Cooks didn’t wash hands, expired license, dirty pans at Wichita KS restaurants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Six Sedgwick County businesses failed state food safety inspections May 17–23.
- Inspections cited improper temperatures, handwashing lapses, labeling and other.
- Locations that fail inspections are usually reinspected within 10 days by the state.
Cooks who didn’t follow proper hand-washing procedures after touching their face and hair, dirty pans and lids, food that wasn’t stored at safe temperatures, unlabeled chemicals, a missing sink faucet, a restaurant operating without a valid license 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 from May 17-23.
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.
Locations that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on May 29 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
Bubba’s 33, 412 S. Towne East Mall Drive in Wichita — Five violations on May 22 during a modified complaint inspection. Raw chicken was not kept cold enough, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, employee touched raw beef then changed gloves without washing hands, employee touched her face but didn’t wash her hands before cooking food, no soap at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: June 1.
Kraus Foods, 219 E. Chicago in Colwich — One violation on May 19 during a routine inspection. Gravy, burritos, jalapeño poppers, chicken, chicken strips and corn nuggets were not kept hot enough. Next inspection: May 29.
Let’s Roll Derby (listed under Derby Bowl), 444 S. Baltimore in Derby — Six violations on May 20 during a routine inspection. Nacho cheese was not kept hot enough, portioned bags of beef for pizzas weren’t dated properly, meat including chicken and pork were not labeled with their preparation dates, a cook used bare hands to mix beef, cook handled raw hamburger patties then touched a ready-to-eat bun, cook touched hair while cooking hamburgers, spray bottle of blue liquid was not labeled with its common name. Next inspection: May 30.
Nancy Ice Cream “La Michoacana Ice Cream” (mobile vendor/food truck), 829 W. Maple in Wichita — Two violations on May 19 during a routine inspection. The business uses chlorine sanitizer but has no test strips on site, missing sink faucet. The business passed a follow-up inspection the next day.
New Paradise Biryani Pointe, 1648 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Four violations on May 21 during a follow-up inspection. Cooked rice and cooked pork were not kept hot enough, employee touched cellphone then handled sliced meat without washing hands or changing gloves, employee used rag to wipe three-compartment sink then prepared an order without washing hands or changing gloves, no written plan for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, raw beef was thawing in bucket of standing water. Next inspection: July 21.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 2053 N. Amidon in Wichita — Three violations on May 18 during an expired license inspection. No water at hand-washing sink by drive-thru window, approximately two dozen metal pans and lids stored as clean had visible flour and food debris on them, restaurant was operating with an expired license. Next inspection: May 28.
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.
