Roaches, dead bugs, filthy conditions, a bathroom out of order, old meats and other foods, dirty equipment and more are among violations state inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Six restaurants and stores were non-compliant with state regulations from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 60 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Kansas Department of Agriculture inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Locations can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can’t be fixed right away.
Violations are common. Most of the time, they’re corrected in front of an inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately include serving food that’s more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that may take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but a business may be temporarily shut down over violations.
Locations that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on Sept. 15 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
But you can search food safety and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://portal.kda.ks.gov/Food/FoodInspectionSearch.
Out-of-compliance inspections
Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant East, 313 S. Greenwich in Wichita — One violation on Sept. 3 during a licensing-preoperational inspection. Walk-in cooler was not kept cold enough. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Discount Cigarettes, 2160 S. Broadway, Suite 110 in Wichita — Six violations on Aug. 31 during a routine inspection. Ice cream bars weren’t labeled for retail sale, milk was not kept cold enough, trash bags and mop ringer parts were stored in the three-compartment sink, gaming machines were blocking sinks, only toilet or bathroom in building was out of order, broken lock on bathroom door, one adult roach and two eggs in cabinets under pizza oven and soda machine area, dead insects in cabinets under soda station. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
The Easy Egg Breakfast & Lunch, 3520 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 in Wichita — Seven violations on Sept. 3 during a complaint inspection. Employee touched ready-to-eat grilled chicken with bare hands, ground chorizo and Canadian bacon were not kept cold enough, diced tomato and pico de gallo were not kept cold enough, whipped cream and feta cheese were not labeled with their package opening dates, old meat and jalapeño cream sauce, old ham and other foods, foods including pancake batter and French toast mix were not labeled with the time they were removed from refrigeration, the menu did not mark foods that can be ordered raw or undercooked, cleaned pans were marred with visible sticker and tape residue. Next inspection: Sept. 13.
Friends University Casado Campus Center, 2100 W. University in Wichita — Seven violations on Sept. 1 during a routine inspection. Apples weren’t covered to protect them from contamination, salad bar food wasn’t protected by food guards, broccoli casserole was not kept cold enough, cooked hamburger patties and cooked chicken were not kept hot enough, whipped butter packets were not kept cold enough, dirty food dicer, no paper towels at hand-washing sinks, unlabeled bottle of window cleaner. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge, 338 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Four violations on Sept. 4 during a follow-up inspection. Tiramisu wasn’t labeled with its preparation date, hummus wasn’t correctly labeled, old pizza sauce and beef shawarma, old grilled chicken and salami, dirty air fryers. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Subway, 3301 E. Harry in Wichita — One violation on Sept. 3 during a complaint inspection. Several foods including chicken, chicken teriyaki, steak, pepper jack cheese, shredded cheese and provolone were not kept cold enough. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Where 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 complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, 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 www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
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.
The violation summaries were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
The Wichita Eagle
Amy Renee Leiker has been reporting for The Wichita Eagle since 2010. She covers crime, courts and breaking news and updates the newspaper’s online databases. She’s a mom of three and loves to read in her non-work time. Reach her at 316-268-6644 or at aleiker@wichitaeagle.com.
