Boise is the capital city of Idaho and is officially known as The City of Trees due to its vast wilderness area that spans over 4.7 million acres. Started by fur trappers and later becoming a gold hotspot, today it has the largest population in Idaho and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Nowadays, the area is known for their delicious foods, outdoor attractions, and art and cultural events. Almost everyone can agree that if you love food, you will love Boise, and they have a wide array of food options and cuisines that you will not be disappointed by. There is truly something for everyone in this area and you can easily find something that everyone you are traveling with will love.
From delicious food to amazing wineries, there are countless options for you to enjoy during your stay. We have compiled a list of the top restaurant choices in the city, so that next time you’re in Boise, you can be sure to try at least one of these great restaurants!
Petite 4
4 North Latah St, Boise, ID
(208) 345-1055
At Petite 4 on the Bench, chef Sarah Kelly and her husband, David, offer casual French bistro fare. The menu is filled with classics such as duck terrine, moules frites (mussels and fries), and a coulotte (top sirloin) steak with fries, along with more modern items like a bloody mary oyster shooter or wine-based cocktails.
Each dish is wonderfully balanced, and all of them feature standard French flavors with modern new twists. Their menu is small but rotates regularly, so there will always be an excuse to return. Dessert is a must, so make sure to save room, as you won’t want to miss out on their famous French Silk Pie. Their soda cocktails are also a must-try, with interesting bases, flavors, and herbs creatively combined for a delicious result.
Reservations are highly recommended, though walk-ins may have luck on the patio or at the bar. Stop by for the Friday Afternoon Club on the Southside patio for shucked oysters, tallboys, and “bubbles” from their oyster trailer, which can be reserved for private outdoor events, or come on Saturday morning to pick up coffee and doughnuts or pastries!
Fork
199 North 8th St, Boise, ID
(208) 287-1700
If you’ve ever visited friends or family in Boise, chances are they’ve taken you to Fork. Located in the old Boise City National Bank building, Fork is a favorite destination for lunch, dinner, and brunch. Everyone is sure to find something they like in the wide-ranging menu, with offerings that vary from asparagus fries to fried chicken and waffles to Fork’s signature dessert, the warm butter cake.
Fork prides itself in its sustainable, local, and handcrafted approach to creating mouth-watering dishes that will have you coming back time and again to indulge in some of the best food in Boise.
This restaurant has taken a “Loyal to Local” pledge, which is a commitment that involves sourcing many of their key ingredients from local farmers, ranchers, bakers, distillers, brewers, producers and cheese makers. Not only is the food locally sourced, but so too is almost everything inside the restaurant. The owners at Fork have transformed one of Boise’s oldest downtown landmarks into a comfortable, relaxed dining room that has used reclaimed and recycled materials to create various dining elements such as the tables, chairs, and glasses.
From appetizers and cocktails to burgers, salads, and desserts, no matter what you choose to indulge in at Fork, you will not be disappointed!
Barbacoa Grill
276 West Bobwhite Court, Boise, ID
(208) 338-5000
Barbacoa is a fitting name for this restaurant, whose kitchen is centered around an open-fire grill, where bold flavors arrive from Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Happy hour at Barbacoa is famous for its cocktail specials and assorted appetizers, like tableside guacamole and seafood dishes. At dinner, guests can enjoy sizzling cuts of beef, lamb, and charred kebabs and ribs.
Upon entering this restaurant, you will be transported to South America as you soak in the rich, vibrant colours that adorn the walls and furnishings. Throughout the restaurant, you will be able to view a multitude of oil paintings, beautiful crystal chandeliers, and stunning sculptures. There is even a crystal replica of Marie Antoinette’s boat located in the foyer! Beyond the delicious food and drinks that you will find here, Barbacoa also offers a unique and cultured artistic experience that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
The Wylder
The Wylder is a relative newcomer to the Boise food scene, but this pizza parlor already feels like family. It could be the more than 50-year-old sourdough bread starter, the family-secret lasagna recipe, or the desserts lovingly baked each day, but no matter what their secret is, The Wylder has definitely been a huge hit in Boise.
Local favorites include the Honey Badger (a white pizza with Italian sausage, ricotta, caramelized onions, and spicy honey), the Bronco (a tomato sauce based pizza with salumi, pickled Fresno chiles, and burrata cheese), and other delicious supper options such as lasagna and fried chicken. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as their Salted Caramel Ice Cream pie is simply to die for!
Wild Root Café
276 North 8th St, Boise, ID
(208) 856-8956
Wild Root Café is a local favorite for healthy breakfasts and lunches. Located on Boise’s restaurant row just down the street from Fork, the chefs here create colorful salads, handhelds, bowls, and other dishes meant to nourish and satisfy, including a variety of plant-based preparations suitable for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike.
Every dish here is beautifully curated and chock full of fresh, seasonal vegetables, and top quality meat and fish. Even the garnish is something to behold, and at Wild Root Café, you will feel like you are truly dining on a piece of art. Not only do they serve fresh and delicious dinner fare, such as the Ahi Tacos and their hearty Mac N’ Cheese which is made with smoked Gouda and bechamel sauce, they also serve a fantastic brunch. Steak and eggs, the caprese eggs Benedict, and French toast are but a few of the offerings available at brunch, as well as a fine assortment of coffee, tea, and brunch cocktails.
In good weather, the patio is definitely the place to be, but the interior dining room is also a comfortable and relaxed place to enjoy your meal.
Saint Lawrence Gridiron
705 W Bannock St, Boise, ID
(208) 433-5598
Located just steps from the State Capitol, Saint Lawrence Gridiron is a place you’ll smell before you see it. This restaurant got its start as a food truck and soon after turned into a brick-and-mortar business that delivers bold and exciting Southern flavors. A giant smoker on the front patio is where all of the meat-smoking magic happens. The most popular dishes include the brisket platter, the pulled-pork sandwich, shrimp and grits, and succotash; however, every dish served up by this restaurant is a fantastic choice that you won’t regret trying.
On the menu, you will also find dishes such as The Ploughman’s (fried chicken served with smoked potato salad and Texas toast), the Sixth Man Burger (a burger topped with bacon jam, grilled onions, special sauce, cheddar, and jalapeños), and the Mac and Cheese with your choice of brisket, pork, or hamburger. Saint Lawrence Gridiron also features a great assortment of both unique and classic cocktails, as well as offering a well-rounded brunch menu.
If you’re looking for somewhere that will satisfy your Southern flavor cravings, look no further as Saint Lawrence Gridiron will do exactly that.
Bacon
121 North 9th St, Boise, ID
(208) 387-3553
It all started in 1995 with a strip of Berryhill Bacon. John Berryhill, the owner, operator, and genius behind this restaurant realized that what people in Boise really needed was a great restaurant to indulge in America’s favorite breakfast meat — bacon! With all-day brunch, delicious bloody marys, and five different kinds of bacon, what’s not to love? This Boise restaurant may even be setting some records, as it sells more than eight tons of bacon per year!
The menu features breakfast dishes like omelets, biscuit sandwiches, and bacon shots — a sampling of the restaurant’s five bacon flavors. The lunch menu has earned this place more than a few TV spots too, being featured on Travel Channel’s “Bacon Paradise 2”, Food & Wine Magazine’s “Best in the U.S. Mac and Cheese”, “Go There, Eat That” on ASY‐TV, “FSR Magazine” for our original Berryhill/Bacon “Flip” concept, and many more! With indulgences like cheesy bacon lasagna, and mac and cheese with tomatoes, mushrooms, and of course, bacon, this is one restaurant you definitely will want to try next time you’re in Boise.
Bittercreek Alehouse
246 North 8th St, Boise, ID
(208) 345-1813
Bittercreek Alehouse offers one of the largest beer lists in town, and features all sorts of unique beers that range from easy-drinking lagers to more hoppy and full-bodied IPAs. If you see something you like on the menu, or something that sounds interesting, don’t hesitate to order! The beer on the menu is subject to change, as they frequently rotate which beers they have on tap.
The menu is focused on serving beer-friendly foods, such as poutine, polenta fries, smoked Idaho trout boards, and juicy homemade burgers. Everything you can order at Bittercreek Alehouse (as well as its sister restaurant Diablo and Sons) is locally sourced, and has many photos of local farmers from the area featured prominently on the walls.
If you don’t like beer, that is no problem, as this restaurant also features a wine and cocktail menu that is equally as interesting as the beer you’ll find here. If you don’t drink at all, it is still worthwhile to check Bittercreek Alehouse out simply for the amazing food they have to offer!
Epi’s Basque Restaurant
1115 North Main St, Boise, ID
(208) 884-0142
Basque cuisine refers to the type of food that originates from Basque Country, and although the name sounds French, it is actually located in the northern part of Spain. Historically, the Basque people are one of the oldest surviving ethnic groups in Europe, predating even the Ancient Romans, which has resulted in an exquisitely formed cuisine that is inimitable. The meat is especially flavorful as the animals freely roam the Basque region feeding on beautiful grasses that in turn, results in amazingly tender meat that is bursting with flavor.
If you’re not familiar with Basque cooking, then this is the restaurant you will want to make your debut with.
For more than twenty years, Epi’s Basque Restaurant has been bringing traditional Basque dishes from grandma Epi’s kitchen to the residents of Boise. On the menu, you will find all sorts of grilled seafood and meats adorned with red and green sauces in a tribute to the colors of the Basque flag. Go for the croquetas, the lamb stew with green peppers and pimentos, meatballs in a Basque-style tomato sauce, or the baby squid in a briny, jet-black broth. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as no visit is complete without gâteau Basqueto to end your meal!
The STIL
786 West Broad St, Boise, ID
(208) 809-8888
The STIL is actually an acronym for the Sweetest Things in Life, and this popular ice cream shop is no doubt one of the sweetest places in Boise. Custom, hand-churned ice creams include dairy-free and vegan options, as well as booze-infused flavors, all of which can be enjoyed either on their own or as part of a custom ice cream sandwich, an affogato, or a beer or wine float.
All of the ingredients used in this ice cream shop are locally sourced and high quality, and you will never find anything artificial in anything The STIL has to offer. Popular choices at The STIL include the Bake Sale (cookie dough and brownie bits), Easy Like Sunday Morning (espresso and caramel), and the Aprés Ski (Bailey’s and coffee), but in all fairness, every flavor this ice cream shop churns out is delicious in its own way.
If you’re not sure what to order, then you may want to consider trying one of their ice cream tasting flights, which can be paired with a beer or wine flight as well! Customers that really love The STIL can also show their support by purchasing one of their custom-made T-shirts or hoodies.
While we could only include 10 of the best restaurants in Boise on this list, there are so many wonderful places to try that you may have to schedule more than one trip to this city in order to try everything that Boise has to offer! Whether you’re looking for your next date night restaurant or somewhere tasty for a working lunch, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for in Boise.
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