Mouse poop, roaches, bugs in liquor, filth at Wichita KS restaurants, store
Mouse poop, roaches, dead mice, insects in liquor bottles, dirty kitchen conditions, foods that weren’t kept at safe temperatures 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. Six restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations April 5-11.
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, 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 April 15 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
Dollar Tree, 2404 S. George Washington Blvd. in Wichita — Seven violations on April 11 during a routine inspection. No written plan for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, food and beverage packages were stored directly on floor, several holes in ceiling throughout store are letting rodents in the building, half-inch gap on back delivery door is an entry point for rodents, no soap in restroom, several old and fresh mouse droppings in back storage room, mice in traps throughout store. Next inspection: April 21.
Fat Ernie’s Family Dining, 2806 S. Hydraulic in Wichita — One violation on April 6 during a modified complaint inspection. Cockroach seen between wall and server alley table. Next inspection: June 6.
Price-Harris Communications Magnet Elementary School, 706 N. Armour Drive in Wichita — One violation on April 10 during a routine inspection. Water in restrooms by cafeteria was not hot enough. Next inspection: April 20.
Ruben’s Mexican Grill, 915 W. Douglas in Wichita — Seven violations on April 7 during a complaint inspection. Can of whipped topping was not labeled with its opening date, cabbage and tomatillos were stored in bags that aren’t food grade, unlabeled spray bottle of yellow liquid, chile rancheros were not labeled with their preparation date, a cook cracked raw eggs then handled clean plate, meat and cheese enchiladas were not kept cold enough, raw beef stored above container of beans. Next inspection: April 17.
Slim Chickens, 2313 N. Greenwich in Wichita — Three violations on April 6 during a modified complaint inspection. Employee didn’t use hot water to wash hands after handling raw chicken, gravy in hot holding unit was not kept hot enough, no hot water at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: June 6.
Ziggy’s Pizza East, 12115 E. 21st St., Suite 101 in Wichita — Four violations on April 7 during a complaint inspection. Employee was seen eating and drinking then touched clean dishes without washing hands, heavy grease and food debris buildup throughout kitchen and under equipment, dead insects in bottles of liquor, no sanitizer in dishwashing machine. Next inspection: April 17.
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.
