The 10 Restaurants Try During The Summer in Wichita, Kansas
Dining during the summer months is a perfect excuse for indulging in seasonal fare, al fresco eats and delicious ice creams, and diners in Wichita, Kansas are in luck. The city boasts plenty of ideal summer dining destinations from fresh seafood on a lakeside patio to farm-to-table fare to soda fountain-style ice creams. Read the following guide for our round-up of the best.
1. The Flying Stove
Food Truck
The Flying Stove
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.
Various locations in Wichita, KS, USA, +1 316 609 9016
2. Public
Diner, Restaurant, American, Beer, Pub Grub, Vegetarian, Vegan, Wine
3. Larkspur Bistro & Bar
Bar, Bistro, Restaurant, Mediterranean, American, Wine, Vegetarian, Vegan, Beer
4. Funky Monkey Munchies
Food Truck
Funky Monkey Munchies
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.
Various locations in Wichita, KS, USA, +1 316 390 0492
5. Newport Grill
Newport Grill
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.
Newport Grill, 1900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS, USA, +1 316 636 9555
6. Fork & Fennel
Bistro, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan
Let’m Eat Bräts
If you’re exploring Wichita this summer and hunger hits you, keep an eye open for Let’m Eat Bräts, a food truck specializing in bratwurst and other authentic German eats. Established in the summer of 2013 by German-born and raised Manu and her husband, Austin, Let’m Eat Bräts’ menu is based on recipes passed down from generation to generation, and is an ideal casual street food option when exploring the city. Choose from simple but tasty eats like schnitzel sandwich, bierock (a beef and cabbage stuffed bread roll) and a range of bratwursts – beer brat, currywurst and weisswurst included.
Various locations in Wichita, KS, USA, +1 316 617 2675
7. The Monarch
Bar, Pub, Gastropub, Pub Grub
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.
8. Beautiful Day Café
Cafe, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan
9. Old Mill Tasty Shop
Old Mill Tasty Shop
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.
Old Mill Tasty Shop, 604 E. Douglas Avenue, Wichita, KS, USA, +1 316 264 6500
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