No running water, 5 dead mice: Latest Kansas City-area restaurant inspections
From moldy cheese to meat sitting out overnight, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City-area restaurants in the last two weeks.
Dining establishments like sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations and grocery stores are required to get food inspections, and governments have to release those inspections to the public.
In Kansas City and Independence, each city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections. The lower the number of violations, the better.
Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after. The full inspections show how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining violations. They are available for Kansas City at inspectionsonline.us/foodsafety/mousakansascity/search.htm and Johnson and Wyandotte counties at agriculture.ks.gov.
Here are the restaurants in Kansas City and Johnson and Wyandotte counties that received seven or more critical violations or priority/priority foundation violations from March 15 to 28. No Independence eateries met the threshold during this time frame.
Reggae Kitchen
- 5535 Troost Ave.
- Suspended March 18 after receiving 18 critical violations on a routine inspection
The inspector found five dead mice — two behind the bar fridge and three inside a closet — at this Jamaican restaurant near Rockhurst University. Raw meat was frozen in trash bags and an employee washed dishes without rinsing them. There was “blue and green build up on multiple produce items” in a fridge.
The restaurant didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The restaurant corrected all violations and was cleared to reopen, according to a March 23 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Reggae Kitchen.
Cocky Ocky Grille (food truck)
- Parked at 2625 NE Vivion Road, according to social media
- Suspended March 19 after a complaint inspection
The food truck parked in the Northland did not have running water. Two vapes, a lighter and an ashtray sat on a counter.
Owner Mazin Jabr said the food truck is expected to reopen Thursday, though Google Maps says the establishment has permanently closed. A follow-up inspection has not occurred. Read the full report for the Cocky Ocky Grille food truck.
888 International Market
- 10118 W. 119th St., Overland Park
- 15 priority and priority foundation violations for a March 25 complaint inspection
At this Asian grocery store off 69 Highway, salted jellyfish had a temperature of 58 degrees, 17 degrees hotter than the food code maximum. This seafood had been too warm for multiple days. Residue or dried food was found on 15% of all dishes.
The scheduled follow-up inspection has not yet occurred. Read the full report for 888 International Market by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Kari’s on 39th
- 1715 W. 39th St.
- 10 critical violations for a March 23 routine inspection
The inspector found mouse droppings under the dish-washing sink, behind the freezer and inside the electrical closet of this Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant near the University of Kansas Medical Center.
A follow-up inspection has not occurred. Read the full report for Kari’s on 39th.
LaPeZ Mod Mex
- 11563 Ash St., Leawood
- 9 priority and priority foundation violations for a March 26 follow-up to administrative order inspection
Mold grew on cotija cheese inside this Park Place Mexican restaurant. The inspector found expired lobster, shrimp and creme brulee, and the dishwasher was out of sanitizing solution.
The scheduled follow-up inspection has not yet occurred. Read the full report for LaPeZ Mod Mex by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Tom Burger
- 5512 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas
- 9 priority and priority foundation violations for a March 20 complaint inspection
Multiple tubes of raw beef were kept overnight in the dishwashing sink inside this north Wyandotte County fast food restaurant. Almost 12 hours later, the meat had warmed to more than 65 degrees. None of the items cooked in-house had use-by dates.
The results of the follow-up inspection have not yet been posted. Read the full report for Tom Burger by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Lutfi’s Fried Fish
- 3631 Prospect Ave.
- 8 critical violations for a March 18 routine inspection
The kitchen hand-washing sink was out of soap and paper towels at this east side seafood spot. Grease had built up on the vent hoods and fryers.
The restaurant still had one critical violation, according to a March 18 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Lutfi’s Fried Fish.
Pho Vietnam
- 8602 133rd St., Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Mar. 27 complaint inspection. The scheduled follow-up inspection for the Vietnamese restaurant off of Antioch Road has not yet occurred.
7-Eleven Store (Deli)
- 8901 Wornall Road
- 7 critical violations for a March 26 routine inspection. A follow-up inspection at the Waldo gas station deli has not occurred.
Angies International Kitchen
- 3537 Independence Ave.
- 7 critical violations for a March 25 routine inspection. The African restaurant in Northeast Kansas City still had five critical violations, according to a March 31 follow-up inspection.
Banh Mi KC At 888 International Market
- 10118 W. 119th St., Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for the first operational inspection after licensing March 25. The Vietnamese food stand inside an Asian grocery store did not need a follow-up inspection.
Chelly’s Cafe
- 218 W. 85th St.
- 7 critical violations for a March 24 routine inspection. A follow-up inspection at the Waldo Mexican restaurant has not occurred.
Taqueria El Migue
- 13220 W. 62nd Terrace, Shawnee
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for the first operational inspection after licensing inspection on March 24. The scheduled follow-up inspection for the Mexican restaurant off Shawnee Mission Parkway has not yet occurred.
Torreon Restaurant
- 9129 Elmhurst Drive, Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Mar. 24 complaint inspection. The Mexican restaurant off Santa Fe did not need a follow-up inspection.
Filling Station Coffee
- 2980 McGee Trafficway
- 7 critical violations for a March 19 routine inspection. A follow-up inspection of the midtown coffee shop has not occurred.
Dott Boss Cocktails and Coffee House
- 101 W. 11th St.
- 7 critical violations for a March 18 routine inspection. A follow-up inspection of the downtown hotel restaurant has not occurred.
Bo Ling Chinese Restaurant
- 8670 NW Prairie View Road
- 7 critical violations for a March 16 routine inspection. A follow-up inspection of the Zona Rosa Chinese restaurant has not occurred.
This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
