Cockroaches, employees who didn’t wash hands, filth at Wichita KS restaurants
Living and dead cockroaches, rodent poop, employees who didn’t wash their hands, missing advisories and records, dirty kitchens, food that wasn’t stored 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. Ten restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from May 31 to June 6.
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 11 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
Arthur’s Kreations, 4834 E. Lincoln in Wichita — Two violations on June 5 during a complaint inspection. Cockroach on hose at three-compartment sink, no written cleanup plan for vomiting or diarrhea incidents. Next inspection: June 15.
Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 1261 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Six violations on June 3 during a complaint inspection. Employee touched glasses then made a milkshake without washing hands, wiping cloths were stored without any chlorine sanitizer, grease and grime buildup throughout restaurant, sanitizer bucket stored next to ice cream, whipped topping was not kept cold enough, employee touched chicken tenders with bare hands. Next inspection: June 13.
Da Nang Bistro, 1845 S. Rock Road, Suite 105 in Wichita — Two violations on June 3 during a follow-up inspection. Dead cockroaches inside a wall near dish machine, a cockroach was crawling on a metal cart near a chest freezer, living cockroaches inside wall near dish machine, rodent droppings on floor in mop sink area. Next inspection: June 13.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wichita South by IHG, 4860 S. Laura in Wichita — Thirteen violations on June 1 during a routine inspection. Carbon monoxide detector in laundry room was not working, no testing records available for fire alarms or fire sprinkler systems, no pool inspection records available, daily pool logs were not being kept, no gloves available in laundry room, no carbon monoxide detector in hydro mechanical room, pool was damaged and chipped, ice buckets were not sanitized after each use, lifesaving ring at pool was not attached to a rope, no logs showing carbon monoxide detector is tested every six months, daily pH logs were not being kept for the pool, emergency lights didn’t work, no smoke detector testing logs. Next inspection: June 11.
Jason’s Deli, 1821 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Three violations on June 3 during a routine inspection. Several foods including meat and cheese were not kept cold enough, an employee touched dirty dishes then put away clean dishes without washing hands, chicken and sauerkraut were not kept hot enough. Next inspection: June 13.
KC Gas & Groceries, 1102 W. Maple in Wichita — Two violations on June 3 during a routine inspection. Spray bottle of blue liquid was not labeled, no probe food thermometer. Next inspection: June 13.
Mexico Viejo Bar & Grill, 6960 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Eleven violations on June 2 during a routine inspection. No written cleanup plan for vomiting or diarrhea incidents, moldy strawberries, no chlorine sanitizer in sanitation bucket, queso sauce was not kept hot enough, raw eggs stored above spinach, raw shrimp stacked on beer kegs, employee didn’t wash hands after wiping sweat from face, carnitas were not kept hot enough, flan was not labeled with its preparation date, employee washed dishes then put away clean dishes without washing hands, thawing fish and queso sauce were not kept cold enough, old salsa. Next inspection: June 12.
Motel 6 Wichita East, 8302 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Seven violations on June 1 during a routine inspection. No carbon monoxide testing records available, burn holes in blankets and sheets, no smoke detector testing records available, no backflow prevention device on mop sink hose, unlabeled spray bottles of blue liquid, missing window screens. Next inspection: June 11.
Porfias Gorditas, 511 N. West St. in Wichita — Eight violations on June 4 during a routine inspection. Cooked rice was not kept cold enough, employee cracked raw eggs then touched clean plate without washing hands or changing gloves, no consumer advisory warning of the risk of consuming undercooked eggs, non-food-grade bags were used to line dough presses and cover masa, duct tape wrapped around dough press handle, raw eggs stored at room temperature, no written cleanup plan for vomiting or diarrhea incidents, open soda can sitting on tortilla press, no test kit for checking sanitizer concentration. Next inspection: June 14.
Super East Buffet, 7607 E. Douglas in Wichita — Two violations on June 2 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Deviled eggs were not kept cold enough, time log had incorrect time written on it. Next inspection: Aug. 2.
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.
