Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau and its partners. All opinions and photos are my own.
Welcome to Junction City, the home of a thriving restaurant scene with international cuisine and plenty of things to do during an overnight stay.
Although I visited Junction City in the past, this trip proved that the town is rich in diverse food culture. Its military presence, U.S. Army Fort Riley, brings people from across the globe to the Kansas town. If you love tasting ethnic cuisine, take a food tour of Junction City, and don’t miss its notable attractions.
During a two-night stay in Junction City, I dined at the following restaurants and food trucks across town. There are more eateries to discover, so I returned for a deeper dive into the restaurant scene.
TAKE THE INTERNATIONAL DINING TOUR
Korean Garden
Sometimes, it’s worth driving off the beaten path to discover a restaurant worthy of distinction. Korean Garden (310 N. Grand Ave.) is worth the short drive from downtown Junction City for its authentic meals, particularly Main Dish No. 7 Bibimbap, a rice bowl topped with marinated beef, egg, sautéed vegetables, and served with a spicy yet sweet sauce.
I was the second customer of the day after Korean Garden opened its doors for the day, and a Korean woman behind the counter was taking to-go orders by phone and hurriedly packaging styrofoam containers. The grill sizzled in the kitchen as I placed my order, and she ushered me to my appointed table.
Within minutes, my bibimbap entree arrived at the table with a complimentary side dish of pickled salads.
Each one was freshly prepared, and a couple tasted toasted sesame oil, of which I was a big fan. Just as I expected, I loved the traditional bibimbap, having tried it many times. The meat was tender, and the remaining ingredients added a tangy flavor.
PRO TIP: You must order from the dinner entree menu on Saturdays. Bento Boxes are available during the week. Expect a $10 minimum purchase for credit card orders.
La Hacienda Taquieria En Ruedas
Across town, La Hacienda Taquieria En Ruedas (720 Caroline Ave) serves traditional Mexican food from a food truck window to customers and food delivery drivers. It’s permanently located in the commercial business parking lot near Bird Dog Saloon.
The 15-minute wait for my freshly prepared carnitas street tacos was worth it. The double-layered tortillas arrived brimming with succulent, flavorful meat, white onion, and cilantro.
s a fan of medium heat, I used the verde salsa on each and left the much hotter sauce in the box.
PRO TIP: Order online before arriving if you’re in a hurry. Prepare to dine in your car. No outdoor tables are available. If you’re lucky, you may also discover a barbecue food truck parked nearby.
Negril Caribbean Restaurant
Several locals advised me to dine at Negril Caribbean Restaurant (127 W. 7th St), so I didn’t hesitate to go. Preferring an early dinner, I was the only customer at 5:00 pm, but that wasn’t because it wasn’t a reflection of the quality of the food; my curry shrimp entree was delicious.
For 20 minutes, I watched Fast & Furious from a nearby television while sipping a sweet Jamaican bottled soda. Then, the colorful seafood dish served with pickled cabbage and rice was delivered to my table by the owner.
Originally from Jamaica, she moved to Junction City to be near family and decided never to leave. The restaurant is open seven days a week, offering customers genuine Jamaican cuisine consisting of 12 entree selections, including Brown Stew, Curried Goat, and Jerk Chicken.
PRO TIP: Strike up a conversation with the owner. Her love of Junction City is infectious, and her business story is admirable.
Taste of India
The food tour of global cuisine continues at the Taste of India food truck (901 N. Washington St.). Situated near other food trucks in a dedicated parking lot in downtown Junction City, the owner prepares authentic vegetarian and meat dishes in a small kitchen on wheels.
Rather than ordering a large entree, I opted for Veg Samosas, a fried pastry stuffed with diced potatoes, seasonings, and peas served with a thin yogurt-based sauce. Each deep-fried bite was piping hot, delivering a mild flavor. Two samosas per order are a light lunch, but you’d want to order more food for a substantial meal.
PRO TIP: Order food online for pick-up. Locals rave about Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken dishes in online reviews.
Thomas Taste of Chicago
What could be more American than enjoying a tasty hot dog? Thomas Taste of Chicago (105 W. 7th St.) serves classic handhelds, including Vienna-style all-beef hot dogs, stacked burgers, sausage, gyros, and salads. According to the owner, the fast-casual restaurant earned No. 4 Best Burger in the State.
After ordering at the counter, I sat listening to soul music play from a speaker in the dining room where families and downtown workers enjoyed lunch. A buzz with activity near the door, a steady stream of locals arrived to order to-go meals.
I ate every bite of my overflowing, messy hot dog. The sausage snapped with every bite, just as one would expect from an authentic Chicago hot dog.
PRO TIP: The classic hot dog with all the toppings is spicy, so specify no hot peppers if your heat tolerance is low.
Mill Pizza at Highwind Brewing Company
Highwind Brewing Company (726 N. Washington St.) is part taproom, part food hall, and the latest addition to the downtown restaurant scene. Brewery-goers order one of 12 craft beers available on tap (8 are flagship beers) before ordering food from on-site restaurants Mill Pizza or 726 Bistro.
After claiming my bar counter seat and ordering an Azacca Hazy IPA, I took my place in a short line at Mill Pizza, selecting the Italian Chopped Salad for dinner. The staff gave me a buzzer, which sounded only minutes after a few sips of my beer.
Known for signature pizzas like Pesto Chicken and Flint Hills Burn, Mill Pizza serves a hearty, flavorful salad. I enjoyed each bite between sips of my beer while listening to patrons at neighboring barstools discuss their work day.
Stay tuned to the brewery’s Facebook page for announcements about its rooftop bar set to open during Summer 2025, according to one of the restaurant’s partners who chatted with me at the bar.
PRO TIP: If you’re not a beer drinker, don’t worry. The bar is fully stocked with cocktail liquors and wine. Restaurants are open after 4:00 pm. 726 Bistro was closed on the day of my visit.
Other international dining restaurants to check out: Bella’s Italian Restaurant (I ate there in 2021!), Jin Jin Garden Chinese Restaurant, El Patron Dos, Onolicious Hawaiian BBQ, and 10th Street Deli Bulgogi Box.
Bonus Dining or Drinks Must-Stops
D’z Lounge
If you’re craving an after-dinner cocktail, D’z Lounge (714 N. Washington), within walking distance of the brewery, is the place. They serve coffee drinks by day and house-made cocktails at night to patrons who want to unwind with friends or partake in Karaoke Night on Fridays.
I sipped a specialty cocktail made with whiskey, wine, and lemon-lime flavor, which reminded me more of a sangria than a whiskey-forward drink. The quaint bar, designed with black and gold furnishings, included a television.
I was the only customer until more people arrived around 8:00 pm. My impression was that the lounge is known for serving a late-night, adult crowd, a sentiment the staff confirmed.
PRO TIP: If you order from the specialty cocktail menu, expect to spend over $10 per drink. The bar staff can also prepare standard drinks of your choosing.
Frost and Flour
When you’re craving dessert after enjoying dining downtown, Frost and Flour (725 N. Washington St.) serve imported Bliss Artisan ice cream by the scoop and homemade baked goods. The sweet smell of freshly baked cookies (the size of small plates!) fills the space.
I was offered tastings of any ice cream and ultimately decided on Brown Sugar Maple in a small cup. Resisting waffle cones and cookies was tough, but after a long day of sampling great food, I wanted a small portion. The ice cream was creamy and rich in a cinnamon roll-like flavor.
PRO TIP: Ice cream flavors rotate weekly. Ask about gluten-free dessert options.
Paradox Coffee & Bistro
Paradox Coffee & Bistro (419 N. Washington St.) offers early morning guests roasted coffee drinks and breakfast menu items you won’t find at standard cafés. Inside, plush lounge seating near an electric fireplace surrounded by farmhouse-style wall decor is the backdrop to a busy coffee counter.
I devoured avocado toast between sips of Reverie Coffee Roasters drip coffee by the fireplace. I recommend the scratch-made breakfast to anyone seeking a healthier meal option.
PRO TIP: Look for grab-and-go retail items for sale, including bagged coffee, t-shirts, and branded coffee mugs.
SHOP FOR GLOBAL GROCERIES
Food connoisseurs typically appreciate shopping for exotic ingredients and unique gourmet condiments. In Junction City, there is no shortage of ethnic grocery stores, and most of them are locally owned.
El Coqui Latino Market
For a taste of Puerto Rico, a visit to El Coqui Latino Market (914 Grand Ave.) is a must. While I didn’t spot a restaurant counter, their Facebook page showcases their traditional rice dishes. The store is a treasure trove of grocery staples for preparing authentic Puerto Rican meals, and following their social media page is a great way to stay updated on their newly stocked inventory.
Gee’s Sari Sari Filipino & Asian Grocery
At Gee’s Sari Sari Filipino & Asian Grocery (908 Grant Ave), you’ll likely find the ingredients you need, including fresh fruit and frozen meats. The shelves were stocked full of inventory also featuring ceramic gifts.
Whether its canned coconut cream or quail eggs or bottled soy sauce, they sell it.
Kabayan Sari-Sari Store
Across town, Kabayan Sari-Sari Store (835 W. Ash St.) is known for their robust inventory of Asian groceries. Trust me when I tell you that the shelves stocked deep with every kind of prepared food or spice you’re hunting for and more. Reach-in coolers house stacks of exotic seafood and hard-to-find cuts of meat pre-packaged for quick sale.
Bonus Foodie Shopping Finds
Looking deeper into Junction City’s shopping scene, I discovered gourmet foodie gifts ready for sale at places you may not expect.
Hildebrand Farms Dairy
Like me, you probably appreciate learning where your food comes from. Hildebrand Farms Dairy (5210 Rucker Rd.) offers guided tours of its cattle farm and milk production facility, and boy is it interesting.
During my tour with Operation Manager Melissa Reed, I gained an appreciate for the multi-generational business nestled in the Flint Hills. We started with a tour of its retail store, which showcases not only its sought-after milk products but also other Kansas-made products.
With a cup of fresh ice cream, we toured the farm, starting with the baby cows’ barn and venturing into other buildings where cattle dined happily before exiting into the open prairie. Melissa taught me that the dairy farm consists of 120 bred Holstein cows that eat 59 pounds of daily feed. Twelve cows are milked at a time more than once a day, producing fluid milk.
Trucks deliver processed fluid milk, butter, whipping cream, and ice cream mix to Kansas retailers.
PRO TIP: Follow the dirt road to the white building, where the retail store is located. Don’t make the mistake of following Apple Maps using the address, which leads you to their private residence like I did.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (115 N. East. St.) is a food shopper’s delight. Most people think it’s only a homestyle restaurant serving comfort classics such as chicken dinners or breakfast pancakes. Aside from seasonal clothing and toys, the retail/general store features shelves of curated food items.
Shoppers can select from condiments, sweet syrups, and jarred jellies. But beware! The store’s hard candy inventory takes up a fair amount of space, tempting shoppers with handmade fudge and nearly every kind of retro candy you can imagine.
PRO TIP: If don’t see what you’re looking for while shopping, order items online for front-door shipping.
Found 31
A local hinted that I might enjoy perusing a home furniture and decor store, Found 31 (207 E. Spruce St.), and she was correct. The store is a hidden gem across the railroad tracks and near Tractor Supply Co. As soon as I walked inside, I wanted to buy everything for my home, including its inventory of food-related gifts.
Amongst cutting boards and kitchenware, the store displays Finch + Fennel pantry staples. The jarred condiments, seasoning blends, and bottled barbecue sauces designed to make cooking at home effortless and enjoyable.
PRO TIP: The store is only open on Saturdays from 9:00 am -3:00 pm.
Cups of Culture, International Food Tour
Junction City’s robust international culinary scene deserves its celebration, and why not two festivals? Each is located downtown, and the fun begins at Cups of Culture on the first Friday in May. Participating businesses serve drinks and appetizers to patrons ages 21 and older.
International Food Tour kicks off the next day when participants are encouraged to pick up a passport, courtesy of Junction City Main Street, to sample culturally diverse food at booths located at the 100 block of West 8th Street. Passports are $15 per person if purchased in advance or $20 on the event day.
The festival coincides with the first Main Street Market of the season. Other food-related festivals of note include Oktoberfest, Hildebrand Farms Harvest, and Wine and Wassail.
MORE THINGS TO DO WHILE IN TOWN
Work Off Calories at Tallgrass Trail, Milford Nature Center
Foodies need to exercise, am I right? When I want to explore nature and get in my steps, I walk the Tallgrass Trail at Milford Nature Center (3415 Hatchery Dr.). Open seven days a week, the nature center is its draw for its live animals and hands-on interactive exhibits. Combined with a scenic 1.5-mile looping trail with views of a pond and nature prairie, it’s a sure win.
During my second visit to the center, I paused to admire the rehabilitated birds of prey housed outside before trekking the trail. Owls, eagles, falcons, and vultures watch quietly as you approach, and if you’re lucky, a few will engage with you by making noise or to a nearby tree branch.
Once on the trail, walkers gain access to an open air pathway leading to learning stations. The information plaques detail types of wildlife and teacher onlookers what to watch for during their hike.
PRO TIP: After exploring the Tallgrass Trail, spend a few minutes inside Milford Nature Center (donations encouraged). The education center consists of live animal exhibits, such as snakes, prairie dogs, lizards, and more.
Snap Photos of Murals and JC Statues
Another way to add exercise to your visit when not dining at Junction City’s incredible restaurants is to walk its downtown corridor, taking note of vibrant art installations. As I approached Mural Alley (a few blocks north of Heritage Park west of N. Washington St.), I was surprised by the sheer number of street art additions.
At some point, I lost count of the number of murals and began to admire each one. But then I started to notice something. I recognized some of the artists’ names.
Slick Rick, Mindy’s Murals, and others were names I’d seen scrawled on street art designs in other towns. A collaborative effort in the spirit of creativity, Mural Alley is a must-see attraction in downtown Junction City.
Other buildings in the immediate area serve as a canvas for artists. Walk in either direction, and you’ll discover more creations.
A new art installation, JC Statues, continues to tell the story of the town’s history and its residents. Each one is painted by an individual artist, unveiling a theme represented by symbols and paint colors.
Junction City celebrated its 164th birthday in 2023, and these statues serve as a reminder of the connectedness of the community.
PRO TIP: To find them all, stop by the Geary County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (222 W. 6th St.) to pick up information on how to locate each one.
Admire Architecture in Historic Downtown
Native limestone is a building material used in many downtown buildings, including some of the most awe-inspiring. I recommend carving out time to walk the downtown area (remember to look up!) and admire each one’s architectural design.
If you only have time to see one first-hand, walk to C.L. Hoover Opera House (135 W. 7th). Limestone and red brick combined with tall windows resemble Romanesque Style. The performance venue remains in operation. Read about my tour of it in 2021 in an earlier blog post.
PRO TIP: Take a deeper dive into Junction City, founded in 1858, by clicking this expandable link.
Explore the Past at Geary County Historical Museum
When in Junction City, I don’t pass up the opportunity to explore Geary County Historical Museum (530 N. Adams St.), and neither should you. The building is another stunning example of how masons used native limestone to handcraft a beautiful building, but what’s on view inside is even more intriguing.
Museum staff and volunteers created three floors of thematic exhibits with relics of the county’s past to convey the story of Geary County.
They designed each exhibit a full sensory experience. You hear the sound of the locomotive pulling into station. Sniff History stations make a self-guided tour an immersive experience, and flip-to-learn-more installments test one’s knowledge of pioneer life.
The museum’s third floor consists of local business history, and its newly installed old-fashioned soda fountain sets the scene of the town’s early days. My favorite museum exhibits are found on the main floor, a multi-room layout of Native American and early Geary County history. Don’t skip the basement. Firefighter history awaits.
PRO TIP: If you want to tour Starcke House, another crown jewel of the Geary County Historical Society, on the same property, group tours of the period home can be arranged.
WHERE TO BOOK LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS
Hampton Inn
Junction City offers several nationally known hotels, including Hampton Inn (1039 S. Washinton St.), which is near downtown.
I had not stayed at the hotel before. The room reflected the design and amenities I’d come to expect from Hampton Inn, but the considerable lobby construction for its renovation was a surprise. So, I parked in the back and used the stairs to access my second-floor accommodations.
PRO TIP: Keep in mind, that the hotel offers a fitness center and complimentary hot breakfast. Pets are allowed with a non-refundable $50 fee.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed getting familiarizing myself with Junction City’s food culture, and I suspect I’ll return again in the coming years to find new restaurants gems.
It wasn’t my first time visiting the northern Kansas town. During a 2021 road trip along KS Highway I-70, I stopped in Junction City to explore its top points of interest. Read Junction City: Incredible Places to Visit to learn about other restaurants and Heritage Park.
