https://www.facebook.com/105945604736714/

Significantly Spicy, Wichita, KS (2026)

03/19/2026

What is fun and exciting to eat on a Thursday? Naturally it is Adovada Tacos for $1.50 every Thursday at Tacos TJ 644. Adovoda is similar to Al Pastor, but a saucier braised version. All I know is that it is mighty tasty.

I never stop by Tacos TJ 644 without getting a Spicy Shrimp Taco or Quesadilla as well. It is one of those hidden gems that everyone tries to keep secret! I guess the cat is out of the bag now. This meal cost me under $9!

Tacos TJ 644 was fantastic as a food truck and has maintained top quality as they have established their restaurant on north West Street. Stop by and make your Thursday even better with some great tacos!

03/18/2026

Where are some options for Irish food on St Patrick's Day? I hit a perennial favorite Whiskey Dicks for Corned Beef & Cabbage. They have been a hit for me every year with solid portions which has become my must-visit option.

I also stopped by O'Malleys Irish Pub last night and enjoyed a tasty Reuben Sandwich which was loaded up and had plenty of sauerkraut which added a nice tanginess. They used a unique sauce which wasn't Thousand Island or Russian dressing. It had a bit of spiciness which reminded me of chipotle that worked nicely. The entrees are being served with fried mash potato balls which were a nice option instead of fries that went great with the sauce as well.

O'Malleys also offered a Shepherds Pie which had mashed potatoes over some hamburger patties that didn't Wow me as much as the other items on the menu. They do have a Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner tonight and the kitchen stays open late!

Where did you celebrate St Patrick's Day? And how was the food?

03/06/2026

It's an Eggroll Express ICT kind of day. They say everyone is ordering the Spices of Life Ramen. Great choice, I am too. We blame Fert The Foodie for the popularity of this tasty dish!😀

02/18/2026

Wichita doesn't go wild for Fat Tuesday like they do in southern states, but I do my best to celebrate with local restaurants. I stopped by The Rusty Nail for lunch and enjoyed the Muffletta sandwich that they had for the day. It was one of the better versions that I have had in town which got the day off to a great start!

For dinner I picked up the Fat Tuesday Special at Whiskey Dicks. The special consisted of a couple pairs of fried frog legs, crawfish jambalaya, hush puppies, and a cajun-inspired coleslaw. I thought they killed it with the entire special. The coleslaw had a TON of flavor with a spicy kick that I really liked (although it may have been too much for some). They had some creole music and beads which was just about the biggest celebration in town.

I always hope for a giant Fat Tuesday event, but I am proud that a couple of our local restaurants had some really good food offerings that lifted my spirits and filled my belly! :)

01/17/2026

Deshi Curry Revisited - 6249 E 21st St N (316) 651-5933
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054575045040

There are quite a number of Indian cuisine options in the 21st & Woodlawn area, but one of my favorites is the small family-run Deshi Curry restaurant. It is comfort food that brings an abundance of flavor that has always resonated well with me.

I went with the popular Butter Chicken which is rich and creamy that provides a nice balance of flavors that warms you on a cold day. It has plenty of boneless chicken chunks that were tender and moist. I enjoy letting the rice soak up the curry sauce which inspires a happy dance every time!

I hadn't tried their Lamb Biryani yet, so I gave it a try as well. This dish had an abundance of tender lamb chunks that were seasoned nicely. I like that the rice is seasoned on its own as well and some fresh elements like cilantro-infused yogurt and cucumber slices that provided some freshness to the dish. It hit the spot as well.

You can't go to an Indian restaurant and not order the fresh made-to-order Na'an. I got the Garlic Na'an which was flakey and provided another great aspect to the meal.

One has some options to consider when looking for Indian cuisine on the NE side of town. Keep Deshi Curry in mind that has be consistently fantastic for over a decade in Wichita!

01/06/2026

Athens Gyro Express Revisited - 2800 E Central (316)295-4050
https://www.facebook.com/gyrosexpresswichita

Wichita is lucky to have some great Middle Eastern restaurants to enjoy. There are plenty of outstanding dinner options, but not so many quick options for those who don't have an hour to spend. Fortunately Athens Gyro Express is here to fill that need. They are located on East Central near Revolutsia between Hillside & Grove.

They offer a great lunch special for two gyros for $10.99 which I am always up for. They don't skimp on the fillings either. I went with the Spicy Lamb & Beef Gyros which is my favorite. I was filled up and out within 30 minutes which is amazing for food made to order.

Do you have a hankering for a good gyro? Keep Athens Gyro Express in mind!

12/09/2025

Whatever Happened to Rice & Roll by Xing Xing?

A restaurant that showed up just prior to COVID and took Wichita by storm was Rice & Roll by Xing Xing. The restaurant was shutdown to remodel and suffered theft of their electronic payment account was taken over by a hacker. This resulted in the restaurant never reopening although the owner quietly took over of another restaurant down the street, Pho KC at Pawnee & Oliver, during this period of time. It doesn’t appear that the mass following that they built realized that most of the dishes offered at Rice & Roll were available at Pho KC.

It took a while to develop the staff to Xing Xing’s vision, but the restaurant has been a regular stop for me over the last couple of years. I not only get to enjoy the favorites that I loved from Rice & Roll, but I also found some additional items that quickly became favorites such as Stir-fried Pho with freshly-made noodles, Thai-inspired Angry Pho, and Chicken Pho paired with Chicken Spring Rolls. If you haven’t tried the restaurant lately, you should stop by and check it out.

Pho KC 4875 E Pawnee +1 316-990-0972
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063669365210

Xing Xing did not simply give up on the Rice & Roll concept, but eventually reopened the restaurant on the north end of town at 21st & Woodlawn where it would not directly compete with Pho KC. They also expanded the menu to add a number of soups and other items that were not offered at the original Rice & Roll location. I also stop by this location frequently when I am in the area. Their Facebook presence appears to still be using the original Rice & Roll page for those that would like to follow up on their specials.

Bao Xing 6100 E 21st St N Ste 190 +1 316-789-5060
https://www.facebook.com/RiceAndRollByXingXing

Xing Xing has always been a huge supporter of local restaurants and has performed a tremendous amount of charity work without ever seeking publicity. They embody everything that I hope to find in a local restaurant and offer some fantastic food. Thank you Xing Xing for all you offer Wichita!

11/16/2025

Angelo’s Muffletta Sandwich - 5900 E Central Ave # 100, Wichita (316) 364-7913
https://www.facebook.com/p/Angelos-Italian-Restaurant-Wichita-100063546792366/
https://angeloswichita.com

I am unquestionably a huge fan of all cuisine from the Gulf region. My heart lies in NOLA and the surrounding area and that has been one area that Wichita has few options that scratch that particular itch. The famous Muffletta Sandwich was invented in that region that developed feeding the Italian dock workers. Angelo’s already offers one of my favorite Italian Sandwiches as well as house-made Italian Sausage and Meatball Sandwiches, but how does the Muffletta stack up?

First of all this sandwich is big… really big and hefty! It should have no issue satisfying your appetite. It could likely feed two people in a pinch. There are plenty of Italian cold-cut meat topped with a layer of melted cheese. This is topped with an olive-salad mix that includes a variety of pickled vegetables (Giardiniera) chopped up in an olive oil marinade which provides some acidity to balance the meat and cheese and a ton of flavor. This has started out really promising, but another key element to this sandwich is the bread. They use a freshly made round Italian roll that is soft, yet sturdy enough to support the contents. The bun doesn’t particularly overwhelm the rest of the sandwich which is something where other local options regularly fall short. There is a balance in the bread ratio that is key and Angelo’s does a pretty good job. I also appreciate that they serve mayo on the side; it can be a deal-breaker based on personal preference and this lets you decide what is just right!

This Muffletta is the best that I have been served locally in years and I suggest giving it a try!

One really can’t go wrong with the Angelo’s menu. They do what they do extremely well and the menu is stacked with plenty of great Italian options and their famous pickled eggplant to-go. They also offer a great spin on the Long Island Ice Tea drink that includes Limoncello; unfortunately I don’t know what they call it and there is not a drink menu posted online anywhere, so feel free to ask about their full bar options. They offer lunch service on Friday and Saturday which is a perfect time to check out the sandwich menu!

11/16/2025

It has been a while since this blog has been active with some additional commitments that have taken priority in life. Unfortunately it has been difficult to avoid noticing that businesses have been dealing with less patronage as this year has progressed. Regardless of why this is happening, it has resulted in plenty of restaurant closings. Including many that were thriving a year or two ago. This has made things far more difficult for local restaurants in particular which is concerning.

Wichita enjoys a fairly robust and diverse food scene with plenty of options that could compete in major cities, but they only exist when they are profitable. Profitability is a challenge for local restaurants in the best of times and many owners are keeping their restaurants afloat out of their pockets. It is fair to consider when you experience an understaffed restaurant with staff that is clearly stressed and facing challenges that the waiter/waitress may be short on their rent due to lower tip income and the ownership could very well be paying out of their own pocket for you to enjoy the service that they provide. I get it that prices have gone up dramatically for you, but they are seeing the same on every front as well. Ultimately fighting the higher prices at this level only means that you will soon get to pick from value menus at chain restaurants instead of keeping all of the money local with your neighbors offering options that offer far more quality and flavor at the same price.

I am going to start posting some local food options that I enjoy. They may not be the newest kids on the block, but places that could use our support. Hopefully you will consider supporting them when you dine out.

I won’t ask anyone to spend money that they cannot afford to spend, but I would urge everyone to focus a bit more on where they spend their money when they do. If possible focus on supporting your local restaurant favorites and keeping them successful. You could very well improve many lives in your community instead of complaining about all the terrible chain food options that will remain.

09/05/2025

The nice thing about the Las Vegas Strip is the ease in walking between different resorts and entirely different dining options. The restaurants at Aria Resort continued to impress starting with crepes and gelato at ARIA Patisserie and finishing with outstanding Sea Bass and Salmon at Jean Gorges Steakhouse. It was interesting to note that some of their high-end steaks are sourced from Creekstone Farms in Kansas!

The Cosmopolitan Resort next door also has a huge focus on food with a food hall and buffet options. They offer several restaurants designed by Momofuku and José Andrés. Although the featured restaurants there were tempting, I was thoroughly intrigued with an adjacent restaurant named Eggslut that clearly appealed to foodies with their spin on street comfort food. Their Gaucho Sandwich consisted of Wagyu Tri-tip steak with chimichurri, red onion, seasoned arugula, and an over-medium egg on a brioche bun. It was simply fantastic!

I caught the Mad Apple show by Cirque du Soleil at the New York - New York Resort which was very entertaining. I arrived early and enjoyed some Queso, Chips, & Salsa at the adjacent Gonzalez y Gonzalez restaurant since there weren't really any food options that interested me at the Hello Kitty food truck outside. I was not disappointed and enjoyed the appetizer which later gave me all the energy needed to escape the Zombie Apocalypse bus that was cleverly disguised as a food truck!

The only disappointing food during this visit was Egghead, the lone breakfast restaurant in the Proper Eats Food Hall. It was very fast-food-ish and extremely overwhelmed with the demand from the adjacent convention. This has an open kitchen which didn't help when backed up over 20 minutes with customers lurking in wait. I imagine it would have been a far better experience with a more reasonably-sized crowd or if some other breakfast options were available in the food hall.

All-in-all it was a great dining holiday for me and I can't wait to return!

09/03/2025

Life has been busy, but I'm taking a few days in Las Vegas. Day 1 was delicious staying within the confines of ARIA Resort & Casino. The day started with Shrimp & Cheesy Grits and a Lobster Roll from Salt & Ivy. Lunch consisted of Soup Dumplings (Ciao Long Bao), Cucumber Salad, Steamed Dumplings, and Shaved Snow with Fresh Mango from Dim Yai Fung. It did not disappoint! Next was Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell for Happy Hour. I ended the day checking out the Proper Eats Food Hall with some Tonkotsu Ramen and Pork Belly Bao Buns from Laughing Budda Ramen. It was all good without setting a single foot outside!

05/30/2025

Bella Vita Bistro – 120 N West St (316) 941-4500
https://www.facebook.com/BellaVitaBistroIct

The Friday lunch buffet at Bella Vita Bistro has been one of my favorite buffet options for years. There are not many buffets that offer top-caliber food options and it has always amazed me that they have maintained the food quality. They stopped the buffet several years ago and only started offering it again a few months ago. Unfortunately they shared that there hasn’t been many customers over the last months and they are considering ending the Friday lunch buffet. They have dropped the price to $16/person which is one of the best deals in town for the price.

If you’ve never tried Bella Vita Bistro, this buffet is a fantastic introduction to the restaurant. If you have never tried the buffet there, I urge you to grab the opportunity while you can. Hopefully we can spread the word and keep there culinary treasure around to enjoy for the foreseeable future!

Significantly Spicy

03/19/2026

03/18/2026

03/06/2026

02/18/2026

01/17/2026

01/06/2026

12/09/2025

11/16/2025

11/16/2025

09/05/2025

09/03/2025

05/30/2025

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