Guidebook for Wichita
Food Scene
If you haven’t been to Freddy’s you need to try it while in Wichita. It’s a cross between an ‘At the Hop’ Diner and quick serve restaurant. The burgers are unique and the custard is really good. It can be a full meal experience or just stop in for dessert at the end of a long day. The closest Freddy’s is about 5 minutes away from our house and will set a family of 5 back about $25- $30 to eat there.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
8621 W 21st StIf you haven’t been to Freddy’s you need to try it while in Wichita. It’s a cross between an ‘At the Hop’ Diner and quick serve restaurant. The burgers are unique and the custard is really good. It can be a full meal experience or just stop in for dessert at the end of a long day. The closest Freddy’s is about 5 minutes away from our house and will set a family of 5 back about $25- $30 to eat there.
There are now several locations (will be about a 15-20 minute drive) in Wichita of our favorite wood-fired oven pizza. These pizzas are made right in front of you, are delightfully topped and have great service – all with a great price tag. If you play your cards right (and have a 5-year old with you), they will even give you a dough ball to play with until you get your pizza – which the parents invariably end up taking from the kids to play with. Family of 5 can eat here for $30-$40.
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza - Wichita Bradley Fair
2132 N Rock RdThere are now several locations (will be about a 15-20 minute drive) in Wichita of our favorite wood-fired oven pizza. These pizzas are made right in front of you, are delightfully topped and have great service – all with a great price tag. If you play your cards right (and have a 5-year old with you), they will even give you a dough ball to play with until you get your pizza – which the parents invariably end up taking from the kids to play with. Family of 5 can eat here for $30-$40.
OK, this isn’t a restaurant, but located on the East side of Wichita and it is one of our family’s favorites for after dinner. This one is about 15 minute drive away and will be good for whoever likes chocolate or ice cream (usually covers everyone in a group). But our favorite thing to do is to go on a nice crisp fall or winter evening and order the hot chocolate – which is something you won’t soon forget. You can go with five folks and leave with a $20 – $25 bill.
Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates
2132 N Rock RdOK, this isn’t a restaurant, but located on the East side of Wichita and it is one of our family’s favorites for after dinner. This one is about 15 minute drive away and will be good for whoever likes chocolate or ice cream (usually covers everyone in a group). But our favorite thing to do is to go on a nice crisp fall or winter evening and order the hot chocolate – which is something you won’t soon forget. You can go with five folks and leave with a $20 – $25 bill.
This is a west side restaurant that is about 10 minutes away from our house serving wonderful BBQ. If you’re in Kansas, you would be replete if you didn’t at least try the BBQ and When Pigs Fly is a wonderful example of BBQ done correctly. Try the brisket, try the ribs, and try whatever’s on special – you will not be disappointed. The seating area is not fancy and a tip is that you can order, pickup and eat at home if you want (what we usually do). Give them a try if you’re looking for BBQ - $30 - $40 is more than enough for a family of 5.
When Pigs Fly BBQ
7011 West Central AvenueThis is a west side restaurant that is about 10 minutes away from our house serving wonderful BBQ. If you’re in Kansas, you would be replete if you didn’t at least try the BBQ and When Pigs Fly is a wonderful example of BBQ done correctly. Try the brisket, try the ribs, and try whatever’s on special – you will not be disappointed. The seating area is not fancy and a tip is that you can order, pickup and eat at home if you want (what we usually do). Give them a try if you’re looking for BBQ - $30 - $40 is more than enough for a family of 5.
This east side restaurant is one that has a bit of everything for the family. Cheddar’s is technically a chain restaurant but always feels like a hometown place to me when I visit. We love the chicken fingers and the broccoli casserole is not to be missed. They serve everything from steaks to pasta here, so it truly ticks all the boxes. Cheddar’s is about a 20-minute drive and will be about $50 for a nice sit down meal with a family of 5.
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Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
11711 E 13th St NThis east side restaurant is one that has a bit of everything for the family. Cheddar’s is technically a chain restaurant but always feels like a hometown place to me when I visit. We love the chicken fingers and the broccoli casserole is not to be missed. They serve everything from steaks to pasta here, so it truly ticks all the boxes. Cheddar’s is about a 20-minute drive and will be about $50 for a nice sit down meal with a family of 5.
Red Rock is an east side establishment that is a bit hard to classify, but I would say it is steakhouse feel with a southwestern touch. They have wonderful steaks and ribs served alongside some tasty jalapeño corn bread. This place is more for those special occasions, great for business dinners but is certainly a place the family can go. It’s about 15-20 minutes away and will probably cost $75 - $100 for a family of 5.
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Redrock Canyon Grill
1844 N Rock RdRed Rock is an east side establishment that is a bit hard to classify, but I would say it is steakhouse feel with a southwestern touch. They have wonderful steaks and ribs served alongside some tasty jalapeño corn bread. This place is more for those special occasions, great for business dinners but is certainly a place the family can go. It’s about 15-20 minutes away and will probably cost $75 - $100 for a family of 5.
A coffee shop and roaster that is towards downtown. The best coffee in town in my opinion and they have an admittedly modern vibe.
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Reverie Coffee Roasters
2202 E Douglas AveA coffee shop and roaster that is towards downtown. The best coffee in town in my opinion and they have an admittedly modern vibe.
The coffee isn’t as good as Reverie, but the baristas are very friendly (actually it was started to support various charities) and they usually have some fun stuff happening there from time to time.
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Mead's Corner
430 E Douglas AveThe coffee isn’t as good as Reverie, but the baristas are very friendly (actually it was started to support various charities) and they usually have some fun stuff happening there from time to time.
I should really include this in the food section as it is a great fine-dining restaurant (go here if you want seafood). But they also have a great cocktail and drink selection there. Kettle One Martinis are wonderful!
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Newport Grill
1900 N Rock RdI should really include this in the food section as it is a great fine-dining restaurant (go here if you want seafood). But they also have a great cocktail and drink selection there. Kettle One Martinis are wonderful!
this is another restaurant downtown in the brick town area and has a bit of speakeasy feel. You can get full dinner here, but the cocktails are crafted by the chef as well and are worth a trip.
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Public at the Brickyard
129 N Rock Islandthis is another restaurant downtown in the brick town area and has a bit of speakeasy feel. You can get full dinner here, but the cocktails are crafted by the chef as well and are worth a trip.
Entertainment & Activities
If you have any interest in zoos, you need to see this one. Consistently rated as the top activity in Wichita, this zoo will hold your interest. Cheaper than some of the more famous zoos, yet this one lets you feel less crowded and still have a fantastic experience. Highly recommend. This is about 10 minutes from our house. A key tip is to go early in the morning during the summer (to avoid the heat!).
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Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 W Zoo BlvdIf you have any interest in zoos, you need to see this one. Consistently rated as the top activity in Wichita, this zoo will hold your interest. Cheaper than some of the more famous zoos, yet this one lets you feel less crowded and still have a fantastic experience. Highly recommend. This is about 10 minutes from our house. A key tip is to go early in the morning during the summer (to avoid the heat!).
Parks & Nature
This is a Wichita institution and is a wonderful place to walk through and see beautiful plants, with just enough to keep the kids entertained (they have recently just opened a whole section for kids as well). If you’re in Wichita around Christmas, it’s a must-see to see the light shows.
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Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
701 Amidon StThis is a Wichita institution and is a wonderful place to walk through and see beautiful plants, with just enough to keep the kids entertained (they have recently just opened a whole section for kids as well). If you’re in Wichita around Christmas, it’s a must-see to see the light shows.
Arts & Culture
this is a world-class children’s science museum located right along the river near to downtown. Great for spending an afternoon or morning there.
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Exploration Place
300 N McLean Blvdthis is a world-class children’s science museum located right along the river near to downtown. Great for spending an afternoon or morning there.
one of my favorite all time museums in the whole world! This is truly an experience not much different than a Smithsonian, but exploring the life of a man that was not only president, but also oversaw the most significant portion of WW2. Truly a gem in Kansas and about 1.5 hrs drive from our house. A great day trip!
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
200 S E 4th Stone of my favorite all time museums in the whole world! This is truly an experience not much different than a Smithsonian, but exploring the life of a man that was not only president, but also oversaw the most significant portion of WW2. Truly a gem in Kansas and about 1.5 hrs drive from our house. A great day trip!
This is about a 45 minute drive away, but a wonderful museum that really explores the rocket and space programs in the USA. There are great hands-on exhibits and if you have any interest in space or flying, this is a must see!
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Cosmosphere
1100 N Plum StThis is about a 45 minute drive away, but a wonderful museum that really explores the rocket and space programs in the USA. There are great hands-on exhibits and if you have any interest in space or flying, this is a must see!