Cockroaches in kitchen, mouse poop, rotting food at Wichita KS restaurants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State inspectors found cockroaches, mouse droppings and dead pests in Wichita-area.
- Eight restaurants and businesses in Sedgwick County failed inspections May 24–30.
- Failed locations are typically reinspected within 10 days per state inspection practice.
Cockroaches, mouse droppings, old juice and hot dogs, moldy and spoiled fruits and vegetables, gravy stored on the floor, dirty equipment, filthy kitchen conditions, dead pests 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. Eight restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from May 24-30.
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 June 4 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
Amigos Market, 840 S. Oliver in Wichita — Five violations on May 26 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Packaged tres leche cakes and exotic cupcakes had no allergen labels, no test strips for quaternary ammonium sanitizer, bottles of cleaner were stored above beverage packages, raw eggs stored by produce and hot dogs, eggs stored by desserts, moldy and spoiled fruits and vegetables. Next inspection: July 26.
Cafe On Me, 115 S. Minneapolis in Wichita — Two violations on May 26 during a licensing-operational inspection. The business didn’t have separate hand-washing and three-compartment sinks, no thin probe food thermometer. Next inspection: June 5.
The Easy Egg Breakfast & Lunch, 5700 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Six violations on May 27 during a complaint inspection. Old juice, damaged sanitizer test strips, sanitizer stored on freezer, no soap at hand-washing sink, raw beef and raw chicken were not kept cold enough, salsa and butter were not kept cold enough, no paper towels at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: June 6.
Fat Ernie’s Family Dining, 2806 S. Hydraulic in Wichita — Four violations on May 26 during a modified complaint inspection. Cockroach crawling on floor near ice machine, cockroach on sticky trap under soda fountain, several rodent droppings in cabinets under soda fountains, green bait block sitting near sodas, container of gravy stored on kitchen floor, back door propped open. Next inspection: June 5.
Knolla’s Pizza, 338 N. Mead, Suite 2 in Wichita — Four violations on May 26 during an expired license inspection. Leaky backflow prevention device on dishwashing machine, hot water side of hand-washing sink won’t turn off, no measurable concentration of chlorine sanitizer in dishwashing machine, restaurant leaves cooked cheese pizza out at room temperature without approval. Next inspection: June 5.
SureStay by Best Western Wichita Airport, 5922 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Six violations on May 26 during a licensing-operational inspection. Open gallon of milk wasn’t dated, no written plan to clean up vomit or diarrhea, no ambient air thermometers inside cold-holding units, no sanitizer available, no sanitizer test strips available, no three-compartment sink or dishwashing machine for cleaning dishes. Next inspection: June 5.
Tallgrass Country Club, 2400 N. Tallgrass in Wichita — Eight violations on May 27 during a routine inspection. Several foods including cheeseburgers and broccoli-and-cheese bites were not kept hot enough, high-temperature dishwashing machine was not hot enough during cycle, deli meats and raw meats including chicken and hamburgers were not kept cold enough, dirty food thermometers, old hot dogs, no paper towels at kitchen and bar hand-washing sinks, unlabeled bottle of degreaser, water was not hot enough at three-compartment sink. Next inspection: June 5.
Teppanyaki Grill & Sushi Buffet, 6710 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Four violations on May 29 during a modified complaint inspection. Dead cockroaches throughout restaurant, unprotected bait blocks under hibachi grill and in other areas, live cockroach in kitchen, dead mouse under hibachi grill, mouse droppings in dry storage area, general level of cleanliness is poor, dead pests and grime throughout restaurant. Next inspection: June 8.
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.
