Rodent poop, mouse by fish sauce, roach, food issues at Wichita KS restaurants
Rodent poop, a dead mouse on a pallet of fish sauce, a roach on a wall, issues with food, a business selling food from an unlicensed supplier, bugs in a liquor bottle, employees who didn’t wash their hands 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 15-21.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 50 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 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
Extended Stay America, 9450 E. Corporate Hills Drive in Wichita — Ten violations on March 19 during a licensing-operational inspection. No batteries in smoke alarms, missing window screens, moldy bathtub caulking, no “pet-friendly” sign posted at front desk, no chlorine sanitizer test strips available, stained lamp shade, unlabeled spray bottles of cleaner, high-heat dish machine was not working and no three-vat sink was available, scrapes and missing paint on walls, no emergency management plan on file for employees. Next inspection: March 29.
Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 2929 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Three violations on March 20 during a routine inspection. No soap in women’s bathroom, employee handled raw hamburger patties then put on new gloves and touched ready-to-eat cheese without washing hands in between, soda fountain valve was corroded or leaking or had dark sludge on it. Next inspection: March 30.
Fruteria Alcaya (mobile vendor/food truck), 320 N. West St. in Wichita — Two violations on March 18 during a routine inspection. No soap at hand-washing station, no hot water available on food truck. The business voluntarily closed over the violations. Next inspection: March 28.
King Coal Hookah Lounge & Bar, 327 N. Hillside, Suite 200 in Wichita — Twelve violations on March 17 during a routine inspection. Meat sauce and cooked beef were not kept hot enough, cooked vegetables were not kept hot enough, salad was not kept cold enough, no chlorine sanitizer test strips available, no sanitizer on site, employee washed and stored dishes without sanitizing them, sprayer nozzle hanging in mop sink had no backflow prevention device, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, no food thermometer, trash can blocking hand-washing sink, gloves stored inside sink, bottle of bourbon had several dead insects in it, no written cleanup plan for vomit or diarrhea, no soap at kitchen hand-washing sink. Next inspection: March 27.
Lucky Market, 7100 E. Harry in Wichita — Nine violations on March 16 during a routine inspection. Business was allowing customers to self-serve whole fish, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, large cooler blocking hand-washing sink, no chlorine sanitizer test strips available, unlabeled cans of food for sale, business was selling food from an unlicensed supplier, rodent droppings, dead mouse on pallet of fish sauce, dented cans of food for sale. Next inspection: March 26.
Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen, 1735 W. 21st St., Suite 100 in Wichita — Five violations on March 19 during a routine inspection. Can of insect spray labeled “for residential use only” was found under register, lo mein noodles and bean sprouts were not kept cold enough, raw eggs stored above cooked chicken, employee worked with customers and swept floor then put on new gloves without washing hands before packaging ready-to-eat crab wontons, spray bottle of sanitizer stored on shelf directly above uncovered food. Next inspection: March 29.
Umi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, 11233 E. 13th St. in Wichita — One violation on March 20 during a disaster inspection. Roach on wall next to office. Next inspection: March 30.
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.
