Serving ‘pho-king amazing’ food, this new Boise restaurant will open fusing cultures
A culture-blending food trailer will leap into the Boise restaurant universe soon.
Basquenese plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in downtown’s Warehouse Food Hall, 370 S. 8th St. It will take over the recently vacated Bao Boi spot — probably in September, according to a publicist from food-hall operator Geronimo Hospitality Group.
Serving fun, tasty Basque and Vietnamese cuisine, Basquenese would be a strong addition to the Warehouse, which has experienced significant turnover this year. The newest addition opened hours before this article published: Poppy Seed Bakery & Cafe. It took over the former Paddles Up Poke space between Wok N’ Roll and the soon-to-appear Mazzah Mediterranean Grill.
Basquenese has earned rave reviews by offering some of the best of two ethnic worlds. Its owners, Barbie and Matthew Larrinaga, fuse cultures effortlessly. Their trailer sets up shop in Garden City at Snake River Tattoo, 4299 W. Chinden Blvd.
“Matthew is a proud Basquo and wants to share his heritage with you through food!” Basquenese says on its website. “Come grab a solomo sando, croquetas or a chorizo hoagie, and experience how simplicity in food can still bring out so much flavor!”
Barbie’s mother owned a Vietnamese pho stand during the 1980s in Saigon, Vietnam, the website explains.
“What can we say? Vietnamese food is pho-king amazing! Known for its noodle soups and banh mi, Vietnamese people relish in adding refreshing herbs and garnishes to complement our dishes.”
Barbie, the chef, plans to shutter the trailer to focus on the Warehouse location. But that’s only temporary. “We will bring it back, I promise!” she wrote on Facebook. “By then, we will cultivate a solid team and will travel to other counties as well!”
