Mice feces. Earbud in gravy. Spoiled salami. Mold. Wichita KS restaurant inspections

Amy Renee Leiker
·9 min read

Six restaurants, two grocery stores and a convenience store in Wichita were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week.

Their problems include opened packages of doughnuts and salami that had spoiled on sales shelves, bulging and dented cans, mold and mildew build up on soda fountain nozzles, mouse droppings by bags of flour, sausage gravy that was contaminated when a chef’s earbud fell out of his ear into it, employees who didn’t wash their hands, uncapped bottles of nicotine sitting on a counter and onions that were too old to serve to customers, according to inspection reports.

Information about the nine businesses and a summary of their violations appear below. The list was compiled Feb. 8 and includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

At least 60 establishments passed inspections during that time. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.

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.

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 sewage backups, pest problems, and water or power outages, among other issues. 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.

Out-of-compliance inspections

Dillons, 4747 S. Broadway in Wichita — Six violations on Jan. 31 during a joint inspection. Opened packages on sales shelves of chocolate donuts and salami that had spoiled, dented and bulging cans of soup and baked beans on sales shelves, knives and spatulas were dirty and rusted, salmon in meat department cooler wasn’t cold enough, drain line to dishwasher in Chinese kitchen was directly connected to sewage system, water in dishwasher didn’t get hot enough to sanitize dishes. Next inspection: Feb. 10.

Dollar Plus Grocery & Smoke Shop, 1106 S. Hydraulic in Wichita — Five violations on Jan. 29 during a routine inspection. Hot water at bathroom sink was turned off, no test strips for measuring concentration of sanitizer, no paper towels at hand-washing sink in dish area, “large amount of mold/mildew buildup” on soda fountain nozzles, no sanitizer on site. Next inspection: Feb. 8.

Donut Palace, 1235 N. Broadway in Wichita — One violation on Jan. 31 during a follow-up inspection. Mouse droppings under pallet of flour bags and in bowl on top of flour. There was also mouse feces under racks where ingredients were stored and in a utility closet by the bathroom. Next inspection: March 31.

El Rio Bravo Supermarket #3, 2020 N. Amidon, Suite 1989 in Wichita — Three violations on Feb. 1 during a complaint inspection. Store wasn’t keeping containers of food that included cut cabbage in refrigeration, store sells raw green mussels but wasn’t keeping required information used to trace foodborne illness outbreaks, soap and paper towels are kept at sinks that employees aren’t supposed to use to wash their hands. Next inspection: Feb. 11.

Huddle House, 1735 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Eight violations on Feb. 1 during a routine inspection. Dishwashing machine wasn’t dispensing sanitizer, sliced cheese wasn’t kept cold enough, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, bottles of cleaning fluids were hanging off of a hand-washing sink posing possible contamination risks, inspector found a can of insecticide that’s rated for residential-only use, employee didn’t wash hands between handling raw eggs and raw bacon, chef’s earbud fell out of his ear into a container of sausage gravy, no soap at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Feb. 11.

Miya Izakaya, 3030 N. Penstemon in Wichita — Ten violations on Jan. 31 during a routine inspection. Raw chicken was stored in T-shirt style to-go bags instead of food-grade containers, water wasn’t hot enough at 3-vat sink, no soap at hand-washing sink, employee didn’t wash hands after handling raw fish, tuna was thawing in intact vacuum packaging which can increase risk of botulism, employees were cleaning pans in dedicated hand-washing sink, no written policy posted relating to temperature and time storage of fried chicken and sushi rice, fried chicken and sushi rice weren’t labeled with preparation times, no paper towels at kitchen hand-washing sink, sanitizer test strips were damaged and couldn’t be used. Next inspection: Feb. 11.

Mustang Deli inside Rusty Eck Ford auto dealership, 7310 E. Kellogg in Wichita — Five violations on Feb. 1 during a routine inspection. Uncapped bottles of nicotine were sitting on a counter, employee didn’t change gloves or wash hands after wiping his face with a towel, deli didn’t have test strips for measuring strength of chlorine sanitizer, bottle of degreaser wasn’t labeled. Next inspection: Feb. 11.

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, 2240 N. Tyler Road, Suite 100 in Wichita — Five violations on Jan. 31 during a routine inspection. Containers of cream sauce didn’t cool down to safe temperature within six hours, salad ingredients including cheese and lettuces weren’t cold enough in refrigeration, employees were touching ready-to-eat foods including cheese and lettuce with their bare hands, old onions, dirty dicer blade and measuring cup were in clean storage. Next inspection: Feb. 11.

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, 7626 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Three violations on Jan. 29 during a routine inspection. Food wasn’t cold enough in refrigerated preparation tables, not enough sanitizer for wiping cloths, pan used to scoop flour was stored in bin. Next inspection: Feb. 8.

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

  • Apollo Fermentations, 1631 S. Hillside in Wichita

  • B&C Barbeque, 355 N. Washington in Wichita

  • BC’s Bar & Grill, 4423 S. Broadway in Wichita

  • Bigs Bar & Grill, 7011 W. Central, Suite 135 in Wichita

  • Casa Martinez, 204 W. Greenway in Derby

  • Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Road in Wichita

  • China King, 4100 E. Harry, Suite 52 in Wichita

  • China Town Chinese Restaurant, 327 N. Hillside, Suite 100 in Wichita

  • Corner Market, 230 S. Baltimore in Derby

  • CVS Pharmacy, 3149 E. Harry in Wichita

  • Delano Barbeque Company, 710 W. Douglas in Wichita

  • Dog N Shake, 4323 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview Wichita, 400 W. Douglas in Wichita

  • Flying Eagle, 3405 S. West St. in Wichita

  • Gammon Elementary School, 3240 N. Rushwood in Wichita

  • Genesis Health Clubs, 3725 W. 13th St. in Wichita

  • Geno’s Bar-B-Q, 140 S. Oliver in Kechi

  • Georges French Bistro, 4618 E. Central, Suite 50 in Wichita

  • Good Company Taps & Spirits, 2721 E. Central, Suite 201C in Wichita

  • Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 13303 W. Maple, Suite 105 in Wichita

  • H&P Fast Trip, 1201 E. Lincoln in Wichita

  • The Hornet’s Nest Daylight Donuts, 556 N. Meridian in Valley Center

  • ITzcali Tapas & Tequilas, 2819 E. Central in Wichita

  • Jimmy’s Egg, 1723 E. Douglas in Wichita

  • Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1260 N. Nelson Drive in Derby

  • Las Rosas Wichita Mexican Grill, 1050 W. 47th St. South in Wichita

  • Leeker’s Haysville, 201 N. Main in Haysville

  • Long John Silver’s/A&W, 2616 N. Maize Road in Wichita

  • Long John Silver’s, 547 S. Rock Road in Wichita

  • The Mango Tree, 111 E. 47th St. South in Wichita

  • McDonald’s, 917 N. Baltimore in Derby

  • McDonald’s, 610 N. Rock Road in Derby

  • Meddys, 560 S. Ridge Road in Wichita

  • No Ragrets Vegan Scratch Kitchen (mobile vendor/food truck), 4412 Westlake Court in Bel Aire

  • Premier Food Service at ADT, 800 E. Waterman in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at BG Products Inc., 740 S. Wichita in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at Eddy’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, 11028 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at Eric Fisher Academy, 6727 W. Central in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at High Touch Technologies, 110 S. Main, Suite 600 in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at Kansas Truck Center, 4006 W. 29th St. South in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at Professional Engineering Consultants, 303 S. Topeka in Wichita

  • Premier Food Service at Wichita Transit, 777 E. Waterman in Wichita

  • Pho King ICT 4857 E. Harry in Wichita

  • Ruben’s Mexican Grill, 915 W. Douglas in Wichita

  • Savute’s Italian Ristorante, 3303 N. Broadway in Wichita

  • Side Pockets, 614 S. Tyler Road in Wichita

  • Smoke Depot & Grocery, 2035 S. Broadway in Wichita

  • Sonic Drive-In, 4747 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Sonic Drive-In, 8612 W. Maple in Wichita

  • Subway, 1820 E. Madison in Derby

  • Sweet Swapper, 751 S. George Washington Boulevard in Wichita

  • Tamales California (mobile vendor/food truck), 316 W. 45th St. North in Wichita

  • Tamales Marycano, 2206 W. MacArthur, Lot 21 in Wichita

  • Taqueria La Autentica, 1929 S. Seneca in Wichita

  • Thai Table Restaurant, 3570 N. Woodlawn, Suite 100 in Wichita

  • Twelve Restaurant & Bar, 12111 W. Maple in Wichita

  • Veronica’s Kitchen, 117 S. Park in Valley Center

  • Walgreens, 333 W. 13th St. in Wichita

  • Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive in Wichita

  • Wichita Northwest High School, 1220 N. Tyler Road 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.