The 10 Restaurants Try During The Summer in Wichita, Kansas

Food trucks are perfect for casual, summer eats, and Wichita diners are in luck – the city’s food truck scene is steadily growing. The Flying Stove, set up by brothers Jeff and Rob Schauf in 2011, is one of Wichita’s most popular food trucks and specializes in gourmet street cuisine with eclectic, global flavors. Find The Flying Stove truck parked at many locations across the city and try delicious eats like the caviar of the south burger, a seasoned chicken burger topped with arugula, apple and bacon in a brioche bun with pimento cheese. For a healthy, summery option choose the veggeroni salad – summer greens, basil, local cherry tomatoes, olives, smoked provolone, grilled croutons and vegan pepperoni dressing.

For a true taste of summer, heading towards a restaurant offering seasonal, local fare is a diner’s best bet. Public, a classy-casual, farm-to-table eatery opened in 2012 in Wichita’s beautiful Old Town, has local diners covered. Public’s menu is brimming with plenty of locally inspired fare, such as brisket tacos with slow-cooked Creekstone Farms brisket, cheese, cilantro and chopped onions with a side of salsa, sour cream and black beans ‘n’ rice, or the Lamborghini pizza topped with Clark Farms ground lamb, caramelized onions, Kansas cheddar and mint. The restaurant also boasts a lovely patio area perfect for al fresco summer dining.

When summertime rolls around, the cuisines of warmer climes are always appealing, and Wichita diners craving Mediterranean fare are well-advised to head to Larkspur Bistro & Bar. The Old Town eatery boasts a beautiful, tree-shaded garden patio where guests can enjoy its classic Mediterranean and American cuisine to the tinkling tunes of Larkspur’s baby grand piano. Try the veal piccata with lemon beurre blanc, capers, rice and fresh vegetables or the pepper-crusted Kansas City strip steak topped with gorgonzola cheese and herb butter. Wash it all down with a selection from Larkspur’s extensive wine list or a refreshing craft beer.

Another eatery putting Wichita’s food truck scene on the map, Funky Monkey Munchies – established in 2014 by husband and wife Eddi and Lisa Palacios – is one of the city’s newest additions, but is already gaining a firm following. Healthy fusion food crafted from organic, locally sourced produce is Funky Monkey Munchies trademark, and its new August menu features fare like crab rangoon tacos with green onion and cream cheese spread, wonton crisps and sweet ‘n’ sour drizzle or the kimchi masa-potato fries topped with sweet Asian pulled pork, cucumbers, cilantro, sweet soy and sriracha aioli. Funky Monkey Munchies’ retro-style truck can be found at various locations across the city, including Wichita WaterWalk’s Food Trucks at the Fountain events.

Located at Wichita’s upscale Bradley Fair shopping plaza, Newport Grill boasts a picturesque lakeside patio ideal for a spot of summertime dining. Sophisticated yet fun, Newport Grill is described as ‘an ocean-side oasis’ and owner and executive chef Aaron Whitcomb’s seafood focus will whisk diners away to the seaside with dishes like the jumbo lump crab cake with quinoa, avocado, shaved fennel salad and orange or the Maine lobster with drawn butter. Brunch out on the patio is equally fun with dishes like house-cured Scottish salmon and homemade biscuits and gravy teamed with Bloody Marys and mimosas.

Down in the heart of Wichita’s historic College Hill neighborhood, there is a fantastic restaurant specializing in seasonally inspired fare crafted from local, sustainable food. Fork & Fennel has been delighting locals with its mix of American and French bistro eats since opening its doors less than a year ago. Alongside dishes like thick-cut pork chop with smoked apple butter, seasoned vegetables and butter-roasted potatoes, diners will also find new, summery dishes like its roasted beets salad with fresh nettle sheep’s milk cheese.

Serving American gastropub fare in a trendy space in Wichita’s historic Delano District, The Monarch is an ideal destination for a casual get-together with friends this summer. The gastropub’s menu features plenty of appetizers, flat-breads and salads, but The Monarch’s real specialty is its sandwiches crafted from meats smoked in-house daily. Options include the Running Doves reuben with hickory-smoked corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing or the Brisket Royale with warm smoked brisket, cheddar and creamy horseradish. Grab a seat on The Monarch’s street-side patio and pair your meal with a summery signature cocktail while taking in views of the Delano District’s beautiful clock tower.

Opened in May 2015, Beautiful Day Caféjoined the Wichita dining scene just in time for summer, and owner Charolett Knapic’s focus on healthy, local and organic fare makes it the perfect option for seasonal dining. Open for breakfast and lunch six days a week, Beautiful Day Café’s menu includes dishes like banana buckwheat pancakes, kale salad with sourdough bread and grass-fed beef burger topped with bacon and blue cheese. Charolett also has plans to develop a neighboring permaculture garden to grow produce for Beautiful Day Café’s dishes, ensuring even more local, healthy flavors in the future.

A local dining landmark for over 80 years, the Old Mill Tasty Shop first opened its doors in 1932 and maintains its old-school style today. Plenty of soups, salads and sandwiches feature on the Old Mill Tasty Shop’s menu alongside a few Mexican dishes and daily blue-plate specials, like homemade lasagna and chicken-fried chicken. However, if you’re heading there in summer, its ice cream specialties are the real attraction. Choose from sundaes, ice cream floats, malts and shakes made the old-fashioned way or opt for the Old Mill special – vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream topped with whipped cream, cherries, a marshmallow, chocolate and strawberry syrup.