Overview
White Center is an unincorporated area of King County, just south of West Seattle and north of Burien. The area embraces its nickname of 'Rat City', making it a part of its punk-rock mixed-ethnicity identity.
1 things to do · 3 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about White Center
Southgate Roller Rink
Old school roller skating rink and the proud birthplace of the Rat City Rollergirls.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Seattle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 3 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 4 mi away (major hub). Directions
State Route 509 (SR-509) runs along the east edge of the area, from Seattle to Burien and Des Moines. Take the exit towards Myers Way/White Center.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
White Center and surrounding neighborhoods have the greatest concentration of Mexican cuisine in the Seattle area.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
A common bumper sticker in the area simply states 'White Center, not really white, not really centered'.
The main business area is located along Delridge Way SW and Roxbury St. It's just south of West Seattle and to the west up the hill from South Park.
Get in
State Route 509 (SR-509) runs along the east edge of the area, from Seattle to Burien and Des Moines. Take the exit towards Myers Way/White Center.
Get around
Although White Center covers a broad area, the central business area is very walkable once you find parking.
By public transit
Go King County Metro
Runs bus, streetcar and monorail routes within King County. Serves Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville.
Do
Buy
White Center has a nice mix of ethnic restaurants and shops, and is a great place to find unusual ingredients and tasty treats from different regions.
Eat
Eat Proletariat Pizza
Popular slightly hipster but family friendly pizza joint with a creative and delicious menu.
Eat Salvadorean Bakery and Restaurant
People come from all over the region for tasty Salvadorean meals and pastries.
Eat Taco Time
Taco Time is a large and popular regional chain for Tex-Mex fast food. This Taco Time happens to be the very first one started by Frank Tonkin, Sr. in 1962.
White Center and surrounding neighborhoods have the greatest concentration of Mexican cuisine in the Seattle area.
Sleep
There are no hotels in White Center, but SeaTac Airport and downtown Seattle are nearby.
Go next
- The Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal is nearby, with access to Vashon Island and the Kitsap Peninsula.
- The Georgetown neighborhood is just down the hill to the east along Roxbury St.
Nearby
Burien
City / town · 10 listings · 3 mi away
Tukwila
City / town · 24 listings · 4 mi away
SeaTac
City / town · 6 listings · 5 mi away
Seattle
City / town · 87 listings · 7 mi away
Mercer Island
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
Blake Island
Park · 4 listings · 7 mi away
Southworth
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Renton
City / town · 47 listings · 7 mi away
My experience
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