Here are Meridian’s ‘all-time’ top 10 restaurants, ranked by Yelp. Guess how many chains?

When it comes to dining in Idaho’s second-largest city, the options can feel daunting.

Chains permeate the culture. But locally owned eateries dot the landscape, too.

Yelp lets users sort Meridian’s highest-rated restaurants. But the results feel skewed. The list is topped by relative newcomers — businesses with only a handful of reviews, resulting in flawless five-star ratings.

Seeking a more complete picture, I contacted Yelp. Crunching proprietary data, the crowd-sourced website provided a special “all-time list” of the top Meridian restaurants. These 10 were ranked “using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews,” PR Specialist Brenna Falvey said via email.

“All-time means that the list includes reviews for all time on Yelp,” she explained. “We can also pull lists looking at a specific time period: For example, a list of the best restaurants for 2022, using only reviews from 2022.”

And, whaaat? Check this out. Not a single chain restaurant appears. No offense, Meridian, but that seems, well, improbable. Was it part of Yelp’s criteria, or did it just work out that local restaurants happened to be the highest-rated?

“Correct,” Falvey said, “locally owned businesses were the highest-rated!”

Start working up an appetite. Here’s your top 10.

1. Epi’s — A Basque Restaurant, 1115 N. Main St.

The Basque Block? That’s in downtown Boise. But Epi’s? You need to visit Meridian for this family-owned gem.

Based on Yelp reviews, it’s an absolute winner — even if it’s “not trendy and definitely not hip,” according to a reviewer, who adds that it’s “great for couple or date night or small parties,” “not necessarily kid-friendly” — “and I’m totally OK with that.”

“I can’t ever pass up the ham croquettes,” the Yelp review adds. “Warm and just yum! Every meal comes with fresh bread, soup of your choice and salad and two sides. The two sides are vegetable rice and french fries. Tip, ask for two sides of rice and skip the fries. The vegetable rice with vegetables and pimentos (is) so flavorful. Second tip, they serve an amazing lamb shank only on Friday and Saturday the last weekend of the month. If you can go then, it’s worth it. We had the roasted leg of lamb and it too was amazing.”

2. Tango’s Empanadas & Grill, 46 E. Fairview Ave.

When Tango’s expanded to Meridian a year ago, there was little doubt its “taste of Argentina” would thrive. Since opening in 2006 in Boise, Tango’s has served empanadas and tortas to loyal customers. Empanadas are tasty pastry turnovers filled with vegetables, meat and cheese. (Unless you order a sweet dessert version, of course.) They’re not only delicious and satisfying, they also travel well in a to-go container. That’s probably one of the reasons Tango’s was named Idaho’s top restaurant in a guide to the “Best Takeout in Every State” from Move.org.

A recent Yelp review calls Tango’s “a welcome surprise” with “friendly and helpful service.”

“Empanadas take a wee bit longer than usual to come out,” the reviewer adds, “but they are hot, fresh and most definitely worth the wait. I thoroughly enjoyed the El Puerco the best.” The El Puerco ($3.75) is made with pulled pork, green salsa and potatoes.

3. The Empanada Club, 1580 N. Stonehenge Way, suite 106

So ... Meridian is really into Argentina-style empanadas. Who woulda thunk? But when they’re this high in quality, what’s not to like? The Empanada Club offers all sorts of varieties — all baked, not fried — and most for $4. They range from traditional (ground beef, onions, hard-boiled eggs, olives) to chimichurri chicken and vegan curry. There’s also other “baked sweets and goodies,” according to an online menu, Argentinean wine, local craft beer on tap — and the “world’s best soccer on the big screen.”

“This place is absolutely gorgeous,” a Yelp reviewer wrote. “The music. The ambiance. The food and drink selection. Also, don’t forget pastries. They have it all. The empanadas have a number on the crust ... it’s to show you what each one is when you get them served. Give this place a try. It’s delicious.”

4. Moe Joe’s Breakfast Eatery, 2951 E. Overland Road, suite 190

Is this restaurant at Overland and Eagle roads the best breakfast (and, um, maybe lunch) in the valley? For a decade, Moe Joe’s has been dishing up creative, fresh dishes that utterly satisfy — unless your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight.

Less than a week into 2023, Moe Joe’s tempted Facebook followers with a weekend special: Hair of the Dog ($14.99): “You will need to come hungry and then go take a nap,” Moe Joe’s warned, explaining that the meal is “homemade biscuit topped with hash browns, sausage, ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, and three eggs. Then we smother it in our homemade sausage gravy and some crumbled bacon to finish it off.”

Yes, please!

Yelp comments about Moe Joe’s range from “huge portions for a reasonable price” to “the best chicken fried steak that I’ve had.” Be warned: The restaurant is “sometimes hard to get into, and rightfully so!”

5. Fujiyama Japanese Restaurant, 1701 E. Fairview Ave.

With two Treasure Valley locations (one in Boise, one in Meridian), Fujiyama has built a dedicated sushi following over two decades. The Meridian restaurant — which at least one Yelper argues is the superior location — is across from Fred Meyer. “At Fujiyama,” the restaurant says on its website, “we use three colors of tobiko, vegetable art, the crunch of tempura and the creaminess of avocado, scallops, salmon skin (and) sriracha with the full spectrum of exotic flavors, textures and visuals.”

“This is seriously some of the best sushi I have had in the area,” says one Yelp reviewer. “Reasonably priced in comparison to other sushi places in the valley. The place is very nice and staff are super friendly.”

Fujiyama’s menu features much more than sushi, too. Diners will find everything from stir-fry and donburi to teriyaki and tempura.

6. Freedom Bagel Bakery, 2847 N. Eagle Road, suite 100

Want tasty breakfast bagels? Freedom’s got ‘em. Crave mouthwatering lunch and deli sandwiches? Ditto.

Freedom’s bagels stand out because they’re soft and scrumptious, according to Yelp reviewers.

“We love this bagel shop,” says one. “It’s clean, the staff is friendly and the bagels are fresh and delicious. They have amazing breakfast sandwiches.”

“LOVE this place!” exclaims another reviewer. “We have tried several other bagels shops in the area, and they all lack great flavor. At Freedom Bagel, I’ve tried several bagels and cream cheese spreads and my husband has had their sandwiches. Great food and flavors all around. The Hot Honey bagel may be my new favorite, closely followed by the Churro Bagel.”

7. Kahootz Steak & Alehouse, 1603 N. Main St

“Great food is something that you may not expect from a small, neighborhood ale house,” Kahootz admits on its website, “but we use only the finest ingredients; we carve all our own steaks and seafoods (fresh never frozen), we make all our dressing, desserts, and just about everything else!”

Yelp reviewers appreciate every bit of it — along with the selection of 40-plus beers on tap.

“Such a cool spot,” says one. “Great service. Great food. Great prices. Excellent steaks.”

“Last week my husband and I came for a late lunch and enjoyed our salads and beers,” explains another. “While sitting there, we noticed they had a Friday/Saturday night prime rib dinner special. So we said ‘bam,’ we’re coming back this Friday. We brought my sister along and all three of us had the 10-ounce prime rib dinner. Woozers, that was a lot of food. The prime rib was delicious and the baked potato huge. Loved every single bite of everything.”

Save room for dessert. Yelp reviewers are crazy about the bread pudding.

8. Soup Kettle Grille, 3675 E. Overland Road

Just try viewing the photo gallery at Soup Kettle Grille’s website and not getting hungry. This restaurant’s menu of house-made soups, grilled cheeses, croissants, sandwiches on buttermilk bread, and smoothies will make you salivate.

Soup Kettle Grille offers seven varieties of soup daily, served in a bread bowl ($9.99). If you order to-go, it comes with a 16-ounce bowl of soup and a large bread bowl. You also can buy 32-ounce frozen take-home soups.

Yelp reviews describe this restaurant as “an unexpected delight” and “under the category of ‘GOOD EATS!’ ”

“You can sample their soups,” explains one reviewer, “and they are all really tasty, fresh and unique. I had Thai Chicken and I’m still craving it a few days later. Pair it with a sandwich for a great meal. ... I should come here more often!”

9. Vintage ’61 Wine Bar and Kitchen, 1031 N. Main St.

In the mood for fine dining? Vintage ’61 sets the bar high in Meridian with its dedication to “serving fresh, creative and thoughtfully prepared dishes in an intimate, farm-to-table setting,” its website explains. “Our wines are carefully selected from some of the best growers and winemakers in the world — spanning from Napa to Bordeaux and everywhere in between.”

Many Yelp reviewers are impressed.

“The ambiance was wonderful,” writes one. “Cute renovated home turned restaurant and wine bar. ... Best of all — the food was to die for! Everything we has was both beautiful and delicious. I can’t wait to go back. Highly recommend.”

“My new favorite date night spot,” says another. “The inside decor of this place is great, staff was very helpful, owners are super sweet, and the food and wine was uh-mazing.”

10. il Sugo Italian Kitchen, 1407 W. McMillan Road, suite 130

This restaurant’s owner calls it “Idaho Italian comfort food.” Yelp reviewers call it “fabulous.” After launching in downtown Boise in 2019, il Sugo expanded to a Meridian strip mall in 2021. Following the original restaurant’s straightforward philosophy (“Choose your pasta. Choose your sauce.”), it quickly became a hit.

“LOVED this spot!” writes one Yelp reviewer. “My husband and I have our Italian spot in Boise, but this one might take its place. The price point is good, but more importantly — the portions are good! Definitely get the bruschetta; it’s not what you think (no tiny dry pieces of bread here!).”

“This is the dining experience you have been looking for,” says another. “Wonderful selection of dishes. Friendly service that is always ready when needed without being pushy. Great wine selection. No thumping loud music drowning out conversation.”

This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 4:00 AM.