Wichita 2014

[Chris Hennes]

Is there anything worth seeking out in Wichita? It is known for any foods? Are there any great burger places? What about on the high end? I've never been there before, I don't really know anything about it, but I'm there for a weekend and I'll have a car.

[cyalexa]

I had a good sushi lunch at Wasabi Wasabi Japanese Restaurant 912 E Douglas, Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 927-3524 . If you like checking out grocery stores there is an upscale Dillons Marketplace at 7707 East Central Avenue Wichita, KS 67206.  But, my favorite thing of all is to take hwy 177 to hwy 77 (instead of I-35) through Ponca City and go to Head Country. Best ribs ever. 

 

If you find somnething good, please report. I am in Wichita every now and then.     

[Shelby]

Hi Chris,

 

Wichita is the "big city" that I mention when I say I've gone grocery shopping.  However, we don't frequent the restaurants much.  We like wine with our meal, and it's just too long of a drive home.  I can, however, tell you a few things.  

 

There are three main "areas" you might enjoy perusing:

 

Old Town is fun to stroll around.  http://www.oldtownwichita.com  Traffic can be bad...lots of one way streets down there, but once you're parked, you can walk everywhere.   Lots of shops, bars and restaurants to peruse.  It's kind of like Bricktown in OKC.  Hana Cafe has great sushi.  Mort's cigar bar is fun...usually a band on weekend nights.  The Larkspur is usually good, although, I ate lunch there a while back and it was awful.  The Warren Theater is nice if you want to catch a movie.  You can eat and get a good glass of wine during the show.  I've only been once.  The food was so-so (bar food) , but it was a fun experience.  I've heard great things about Sabor http://saborgrillwichita.com

 

Bradley Fair is also cool.  http://www.bradleyfair.com  Traffic can be a bear around noon and five on Rock Road. A few good shops--there's a Williams Sonoma.  Il Vicino pizza is good.  As is the Bella Luna Cafe.  Oh, and although it's been a while since I've eaten there, Ya Ya's Eurobistro   http://www.yayaswichita.com   has always been one of my favorites.  I don't know how it is now, though.

 

The Waterfront--I haven't been over there for a long time--  http://www.thewaterfrontwichita.com  Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant is really good.  Chester's Chophouse is upscale.  I've heard good things about the raw bar there.  http://www.chesterschophouse.com   I see a Whole Foods is opening in Sept.  I'll maybe finally get to see what the hoopla is about lol.

 

A few random restaurants that we like (not upscale at all....just some local gems) :

 

Connie's Mexico Restaurant 

2227 N Broadway St, Wichita, KS 67219.  

Totally authentic Mexican food.  EXCELLENT salsa.  I don't think you can get wine, but they have lots of icy cold beer.  This place has been there since the 20's or 30's.  It burned down once and they rebuilt.  It's in an OLD part of town.  It looks a little ghetto-ish, but it's just old.

 

Saigon Restaurant 

1103 N Broadway St

Wichita, KS
(316) 262-8134

 

Vietnamese food.  Pho is killer.  It's also on N. Broadway.....you might want to go for lunch (I've only been at lunch time) and not dinner. Beer is available...not sure about other liquors. That part of town is a little icky.  But, keep in mind, I'm a weenie.

 

Also on Broadway in that area are some grocery stores--authentic Mexican and a couple of Asian markets.  I can't recall the names of them....or if they even have names lol.  But if you drive around, you will see them.  Traffic in that area is congested around noon, but it's not terrible.

 

 

For a quick bite to eat:

Dog-N-Shake is a local chain with several locations http://dognshake.com .  Definitely NOT upscale, but they put celery salt on their dogs.  Delicious.  

 

Nu-Way is also local.  Loose meat sandwiches.  They make their own root beer.  Don't skip the root beer.  I almost want to get in the car right now and go get one lol.   No website.  If you google you can find the locations.

 

 

There are a couple of good Farmer's Markets that are open on Saturday mornings.  LOL this may be waaaaay more than you wanted to know.  

 

One is in Old Town (see above)  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Town-Farmers-Market/111998888816100

 

One is at 21st and Ridge Rd.  http://www.sedgwick.ksu.edu/p.aspx?tabid=423  I used to frequent this one a lot a few years ago.  Right now you should be able to get some good corn, cukes, squash and maybe some tomatoes to take home with you ( I don't know what you are growing this year).

 

 

These blogs might be interesting and helpful for you:

 

http://stuffedandschwasted.wordpress.com (hasn't been updated for a while and you have to skip over some recipes, but some reviews here)

 

http://blogs.kansas.com/dining/past-reviews/

 

 

OH and there is a casino open now.  I haven't been.  http://www.kansasstarcasino.com

 

That's what I have off of the top of my head.  I may think of more.  

Edited July 13, 2014 by Shelby (log)

[Shelby]

Another blog

 

http://chainfreeeating.wordpress.com

[Alex]

A very good friend, possessor of a reasonably good palate, who regularly visits his daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids in Wichita, recommended YaYa's EuroBistro (also mentioned by Shelby).

[Shelby]

It's me again.  I thought of another spot.  It's called The Spice Merchant.  It's just a short walk down Douglas if you're in Old Town.

 

http://www.spicemerchant.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi

 

Jar after HUGE jar of every spice you can imagine, teas, coffee beans, gourmet foods etc.  They have a really cool coffee bean roaster.  It always smells SO good in there.  Make sure you have room in the car to schlep some loot home

[Shelby]

Just wondering how your trip went, Chris.  Did you eat anywhere noteworthy?

[Chris Hennes]

We ate at Dog-n-shake, where I had a dog, a burger, and a malt. The dog was pretty good, I liked the bun. The burger was forgettable, and the malt could have stood some more malt powder but was good otherwise. I also liked both the fries and the onion rings, and the whole thing was really inexpensive, so I can't really complain. We also had lunch at Saigon. OKC has a lot of great Vietnamese, but Saigon was right up there in the mix. I enjoyed their make-your-own spring rolls (can't recall the real name of the dish...). Finally, we stopped at Head Country in Ponca City on the way, and as cyalexa points out above, the ribs are excellent. The brisket not so much, but the ribs!! Very nice indeed.