Mold, cockroaches and more: Failed restaurant inspections in Topeka last month

Kansas food safety and lodging inspectors reported eight local establishments were out of compliance with state law during August 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 area service establishments passed inspections in August 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 August.

• Jalapenos Mexican Grill , 601 E. US-24 highway, Suite 24, in Rossville.

The Aug. 28 first operational inspection after licensing found seven violations.

Inspectors found green mold in a container of mac and cheese and black mold in the ice machine.

The grill had containers of sauteed onions, steak chunks in broth, pork in broth, diced steak and diced chicken that were not kept hot enough. There were four containers of flan plus cooked chicken in raw dough that were held past seven-day limit, while date marks were missing on open containers of heavy whipping cream, a container of diced tomatoes and cooked shrimp.

There was no food thermometer and no sanitizer test strips.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Sept. 6.

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites , 901 S.W. Robinson Ave.

The Aug. 19 routine inspection found nine violations.

Inspectors found multiple rooms with debris, including French fries under a sofa bed in one room, mold on the wall above a bath tub in one room, stained bed sheets in one room and dead insects inside picture frames in two rooms. The room with the mold was voluntarily closed. Ice buckets were not being properly cleaned and sanitized.

The mechanical room had an electric outlet near water sources than was not equipped with GFCI, the laundry room had an unlabeled spray bottle, the fitness room had no sanitizing wipes and there were no logs of fecal and vomiting accidents.

A follow-up inspection had been scheduled for Aug. 29.

• Love's Travel Stop/Godfather's Pizza , Kansas Turnpike mile marker 188.

The Aug. 19 routine inspection found two violations.

The inspector witnessed more than 15 flies "landing on guest tables and on counter tops." There was also a container of pepperoni without a date mark.

A follow-up had been scheduled for Aug. 29.

• Super 8 , 5968 S.W. 10th Ave.

The Aug. 19 inspection for a modified complaint found two violations.

Two rooms had debris and "several large dark stains throughout the room." Those rooms had linens, bed sheets, pillow covers and mattresses with red and black stains, holes and hairs.

A follow-up had been scheduled for Aug. 29.

• IHOP , 3001 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

The Aug. 12 complaint inspection found four violations.

The restaurant operators voluntarily closed after inspectors found there was no hot water, with the hot water that was coming out reaching between 70 and 73 degrees. The state considers no hot water to be an imminent health hazard, requiring a licensee to cease operations and notify the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, water pressure becomes "very weak" when several sinks are running.

A shelf under the grill had 10 plates stored as clean that had crumbs and other food debris on the food contact surface. There were three small plates on a shelf that also had food debris.

Atlantic salmon was thawing in intact vacuum packaging, when there was supposed to be a slit cut in the packaging for thawing.

The establishment was back in compliance after an Aug. 21 follow-up.

• Globe Indian Restaurant , 117 S.E. 10th Ave.

The Aug. 7 routine inspection found two violations.

Near the grease trap, the inspector found more than 10 cockroaches, including babies and adults. The adult cockroaches "look deformed from the pesticide." There was a bottle of Ortho insect spray that was not approved for use in commercial kitchens.

The establishment was back in compliance after an Aug. 19 follow-up.

• Los Amigo's , 5145 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

The Aug. 6 joint inspection found five violations.

Inspectors found raw shelled eggs stored above packages of shredded cheese in the walk-in cooler, while a refrigerated prep table had open containers of raw fish and raw chicken on a shelf above an uncovered container of ready-to-eat pico de gallo.

A freezer had a pot of beans that did not cool enough within the six hours. A container of cheese dip in a holding unit was not hot enough. An employee washing dishes put away metal pans without sanitizing them. A can of tomato puree was "severely dented" and needed sent back to the distributor.

The establishment was back in compliance after an Aug. 16 follow-up.

• El Gallo Mexican Restaurant , 3501 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

After inspectors found 14 violations at a July inspection, the restaurant remained out of compliance after an Aug. 5 follow-up inspection and an Aug. 7 reopening inspection.

The inspector noted during the Aug. 5 inspection that both reach-in coolers and a walk-in cooler were not keeping the temperature cool enough, which the inspector indicated was because the air conditioner to the entire facility was not working. The dining area temperature was 93 degrees, while the grill area temperature was 119 degrees. The establishment voluntarily closed.

The establishment was back in compliance after an Aug. 19 follow-up.

Inspections found these Topeka establishments were in compliance

The following service establishments were in compliance when inspectors visited in August with either no violations or only relatively minor ones.

• Panera Bread , 1421 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Qdoba Mexican Eats , 1025 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Burger King , 2817 S.E. California Ave.
• Circle Coffee , 1352 S.W. High Ave.
• Gas and Shop , 1900 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Bimbo Bakeries USA , 4100 S.W. Martin Drive.
• Chartwells Dining Service - Memorial Union , 1700 College Drive.
• Cosmos Court , 909 S. Kansas Ave.
• Quality Inn , 1240 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Specks Bar & Grill , 2105 Mission Ave.
• Hane Be , 2855 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite B.
• Kwik Shop , 5700 S.W. 21st St.
• L.D. Distributing , 305 S.E. 17th St.
• Litke Distributing , 305 S.E. 17th St.
• Poppin Squeeze LLC (Lil' Red) , 6105 S.E. Shawnee Drive in Berryton.
• Sonic Drive In , 2053 S.W. Western.
• Cooking with Mike , 710 N.W. Sanford Lane.
• El Dorado Mexican Grill & Cantina , 3627 29th St., Suite 101.
• El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant , 3425 S. Kansas Ave.
• Barnes & Noble Booksellers , 6130 S.W. 17th.
• Ronn's Jazzy Doggs , 7013 S.W. 18th St.
• Stormont Vail Events Center — Landon Arena, Attention Hospitality, 1 Expocentre Drive.
• Tacos El Sol , 2124 Sixth Ave.
• Candlewood Suites , 914 S.W. Henderson Road.
• Doughboyz Pizzeria , 1312 N. Kansas Ave.
• DQ Grill & Chill Restaurant , 3320 29th St.
• Lindyspring Drinking Water , 115 Van Buren.
• McAlister's Deli , 1129 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Micaela's , 2041 S.E. Washington St.
• Shawnee North Community Ball Park , 300 43rd.
• Spangles , 635 N.W. US-24 highway.
• Aldi , 2320 N.W. Clay St.
• Gas and Shop , 1900 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Sutherlands , 2210 N.W. Tyler.
• Walmart , 2600 Rochester Road.
• Dollar General , 2620 N.E. Sardou Ave.
• El Mezcal , 511 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Kwik Shop , 746 N.E. Wabash.
• Long John Silver's , 2746 S.W. Fairlawn Road.
• Lupita's Tacos , 3326 S.E. Girard St.
• Whayne's Herbs & Natural Products , 6731 S.W. Windwood Lane.
• Kwik Shop , 1700 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Sonic Drive In , 3520 S.E. 29th St.
• Texas Roadhouse , 5901 S.W. Huntoon St.
• Crown Distributors , 4435 US-24 highway.
• Dialogue Coffee House , 1133 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Gerardo's Mexican Food , 3506 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Kwik Shop , 102 S.E. 37th St.
• Leonard Meat , 105 N.E. Quincy.
• PWA Islander Food's & Bakery's , 1144 S.E. 29th St.
• Tortilla Jacks , 821 S.W. 21st St.
• Chili's Grill & Bar , 2021 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Dillons Store , 800 N.W. 25th St.
• McDonald's , 2001 N. Topeka Blvd.
• Days Inn By Wyndham , 1510 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Forward Nutrition , 929 S. Kansas Ave., Suite B.
• Frozen Drinks On The Go , 3925 N.W. 43rd St.
• Pizza Parlor , 1401 N.E. Seward Ave.
• Subway Sandwich and Salads , 1151 S.W. Gage Blvd.
• Topeka Performing Arts Center , 214 Eighth Ave.
• 7 Brew Coffee , 1115 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Cookies by Gayla , 1801 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Juice Stop , 5327 S.W. 21st St.
• Boulevard Billiards , 4700 Topeka Blvd.
• Jessie's Bar , 5011 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
• Spangles , 635 N.W. US-24 highway.
• Top City Beverages , 2525 S.W. 29th St.
• Buffalo Wild Wings , 1227 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• Cyrus Hotel / The Weather Room , 920 S. Kansas Ave.
• Dunkin' , 1500 S.W. Sixth Ave.
• Golden Drago , 1101 S. Kansas Ave.
• McDonald's , 1100 S. Kansas Ave.
• Dairy Queen/Orange Julius , 1725 S.W. 29th St.
• Jersey Mikes Subs , 2121 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite 115.
• Smokin H's Meats , 2500 S.W. Shunga Drive.
• The Dugout , 1545 S.W. Fairlawn Road.
• Loncheria Lopez , 1704 S.E. 24th St.
• Spangles , 1130 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• World Cup Coffee and Crepes , 1501 S.W. 21st St., Suite 110.
• Boxer Q BBQ , 1804 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
• The Burger Bus , 3137 N.W. 66th St.
• Forest Park Dining and Kitchen Facility , 3158 S.E. 10th St.
• Front Door Catering , 114 N.W. Laurent.
• La Rocca's Pizza , 3100 S.W. Gage Blvd.

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: Mold, cockroaches and more: Failed restaurant inspections in Topeka last month