Roaches. Bugs in bourbon. Old food. Risk of illness. Wichita KS restaurant inspections
Seven restaurants, stores and other businesses in Wichita were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week.
Their problems include fruit flies in liquor bottles, poor record-keeping of information used to trace sources of foodborne illnesses, an iced-up cooler that didn’t keep food cold enough, employees who touched food after handling cash without washing their hands, old risotto balls, kitchen practices that increase the risk of botulism, problems in bathrooms and cockroaches around a freezer, according to inspection reports.
Information about the food establishments and a summary of their violations appear below. The list includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from March 31 to April 6. The list was compiled April 11.
More than 70 establishments passed inspections during that same time. 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
Amore Italian Restaurant, 2315 W. 21st St., Suite 101 in Wichita — Three violations on April 2 during a follow-up inspection. Bottles of Bulleit bourbon and Martini & Rossi vermouth had several fruit flies in them because the caps weren’t placed on the pour spouts, at least a dozen pans in clean storage were soiled with sticker residue, fruit flies flying around kitchen. Next inspection: April 12.
Cevicheria y Botanas La Isla, 201 E. 21st St., Suite 500 in Wichita — Six violations on April 4 during a routine inspection. Ceviche wasn’t cold enough in a reach-in cooler, no test strips for measuring concentration of chlorine sanitizer, restaurant didn’t keep shellstock tags for oysters and mussels which is required to identify the source of any foodborne illness that might occur, dirty pitcher and utensils were in a sink that’s supposed to be dedicated to hand-washing, no hot water at bathroom sink, items served raw or undercooked weren’t marked on the menu. Next inspection: April 14.
Dollar General Store, 2747 Boulevard Plaza in Wichita — Three violations on April 4 during a routine inspection. Several items were too warm in refrigeration and had to be thrown out because there was ice build up next to and on a fan in the reach-in cooler, perfume stored above dietary supplements, expired aspirin on sales shelves. Next inspection: April 14.
McDonald’s, 7311 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Two violations on April 5 during a modified complaint inspection. Employees at the drive-thru window don’t have a nearby hand-washing sink, cashier at drive-thru window handled cash then packed a customer’s food order without washing their hands. Next inspection: April 15.
Mike’s Wine Dive, 4714 E. Douglas in Wichita — Seven violations on April 3 during a routine inspection. Old arancini (risotto balls), bottles of sanitizer weren’t labeled with contents, restaurant wasn’t keeping shellstock tags for oysters for the required 90 days to trace back the source of foodborne illness outbreaks should they occur, salmon was thawing in intact vacuum packaging which poses a risk of botulism, tomatoes weren’t cold enough in a refrigerated preparation table, raw chicken was stored behind raw salmon in cooler drawer under grill which increases cross-contamination risk, cartons of milk and cream weren’t labeled with package opening dates. Next inspection: April 13.
Petro America, 1161 N. Broadway in Wichita — Five violations on April 4 during a complaint inspection. Business was storing pesticide not rated for use in food establishments, no hot water due to a broken water heater, no back flow prevention installed on mop sink in storage area, no paper towels at employee bathroom sink or in storage room sink, raw eggs were stored above packaged juices and beverages. Next inspection: April 14.
Pho KC, 4875 E. Pawnee in Wichita — One violation on April 5 during a modified complaint inspection. Living and dead cockroaches including on a glue trap and around a reach-in freezer. Next inspection: April 15.
Cockroach infestation, mouse feces, old pozole. Wichita KS restaurant inspections
Cook licked finger, poked food. Cockroaches. Blood. Wichita KS restaurant inspections
How establishments fail
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 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 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
American Legion Post #136, 410 S.E. Louis Drive in Mulvane
Andale Elementary and Middle School, 500 W. Rush in Andale
Andale High School, 700 W. Rush in Andale
Best Western Plus Wichita West Airport Inn, 3800 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita
Bread Sled Cafe (mobile vendor/food truck), 4719 N. Arkansas in Wichita
Brunin Family Cafe, 320 N. Main in Andale
Cabela’s, 2427 N. Greenwich in Wichita
Casey’s General Store, 3520 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
China Go, 3700 N. Woodlawn, Suite 105 in Wichita
Christ the King Catholic School, 4501 W. Maple in Wichita
Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy, 2055 S. 143rd St. East in Wichita
City Bites, 3570 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
Clearwater Elementary School West, 100 S. Prospect in Clearwater
Clearwater Intermediate-Middle School, 140 S. Fourth Ave. in Clearwater
Curtis Middle School, 1031 S. Edgemoor in Wichita
Dillons, 3707 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
Dollar General Store, 220 E. Ford in Valley Center
Dollar Tree, 3701 N. Maize Road in Wichita
Dunkin Donuts/Chick-fil-A at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, 2277 S. Eisenhower Airport Parkway in Wichita
Fazoli’s, 3553 N. Rock Road in Wichita
Funky Monkey Munchies (mobile vendor/food truck), 2847 N. Woodland in Wichita
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 616 S. Ridge Road in Wichita
Griffith Elementary School, 1802 S. Bluff in Wichita
Haysville High/Tri-City Day School, 1975 W. Grand in Haysville
Hibachi Boy, 3010 E. Central in Wichita
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet Elementary School, 1243 N. Market in Wichita
Indian Hills Meat & Poultry, 1200 N. Mosley in Wichita
Interlocal Learning Center Mt. Hope, 500 W. Main in Mt. Hope
Irving Elementary School, 1642 N. Market in Wichita
Jackson Elementary School, 2717 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
Jefferson Elementary School, 4615 E. Orme in Wichita
Jinya Ramen Bar, 124 S. Broadway, Suite 101 in Wichita
Jose Pepper’s, 11423 E. 13th St. in Wichita
Jump Start, 444 N. Oliver in Kechi
Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1251 S. Woodlawn in Wichita
Kraus Foods, 219 E. Chicago in Colwich
Krua Thai, 7603 W. 21st St. in Wichita
La Chinita Mexican Restaurant, 1051 N. Broadway in Wichita
Landings Cafe at Bombardier Learjet, One Learjet Way, Building 4A in Wichita
Larsen Community Center, 105 S. Ohio in Mt. Hope
Little Bear Sports Bar & Grill, 315 N. Main in Andale
Maize South Elementary School, 3404 N. Maize Road in Wichita
Maize South Intermediate School, 9701 W. 37th St. North in Wichita
Maize South Middle School, 3403 N. Tyler Road in Wichita
Marineros Tacos y Mas (mobile vendor/food truck), 355 W. 21st St. in Wichita
Mueller Elementary School, 2500 E. 18th St. in Wichita
Nelson Elementary School, 245 N. Delos in Haysville
New Holland Construction, 3301 S. Hoover in Wichita
Noble House, 2119 W. 21st St. in Wichita
Payne Elementary School, 1601 S. Edwards in Wichita
Pinole Blue, 242 N. Cleveland in Wichita
Pleasant Valley Middle School, 2220 W. 29th St. North in Wichita
Prairie Elementary School, 7101 S. Meridian in Haysville
Recreation Center at Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount in Wichita
Rico’s Elotes y Mas #2 at Town East Square Mall, 7700 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita
Scooter’s Coffee, 126 E. Fifth St. in Valley Center
Scooter’s Coffee, 4828 E. 35th St. North in Wichita
Scooter’s Coffee, 7399 W. Central in Wichita
Sonic Drive-In, 3828 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
Sonic Drive-In, 1828 E. 47th St. South in Wichita
Spaight Science & Communications Magnet Elementary School, 2316 E. 10th St. in Wichita
Spangles, 2310 N. Maize Road in Wichita
St. Mark’s Elementary School, 19001 W. 29th St. North in Colwich
Subway, 3410 S. Hydraulic in Wichita
Tacos Irapuato (mobile vendor/food truck), 2953 N. Broadway in Wichita
The Depot, 711 E. Douglas, Suite 105 in Wichita
Tru by Hilton Wichita Northeast, 1236 N. Greenwich in Wichita
Valley Center High School, 9600 N. Meridian in Valley Center
Valley Center Middle School, 800 N. Meridian in Valley Center
Valley Center West Elementary School, 501 N. Sheridan in Valley Center
Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School, 424 N. Pennsylvania in Wichita
Wendy’s, 6404 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita
Wichita North Senior High School, 1437 N. Rochester in Wichita
Wichita South High School, 701 W. 33rd St. South in Wichita
Wyndham Garden Inn Downtown, 221 E. Kellogg in Wichita
Ziggy’s Pizza, 8404 W. 13th St. Suite 100 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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