New downtown cafe opens with ‘incredible’ food from James Beard-nominated Boise baker
Ever since the Shams sisters opened their first Afghan eatery in Boise five years ago, it’s been a steady rise — like perfect pastry dough.
Learning the business on the fly, Homeyra, Khatera, Narges and Bahar S. Amir have upped the ante for their brand.
Their latest achievement? Expansion.
Sunshine Spice Bakery and Cafe opened a second location Monday at 220 N. 10th St. in downtown Boise. The original shop continues to delight customers at 6911 W. Fairview Ave., serving up baklava and breads, cookies and tarts, teas and coffee. “Sunshine spice” is a nickname for saffron, an exquisite ingredient in Afghan, Iranian and other cuisines.
All four sisters were born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Working as a team, they have earned a die-hard fan base in Idaho. Sunshine Spice Cafe owns an an exceptional rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars from its 328 Google reviews. “Absolutely incredible pastries,” gushes the most recent write-up, adding “we loved the pistachio baklava, honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. The saffron pudding was also a hit ... Go out of your way to come here!”
In early 2022, Sunshine Spice Cafe received an unexpected injection of publicity when Khatera was nominated for a James Beard Award in the Outstanding Baker category. “It was a big surprise,” Homeyra told the Idaho Statesman, describing it as a “big deal” for the sisters.
Then in 2023, Food Network star Guy Fieri stopped by Sunshine Spice Cafe to feature it on an episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
Unlike the Fairview location, the new downtown destination doesn’t have a kitchen. It’s a modest-sized cafe that features baked goods created at the flagship store.
But expect it to become a popular destination — just like its “sister” location to the west.
“Come indulge in our award-winning pastries and baked goods at both spots!” Sunshine Spice Cafe wrote on social media. “For now, you can savor our delicious lunch menu at Fairview, but don’t worry – it’s coming to downtown soon!”
▪ Hours downtown: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
▪ Hours on Fairview: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
