Where food inspectors found a fly in the queso, moldy ice shoots and cockroaches
From a fly in the queso and cockroaches running for cover, moldy ice shoots to no hot water, inspectors cited several violations at Topeka restaurants and other establishments last month.
Kansas food safety and lodging inspectors reported 10 local establishments were of compliance with state law during July inspections.
Kansas law delegates to the Kansas Department of Agriculture the authority to regulate food establishments, food processing plants and lodging establishments. Violations — particularly priority violations linked to causes of foodborne illness — can lead to various consequences, including the immediate closure of an establishment.
Kansas Department of Agriculture records show that while most Topeka service establishments passed inspections in July with either no violations or no serious ones, several failed. Most inspections were routine, but inspectors also visited after complaints, for licensing, follow-ups and other reasons.
Out-of-compliance food establishments in Topeka
The following establishments were listed as out of compliance with state law after inspections in July.
Days Inn by Wyndham, 1510 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
The July 31 modified complaint inspection found six violations.
Inspectors checked five rooms. All five rooms had debris on the floor, including dead insects and food debris. Four room had bed sheets with dark stains, at least one of which was a blood stain, and one room had two pillow cases with dark stains. One room had a wall with a red stain. One room had a roach in the air conditioning vent. One room had a card reader that didn't work. One room had a leaking bath tube faucet.
The lodging establishment voluntarily closed room No. 235 — the one with the roach — because of the deficiencies.
A follow-up inspection had been scheduled for Aug. 10.
Gambino's Pizza, 3613 N.W. 46th.
The July 29 routine inspection found two violations.
No sanitizer was registering from the dishwasher machine, and the food thermometer was not working.
The establishment was back in compliance after a July 30 follow-up.
El Gallo Mexican Restaurant, 3501 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
The July 22 complaint inspection found 14 violations.
The walk-in cooler had adulterated, uncovered food, including a pan of white queso had a dead fly laying on top and a cookie sheet of pan of chile rellenos with a dead fly. The deep freeze used to store raw meat also had frozen sopapilla shells with "a reddish frozen leakage" that appeared to be blood leakage from a pan of raw meat. Pico in the cooler was missing a date mark.
All food shelves in the walk-in cooler had "a thick accumulation of mold." The flat top grill and stove top also had "a very thick accumulation of black build up." The ice dispenser had black mold buildup on the ice shoot. Handles on doors and lids at the reach-in cooler had "a thick accumulation of dried on food residues from gloved hands touching the handles after handling raw meats."
In a cross contamination risk, the walk-in cooler also had uncovered raw chicken in addition to cooked chicken, cooked rice and refried beans.
A kitchen counter space had a pile of raw meat laying on plastic wrap to an open package of flour tortillas.
A kitchen reach-in cooler across from the grill was not keeping the temperature cool enough, and the cut tomatoes, raw shrimp and mushrooms inside were too warm. Another cooler next to the oven also was not keeping its temperature cool enough, along with the diced tomatoes, pico and shredded lettuce inside. The vent hoods in the grill area did not appear to be running, making the kitchen "excessively hot" at 131 degrees near the grill.
A hand washing sink next to the oven had standing water that wasn't draining. A hand sink at the wait station had no soap. A spray bottle near the dish machine was unlabeled.
More than 20 flies were flying around and landing on food and food contact surfaces. The back door doesn't close tightly enough to prevent pests from entering.
The restaurant voluntarily closed because of the deficiencies. It remained out of compliance during a July 25 reopening inspection, an Aug. 5 follow-up inspection and an Aug. 7 reopening inspection. Another follow-up was scheduled for Aug. 17.
Endeavor Inn & Suites, 924 S.W. Henderson St.
The July 24 routine inspection found three violations.
Three rubber spatulas had breaks, dents and tears. The kitchen handwashing sink and dishwashing sink were not getting hot enough water. The hand sink did not have paper towels.
The establishment was back in compliance after a July 31 follow-up.
Poblanos Grill, 3035 S.E. Sixth Ave.
The July 17 routine inspection found three violations.
Shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes had been left out of a cooler and were not cool enough, there was no food thermometer and the hand sink was not unobstructed because it had ice with a package of cheese and a container of butter and sour cream.
The establishment was back in compliance after a July 20 follow-up.
Comfort Suites Hotel, 6213 S.W. 10th St.
The July 9 routine inspection found 13 violations.
Scrambled eggs and sausages were not hot enough, while raw eggs, waffle batter, and apple juice were not cold enough. The upright refrigerator in the kitchen was not working properly. There was no food thermometer. There were no sanitizer test strips in the kitchen, nor was there sanitizer. The hand sink had no soap and no paper towels. A spray bottle had no label.
There was "a dead cockroach and signs of roach droppings or eggs" in the corner of the kitchen.
The can opener had food residue on the blade, and when it was wiped with an alcohol wipe, "the wipe became blackened from the residue." The microwave had dried food residue on the sides and inside. A yellowish, dried wiping cloth was on the floor between the counter and fridge.
The establishment was back in compliance after a July 18 follow-up.
El Dorado Mexican Grill & Cantina, 3627 29th St., Suite 101.
The July 8 inspection, following up on a June 24 inspection, found six violations.
The ice machine had mold on the shoot. Three pans of food were sitting directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler. The reach-in cooler was not keeping the temperature cold enough, so cut tomatoes, guacamole, pico, chile rellenos and tomato puree were thrown away. There was no working food thermometer. A food prep table had a fly sticky tape hanging from the sealing. An employee was eating a plate of food in the kitchen.
El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant, 3425 S. Kansas Ave.
The July 8 inspection, following up on a June 24 inspection, found three violations.
The restaurant did not have shellstock tags for oysters and mussels for the past 90 days, and there was no menu disclosure of serving raw oyster.
Another follow-up was scheduled for Aug. 22.
Red Lobster, 2011 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
The July 3 inspection for a modified complaint found one violation.
The inspector found a medium-sized live roach in the floor drain, then once the inspector moved the cold storage unit for salad that was next to the drain, he saw "20+ live roaches tiny, small medium and large" that were "running around on the floor for cover and going back into the condenser unit of the cold storage unit."
The establishment was back in compliance after a July 16 follow-up.
Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 Eighth Ave.
The July 2 routine inspection found two violations.
There was no hot water in the kitchen due to construction, and the kitchen countertop had an unlabeled spray bottle.
Inspections found these Topeka establishments were in compliance
The following service establishments were in compliance when inspectors visited in July with either no violations or only relatively minor ones.
Dollar General Store, 2042 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, 1835 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Westlake Ace Hardware, 2054 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Casserolle, 2410 S.E. Sixth Ave., Suite B.
Olde Mill Auction Center, 713 N.E. US-24 highway.
Love's Travel Stop / Chester's, 1811 N.W. Brickyard Road.
Meat Market Camecuaro, 1016 S.E. Sixth Ave.
Wingstop, 2121 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite 103.
Churchs Chicken, 3001 S.W. 10th St.
Scooter's Coffee, 1409 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Rolling Frito-Lay Sales, 7215 Topeka Blvd., Building 119.
Ichabods Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St.
Jefferson's Restaurant, 2915 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, 3920 21st St.
Summer nutrition program at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 703 Main St. in Rossville.
US Foods Depot, 4725 N.W. US-24 highway.
China Panda Kitchen Buffet, 5826 S.W. 21st St.
Silver Lake 66, 10021 US-24 highway in Silver Lake.
Tads Shaved Ice, 4200 S.W. Huntoon.
Viking Express, 4700 N.W. Hunters Ridge Creek.
Casey's, 2611 S.E. California Ave.
Papa John's Pizza, 2121 S.W. Wanamaker Rd.
Poppin Minis, 301 S.E. 53rd Street.
Tropical Treats, 5330 S.W. Fairlawn.
Arby's, 5930 S.W. Huntoon.
Discount Smokes, 2277 S.W. 10th Street.
Hobby Lobby Stores, 1900 S.W. Wanamaker Rd.
Target Store, 2120 S.W. Wanamaker Rd.
785 Beer Company, 301 S.E. 45th Street.
Antojitos la Michoacana, 3112 S.E. Michigan Ave.
Butch's Bar-B-Que Shack, 3547 S.W. 35th Terrace.
Glazed Goose, 5630 S.W. 29th St.
Hamburguesas Mexicanas, 631 S.E. Lime St.
Louie's Lounge and Laundromat, 2214 S.W. 10th Ave.
Sonic Drive In, 2053 S.W. Western.
Lattes & Lace, 4150 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
Midwest Health Aquatic Center, 2201 S.W. Urish Road.
Mission Creek Camp, 7240 Douglas Road.
Rossville Swimming Pool, 714 Main Street in Rossville.
Taco Bell, 2013 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Walgreens, 2121 S.W. Fairlawn Road.
Yuki Restaurant of Japan, 5632 S.W. 29th St.
Stormont Vail Events Center - Domer Livestock Arena Attention Hospitality, 1 Expocenter Drive.
Aldi, 1530 Arvonia.
Casey's General Store 6741 2st St.
Genesis Health Clubs, 2909 S.W. 37th St.
Juan 3:16 Tortilleria, 1009 S.E. Sixth St.
Kickstart Saloon, 2521 N. Kansas Ave.
Lindyspring Drinking Water, 115 Van Buren.
Menards, 6401 S.W. 17th St.
Theatre Club of Topeka, 3028 Eighth Ave.
Vern's Retail Liquor, 3700 S.W. Gage Blvd.
Big Lots, 5121 S.W. 29th St.
Dialogue Coffee House, 4009 S.W. 29th St.
Louie's Lounge and Laundromat, 1501 S.W. 21st St., Suite 109.
Relax Inn & Suites, 3802 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
Sportzone, 3909 S.W. Burlingame Road.
Thornton Place, 2901 Armstrong.
Walgreens, 3630 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
Westlake Ace Hardware, 5001 S.W. 29th St.
Cicis Pizza, 2130 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite 110.
Cookies by Gayla, 1801 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
Genesis Health Clubs, 2020 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
Hy-Vee, 2951 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
La Loncherita, 2408 S.W. Morningside Road.
Norsemen Lakeheim, 2841 S.E. Croco Road, Suite 100.
Party City, 2010 S.W. Westport Drive.
Super Store, 4301 21st St., Suite 100.
TJ Maxx, 2170 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
Blaisdell Pool, 4201 S.W. Reinisch Parkway.
The Celtic Fox, 118 S.W. Eighth Ave.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit, 609 N.W. US-24 highway.
Domino's Pizza, 2835 S.E. California Ave.
Leonard Meat and Produce, 105 N.E. Quincy.
Pollos Junior, 2601 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Taqueria Mexico Lindo, 400 S.W. Sixth Ave.
DJ's Catering, 2015 S.W. Second St.
Gas Trip, 550 S.E. Croco Road.
Pal Indian Cuisine, 2620 S.W. Sixth St., Suite B.
Pure Golf Topeka, 7523 S.W. 21st St.
Aunt T's Sweet Creations, 404 Rice Road.
Friends of the Zoo Concessions, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd.
Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
K-Tacos, 801 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Lowe's Home Improvement, 1621 S.W. Arvonia Place.
Summer nutrition program at Great Life North Topeka YMCA, 1936 N.W. Tyler St.
Taqueria el Coyote, 2121 S.E. Sixth St.
Home Depot, 5900 Huntoon.
Joann, 1133 S.W. Wanamaker Road., Suite 200.
Ross Dress for Less, 1930 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
Summer nutrition program at Boys & Girls Club of Topeka, 6715 S.W. Westview Road.
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Where Kansas food safety inspectors cited Topeka restaurant violations
