Mouse poop, cockroaches in kitchens, old potato salad at Wichita KS restaurants
Cockroaches in kitchen, food stored directly on the floor, mouse poop, dirty equipment, old potato salad 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 March 1-7.
Inspectors found few or no violations that 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, they’re corrected 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 March 12 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
Afghan Halal Market, 1044 S. Oliver in Wichita — Two violations on March 3 during a reopening inspection. Two roaches on the three-compartment sink and on the retail floor, several boxes of food stored directly on the floor throughout the store. The business was also out of compliance, with 15 violations, during its follow-up inspection on March 10.
Denny’s, 4024 E. Harry in Wichita — Three violations on March 4 during a modified complaint inspection. Sausage links were not kept hot enough, pancake mix was not kept cold enough, food probe thermometer was stored with food debris or residue on the probe. Next inspection: May 4.
Deshi Curry, 6249 E. 21st St., Suite 108 in Wichita — Three violations on March 5 during a complaint inspection. Eggs were not kept cold enough, pans stored in hand-washing sink, rack of pans was blocking hand-washing sink, cream and eggs were not kept cold enough, vegetable samosa filling and chicken biryani were not kept cold enough. Next inspection: March 15.
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 616 S. Ridge Road in Wichita — Four violations on March 3 during a complaint inspection. Several broken tiles and water pooling on floor in kitchen, waffle batter stored at room temperature and past discard time, ice cream mix was not kept cold enough. Next inspection: March 13.
Los Compadres Mexican Grill, 3213 N. Toben in Wichita — Eight violations on March 4 during a modified complaint inspection. No drainpipe or disposal system for hand-washing sink in kitchen, sink had a bucket underneath to catch water, standing pool of water by equipment, shredded lettuce and green salsa were not kept cold enough, rice and shredded chicken were not kept hot enough, queso was not kept hot enough, no hot or cold water under pressure at hand-washing sink, roach on wall by kitchen hand-washing sink, scratch pads stored inside hand-washing sink, unlabeled spray bottles of chemicals, no soap at kitchen hand-washing sink. Next inspection: May 4.
Mr. Mc’s Market/Fat Boyz Soul Food, 1901 E. 21st St. in Wichita — Five violations on March 6 during a routine inspection. Raw eggs were stored above packaged celery, old potato salad, no food thermometer, mouse on glue trap, approximately 8-10 mouse droppings in utility area near water heater, sanitizer step at three-compartment sink was not set up, no sanitizer test strips. Next inspection: March 16.
San Cruditas, 120 N. West St., Suite 8 in Wichita — One violation on March 4 during a routine inspection. No hot water at three-compartment sink on truck. Next inspection: March 14.
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.
