Restaurant inspections: Rodents, bugs in berry liqueur, old steak, bare hands in Wichita KS
Nine restaurants, businesses and other establishments in the Wichita area were out of compliance during Kansas Department of Agriculture food safety and lodging inspections conducted Feb. 26 to March 4.
Information about the Sedgwick County businesses and their violations, compiled March 7, appears in an alphabetical list below with a summary of the problems inspectors noted on their reports. More details are posted in The Eagle’s searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.
More than 50 establishments passed their inspections with few or no violations that same week. Those also appear alphabetically below. Some may have appeared on a prior non-compliant list.
Business owners who want to clarify or comment on inspection results can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Comments will be added to online stories.
Failing an inspection doesn’t necessarily mean a business has to close; that’s rare. 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 pest infestations or broken plumbing.
When a business fails, it’s usually inspected again within 10 days.
You can search food and lodging inspection results in any Kansas county at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance inspections
The Beacon Restaurant, 909 E. Douglas in Wichita — Two violations during a Feb. 27 follow-up inspection. Cited because a cook used his bare hands to retrieve toast from toaster, cook cracked raw eggs into pan then grabbed toast without washing hands in between. Next inspection: April 26.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, 11711 E. 13th St. N. in Wichita — Four violations during a March 2 inspection prompted by a complaint. Cited for not maintaining certain required cooking and food-packaging logs, dirty pans stored as clean, salmon fillets were thawing in intact vacuum packaging which can increase risk of foodborne illness, shredded cheese wasn’t cold enough in ice bath. Next inspection: March 12.
Hangar One Steakhouse, 5925 W. Kellogg Dr. in Wichita — Five violations during a Feb. 28 routine inspection. Cited over old steak and cinnamon butter, sanitizer used in preparation area was too strong, insects in bottle of raspberry liqueur, no date on open package of prosciutto, sea bass thawing in intact vacuum packaging, no test strips to measure concentration of sanitizer, no sanitizer in dishwasher. Next inspection: March 10.
Jose Pepper’s Mexican Restaurant, 11423 E. 13th St. N. in Wichita — Seven violations during Feb. 28 routine inspection. Cited over cheese enchiladas that weren’t kept cold enough in refrigeration, hot water valve on sink was broken, manager touched salad mix with bare hands, server touched lime for drink with bare hands, chicken wasn’t kept hot enough in hot holding, chicken breasts were thawing in sink with direct connection to sewer, pan of cooked chicken wasn’t labeled with preparation date, plumbing issue. Next inspection: March 10.
Los Compadres Mexican Grill, 3213 N. Toben in Wichita — Fourteen violations during a Feb. 28 inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Cited for not keeping tamales hot enough in hot holding, dirty can opener and food containers, insecticide rated for household only use was stored on site, sizable holes in women’s bathroom walls were big enough for pests to get through, roach insecticide stored on table with nozzle pointed at bread, raw eggs and shrimp stored above radishes, salsa verde didn’t get cold enough in refrigeration, no soap at hand-washing sink by grill, several foods including salsa and nacho cheese had been in refrigeration for days but hadn’t cooled down to required temperatures, food thermometer reading was off, lettuce wasn’t cold enough in refrigeration, several foods weren’t labeled with preparation or opening dates or were labeled with the wrong dates, raw eggs and items containing raw meats were stored above ready-to-eat foods in refrigeration, no paper towels at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: April 28.
Ninza Sushi East, 306 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 20 in Wichita — Five violations during a March 1 inspection prompted by a complaint. Cited for not marking on menu specific items served raw or undercooked, containers of whipped cream and spicy mayo weren’t labeled with preparation or opening dates, gyoza wasn’t kept cold enough in refrigeration, squeeze bottles of pink fluid weren’t labeled with contents, cleaning fluids stored in food preparation sink in kitchen. Next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Quick Pick, 3733 N. Arkansas Ave. in Wichita — Six violations during a March 2 routine inspection. Cited over dirty and greasy sink, build up of food debris and syrup on soda nozzles, no soap at bathroom hand-washing sink, no paper towels at bathroom sink, three-compartment sink has “only a slight trickle” of water, rodent droppings on floor by cooler and in soda machine cabinet. Next inspection: March 12.
Siena Tuscan Steakhouse, 104 S. Broadway in Wichita — Six violations during a March 2 routine inspection. Cited over old tomatoes, fish was allowed to thaw for more than 48 hours in intact vacuum packaging which may increase risk of foodborne illness, butter wasn’t kept cold enough, dirty vegetable dicer was stored as clean, raw liquid egg whites stored above ready-to-eat desserts. Next inspection: March 12.
Silvia’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine, 2345 N. Broadway in Wichita — Seven violations during a Feb. 27 routine inspection. Cited for not labeling packages of sliced ham and milk with opening dates, temperature issue with food, water wasn’t hot enough at hand-washing sink in kitchen, not enough sanitizer in bucket of wiping cloths, no hot water under pressure at sink, bunches of cilantro stored in plastic bags instead of food-grade containers, al pastor and barbacoa weren’t kept hot enough. The restaurant voluntarily closed until its hot water is fixed. Next inspection: March 9.
These businesses passed inspections
Andale Elementary/Middle School, 500 W. Rush Ave. in Andale
Baskin-Robbins, 8918 W. 21st St. N., Ste. 800 in Wichita
Blu Night Club, 8715 W. Maple in Wichita
Burgardt Retail Liquor, 3027 E. Pawnee in Wichita
Burger King, 1506 N. Nelson Dr. in Derby
Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe, 11317 E. 13th St. N. in Wichita
Chick N Max, 8977 W. Central in Wichita
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2241 N. Maize, Ste. 111 in Wichita
Cholita’s Mexican Restaurant, 8987 W. Central in Wichita
C’s Place, 429 S. Hydraulic in Wichita
Delicias La Dona, 1842 N. Waco in Wichita
Dog N Shake, 1706 E. Central in Wichita
Dog N Shake, 4323 S. Seneca in Wichita
Dunkin Donuts/Chick-Fil-A/River City Brewing Company at Eisenhower National Airport, 2277 S. Eisenhower Airport Pkwy. Ave. in Wichita
El Rio Bravo Supermarket, 2501 S. Seneca in Wichita
The Farris Wheel Candy Company, 9747 E. 21st St. N., Ste. 137 in Wichita
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 8621 W. 21st St. N. in Wichita
Garden Plain Elementary School, 700 N. Section Line Rd. in Garden Plain
Garden Plain High School, 720 N. Sedgwick St. in Garden Plain
Georgio’s BBQ, 2251 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 616 S. Ridge Rd. in Wichita
Gordita’s Norma, 2837 N. Broadway, Ste. 300 in Wichita
IHOP, 515 S. Ridge Circle in Wichita
Jackson Elementary School, 2717 N. Woodlawn in Wichita
KC Gas and Groceries, 1955 S. Washington in Wichita
Kelly’s Family Diner, 2131 S. Broadway in Wichita
Kwik Shop, 2142 N. Webb Rd. in Wichita
Kwik Shop, 200 W. 63rd St. in Derby
Lawrence Elementary School, 3440 W. Maple in Wichita
Linwood Elementary School, 1654 S. Hydraulic in Wichita
Little Bear Sports Bar & Grill, 315 N. Main in Andale
Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Rd. in Maize
McDonald’s, 917 N. Baltimore in Derby
Meals on Wheels/Friendship Meals, 1901 S. Kansas in Wichita
Mellard’s Mug Shots, 3837 S. Seneca in Wichita
Mexico Viejo Mexican Restaurant, 6960 W. 21st St. N. in Wichita
Ming’s Cantonese Restaurant, 1625 S. Seneca in Wichita
Nothing Bundt Cakes, 2035 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 113 in Wichita
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, 665 N. Ridge Rd. in Wichita
Payne Elementary School, 1601 S. Edwards in Wichita
Prairie Elementary School, 7101 S. Meridian in Haysville
Puerto El Triunfo Restaurant, 1714 E. Northern St. in Wichita
RibCrib BBQ & Grill, 500 S. Ridge Rd. in Wichita
Rico’s Tacos El Torito (mobile vendor/food truck), 1935 N. Broadway in Wichita
Sonic Drive-In, 4747 S. Seneca in Wichita
Spangles, 453 N. Hillside in Wichita
St. Cecilia’s Catholic School, 1912 W. Grand in Haysville
Texas Roadhouse, 2526 N. Greenwich in Wichita
Valley Center West Elementary School, 501 N. Sheridan in Valley Center
VenuWorks of Wichita Catering LLC, 8151 N. Hartman Arena Dr. in Park City
Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge, 417 E. Douglas in Wichita
Walt’s Great American Sports Bar and Grill, 7732 E. Central #110 in Wichita
Wheatland Elementary School, 15200 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita
Wheatland Elementary School, 800 Meadow Rd. in Valley Center
Wichita Northeast Magnet High School, 5550 N. Lycee in Wichita
Wingstop, 7325 W. Taft, Ste. 106 in Wichita
Yoder Meats, 6458 E. Central in Wichita
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, call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or file a report at 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.
