, raw bacon stored on top of raw chicken. Next inspection: Feb. 5.
Super 8 by Wyndham Wichita South, 4848 S. Laura in Wichita — Three violations on Jan. 26 during a routine inspection. Milk was not kept cold enough, food probe thermometer would not turn on, no written plan for vomit or diarrhea cleanup. Next inspection: Feb. 5.
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.
