Cockroaches in rice, old cottage cheese, dead and decaying mice, rodent droppings, flies on food, unlabeled ingredients, missing records, etc. are among violations state inspectors found during recent food safety and housing inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. October 12-18 nine restaurants and other businesses failed to comply with state regulations.
At more than 40 other sites deemed to be in compliance with food safety and accommodation regulations, inspectors found few or none.
Kansas Department of Agriculture inspections are designed to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health hazards. Locations may fail if they have too many problems, certain types of damage, or problems that cannot be fixed immediately.
Violations are common. Most often, companies fix problems before the inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately include serving food that is more than a week old, staff not handling ingredients properly, and dirty kitchens. Problems that may take longer to resolve include pest infestations, power outages, and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but violations can result in a company being suspended.
Defective areas are usually re-inspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on October 23, using information available to the state on that date. It covers only Sedgwick County.
However, you can search for food safety and accommodation inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Non-compliance checks
Bagatelle bakery6801 E. Harry in Wichita – Eight violations Oct. 14, pending complaint. A fly landed on bread and a sheet cake, sliced tomatoes and shredded lettuce kept at the wrong temperature (49-50°F when 41°F or lower is needed), food residue build-up on bakery equipment, dirty drains, hose hanging below the overflow rim at the three-compartment sink, a leak at the soda stick, and dirt. in the production area, about 10 live houseflies throughout the kitchen, decayed mouse on sticky traps, old rodent droppings, flour and food scraps in the production area. Next inspection: November 14.
Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant3141 S. Hillside in Wichita – Three violations on Oct. 16. during inspection of the amended complaint. Several rodent droppings on kitchen floor, decomposed mouse on sticky traps in storage area, dead mouse on sticky traps in side hallway, purple rodent bait block on shelf next to clean dishes. Next inspection: October 26.
Delano’s Diner1220 W. Douglas in Wichita – One violation on Oct. 13. during subsequent inspection. Old cottage cheese and old macaroni and cheese. Next inspection: October 23.
Denny’s4024 E. Harry in Wichita – Seven violations on Oct. 15, pending complaint. Moldy cherry tomatoes, sausage links stored at the wrong temperature (122-126°F when 135°F or higher is required), cooked potatoes stored at room temperature (82°F when 135°F or higher is required, or 41°F or lower for cold storage), raw eggs not kept cold enough, mixed, date of preparation 20 on the surface of the salad. inadequate pest control measures, grease and food residue build-up under kitchen equipment and food splatters on walls. Next inspection: October 25.
Katana Japanese Steakhouse6821 W. Taft in Wichita – Three violations on Oct. 16. during subsequent inspection. Two adult cockroaches in a box of uncooked rice, one full-grown cockroach out of the dishwasher, one young cockroach by the dishwasher, one young cockroach by the sink by the dishwasher, three cockroaches in the wall covering by the dishwasher, one full-grown cockroach on the kitchen faucet. The restaurant is voluntarily closed until there are no cockroaches on the food or touch surfaces. Next inspection: October 26.
La Jarochita Mexican Food (mobile vendor/food truck), 1919 N. Spruce in Wichita – two violations on Oct. 17. during the inspection, which was a follow-up to the administrative order. Shredded cheese held at an improper temperature (61°F when 41°F or lower is required), the company refused to continue the inspection after the inspector found one violation. Next inspection: December 17.
In African Market Conference2251 E. 21st St., Suite 115 in Wichita – Four violations on Oct. 15. during the licensing-operational inspection. Approximately 20 unlabeled raw whole fish were in direct contact with ice, and numerous bulk items (beans, dry sardines, peanuts, etc.) were packaged in the store without the usual names or other required label information. The date of the next inspection was not specified.
Napoli Italian restaurant7718 E. 37th St. North, Suite 500, Wichita – Three violations on Oct. 13. during follow-up inspection. One mussel case had no shell stock tag in the container, no October shell stock tags were obtained, incomplete records related to sous vide cooking. Next inspection: October 23.
Wasabi Hinkaku912 E. Douglas in Wichita – Three violations on Oct. 13. during routine inspection. Shredded cabbage pan 56°F (when 41°F or lower is required) ice bath not adequate, cooked rice not marked time left at room temperature, time not marked on shrimp and onion rings held at room temperature, two live roaches near oven cabinet. Next inspection: October 23.
Where to complain
If you see a problem with a catering or accommodation establishment, you can file a complaint.
To report unsafe or questionable conditions to the state anywhere food is served or sold to the public, email email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness that you believe may have been caused by a restaurant, food, or event that served the food, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment by email at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about hotel and motel conditions can be made at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information on foodborne illness, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
Note: Sometimes the addresses listed – especially for mobile vendors and food trucks – are not where the food is actually served to the public. Please contact those facilities directly for specific service locations.
Breach summaries were compiled and produced using AI tools. They were fact-checked and edited by Wichita Eagle reporters.
Lots of cockroaches, dirty kitchens, rotting food in Wichita restaurants, stores
Bugs, 49-day greens, “expensive” conditions at Wichita-area restaurants, school
Roaches, unsafe temperatures, liquor bugs, too much garbage in Wichita KS restaurants
Old chili, roaches on napkins, dirty kitchens in Wichita KS restaurants, hotel