Bar Gernika ★ 4.3
Bar Gernika is Boise's quintessential Basque pub, serving solomo sandwiches, lamb dishes, and Basque chorizo on Capitol Boulevard since 1991.
Order: Solomo pork loin sandwich and a glass of kalimotxo
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Boise actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
Fork ★ 4.4
Fork is Boise's farm-to-table dining room on 8th Street, building every meal around Treasure Valley ingredients and pairing them with local craft beer.
Order: The seasonal asparagus fritters and the locally sourced daily trout dish
Bittercreek Alehouse ★ 4.0
Bittercreek Alehouse on 8th Street pairs rotating Idaho and Northwest craft taps with a pub menu that uses locally sourced proteins and vegetables.
Order: Local craft tap sampler and the locally sourced pub burger
Leku Ona ★ 4.2
Leku Ona on the Basque Block offers casual Basque dining on two outdoor patios, from pintxos at lunch to full lamb preparations and imported Basque wines.
Order: Lamb stew with white beans and Txakoli white wine from the Basque Country
10 Barrel Brewing Co ★ 4.0
10 Barrel Brewing on Bannock Street is a full-service pub with a working brewery, serving house IPAs and lagers alongside a pub menu in BoDo.
Order: The D1 Lager on draught and the smash burger with house-made pickles
The Reef ★ 3.9
The Reef is an island-themed two-storey restaurant next to the Basque Block, with Polynesian plates, creative cocktails, and a 350-seat rooftop patio.
Order: Thai chicken tacos and a rooftop patio cocktail in summer
Kibrom's ★ 4.1
Kibrom's serves Ethiopian and Eritrean communal meals in Boise's west side, with injera flatbread and a combination platter of layered spice traditions.
Order: The combination platter on injera with doro wat and misir (spiced red lentils)
The Basque Market ★ 4.2
The Basque Market has operated on Grove Street since 2000 as Boise's pintxos and paella destination, also selling imported Spanish wines and charcuterie.
Order: Rotating pintxos at Pintxo Hour and the outdoor paella on Wednesdays and Fridays
Cottonwood Grille ★ 4.2
Cottonwood Grille on the Boise River patio is the go-to for a relaxed Northwest seasonal lunch or dinner with local trout and Idaho produce.
Order: Idaho rainbow trout prepared seasonally and a cocktail on the riverside patio
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe is Boise's dedicated plant-based kitchen downtown, making every item from scratch without freezers for its flavour-forward comfort food.
Order: Loaded Nachos and the Gyro wrap, made fresh with no freezers on site
Boise Fry Company ★ 3.9
Boise Fry Company makes Idaho potatoes the star, turning organic spuds into Belgian-style fries with house salt blends alongside bison and turkey burgers.
Order: Belgian fries with truffle salt and the bison burger on a local whole-wheat bun
Pie Hole ★ 3.8
Pie Hole is Boise's go-to late-night pizza counter on 8th Street, serving large New York-style slices by the piece from 11am until early morning on weekends.
Order: The New York-style slice by the piece after midnight -- the late-night staple on 8th Street
Kabob House ★ 4.0
Kabob House serves halal Afghan and Persian dishes in west Boise, including fragrant basmati rice, grilled lamb kabobs, and warming Central Asian stews.
Order: The lamb kabob over basmati rice with raita and house flatbread
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro ★ 4.1
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro has served breakfast in a historic downtown building since 1999, using local ingredients and scratch Hollandaise for Benedicts.
Order: Eggs Benedict with house Hollandaise and the red flannel hash
Tucanos Brazilian Grill ★ 3.9
Tucanos brings the churrascaria rodizio to Boise's Entertainment District, with gaucho servers carving grilled meats tableside and a Brazilian salad bar.
Order: The rodizio rotation -- start with garlic sirloin and pineapple on the skewer
Guido's Original New York Style Pizza ★ 3.9
Guido's is a Boise institution serving New York-style pizza by the pie and slice on 5th Street, known for large foldable slices and house tomato sauce.
Order: The full New York-style pie with house tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella
Ansots Basque Chorizos ★ 4.0
Ansots Basque Chorizos makes chorizo from traditional recipes and serves them in sandwiches from a compact shop near the Basque Block, open for weekday lunch.
Order: The chorizo sandwich on fresh bread with piquillo pepper sauce
Big Jud's ★ 3.8
Big Jud's is a Boise institution famous for one-pound hand-pressed burgers and a free-burger challenge that has tested local appetite since the 1960s.
Order: The one-pound burger challenge or the double cheeseburger with Idaho fries
Barbacoa Grill ★ 4.2
Barbacoa Grill in southeast Boise serves prime steaks and Pacific seafood beside a pond, with a wine list covering Napa to the Rhone and blown-glass decor.
Order: Kumamoto oysters and the Chilean sea bass with a glass from the California wine list
Raibu Sushi Bar ★ 4.4
Raibu Sushi Bar in the North End brings serious sushi technique to Boise, with a dedicated omakase counter and rice sourcing new to the Treasure Valley.
Order: The omakase at the bar for the chef's-choice procession of nigiri and seasonal specials