White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Ten months after moving to White Center from West Seattle, popular Meander’s Kitchen has announced it’s downsizing – leaving the ex-Papa’s Pub space and heading south to 9809 16th SW. Proprietor Miranda Krone made the announcement overnight via Facebook, saying Meander’s will be “closed for the next couple of days” and expects to open the new location this Friday.

7:29 AM: Just went over to check the new address; it’s the now-former home of San Fernando Roasted Chicken.

White Center’s wildly popular Proletariat Pizza is expanding – into the former tattoo-shop space next door. That means more room for sit-down dining, including a long space that could accommodate bigger groups, like youth-sports team parties. And there’s a quiet space off to the side intended as an adults-only area. The work isn’t done yet, note proprietors Stefanie and Mike Albaeck, so what you see in our photo is not the final look, nor the final table/chairs setup – it was just this past Monday that they knocked out a few walls to connect the spaces. But they’re expecting the expanded space to be at least partly usable, with temporary tables, tomorrow (Thursday) night when Proletariat takes part in Dining Out for Life, so stop by and take a peek. Proletariat’s been open 3 1/2 years now, at 9622 16th SW; in the mornings and early afternoons, the space is home to Caffé Delia.

From a morning stroll on 16th:

The new restaurant TT’s Soul Kitchen, at the site of the former Pho Lynna (southeast corner of 16th/Roxbury), plans its grand opening tomorrow (Tuesday, November 27th), according to handwritten signs put up on both sides of its corner location. We’re checking on hours.

And right across Roxbury, the banner’s up for this Saturday night’s tree lighting:

Veterans’ Triangle Park, right in front of Mac’s Triangle Pub, is the place to be at 5 pm this Saturday (December 1st).

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This story first appeared on our partner site WSB – today, Meander’s sneak peeks in downtown WC begin)
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for White Center Now/West Seattle Blog

About Meander’s in White Center (opening this weekend and next Friday-Saturday-Sunday for sneak previews):

First things first: the ventilation is AMAZING. See for yourself:

(Miranda even turned on the vent so I could feel the rush of air into the hood.)

With her forthcoming opening in the former Papa’s Pub in White Center (here’s our original report from 6 weeks ago), owner and chef Miranda Krone continues the evolution of what has become a favorite diner in West Seattle: Meander’s — with breakfast served all the time except weekend nights, when it turns into a gourmet bistro.

With evolution comes change, and the first change you’ll notice if you’ve been to her WS café is all the space in WC:
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The West Seattle sensation who’s taking over the former Papa’s Pub space in White Center, Miranda Krone, says her WC edition of Meander’s Kitchen will have sneak-preview breakfast service this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. According to her Facebook announcement, she plans to open at 8 am Friday and Saturday, 9 am Sunday, staying open till 1 pm each day if the food lasts that long – as late as 3 pm if they can. Cash only, please!

It’s been exactly three years since Mike and Stefanie Albaeck opened the doors to Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW). And what a time it’s been! They’re not only busy, they’ve received regional raves for their pizza. And as is traditional for so many community-minded businesses in WC, though it’s their anniversary, they’re giving the gifts: Tonight they are donating almost a third of the take to the White Center Food Bank; Proletariat is open till 9 pm. (For a look back to their first night, here’s our 9/18/09 report on partner site White Center Now.)

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Peruvian food seems to be gaining popularity nationally the last few years, and new fans are growing in numbers here in the Seattle area lately. It made a brief stand in White Center – but several years ago, the El Chalan restaurant (16th and 110) closed, and Peruvian food hadn’t been seen here since.

But back east and around the country, Peruvian roasted chicken and other traditional dishes became very popular, and sit-down fine-dining Peruvian establishments became reliable and established. Now, Peruvian street food seems to have finally made its way back to the Seattle metro area with some help, in no small part, from Walter Diaz of San Fernando Roasted Chicken (photo).

San Fernando Roasted Chicken is affordable Peruvian street food, cooked homestyle, says Diaz, and along with a number of other South American delights, it will soon be served up in downtown White Center, at 9809 16th Ave SW.

White Center Now talked with Walter Diaz a few days ago about his plans to open the third San Fernando Roasted Chicken store in the area. As he worked a busy lunch crowd in his second restaurant on Rainier Avenue just south of the Dearborn/I-90 interchange (the first is in Lynnwood), he said he is waiting for the installation and permitting of a hood for his stove and hopes to be opening in White Center sometime next month, give or take a few weeks.

The menu for the existing two San Fernando shops – entrees, appetizers, side dishes, and of course, chicken – can be seen here.

Taco Time Northwest has announced its 50th-anniversary celebration this month – and in case you somehow didn’t know this, this branch of the restaurant chain’s first location was right here in White Center, same site where it operates now. It’s still owned by the Tonkin family, and planning on new programs/initiatives in honor of the half-century milestone. From the news release:

In 2012 and moving forward, Taco Time NW will continue to increase the number of products sourced from northwest suppliers and will purchase local ingredients whenever possible, including tortillas baked fresh daily from La Mexicana, a local family-owned company that Taco Time has worked with for almost 40 years. Taco Time NW’s beef is sourced from local family-owned Petschl’s Quality Meats, which delivers fresh, northwest beef to the restaurants. Taco Time NW’s famous Mexi-Fries will be made in Washington from Washington state potatoes and northwest-based Darigold provides Taco Time NW’s 60-day aged Cheddar cheese.

…Additionally, Taco Time NW is introducing new green initiatives, including investing in many compostable packaging options. At over half of its restaurants where hauling compost to a commercial compost facility is possible, Taco Time has designed a program that allows all compostable items to be disposed of in one bin, eliminating the need for guests to separate out the compostables. When possible, the compostables will be transported to local composting company Cedar Grove.

Taco Time NW will also celebrate its 50th anniversary with the introduction of a traveling taco truck, which will visit 50 community events and block parties between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Besides White Center, Taco Time Northwest operates 72 other restaurants “from Lynden to Longview,” points out the announcement.

Just out of the WCN inbox:

Want to engage your restaurant staff on going green? ECOSS can help! We’re looking for 25 family-owned restaurants in SeaTac, Tukwila and White Center to compete in a 30 day going green challenge. You’ll receive a getting-started package and a road map on four different areas of focus. Work with your staff to conserve resources and cut costs. If you are interested in participating in this free program, contact Stephanie@ecoss.org (or) 1.206.767.0432 with your name, restaurant name, phone number, and address before November 25th.

Posted moments ago on their Facebook page – Uncle Mike’s BBQ in downtown White Center is open again, fire damage repaired, inspection passed, ready for lunch!

As first reported here July 30th, Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ in downtown White Center had to temporarily close while repairing damage from a kitchen fire. But according to the Uncle Mike’s Facebook page, they may reopen as soon as lunchtime this Tuesday, if fire inspectors give them the thumbs-up.

We went over to Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ in White Center after finding out via the restaurant’s Facebook page that they are closed temporarily because of a small fire. Co-owner “Uncle Mike” Gordon explained a grease fire broke out in their smoker; he had it mostly put out even before the North Highline Fire Department crew arrived – but since it’s the weekend, they won’t really know before Monday what they need to do for repairs and replacement, so they don’t know how long they’ll be closed. Mike and his spouse/business partner Elizabeth Gordon want you to know nobody was hurt – they’re OK, and their dining room is undamaged:

The restaurant at 9640 16th SW has drawn rave reviews – not just for its barbecue, but for other menu items like fried chicken and vegetarian options – since its opening almost a year ago.

By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

As you might have seen in the comments following our previous story about the former Thai Thai Restaurant‘s future plans – those plans have suddenly changed.

Just a few days after WCN spoke with grieving family members of the late Thai Thai owner Sam about their plans to reopen as Ped Nin Thai, they told us they now have to find a new location.

In what Choothai Chaiboonruang said was as an unanticipated misunderstanding with the property’s owners, lease talks fell apart over terms that the family said were not what they had thought they’d be. So they are instead looking for a new site, after more than a quarter-century at 16th/112th.

Since they don’t have one in mind yet, they would welcome information regarding potential sites at pedninthai@gmail.com. They hope to find a space with more updated equipment and lease terms that serve the long-term vision the family has for the successful business. Chaiboonruang says the family has already removed the appliances and equipment they wish to keep as they prepare to look for a new location in the White Center or Burien area. He will keep us abreast of the family’s journey to bring the new Ped Nin Thai to its new home.

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

The former Thai Thai restaurant at 11205 16th SW in White Center will be reopening its doors under the new name of “Ped Nin Restaurant,” as requested by the late owner Sawang “Sam” Sudthaya, who died last month after a year-and-half battle with cancer.

Sam’s widow,Orawan and daughter Samantha will continue to run the beloved Thai restaurant with the continued help of Orawan’s sister Nujaree in the kitchen and Choothai Chaiboonruang, who spoke with WCN on behalf of the family (Nujaree and Choothai are in our photo at right).

For nearly 30 years at this location, Sam hosted patrons with open arms, as Orawan and Nujaree prepared the dishes that brought back repeat customers for not just years, but decades. It was the quality of the home-cooked meals and the graciousness of the family that brought many diners into the lavender-colored cement building, located just before what is now the northern boundary of Burien.

This bittersweet re-opening has been anticipated by many of their loyal and regular customers who for the past year and a half have wondered how Sam’s battle with cancer was coming along. Sam and his wife had returned to Bangkok for surgery and then had come back to White Center optimistic about his recovery and hoping to reopen the Thai Thai. But soon after their return and before they had a chance to reopen, the cancer surfaced quickly again, with no medical solutions. Sam chose to be at home with his family and died there on June 24. He had asked them to continue his life’s work but under the new name “Ped Nin,” which translated to English is “Black Diamond.”

The family is busy doing maintenance on the equipment and building and cleaning the space that sat empty for so long. They hope, depending upon public health inspection schedules, to be open by the end of July. They also are planning to have a website in the future as they begin a new era of the restaurant they are each devoted to. They thank all of their friends who are also their customers for their support as they return to work to fulfill Sam’s request at the Ped Nin Restaurant, (206) 246-2246. WCN will let you know when the opening date is finalized.

(Crossposted from partner site West Seattle Blog) Thanks to a text, we’ve found out Zippy’s Giant Burgers is closed today. According to the recording that answers the Zippy’s phone, it’s because they’re out of food after selling a “crazy, crazy amount of burgers” their first five days in the new 14th Avenue SW location, but they expect to reopen tomorrow.

ADDED 2:22 PM: Just had it pointed out to us (by Krista on Facebook) that Proletariat Pizza, on the other hand, is now open Sundays, as of today.

WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz sends in the proof – customers are in the house and burgers are being served at Zippy’s Giant Burgers (9614 14th SW), which moved from West Seattle after three years of ever-increasing popularity. They had hoped to open the new location a month sooner, but permit/inspection challenges were cited for the delays – all behind them now.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: The dinner rush is out the door:

Earlier, Deanie caught Jon Talmadge tackling a King Lou Lou – the truly “giant” burger now on the Zippy’s menu:

The King Lou Lou is a dine-in-only option, which’ll cost you $14 and change. Four patties, eight pieces of bacon, grilled onions, quadruple cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato. Topped with a crown (Lil Zip w/cheese). The King Lou Lou is named for Luis Jimenez, one of the creative stars of Zippy’s kitchen.

Two of White Center’s notable events today:

ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS OPENS: If you never tried them in West Seattle and aren’t sure what all the fuss is about, you get your chance to see, starting at 10:30 am. We stopped by 9614 14th SW yesterday afternoon to check on Zippy’s proprietors Blaine and Rahel Cook and team, and all signals were go.

WHITE CENTER BUSINESS OWNERS’ HAPPY HOUR: The third event organized by Aileen Sison in her White Center Business Owners of Sustainable Support happy-hour series is this afternoon/evening at Company on 16th SW, 4-7 pm (invite here).

The date is finally set, after unexpected delays – Zippy’s Giant Burgers, moving from West Seattle to White Center (9614 14th SW), will open next Tuesday, May 31st. Details on our partner site West Seattle Blog.

Just published the latest early today on West Seattle Blog. Zippy’s Giant Burgers thinks they’re down to one last inspection before they can open at 9614 14th SW – read the details here.

When popular Zippy’s Giant Burgers closed in Highland Park almost a full month ago, they expected to need about a week and a half to finish getting their White Center location ready to open. Instead, Blaine and Rahel Cook have encountered a number of speed bumps and roadblocks – and if you went to the WC location at 9614 14th SW, you would have seen the sign shown in our photograph. This morning, Blaine had told WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz about passing most inspections but still having a couple hurdles to clear (including one that is dependent on their landlord) – this afternoon, we were passing by and spotted this sign on the door, which says it all. We’ll let you know just as soon as they finally get the go-ahead to open!