6 iconic Boise foods that every local needs to try — and where to get them
When it comes to iconic Boise foods, Idaho’s potato reputation precedes it.
And though Boise’s got some clever dishes celebrating the state’s renowned vegetable (duck fat fries topped with Italian truffle, anyone?), the city’s flourishing food scene has so much more to offer.
From finger steaks to huckleberry everything, these are 6 foods every Boise local needs to try and where you can get a taste for yourself.
Finger Steaks
One of Idaho’s most iconic dishes is the finger steak made of strips of steak, battered and fried until golden and crispy. It was even declared as one of the Idaho Statesman’s “150 Boise Icons,” a list of Boise’s top legends celebrating the city’s sesquicentennial in 2013.
Like with any local food, everyone has a favorite spot, but in 2020 we asked readers where they like to indulge in finger steaks and their top pick was Westside Drive-In.
Westside Drive-In
Address:1929 W. State St. and 1113 Parkcenter Blvd.
Website: www.westsidedrivein.com
Ice Cream Potato
Leave it to the nation’s highest potato-producing state to find any excuse to celebrate the potato.
The ice cream potato is a potato-shaped ball of vanilla ice cream covered in cocoa powder, topped with whipped cream, chocolate chunks and crushed nuts, and served in a pool of chocolate sauce. Idaho Statesman service journalism reporter Shaun Goodwin was shocked at how much it resembled a potato. Grab the ice cream potato from where the dessert originates: the Westside Drive-In, the same spot readers recommend you go for finger steak!
Westside Drive-In
Address: 1929 W. State St. and 1113 Parkcenter Blvd.
Website: www.westsidedrivein.com
Basque Croquetas
Boise may not have the most Basque Americans of any city in the United States, but the city does have the highest concentration, according to CNN. With an active Basque community located in Boise’s “Basque Block,” you’re sure to find traditional specialties including paella, lamb grinders, solomo (roasted pork loin) and chorizo sandwiches.
But when you’re enjoying a task of Basque cuisine, don’t skip the croquetas, a traditional Spanish appetizer of deep-fried balls that come with an array of fillings from meat to vegetables. Idaho Statesman journalist Dana Oland recommends getting chicken-filled croquetas from the landmark Basque Block restaurant, Bar Gernika.
Bar Gernika
Address: 202 S. Capitol Blvd.
Website: www.bargernika.com
Huckleberries
Because of their prevalence in Idaho, huckleberries are a state favorite so much so that Idaho declared it the official state fruit. These small, sweet and tart berries can be used in anything from cocktails and wine to meat sauces and even desserts.
Trillium Restaurant, located in downtown Boise, serves huckleberries throughout the day in inventive ways. For breakfast, you can get toast with a huckleberry jam, and at lunch, get a huckleberry BBQ turkey sandwich with brie. For dinner, the order is an easy one: huckleberry short ribs.
Trillium Restaurant
Address: 245 S. Capitol Blvd.
Website: www.trilliumboise.com
Scones from Merritt’s Family Restaurant
The scones at Merritt’s Family Restaurant aren’t your average scones. Known as “Home of the Scones,” this spot has developed its own kind of scone that the Idaho Statesman’s book “150 Boise Icons” describes as “a flying saucer of warm dough with an orb of melting butter — more Indian fry bread than British tea confection.”
Merritt’s Family Restaurant began churning out its legendary scones in 1975, and they’ve been a local favorite since.
Merritt’s Family Restaurant
Address: 6630 W. State St.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063583960256
Fries and Fry Sauce
In Europe, fries are served with mayonnaise — not ketchup. But fry sauce is the best of both worlds. One part mayonnaise, two parts ketchup, fry sauce is the fry topping of choice in Boise. And of course, what is fry sauce without Idaho potato fries? Boise Fry Company has an entire menu dedicated to fries from classic russet to sweet potato. There’s even an option for fries made with purple potatoes. The menu also includes specialty fries like poutine, truffle parmesan, and fries flash fried in duck fat and garnished with Italian truffle. If you’re going to have potatoes in Idaho, the Boise Fry Company is the place.
And don’t forget to get a side of fry sauce.
Boise Fry Company
Address: 204 N. Capitol Blvd., 3083 S. Bown Way, and 6944 W. State St., with multiple locations outside of Boise
Website: www.boisefrycompany.com
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This story was originally published May 18, 2023 at 5:58 AM.
