Health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas discovered numerous violations at restaurants in the Kansas City area in March, ranging from clogged sinks to chewed-up rice bags.
Sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations, and cafeterias are required to undergo food inspections, and governments must make those inspections available to the public.
The Kansas City health department enforces the food code, while the Kansas Department of Agriculture conducts inspections. The fewer the number of violations, the better.
Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the initial inspection or soon after. Links to full inspections demonstrate how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining violations.
Here are the restaurants in Kansas City, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties that received seven or more critical/priority violations between March 9 and 29.
Everyday Texas Tom’s (Texas Tom’s on Google)
- Shut down March 20 after a follow-up inspection
- Location: 840 N. Montgall Ave., Kansas City
The restaurant was shut down after failing to address issues after three follow-up inspections by the Kansas City Health Department. An inspector found the dishwashing sink backed up when the handwashing sink was in use, and grease buildup on the fryer.
An additional follow-up inspection has not been conducted. Read Texas Tom’s full report.
Captain D’s No. 3619 on Troost
- Shut down March 19 after a complaint inspection
- Location: 6308 Troost, Kansas City
The fish restaurant was closed after an inspector discovered that the hot water temperature was 58 degrees, which was more than 25 degrees below the FDA food code.
The establishment resolved the problem and was able to reopen the following day after a follow-up inspection. Read Captain D’s full report.
Cupcake A La Mode
- 13 critical violations in a routine inspection March 25
- Location: 4639 Wornall Road, Kansas City
An inspector reported that an employee picked up cupcakes with their bare hands and claimed there were no gloves at the Plaza bakery. A can of WD-40 sat on a shelf above the industrial mixers, alongside food, and a mop was kept in a handwashing sink.
The establishment still had seven critical violations after the required follow-up inspection on April 2. Read the full report from Cupcake A La Mode.
Thai House in south Kansas City
- 13 critical violations for routine and complaint inspections March 21
- Location: 9938 Holmes Road, Kansas City
An inspector discovered mouse droppings throughout the kitchen, including on clean plates and bags of rice. Pests also chewed through a bag of rice, and tofu was stored at room temperature in the dishwashing sink.
A follow-up inspection on March 25 revealed that the restaurant had corrected all of the violations. Read the full report from Thai House.
Taco Naco KC – State Line
- 7 critical violations for a routine inspection March 25
- Location: 7715 State Line Road, Kansas City
According to the report, there were no sanitizer buckets in the kitchen, and a container of ground beef was incorrectly defrosted.
A follow-up inspection on April 2 revealed that the restaurant had corrected all of the violations. Read Taco Naco’s entire report.
Abelardos Mexican Fresh in Olathe
- 7 priority violations for a March 21 routine inspection
- Location: 2055 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe
An inspector from the Kansas Department of Agriculture observed a cook placing a tortilla on top of cracked eggshells while preparing a breakfast burrito. A plan for flautas had been in the fridge for more than a week.
A follow-up inspection on April 1 revealed that the restaurant had corrected all of the violations. You can find Abelardo’s full report by searching the Department of Agriculture website.