Largely made up of suburban cul de sacs built in the 80s and 90s, traffic moves fast along main roads in West Boise — and having a car is basically required. Unless you live there, you probably don’t know what distinguishes one neighborhood from another.
But after visiting parks, a nature reserve, and several businesses in the West Valley neighborhood — I came away with a new appreciation for what this pocket of town has to offer.
The West Valley neighborhood is bordered to the north by Chinden Blvd., to the south by Fairview Avenue. Cloverdale Road hugs it on the west and Maple Grove marks its eastern border. (Screenshot / City of Boise)
Secret Green Spaces
Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve lives up to its name. It’s a 53-acre urban oasis with views of the Foothills. The main feature is a wetland area that’s home to sparrows, osprey, blackbirds and great blue herons. Deer and foxes also live here, but there’s one animal not allowed at the reserve: dogs! Leave your pups at home and take a quiet stroll over the gravel trails lined with sagebrush.
Blink and you’ll miss it: The Boise Urban Garden School is tucked away off Five Mile Road. Located in Comba Park (walk toward the big red barn), this nonprofit gets kids outside for a dig in the dirt. Everything from kale and lettuce to nectarines and apples are grown in the garden — I even spotted an apiary. Maybe best of all: kids learn how to cook the food they grow in the barn’s kitchen.
And on the north side of the neighborhood, DeMeyer Park is another hidden gem — our City Cast Boise podcast ranked it one of the city’s best local parks!
Taste of Persia’s Middle Eastern menu adds some welcome diversity to the neighborhood’s sit-down restaurant options. Pictured from left to right: Chicken biryani, mantu dumplings and naan. (Frankie Barnhill / City Cast Boise)
Where to Eat, Shop and Drink
Overall, West Valley’s sit-down restaurant scene falls a little short. One standout exception is Taste of Persia, which opened in 2023. This Afghani eatery is in a nondescript building off Ustick, but owners Bahija Karim and Abrahim Sadat have created a beautiful space. Take a friend and split the mantu dumplings, which are a great addition to Boise’s dumpling offerings. Add a side of fluffy-yet-crispy naan and hummus and you’ll leave full after spending less than $40 for two.
Bent Corners Used Books is a hole in the wall shop in the Maple Tree Plaza shopping center off Five Mile. It’s small but packed with a range of used titles. I bought three well-maintained hard cover kids books for under $15!
And if you’re looking for a stiff pour: a few doors down from Bent Corners is Sam’s Smokehouse and Saloon. A dark interior, pool tables and TVs for Boise State Football games — what more could you ask for in a neighborhood dive bar?
Compact but budget-friendly and tucked away, Bent Corners Used Books is just what you want in a shopping center bookstore. (Frankie Barnhill / City Cast Boise)
