Niche Culinary Institute
- hailo
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
On July 6th, 2026
I, hailo, headed to downtown Wichita to visit NICHE's Culinary School.
Niche is a part of Wichita State's Technical School, training the next generation of chefs, restaurant operators, and others suited to disrupt the hospitality industry.
Hospitality is an industry close to my heart--in DECA competitions as a teenager, I always competed in hospitality events, and I spent two years in New York working for a very exciting restaurant-tech company that gave me the opportunity to meet so many passionate chefs and restaurant owners.
John Michael, the Director of Niche met us on the first floor to give us a tour of the space.
Last year, John Michael and I ate our way through some of my favorite restaurants in New York, as he sought stand out trends and techniques to bring back to the school.
Niche's Leadership
John Michael went to culinary school in New York. He was born in London and lived in many different places before growing roots in Kansas. His wife, Lexi Michael is also a chef and the Dean of Niche.
Together, they're working to develop Wichita into a culinary destination, starting with culinary education.
We arrived around 11:10 am, and John Michael greeted us with a smile.
Then, we began our tour.
The Space
Niche has four floors. The top floor boasts an impressive event space for events, conferences, weddings, and more, complete with a terrace that overlooks the up and coming biomedical school.
The third floor contains impressive kitchens which had live nutrition and Asian cuisine classes going on as we walked through, watching students handle everything from Challah to spiraled carrots to hummus.
The second floor has a private dining and event space with a set up for demonstrations and celebrity chefs, as well as an observation deck.
But the heart of the school is without a doubt the first floor. The student-run restaurant has a "Chef's Table" in the front, which can be rented with a minimum spend of $250 by various parties. It also has a coffee shop and plenty of seating whether you're taking a lunch break after class or work, or making a destination of it.
The Food
At the end of our tour, we ordered lunch--everything from powerbowls to chicken and rice bowls, along to tacos. It was all delicious, satiating, and made right in front of us.
In Sum
Niche is a very exciting addition to Wichita, and quickly becoming one of my favorite places (this was my fourth time!)
Want to write about the cultural scene in your community? Join Hot Literati to submit your writing for "The City According to Hot Literati" and more.