You have much to learn if you read Burger Beast regularly and don’t know about White Castle and its sliders. White Castle is a regional burger chain that is still family-operated.
Billy Ingram and Walt Anderson founded White Castle in 1921. The first location was in Wichita, Kansas. Many, including myself, believe White Castle is responsible for the burger revolution.
Of course, White Castle’s signature burger is the slider. Their slider is a small square burger cooked-steamed on a bed of onions. The burger patty also has five holes, which help with the cooking process by allowing steam to rise through it.
It is never flipped. The slider is like a potato chip; you can’t have just one.
White Castle Cravers
Where Can I Find White Castles?
White Castle has over 350 restaurants in 13 states: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. It was founded in Wichita, Kansas, but has not had a location there since the 1940s.
Was White Castle ever outside of the United States? There were a few countries that had a legit White Castle and not some knockoff: Bahamas, China (2017–2021), Hong Kong, Japan (1986), Malaysia (1989/90), Mexico (1986), Singapore, and South Korea (1993/1994).
There were also two locations in Miami, Florida, my hometown. However, after the founder’s passing in 1967, operations closed. I have been able to snag some sliders from the Cravemobile when it stopped in Miami and Orlando. More on that below!
If you’re still in need a White Castle slider, your best bet is to check out your nearest supermarket’s frozen foods section. It’s not the same thing, but it’s close. And when that craving hits, it will temporarily satiate that need.
Indiana
On a 25-state road trip in 2022, my cousin Fred mentions that he’s never eaten at a White Castle. After my disbelief subsided, we hit the nearest location (Terre Haute) to properly pop his slider cherry.
Kentucky
On one of my many road trips, I drove through Lexington, Kentucky, and spotted White Castle. It was a beautiful site that improved with a few sliders.
New York
Marcela and I stayed in Jackson Heights for a few days with our friends Carlos and Linda Giusti. After leaving the airport, our first stop was White Castle.
New Jersey
In 2009, my friend David Rojo took this beautiful picture of the White Castle in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Ohio
My two road trips to Columbus, Ohio, revolved around visits to White Castle. I was invited to their original Headquarters on the first trip, followed by lunch at the nearest restaurant. For the second go around, I signed copies of my book All About the Burger at their flagship location.
Tennessee
My two stays in Nashville, Tennessee, have one thing in common with each other: White Castle sliders and fries.
White Castle Restaurants in Miami – 1958
Were there any White Castles in Miami? Whenever I mention that White Castle existed in Miami, Florida, most folks think I’m confused with Royal Castle, but I’m not. In the book By The Sackful, you will find mentions of the Miami restaurant locations.
A White Castle-shaped spaceship landing pad in Miami! Billy Ingram retired to Miami in 1958 and built three Castles there.
By The Sackful book, Page 104
The design of this location echoed the space-age angles and the futuristic and glittering glass walls of the big hamburger chains that had sprung up to compete with White Castle in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The company closed the Florida operations in 1967 due to inefficient supply distribution.
This ad was a great starting, and as luck would have it, two White Castle restaurant addresses in Miami are listed:
North Miami Beach: 1199 N. Miami Beach Blvd. (N.E. 163rd St.)
Miami: 2698 West Flagler Street
After scouring newspaper archives, I found a November 12, 1958, article about White Castle‘s expansion into Miami. The story also reveals the address of the White Castle Office/Warehouse (3250 NW 38th Street).
Although the By The Sackful book mentions the existence of three locations, I can only verify the two above. Maybe the office was considered the third location?
These 1960 photos of the two White Castles in Miami were hands-down the best things I found after hours of research.
Cravemobile in Miami – 2015
“Most people thought they’d never be back, but those folks are
about to eat their words,” Burger Beast‘s Sef Gonzalez said to the Miami New Times. “But here we are, 50 years later, and White Castle‘s CraveMobile will be gracing us with its presence at the Welcome Back to Miami White Castle Party.”
In late 2015, White Castle was back in Miami via a stop by its CraveMobile. I helped them coordinate their stop in exchange for one thing: I got the first slider in Miami since they left almost half a century ago.
Shortly after their arrival, I had a Crave Case with 30 sliders in my hot little hands. The case has now become part of my Burger Museum‘s collection of artifacts.
The Burger Museum Collection
Here is a very small part of the White Castle collection from my now-closed Burger Museum.
Are you a Craver?
A Craver is a White Castle fan. There is even a Craver Hall of Fame for all the real hardcore devotees. I haven’t been inducted into it yet, but I am getting my acceptance speech ready for whenever that day comes.