Filth. Grease. Bug carcasses. Drinks stored on floor. Wichita KS restaurant inspections

Amy Renee Leiker
·10 min read

Nine businesses in and around Wichita — including restaurants, a country club, a motel and stores — were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week.

They were cited for filthy conditions, grease, dead bugs, missing records, mystery chemicals, ice dripping on a box of sandwiches, preparing food in a sink with a direct connection to a sewer system, and more.

Information about the food establishments and a summary of their violations appear below. The list includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from April 7-13. It was compiled on April 18.

More than 80 establishments passed inspections during that same time. They also appear below. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.

Business owners or managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com to comment on inspection results that appear in this story.

More details about the inspection results are in The Eagle’s searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.

Out-of-compliance inspections

Bonefish Grill, 10250 E. 13th St. in Wichita — Five violations on April 9 during a routine inspection. Water didn’t get hot enough at hand-washing sinks by the fryer and in a preparation area, metal and plastic food containers in clean storage were soiled with food and sticker residue, several items in a reach-in cooler including pasta and goat cheese weren’t cold enough, container of grilled pineapple wasn’t labeled with preparation date, cracked containers. Next inspection: April 19.

Hangar One Steakhouse, 5925 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Seven violations on April 8 during a routine inspection. Container of heavy whipping cream wasn’t labeled with package opening date, menu doesn’t disclose which items can be ordered raw or undercooked, no soap at hand-washing sink by back door, containers of potatoes and french onion soup weren’t labeled with the correct preparation dates, gallon of milk wasn’t labeled with the date it was opened, employee touched ready-to-eat burger bun with their bare hands, metal and plastic containers were soiled with sticker residue. Next inspection: April 18.

Kansas Candy & Tobacco Inc., 4430 W. 29th Circle South in Wichita — Six violations found on April 11 during a routine inspection. Trash and dirt and dead vegetation around building, weeds and grass growing up against facility, cardboard boxes and other items including metal and boxes of food were stored against walls and in corners, several items typically seen in home garages like jet skis and exercise equipment were stored in the building, there were gaps under delivery and other doors which can let pests in the building, expired soda bottles on floor in walk-in cooler, “liquid substance” pooling along wall in walk-in freezer, stained and dirty floor and ice accumulation on the condenser of the walk-in freezer, ice dripping on top of and around a box of frozen sandwiches, facility was using mouse traps that aren’t approved for use in food facilities, dead crickets and insect carcasses throughout building, case of bottled water was stored directly on the floor. Next inspection: April 21.

New China Buffet, 4858 S. Broadway in Wichita — Sixteen violations on April 10 during a routine inspection. The restaurant uses chlorine sanitizer but doesn’t have any test strips to measure its concentration, makeshift scoop cut from plastic vinegar container, grease and food debris along baseboards and on flat surfaces in kitchen, container of ice cream cones weren’t protected from contamination, dirty meat slicer and can opener, grease and debris on cooler racks and debris hanging from rack that “looked like it could fall anytime,” boxes of frozen butterfly breaded shrimp were thawing at room temperature, sushi rolls were on the buffet for more than four hours, broken spatula by rice cookers in kitchen, no back flow prevention device on three-compartment sink faucet, handles for scoops used in ice and flour bins were touching the food, the restaurant wasn’t sure where its fish was purchased from because it wasn’t keeping parasite destruction records on site, “huge build up of grease” on rack and shelves, bottles of blue and yellow chemicals weren’t labeled, several bus tubs of fried chicken had no labels saying when they were made, the restaurant didn’t have required information posted for customers about the risks of consuming raw salmon sushi. The follow-up inspection date wasn’t listed on the inspection report.

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, 2347 N. Maize Road in Wichita — One violation on April 8 during a follow-up inspection. Restaurant was using a sink with a direct connection to the sewage system to prepare food including raw meat and leafy greens. Next inspection: June 8.

Paleteria La Fuente, 1750 N. Broadway, Suite 300 in Wichita — Five violations on April 10 during a routine inspection. The business didn’t have chlorine sanitizer set up and had no sanitizer testing strips on site, the business wasn’t following labeling requirements for made-on-site dehydrated meat, cut cantaloupe and dehydrated meat weren’t stored in the refrigerator, packages of dehydrated meat weren’t labeled with their common name or business information. Next inspection: April 20.

Sunset Motel, 2328 S. Broadway in Wichita — Six violations on April 10 during a complaint inspection. No smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in utility closet, the motel had no records proving carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are checked every six months, dirt and debris along baseboards and under bed in one room, no secondary locks installed in at least four rooms. Next inspection: April 20.

Tallgrass Country Club, 2400 N. Tallgrass in Wichita — Six violations on April 9 during a complaint inspection. No paper towels at hand-washing sinks in kitchen and by bar, hot dogs weren’t kept warm enough on a hot dog roller, hand-washing sink was leaking, employees were using a sink dedicated for another use to wash their hands, bag of hot dogs wasn’t labeled with package opening date, cheese wasn’t cold enough in a kitchen make table, water didn’t get hot enough at a three-compartment sink in the kitchen. Next inspection: April 19.

TPS Midwest Corp., 3108 E. 31st St. South in Wichita — One violation on April 9 during a follow-up inspection. Chili rellenos were left out for more than four hours. Next inspection: April 19.

Roaches. Bugs in bourbon. Old food. Risk of illness. Wichita KS restaurant inspections

Cockroach infestation, mouse feces, old pozole. Wichita KS restaurant inspections

How businesses fail inspections

Most violations are minor and are corrected during an inspection.

Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause foodborne illnesses or when a problem can’t be fixed right away, such as bug and rodent infestations. Typically, establishments are re-inspected within 10 days.

It’s rare for a facility to shut down over a failed inspection. But it can happen due to things like sewage backups, pest problems, and water or power outages. Usually, closures are temporary.

You can search food and lodging inspection results in any Kansas county at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.

How to file complaints

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 report at www.foodsafetykansas.org.

To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event, 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 https://agriculture.ks.gov/kda-services/complaint-form/food-safety-and-lodging-complaint.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.

These businesses passed inspections last week

  • 13th Street Market, 1802 E. 13th St., Suite 600 in Wichita

  • The 3 Amigos, 2317 N. Arkansas in Wichita

  • American Legion Post #256, 4301 W. Pawnee in Wichita

  • Americold Logistics, 2707 N. Mead in Wichita

  • Apollo Elementary School, 16158 W. Apollo in Goddard

  • Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 320 S. Ridge Road in Wichita

  • Atwoods, 5501 N. Air Cap Drive in Park City

  • Auto Motel, 1230 N. Broadway in Wichita

  • Best Western Plus Eastgate Inn & Suites, 8300 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

  • Birrieria Tito, 2815 S. Hydraulic in Wichita

  • Boulevard Theatres, 4600 W. Kellogg Drive, Unit 1516 in Wichita

  • Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 3641 N. Rock Road in Wichita

  • Carniceria El Guero No. 2, 4900 E. Lincoln in Wichita

  • Carousel Skate Center, 312 N. West St. in Wichita

  • Casey’s General Store, 109 E. Plaza Lane in Mulvane

  • Challenger Intermediate School, 325 N. Walnut in Goddard

  • Chipotle Mexican Grill, 535 S. Rock Road in Wichita

  • Clark Davidson Elementary School, 333 S. Walnut in Goddard

  • Cloud Elementary School, 1212 W. 25th St. North in Wichita

  • College Hill Elementary School, 211 N. Clifton in Wichita

  • Dairy Queen, 849 S. Poplar in Wichita

  • Domino’s Pizza, 7130 W. Maple, Suite 150 in Wichita

  • Dragon City Chinese Restaurant, 3008 W. Central in Wichita

  • Earhart Environmental Magnet Elementary School, 4401 N. Arkansas in Wichita

  • Eisenhower Middle School, 16152 W. Explorer in Goddard

  • El Tucanazo (mobile vendor/food truck), 1607 S. Broadway in Wichita

  • Garden Plain High School, 720 N. Sedgwick in Garden Plain

  • Getaway Lounge, 428 S. Main in Garden Plain

  • Goddard Middle School, 2700 S. 199th St. West in Goddard

  • Harms Distributing - Little Debbies at I-Storage Unit #2222, 4530 S. Broadway, Unit 2222 in Wichita

  • Harry Street Elementary School, 1605 S. Market in Wichita

  • Holy Savior Catholic Academy, 3000 E. 13th St. in Wichita

  • Hurts Donut, 7010 W. 21st St. in Wichita

  • Jamba/Auntie Anne’s, 10209 W. 29th St. North in Wichita

  • Juhba Official BBQ & More, 3200 W. 13th St. in Wichita

  • Kobe Steak House of Japan, 8760 W. 21st St., Suite 116 in Wichita

  • Kwik Shop, 3750 N. Maize Road in Wichita

  • La Morelense #2 (mobile vendor/food truck), 204 E. 21st St. in Wichita

  • Linwood Elementary School, 1654 S. Hydraulic in Wichita

  • Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant, 1257 N. Rock Road in Derby

  • Lotte, 320 S. Market, Suite 101 in Wichita

  • Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Maize

  • McDonald’s, 456 S. West St. in Wichita

  • McDonald’s, 6350 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

  • Ming’s Cantonese Restaurant, 1625 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Mokas Cafe, 143 N. McLean Blvd. in Wichita

  • Mulvane Middle School, 915 N. Westview Drive in Mulvane

  • Noodles & Company, 3807 N. Maize Road, Suite 130 in Wichita

  • Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 323 N. Rock Road in Wichita

  • Ortiz Elementary School, 3361 N. Arkansas in Wichita

  • Panda Chinese, 1228 S.E. Louis Blvd., Suite B in Mulvane

  • Park Elementary School, 1025 N. Main in Wichita

  • Pizza Hut, 737 N. Maize Road, Suite 100 in Wichita

  • Pokemoto, 1636 N. Rock Road, Suite 400 in Derby

  • Polka Pierogi, 10025 W. Central in Wichita

  • Polka Pierogi (mobile vendor/food truck), 1329 N. Farmstead in Wichita

  • Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (Chix Hillside LLC), 1350 N. Hillside in Wichita

  • Quick Pick, 3733 N. Arkansas in Wichita

  • Road Runner Mexican Fast Food, 2420 S. Oliver in Wichita

  • Ruth Clark Elementary School, 1900 W. 55th St. South in Wichita

  • Savor, 225 W. Douglas in Wichita

  • Seltzer Elementary School, 11660 E. Lincoln in Wichita

  • Shanghai Chinese Restaurant, 3815 E. Harry in Wichita

  • Slim Chickens, 2313 N. Greenwich in Wichita

  • St. Cecilia’s Catholic School, 1912 W. Grand in Haysville

  • St. Joseph Catholic Church, 139 S. Millwood in Wichita

  • St. Jude Catholic School, 3030 N. Amidon in Wichita

  • St. Margaret Mary Elementary School, 2635 S. Pattie in Wichita

  • Subway, 3704 N. Maize Road in Wichita

  • Subway, 2533 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Sweet Sisters Fudge, 6112 W. Central in Wichita

  • TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center, 332 E. First St. in Wichita

  • Tokyo Japanese Cuisine, 446 N. West St. in Wichita

  • Trinity Academy, 12345 E. 21st St. in Wichita

  • The Vagabond, 614 W. Douglas in Wichita

  • W.D. Munson Primary School, 1007 Westview Drive in Mulvane

  • Walt’s Great American Sports Bar & Grill, 7732 E. Central, Suite 110 in Wichita

  • Wendy’s, 2504 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Wichita Bakery, 9780 E. 21st St. in Wichita

  • Woodland Elementary School, 1705 N. Salina in Wichita

  • Woodman Elementary School, 2500 S. Hiram in Wichita

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.

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