New, expanding Twin Falls chain to open in Boise where local restaurant just closed
Facing a staffing shortage, Good Burger closed its west Boise location last month to focus on its other stores.
But the restaurant space at 7610 W. State St. won’t stay dark long.
Nara Ramen & Izakaya plans to open its first Boise location — its first anywhere — in late December, general manager Stephanie Nguyen said. It will be next to a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs.
Based in Twin Falls, the Asian chain plans to launch three restaurants in quick succession, she explained in an email. Shortly after the Boise launch, a second Nara Ramen will be unveiled in Bismarck, North Dakota. A third store with a modified concept — Nara Ramen & Sushi Bar — is expected to open in Twin Falls during the first quarter of 2022.
“We serve Japanese ramen, appetizers and boba tea,” Nguyen said. “(The) Twin Falls location also serves sushi. Our goal is to bring authentic Japanese cuisine to our customers and provide jobs for the local community.”
A peek at a tentative menu revealed an enticing, modest array of food and drink possibilities (prices and details subject to change, of course). Appetizers include everything from edamame ($5) and chicken karaage ($6) to shrimp tempura ($8) and takoyaki ($7) — a fried, ball-shaped creation made with octopus. There also are three rice plates including chicken curry ($8) and beef curry ($8).
But the star of the show? Steaming, body-warming bowls of ramen ($10 to $14) with lots of available extra toppings ($2 apiece). Like things hot? Go for the Spicy Ramen ($14). The menu calls it “stomach-scorching.” Or maybe just enjoy a salty Shio Ramen ($10), which has a light chicken and pork base with French sea salt, kombu and bonito.
Cool down with boba tea options, which cost $5 and run the gamut from brown sugar caramel milk to the rainbow-like Galaxy Tea.
Speaking of drinks, no alcohol will be served at Nara Ramen & Izakaya in Boise. That’s despite the word “izakaya” being associated with tavern-like food-and-drink hangouts in Japan. (Sake, beer and wine will be served at the locations in Bismarck and Twin Falls.)
A bottle of Sapporo would have been nice. Locals living in the mixed-use North Pointe development might miss their Good Burger and want to drown their sorrows. The chain was founded in Boise, after all.
Nevertheless, Nara Ramen should provide a nice change of culinary pace in that part of town.