White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Thanks for the tips! The sign’s been up for months at 9602 16th SW – now finally The Roll Pod is about to get rolling. The Indian fast-food mini-chain says its White Center location will open its doors this Saturday (November 6th) at 6 pm. It’s also offering 15 percent discounts with the promo code WESTROLL. Hours will be 11 am to 8:30 pm, 7 days a week. You can preview the menu here. This will be the fifth incarnation for the space in less than five years – 3.14 Bakery, Brass Knuckle Bistro, Biscuit Bitch, and Bloom Bistro.

(WCN photo)

Between Taboo Video and Southside Pizza, new restaurant Tomo is on the way, and it’s a hot ticket – or should we say, hot plate – weeks before opening. First day will be September 9th, and it’s already fully booked for the month, with October reservations to be offered starting at 10 am September 1st. James Beard Award-winning former Canlis Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams‘ restaurant promises food “created with micro–seasonal, ethically–sourced ingredients and inspired by the heritages of our culinary team.” Tomo is named for the proprietor’s grandmother, Tomoko Ishiwata Bristol, and the restaurant’s website also notes that “tomo” is from the Japanese word for “friend” (tomodachi). The space at 9811 16th SW, which will seat 28 diners, has some food history – Meander’s Kitchen and San Fernando Roasted Chicken in the early 2010s. See sample menus for Tomo here. Tomo will offer two 5-course set dinner menus, and a la carte lunch on weekends; the restaurant also will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Three White Center food and drink notes:

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BOOMBOX BAR: For the first time since Boombox opened at 9608 16th SW, it’s opening indoor seating on Monday, as King County goes into Phase 2 of the governor’s reopening plan. 25 percent capacity. Boombox enthused online, “It has been SUCH a long wait for us but we know it is worth it because truly we have the best community and friends in the best neighborhood ever.”

GOOD DAY DONUTS: The mega-popular donut shop at 9823 15th SW is opening seven days a week starting tomorrow, Monday-Saturday 8 am-2 pm and Sunday 9 am-1 pm. The shop adds, “Pre-order available all 7 days, yay!”

BIZZARRO ITALIAN CAFE: The new White Center restaurant at 9635 16th SW just got its liquor-license approval and is offering wine specials. 206-453-4441 is the number to call with questions/orders.

2:59 PM: For the second week in a row, White Center has a new place to eat. This time, Boombox Bar – in the former Swallow space, 9608 16th SW – is open for business, offering takeout through 9 pm tonight. You can see the Boombox menu here. It’s been a month and a half since we first mentioned Boombox was on the way.

6:03 PM: Because of this afternoon’s weather, we talked to the Boombox crew by phone rather than going over. They tell us they’ll be open noon to 9 pm, 7 days a week for now (closed Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve/Day). Their theme: American comfort food, and (when indoor dining is allowed again) come-as-you-are dining. They’re still awaiting their liquor license so no cocktails yet. In the future, post-pandemic, they hope to be a relaxed venue, full kitchen and bar, maybe eventually adding karaoke, trivia, other entertainment.

We first told you last month that Bizzarro Italian Café was expanding and would take over the former Noble Barton space in downtown White Center. Today is opening day – 5-8 pm for takeout; you can call ahead for pickup, 206-453-4441.

They also offer third-party delivery. Menu’s on their website.

Tomorrow’s your last chance for a while to enjoy what White Center’s bar/eatery Anju offers:

Anju is at 9641 15th SW.

White Center’s own Salvadorean Bakery has turned up in an unexpected place – featured on the website of Seattle’s new professional-hockey team, the Kraken. Sisters Ana Castro and Aminta Elgin tell their story of 25 sweet years baking and cooking in White Center, and, most recently, battling through the rocky economic times brought by the pandemic. If you’ve visited, you’ve seen their beautiful cakes – and in the story, they even show off one with a Kraken logo!

From Food Lifeline in nearby South Park:

Food Lifeline announced today that it will continue to distribute thousands of emergency food boxes to anyone needing help keeping food on the table during this crisis.

…Food Lifeline – 815 South 96th Street (Two (2) this week)

 Wednesday, May 20th, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 Friday, May 22, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This schedule is also available on the homepage of foodlifeline.org

ANYONE can have access to this food. This is a confidential distribution, so there will be no paperwork or qualification. Food Lifeline is only asking for zip codes to track its efforts.

Just announced by Food Lifeline in South Park:

Free Food Distribution for Everyone

Friday, May 8th
2:00 pm. – 5:00 pm

Food Lifeline
815 South 96th Street

Come by Food Lifeline to pick up an emergency food box for yourself and/or your family. Food Lifeline will be distributing 2,000 boxes of shelf-stable food items to help you and your family during this difficult time. This is for ANYONE in the community that needs help. Your zip code is the only personal information required.

Each box will include up to 25 pounds of food such as canned fruit/vegetables, canned meats, non-meat protein items, and breads/grains. Here’s a map. This will be mostly a no-contact drive-up distribution between FL’s two warehouse buildings, while supplies last, but walk-ups are welcome too.

Earlier this month, the Instagram feed for Capitol Hill’s Tacos De La Noche shared that sneak peek inside the future El Buho, which has just been granted its liquor license for 9640 16th SW in downtown White Center. The captioo noted, “We unlocked the door to this space almost 6 months ago. … We hoped to be open two months ago but as always, there are things that will go wrong. It is important to remember that plans exist so that hardships can be endured. The plan, the goal, the light at the end of the tunnel, it guides us. The road has been long and hard and isn’t quite over yet, but We are getting Excited to share what we’ve been working on. Stay tuned, more to come soon.” (El Buho means “The Owl.”)

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

Three and a half months after we first reported that Biscuit Bitch would expand to White Center, its opening date is set. We talked with proprietor Kimmie Spice at the new location (the ex-Brass Knuckle Bistro at 9602 16th SW) today and she told us the opening date will be Thursday, September 5th. Interior work is pretty much done:

Biscuit Bitch has three locations downtown; see the menu here.

Thanks to Gill for sending the photo and word that he had noticed the Blu Grouse (9839 17th Ave SW) open during Jubilee Days weekend. We went by today to check on it and found out that was just a sneak preview of sorts for the bar/restaurant that’s moving to White Center after closing in Georgetown. The crew we found there said they still have a few weeks of work to do before they’ll be ready.

(Photo courtesy Kevin Bui)

Yearning for late-night food? 9:30-11:30 pm tonight (Thursday, February 7th), the Bok-A-Bok Chicken space in White Center will be taken over by the Sin Reglas pop-up. After hearing about it, we asked the chef for a few details:

Sin Reglas: Late Nights is a weekly series every Thursday & Saturday at Bok a Bok White Center. My name is Kevin Bui, and I cook food that I crave late at night from my travels. It’s from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm, and people should follow the instagram page @sinreglaspopup to see what’s going on. The menu will always have 5 items and 1 dessert. There’s canned beer and canned wine, as well as non-alcohol options for everyone. I do as much as I can by hand, so sausages, pita, falafel, curries, etc.

I’m looking to open a spot in White Center in the future, but right now, it’s about building community.

Address: 1521 SW 98th.

2 AM: Another opening – thanks to the tipster who let us know that Macadons opens its storefront today. This is the macaron maker at what for a brief and bright moment was Mardi Gras Donuts, at 9828 16th SW. It’s been in operation a while without retail, and today that changes, 10 am-9 pm, with a free macaron promised to everyone who shows up!

8:48 PM: Thanks to Gill for the photos added above and below:

He adds a rave review: “The two we tried – Durian & Lychee -were as the old saying goes ‘to die for”. Absolutely amazing.”

Li’l Woody’s in White Center says you deserve a treat on Labor Day, so it’s offering you a free burger 2-5 pm Monday. The caveats:

– No other sandwiches
– Extras cost extra
– Limit 1 burger per customer

As you probably know, Li’l Woody’s is adjacent to Beer Star, at 16th/98th.

Next to each other at 9823 15th SW, you’ll find:

GOOD DAY DONUTS: Husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Erik Jackson and Alison Odowski have opened Good Day Donuts in the former Golden House Bakery and Deli. They’re making and selling donuts, ice cream, and lunch:

Hours are Mondays-Fridays 7 am-3 pm, Saturdays 8 am-2 pm, Sundays 9 am-1 pm.

MR. BUDS: While checking out Good Day Donuts, we discovered another marijuana store has opened in White Center.

Yes, Mr. Buds is in the same strip mall as the new donut shop.

It’s opening day at Brass Knuckle Bistro, as we first noted last month, six months after introducing you to the West Seattle family behind the new eatery.

Check out the art:

Sandwiches are the BKB specialty, along with salads and sides. See the menu here. We spotted today’s samples:

Brass Knuckle Bistro is open 11 am-8 pm Tuesdays-Sundays, closed Mondays.

It’s been almost six months since our first reports that Brass Knuckle Bistro was on the way to the former 3.14 Bakery space at 9602 16th SW. Now they’ve announced that March 6th will be the opening date, with a “friends and family” event this weekend for other local businesses. BKB will focus on sandwiches – you can preview the menu online. (Thanks to Gill for the tip!)

By Linda Ball
Reporting for White Center Now

If the ’70s vibe is your thing, then you are in for a treat when Dottie’s Doublewide opens in White Center.

Nate Rezac, the pit boss and co-owner of Drunky’s Two Shoes, has partnered up with his old bartending friend B.J. Kaiser, to create a new concept where Zanzibar briefly lived at 9609½ 16th SW. We mentioned Dottie’s briefly two weeks ago, and finally got the chance to talk with them this week.)

Imagine walking into a retro, sort of midcentury-modern-looking doublewide trailer with ’70s art and vintage neon signs decorating the interior. That’s Rezac and Kaiser’s vision. Rezac has an old vintage travel trailer that they plan to cut up. The side with the door will become the façade; so to enter the restaurant you’ll be opening the travel trailer door. The other side of the trailer will be used in the back between the restaurant and the kitchen, so the food will look like it’s coming from a food truck. The back of the trailer, where the taillights are, will be used for beer taps.

To add to the fun, they plan to have a CD jukebox as well as a turntable with real vinyl records to choose from – or bring yours, and they will spin them for you! They plan to have house DJs from time to time, mostly on the weekends.

Rezac has been in the restaurant industry since he was 15-years-old, and creates most of the recipes at his restaurants. With family in Mexico, he knows a thing or two about tacos, and Dottie’s Doublewide will feature more than 20 varieties of tacos. Of course there will be traditional Mexican tacos, but also some with smoked meats from Drunky’s, vegetarian options such as portabella-mushroom tacos, avocado tacos, and egg tacos. As Rezac put it, a really “wide net” of tacos. Additionally, the menu will feature Tex-Mex cuisine, marinated carne asada, and al-pastor (boneless pork shoulder with pineapple).

Happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. will be offered seven days a week with two-for-one margaritas. Rezac and Kaiser will have a full bar with an extensive tequila collection, in addition to beer and house wine, plus a selection of better wines. The retro-style bar will seat 20 patrons, with two 65-inch flat-screen TVs behind it. A projection screen will be positioned opposite the bar on a large wall. They plan to show sports or fun video loops – perhaps vintage themed.

Rezac will have a staff of five at Dottie’s Doublewide. He and Kaiser will be in the house as well. Monday through Friday hours will be 3 p.m. to close, with lunch on the weekends and hours of 11 a.m. until closing. Dottie’s will have a capacity of 80 customers.

Kaiser, who is also a general contractor, has built out several restaurants, and Dottie’s is moving along fast since they weren’t changing uses of the building, thereby avoiding many permitting and county headaches. That said, they expect to be open as soon as February 1.

It’s a big weekend for openings around White Center, and here’s another one. Four months ago, as the old McDonald’s at 16th/114th was being demolished, we reported that a company spokesperson told us the rebuilt restaurant would provide “a cutting edge and elevated experience.” Now the golden-arches sign outside declares it’s open, and even without an official tour, some components are visible from outside. The drive-thru has two lanes for ordering. Looking inside, you’ll see two touchscreen kiosks for ordering.

They’re not replacing human help, though – employees were still visible behind the counter, and the company made a chain-wide statement earlier this year about the issue.