In a to-go food rut? These 5 Boise restaurants deliver ‘out of this world’ experiences

If ordering out is a staple of your coronavirus pandemic existence, it’s easy to fall into a culinary rut.

There’s nothing wrong with another pizza chain delivery. Or grabbing Chinese takeout — again.

But why not expand your horizons? Even a smidge?

Here are five Boise restaurants with the potential to make you say, “Why didn’t I ever try that before?”

Already a regular at these places? Sit back, smack your lips smugly and revel in your culinary knowledge.

▪ The Goodness Land, 6555 W. Overland Road, (208) 995-8441: Not gonna name any names here, but a certain taco-dependent reporter at the Idaho Statesman admits that she is “forever addicted to Goodness Land’s tabouleh, dolma and literally everything else.” She’s not alone. The food at this Mediterranean grill is fresh, fairly priced and oh-so-satisfying. Just check out this Yelp reviewer from last month: “One of the best things about The Goodness Land is that it’s impossible to oversell; no matter how much I tell people that it’s incredible, I can never set their expectations so high that this place can’t meet them. They have the best dolmas in town, the best hummus of any restaurant in town, and the single best kebab I’ve had in my entire life. My friends love the Biryani Chicken, my mom swears by the Lamb Tikka, but for my money, the Iraqi Kebab cannot be beat.” Peruse the menu on Facebook to order takeout. Or grab delivery through Uber Eats or DoorDash.

▪ Vons Chicken, 650 S. Vista Ave., (208) 336-7771: A franchise? Yep. Located inside Mr. Wok restaurant, Vons serves what folks in the know call “KFC” — Korean fried chicken. This “KFC” sure ain’t cheap, but it’s not the stuff that comes in a red-striped bucket, either. It’s double-fried and insanely delectable: “Wow. The chicken here is out of this world!” a Yelp reviewer noticed recently. Founded in Korea, the Vons chain made its American debut in 2014. “This is what they eat with beer all the time if you go to Korea,” explained Joseph Kim, whose parents, Paul and Vivian Kim, own Mr. Wok and the Vons franchise in Boise. Enjoy sweating when you eat? Order Spicy Crispy Yang-Nyeom Chicken (pronounced “yahng-nyum”). It costs $14.99 for a half chicken or $27.99 for a full bird. Half a chicken is beyond filling — especially if you inhale an order of Honey Butter Fries, too. (Yum.) Chicken comes with sides of coleslaw and pickled radish. Call in takeout orders or get delivery through Grubhub.

▪ Kibrom’s Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant, 3506 W. State St., Boise, (208) 703-0564: There’s a reason this restaurant managed to survive the eternal ACHD construction on State Street and Veterans Memorial Parkway. Because it rules. “Kibrom’s is an excellent takeout option,” loyal customer Amanda Watson says, “because not only is it supporting a local Boise business, it is one-of-a-kind, delicious Ethiopian and Eritrean food you can’t find anything like anywhere in Idaho. The owners are wonderful, charitable people who often hold fundraisers for refugee resettlement. The injera (bread) is also sourced with Idaho grain. Can’t beat it.” Best things on the menu, according to Watson? Samosas, tikel gomen, bozena shiro (her favorite) and red tibs with lamb. Grab takeout, or phone the restaurant directly for delivery.

▪ Spitfire Craft Pizza & Pints, 2450 S. Vista Ave., (208) 342-9451: Don’t like deep-dish pizza? Move along. But if you do, Spitfire’s Detroit-style pies are a must-try. Sometimes called square pizzas, Detroit-style pies are baked in deep, rectangular pans. Scoop up a hot slice and admire the thick crust — airy inside but extra-crispy on the bottom. Grab a coveted corner slice and behold the charred cheese on the side. (Middle slices are good, too, but make your friends eat those.) The traditional Detroiter Pizza ($27, serves three to five) has a layer of pepperoni under the cheese and another on top of the cheese — plus thick stripes of red sauce ladled on top, which is how most of Spitfire’s pizzas are served. Spitfire does curbside pick-up and offers free in-house delivery in conjunction with Grubhub, DoorDash and Boise Food Express. Don’t forget to order a growler fill of beer.

▪ Bacon, 121 N. 9th St. in Boise, (208) 387-3553: To-go food isn’t just for dinner. You need breakfast and lunch, too. Chef John Berryhill’s bacon-themed restaurant is “one of the most memorable hidden gems we found in Boise,” wrote a recent Yelp reviewer. Yet when is the last time you ordered takeout or delivery there? Feel the Bacon! Try a three-egg Boise Basin omelette ($11, bacon, pepper, onion, cheese) with potatoes and a biscuit. Need lunch? Go with the Bacon Lasagna ($13), as seen on Travel Channel’s “Bacon Paradise”: bacon, ham, mushroom, onion, cheese, marinara and chevre béchamel. Or, man, just do the beasty Bacon Burger. This place also does a scrumptious, over-the-top bloody mary — available to-go.

This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.