Diners call the food ‘truly amazing.’ Now restaurant to open 2nd, 3rd Boise locations

If you scan customer feedback about Nara Ramen & Izakaya, it’s easy to understand why the fledgling Idaho brand is growing.

“The ramen is delicious, fresh and the best in Boise,” a Yelp review says.

“Just finished,” adds another, “and it was truly amazing.”

“New favorite ramen place,” adds a commenter on Google, where Nara has a 4.4-out-of-5 star rating.

After launching its first location 15 months ago at 7610 W. State St., Nara opened restaurants in Twin Falls and Bismarck, North Dakota.

Now more stores are slated to open in Boise, where the small chain is based.

One will be at 3110 S. Bown Way, in the former home of Locavore. It should be ready in two or three weeks, owner Johnny Deng said.

A third Boise location will follow at 8675 W. Franklin Road in the old 208 Pho & Vegan space. It’s expected to open in late May or early June, Deng said.

A counter-service restaurant, Nara on State Street features more than a dozen ramen options ranging in price from $11-$14.75. The restaurant also serves Asian steamed (bao) buns and several boba teas.

At Bown Crossing, Nara Ramen plans to add sushi to the menu, along with more appetizers, plus beer, wine and sake. The Franklin Road restaurant will do the same, Deng explained via email — with “a lot more sushi” than the Bown Crossing restaurant.

Deng’s business endeavors have taken him between Oregon, Montana and Idaho for a few years, he said, “but Boise has always stayed in my heart. My family and I decided to reside in Boise. We love the land and the people here.

Deng’s “No. 1 mission,” he added, is to share authentic Japanese food with the Boise community at a reasonable price with excellent service.

Nara’s hours on State Street are 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.

Check out the State Street menu at nararamen.com, where you also can order online for takeout and delivery.