Flies, piles of trash, rotting raw meat, filthy kitchens, expired foods 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. Thirteen restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from Aug. 16-22.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 80 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 Aug. 26 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
Chameleon Companies/Colorado Derby Lofts, 201 N. Water in Wichita — One violation on Aug. 21 during a licensing-operational inspection. Milk, string cheese sticks, salami cheese snacks and ham sandwiches were not kept cold enough. Next inspection: Aug. 31.
Charleys Cheesesteaks at Towne East Square, 7700 E. Kellogg Drive, Suite VC06 in Wichita — Two violations on Aug. 20 during a routine inspection. Food including sliced cheese and sliced turkey were not kept cold enough, general level of cleanliness needs improvement. Next inspection: Aug. 30.
Chilaquiles Tacos & More, 612 E. Douglas, Suite 102 in Wichita — Two violations on Aug. 20 during its first operational inspection after licensing. No written plan to clean up vomit or diarrhea, shredded pork was not kept hot enough. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Colmex Meat Market, 2920 W. Central in Wichita — Ten violations on Aug. 19 during a complaint inspection. Bags of rotting raw beef were stocked with fresh product, four packages of tortillas weren’t labeled, cases of ready-to-eat cilantro were stored with raw beef and pork, raw chicken legs were touching raw beef, fly traps were hanging over food preparation areas, no soap or paper towels at hand-washing sinks, flies in food preparation areas, flies in retail area and outside near accumulated trash, flies around large pile of discarded food and meat cases outside, fly glue traps behind butcher counter each had more than 50 flies on them, several over-the-counter drugs for sale weren’t labeled in English. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
Dairy Queen, 1520 S. Webb, Suite 100 in Wichita — One violation on Aug. 18 during a modified complaint inspection. Water at a hand-washing sink was not hot enough. Next inspection: Aug. 28.
Ginger Asian Cuisine, 19894 W. Kellogg Drive in Goddard — Seven violations on Aug. 18 during a routine inspection. Raw chicken was stored above ready-to-eat foods including mushrooms in sauce and packaged meals, raw beef was stored above ready-to-eat egg rolls, garlic and brown sauce was stored under pans of raw chicken and beef, fried chicken was not labeled with its preparation date, hose sprayer end with no backflow prevention was in a sink below the flood rim, employee restroom door was not self-closing, unlabeled chemical bottles, insecticide labeled for home use was stored in kitchen, bottle of collagen pills was stored on shelf over ready-to-eat egg rolls and fried chicken. Next inspection: Aug. 28.
Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 13303 W. Maple, Suite 105 in Wichita — Three violations on Aug. 19 during a routine inspection. No written plan to clean up vomit or diarrhea, garlic in oil was sitting out at room temperature, 10-15 flies in kitchen and dining room. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge, 338 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Eight violations on Aug. 19 during a routine inspection. Raw chicken stored over apples, scoop handle was in baba ghanoush, pan of tomatoes wasn’t labeled with its preparation date, buffalo wings and French fries weren’t labeled with their package opening dates, expired baba ghanoush and beef spice shawarma, dirty air fryers, no paper towels at kitchen hand-washing sink, pest spray at bar was not approved for food establishment use. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
Kwik Shop, 2750 S. Oliver in Wichita — Two violations on Aug. 17 during a follow-up inspection. Forty fruit flies behind and in front of soda machine, spray bottle of flying insect pesticide that isn’t labeled for use in a food establishment was in the office. Next inspection: Aug. 27.
No Ragrets Vegan Scratch Kitchen (mobile vendor/food truck), 4412 Westlake Court in Bel Aire — Four violations on Aug. 22 during a routine inspection. No written plan to clean up vomit or diarrhea, employee touched ready-to-eat hamburger bun with bare hands, vegan ice cream was not kept cold enough, soy meat was not kept cold enough, unlabeled chemical bottles. Next inspection: Sept. 1.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 3131 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Two violations on Aug. 17 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Four pans of chicken were not kept hot enough, no soap at hand-washing sink. The next inspection date wasn’t listed.
Sam & Nancy’s Cafe Hot Dog Cart (mobile vendor/food truck), 151 N. Main in Wichita — Two violations on Aug. 22 during a routine inspection. No test strips available for chlorine sanitizer, no soap at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Sept. 1.
TPS Midwest, 3108 E. 31st St. South in Wichita — Eleven violations on Aug. 19 during a routine inspection. No written plan to clean up vomit or diarrhea, several packages of unlicensed products were for sale, jelly candies were not labeled for retail sale, six different flavors of cookies didn’t have English labeling, cooked beans and meat soup were not kept cold enough, carnitas were not kept hot enough, beef jerky and carnitas saca weren’t labeled, employee didn’t sanitize dishes, door near meat department has holes and gaps that let pests into building, no paper towels at hand-washing sinks, flies in building, general level of cleanliness needs improvement. Next inspection: Aug. 29.
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.
Amy Renee Leiker
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.
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