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City Cast Boise

Every month, we're rounding up restaurant openings in this section, with a focus on local joints. Here’s what’s new, and what’s closed.

The 8th Street coffee shop has temporarily closed its previous location while it undergoes renovations, but its new spot right next door is open. It’s a totally new design concept, as the old spot will be when it opens as an express option.

Meridian has a new locally owned sandwich shop in Fratelli Deli on Eagle Road, in front of the Meridian Trader Joe’s. The restaurant opened quietly last week, and it offers classic Italian deli sandwiches with some American influences like Ranch Chicken sandwich and Buffalo Salad. If anyone tries it, let me know what you think!

Other than Fratelli and Slow by Slow, it’s been less than brotherly love in the restaurant space this month. Here’s a few places that have closed:.

After 63 years and multiple generational hand-downs, a downtown Nampa Chinese restaurant unexpectedly closed over the weekend. 

After taking over a wine bar on 8th Street across from the Warehouse Food Hall, Kichii Sushi and Spirits is closing tomorrow. The restaurant said on Instagram that life is “taking us in a new direction,” though its owners still have Bodovino at the Village.

The downtown lunchtime classic (and one of precious few rooftop restaurants in the city) is closing at the end of the month. Zee’s has been open for 12 years, and has a bit of a cult following. Its team hasn’t said what — if anything — is next in the food space.

While that’s an uncomfortable number of closures, luckily the rest of the year is already looking up with some promising and fun new openings on the way! I’ll let you know more at the end of October.

A downtown community staple is closing, ending an era of coffee and bagels. Its staff has been struggling with health issues, and their last day will be Sunday. The 

Alia’s crew is asking folks to come say “hi” one last time

Breakfast burrito lovers, there’s a new spot to try! Lost Grove Brewing opened the 

 at its Lusk District location, and it serves delicious-looking burritos, parfaits, and drip coffee (which is free if you bring your own mug). The window’s open from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. everyday. Just a note, it’s a walk-up window, not the drive-thru.

Great Wall was Idaho’s first Chinese buffet when it opened in 1980. After four and a half decades, 

Great Wall’s landlord didn’t renew its lease

, and the longtime Overland Road buffet is serving its last meals on Sunday. Kenneth Chan, the son of original owner Kin San Chan, said they were surprised by the move and had planned to stay open.

Boise Airport food options are getting a local refresh

. Treefort is opening a new airport-specific restaurant called the Treefort Outpost Food + Drink, The Stil is moving in, and so are Waffle Me Up and a handful more vendors. And this is just the first phase of additions!

Some of the City Cast Boise crew are already fans

, and I’m excited to check out this new Meridian spot.

A Vista Avenue pizza shop that brought Detroit-style pizza to Boise is closed after seven years in business. 

Spitfire Craft Pizza & Pints’ owner attributed

 the shift to both his personal health and finances. Note: This is a different Spitfire endeavor than Spitfire Tacos.

Just Chicken Brings Its Simple Menu to Warehouse Food Hall

For folks who just want chicken, there’s 

. It’s a small chain that is coming to Boise for the first time in the Warehouse Food Hall.

Every month, we're rounding up restaurant openings and closures in this section, with a focus on local joints. The summer heat seems to have slowed restaurant development (if not construction more generally), but here are a few big moves.

Hydeaway Deli, Boise Boba Open in Hyde Park Spot

A new deli and boba shop combo is the latest operation to open in the bright yellow house on 13th Street in Hyde Park. Most recently, the location was the home of Apericena, which became the 

site of a wage and eviction battle with its owner

. The deli, Hydeaway Deli, is serving just a few sandwiches for now while Boise Boba is up and running fully.

Level Up Lounge is a new kind of bar for Meridian. The new locally owned lounge serves canned cocktails and beer, but is primarily a wine bar, which its owner says has been lacking in the downtown Meridian area.

A local burger and fry chain is taking on its seventh location, but its first in Caldwell. It’s also the first with a drive-thru, and its owner aims to open it in late August.

Garden City’s Wepa Cafe, which served primarily Puerto Rican cuisine and was the only Puerto Rican restaurant in the state, closed after just under four years in business.

The Original Sunrise Cafe on Fairview Avenue closed this month. The 

 Original Sunrise Cafe is still open on Main Street in Meridian, but the Fairview location is just the latest of five closures in the last decade for the locally owned breakfast joint.

AMANO’s Big Win (and the 1,000th Reason to Go)

AMANO did the dang thing! Chef Salvador Alamilla won a James Beard award for “Best Chef” in the Mountain category, beating out chefs in much larger cities. I visited the Caldwell restaurant’s new location last week, and the space is absolutely stunning. As Alamilla was preparing to travel to Chicago for the award ceremony, he and his wife and restaurant co-owner Becca Alamilla took the time to 

join the City Cast Boise podcast to talk about their vision

 is now serving food at 3508 West State Street, which is right across State Street from Veterans Memorial Park (which means it’s accessible from the Greenbelt!). The lot conveniently shows the trucks at the park and when they’ll be there online.

Waffle Love is out of the Warehouse Food Hall and is 

, a chain that makes two things: chicken fingers and fries.

Sushi Restaurant Closing, Ends Run by Couple

The last in a series of Japanese restaurants by 

Chef Sige and Debbie Matsuzawa will close today as the couple retires

. Shige’s Sushi Express Meridian has operated since 2011 after the couple ran several downtown Boise businesses since the early 1990s, BoiseDev reported.

SoCal acai bowl chain Everbowl has its grand opening

 at 4752 North Linder Street today. The company is in its ninth year and is nearing its 100th restaurant. Speaking of chains from southern California, I’m still unabashedly waiting for a Sweet Greens.

8th Street Zeppole Shuttered, The STIL to Take Over

Sandwich and bakery mainstay Zeppole is still alive and well on Apple Street in Southeast Boise — but the same can’t be said for the 

baking company’s small location on 8th Street

. However, local favorite ice cream makers at The Stil are taking over the space.

Laissez Faire Wine Co. Pours on the Greenbelt

Greenbelters have a new place to hop off for a wine glass in Garden City, this time through a wine window by Laissez Faire. 

 is already open, and you can try a variety of other new restaurants on the ground floor of the Boardwalk Apartments (the new building that looks like a cruise ship on the river).

This hybrid of grocery store, bar, and lunch destination is 

 after 20 years in Boise. If you’re looking for wines and specialty groceries on sale and want to try one of their sandwiches for the first time, head to BoEx at 4846 West Emerald Street, which is next to the Emerald Lanes bowling alley at the intersection of Emerald and Orchard Streets.

La Catracha Serves Dishes From Around Central America

, expanding its menu beyond tacos to Honduran dishes like pollo con tajadas, Central American breakfasts, and Salvadoran pupusas. Maybe Boise finally has pupusas to rival those Caldwell’s 

Three generations of women run the kitchen of La Catracha

, so it’s bound to be delicious — give it a try at 7330 West State Street, near the intersection of Glenwood.

Green’s Deli (next to Broadcast Coffee in Cherie Buckner-Webb Park) is closing, but its owners are passing the torch to Black Moon Pastries and Pizza. Black Moon, under the same owners as Broadcast, is planning to 

Bad Boy Expands, Taking Over Chain Location

, this time taking over a space formerly used by the chain Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. Bad Boy’s new location at 2845 East Overland Road in Meridian opened earlier this month.

Here’s what’s new, and what's taken a final bow.

New & Closed Restaurants in October 2025

Boise's Best New Restaurants and Bars

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Boise. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Boise Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Just in time for Boise State football season, our City Cast Boise podcast sat down with contributor Matthew Melton to ask the hard questions: bone-in or boneless wings? Dry rub or sauce heavy? Blue cheese or ranch? Regardless of your preferences, the 

Treasure Valley has no shortage of chicken wing spots

. Here are three spots we’re loving right now:

 in downtown Boise is Melton’s go-to spot when he’s looking for a place to post up and watch a game with great food. Try their habanero honey chipotle wings for that perfect balance of spice and sweetness. They’re serving up breaded traditional bone-in wings and boneless chicken breast strips.

 is a cozy Korean restaurant on Broadway where the wings are just full of “delicious goodness,” according to our host Lindsay Van Allen. Their large bone-in and boneless wings come in various sauces, such as their signature sweet and spicy yangnyum sauce, and Melton’s favorite, the sour and spicy buffalo. We especially love that their wings are perfectly fried and crispy to handle all that sauce, and hold up incredibly well for leftovers the next day.

Sandwiched between BSU and Ann Morrison Park you’ll find 

, an unassuming bar that’s home to the general sauce that Melton says is “incredible.” With a tangy ginger sauce reminiscent of Asian takeout, this is a great option for wing lovers looking for a change from spicy wings. The Shed also serves bone-in or boneless wings alongside celery, carrots, and your choice of dipping sauce.

😋 But which spot is our favorite?!

Best Chicken Wings in Boise

So many drinks taste better when it gets a little colder outside, and thankfully Boise’s skilled bartenders are more than willing to provide us with delicious autumnal cocktails. Here are three favorites, with one each made with vodka, whiskey, and rum.

, pumpkin spice syrup, and chocolate bitters are the marriage you don’t expect to last, but have enough quirks going on that somehow it all works. For fans of Java’s Bowl of Soul (basically a Mexican mocha), this tastes like a cocktail version of that if some of the sweetness was cut with a vegetal pumpkin flavor.

 The Chamomile Cordial is bright without being too poppy, and makes a nice nightcap.

 The Hot For Chocolate is…a lot, but delicious. Just read the description: melted dark chocolate, oat milk, gochugaru, cinnamon, orange expression, served hot. Whipped cream and vodka optional.

I don’t need my whiskey to be hot, but this spin on the Hot Toddy from the Water Bear is — as everything they stir up — just about perfect. Maybe it’s the unexpected addition of lime and capel pisco (a Chilean grape spirit) that makes the cold medicine of it all a little more interesting, or maybe it’s just the bar.

 If you prefer vodka I’d recommend an Aqueduct.

This manages to taste even richer than it sounds without being too sweet. Buttered rum feels like a required experience at least once a winter, and this is the best I’ve found in town.

 The Dublin Sour is a textural delight with both a shaken egg white and a Guinness float, and the whiskey and nutmeg bring it into hearty winter territory.

So many drinks taste better when it gets a little colder outside, and thankfully Boise’s skilled bartenders are more than willing to provide us with delicious autumnal cocktails.

Boise’s Must-Try Fall Cocktails

Three of Boise’s Must-Try Fall Cocktails

Find the best of everything that Boise has to offer.

Boise’s Best

Boise's Best

Sarah Keck and Laurie Pearman describe their meeting as fate. The pair grew up seven miles away from each other in Bakersfield, Calif. and both lived in Caldwell in the 1990s, but didn’t meet until 2022, when they’d both lived in the Ustick neighborhood for four years. But their parallel paths had led them both to the same conclusion: Ustick needed not only a coffee shop, but a place to gather. Earlier this year, they opened 

It would seem you found your footing with each other and the spirit of Common Ground pretty quickly. How did that happen?

“We have this very similar sense of humor and weirdness about us, so it feels like we're naturally sisters or something out of the gate. But I think it was really the shared want for this in the neighborhood. Our goal was so eerily similar, and then as we dug into, like, our histories, that had a lot of similarity too.”

“It’s been magical. A lot of people are like, ‘oh, don't get into business with your friends.’ But for us, I think the goal is so rock solid. And then we just add fun to it and stability."

You knew Ustick needed a gathering space — has the community response met your expectations?

 “Completely exceeded our expectations. We have had time to do zero things since we opened because we've been so busy. What did we liken it to? Oh, a baby giraffe. It’s like the business was the mama giraffe and we were the baby giraffe, and then we were like stumbling around.”

“I’m still surprised, we’re almost a month in and people are still thanking us for opening, for taking a chance on the neighborhood, for investing in the community, because this place is so ready.”

Why the name “Common Ground,” and how does the American flag fit into that?

 “[Points at the large flag on the wall] The flag is actually my dad’s. He passed away in October 2022. He was a Vietnam vet, so this is his dedication flag that me and my brothers got from the Veterans Cemetery when he passed away. [We] received a surprise inheritance from him, and I essentially took that inheritance to start the coffee shop. So it only felt right to have the flag from him up in the coffee shop, you know? I think for the ‘common ground’ portion, we also just want to take back the flag. The flag shouldn’t just be for any specific subset of Americans. We want to show that we are safe people and that our space is a safe space where we can kind of reimagine what the flag can mean.”

 “I’ll just add, above all else, it’s about being a good neighbor. This isn’t about politics, or being polarized, or anything. It's just about a space where we can all come together, get a cup of coffee, and a ritual, and go back to our lives. Like, a positive interaction for everybody, and everybody's welcome.”

3 Questions With the Owners of Common Ground in Boise

3 Questions With the Owners of Common Ground

What Boise celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Boise Public Figures

3 Questions With

There’s no universal definition of comfort food, but there are some common characteristics: dishes that are deeply savory, uncomplicated, filling, and nostalgic. I can’t nail the latter for you, so here are some restaurants to try for 

Known for serving take-and-bake lasagnas and pot pies for 18 years — and the animatronic “Betty the Washerwoman” at their location on Vista Avenue — owner Mary Jean Wegner dropped some news this week that makes a visit to Cucina Di Paolo even more worthwhile.

Wegner wrote to her community of supporters

 that the restaurant will be closing on April 27, leaving Boiseans only a few more months to get a comforting dinner from the family-owned restaurant.

The chana masala at Momo Café will forever be one of my favorite phone-it-in-day dishes, and this Nepali kitchen has everything from curries to dumplings and soups.

Boise has a handful of great Indian restaurants that provide heat and satisfaction, but, being 

 is a great introduction to Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian food all in one. Plus, they’ve got great vegan and vegetarian options!

For a deeply American definition of comfort food, you might want to head to your favorite diner. Calling itself “Boise’s best kept secret since 1974,” 

 is a great candidate for breakfast and lunch (open from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.). For something that’s open a little later, try 

Adding a needed variation to Idaho’s classic culinary scope, 

 is a Puerto Rican restaurant that’s quickly become a Garden City staple. Try the pastelillos, the mofongo, plantains prepared three different ways — honestly, try anything! A portion of their revenue goes to support recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

If you welcome a little heat with fries and a beer, look no further than 

. Sitting inside the bar with a lamb grinder or stew and a plate of croquetas on a rainy day, you’ll be transported to a European pub for a little while.

For a bowl of locally made soup to go with some fresh bread or a sandwich, try these spots:

What Foods Did I Miss? ✉️

Comfort Food for Rainy Days in Boise

Let’s get into this week’s culinary news around the Treasure Valley 😋

Pricey Bistro Replaces Fort Street Station

French-inspired Bistro D’Hélène has moved into 808 W. Fort St. in the North End, the spot that was once home to Fort Street Station bar and grill — even though their logos are still on the awning. Owner-chef Danielle Christine is at the helm of the new restaurant taking inspiration from French and Mediterranean flavors. Standout items on the dinner menu include crab-stuffed deviled eggs ($19), Helene’s cassoulet ($22), and steak au poivre (starting at $53).

New Restaurants in Developing Idaho Asian Plaza

Peking Tokyo Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar is now open at 3027 N. Cole Rd. Try their kiss of fire roll with spicy tuna, yellowtail, and jalapeño, topped with spicy mayo and tobiko, or order their Thai yellow curry with zucchinis, onions, and mushrooms.

After closing in June, the Apple Street eatery in Southeast Boise is reopening under new ownership. The joint serving New York-style pizza, Italian food, and sushi is hoping to reopen by mid-November. Their original location off Bogus Basin Road has remained open under existing management.

New and Reopening Boise Restaurants

We’re nearing the peak of farmers market season — as in, the first tomatoes are showing up (though not a ton), and there’s still plenty of the early season’s harvest rolling in (like morels).

If you’re out of town for the Saturday market or don’t want to wait, here’s the 

 that runs Monday through Thursday around town.

Boise Farmers Market and pick it up in their drive-thru

If you want to get local produce and support farmers even more directly, check out this 

interview with a member of the Global Gardens team

Here’s Your Guide to Boise’s Farmers Markets

How to Make the Most of Boise's Farmers Market Season

City Cast Boise contributor Jocelyn Robertson brought the City Cast Boise team to the ballpark, and we have some recommendations for how to have a great time at a Boise Hawks game.

Q: Jocelyn, what can people expect at a Boise Hawks game?

 I love the Memorial Stadium, because it’s old school baseball. It’s got little tiny plastic seats that fold up and down, it’s got nowhere to put your drink, but it feels really personal and really intimate. The crowds are always enthusiastic, you can see all the action, and you don’t have to wait in a super long line for any drinks or hot dogs or anything, and you can get to your seat easily — this just feels like hometown baseball.

Q: What are some tips for how to enjoy the game?

 I didn’t get the Idaho Philly cheesesteak, but it looked good as hell. Honestly, everything I saw somebody eating there and everything I ate was really tasty; perfect baseball park food, honestly. I got the Killer Kielbasa on Jocelyn’s recommendation, and it was incredible.

 Sit on the third base side, even though that’s technically the visitors’ side, it’s not in the glaring sun. … Have your hot dog early while it’s hot, and as the game is in the seventh inning stretch, get that ice cream and it’ll take you through to the end.

 We went on a Wednesday and it could not have been better. I’ve been on Saturdays and you should go to that, but if you’re anxious about the mass of people and being crowded, go on a weeknight.

Q: For people on the fence, do you recommend trying a Hawks game?

If you feel like baseball is not for you, I am really with you — [but] just go try it out.

 I obviously recommend it … [it’s] fun for the whole family, I’m here recruiting new baseball fans.

 I want to tell people: If you haven’t ever been, go, and if you have been but it’s been a while, get together a group of friends and just go sit on the shady side and have a great time.

The Unwritten Rules of Going to a Hawks Game

How to Have Fun at a Boise Hawks Game

3 Questions About the Boise Hawks

Despite what the remarkable weather would lead you to believe, it is still summertime! And starting Wednesday, it looks like 

: High temperatures are thankfully staying at a reasonable level in the mid-80s, but the sun is coming back out for more than a couple hours at a time.

If that wakes up an itch to plant yourself on a patio with something cold to drink, you might be feeling what 103.5’s Mateo says is the magical effect of patio season.

“I love patios for multiple reasons — being on a patio is the least of them, believe it or not,” 

. “When patio season kicks in, everything in the city turns upside down, the energy changes, people change, the vibes change, I just believe it’s a thing in the air. So even if you don’t do a patio all summer long, when the season is in effect, I feel like people are just better.”

Here are Mateo’s and City Cast Boise host Emma Arnold’s favorite patios:

 in Hyde Park, formerly Sun Ray Cafe, and Lucky 13 before that.

, and anywhere else on the Basque Block, for the people-watching.

 for another rooftop that remains surprisingly well-hidden.

Personally, I’m going to add Garden City locations like 

Remember to wear your sunscreen, make a reservation if you can, and if you’re looking to open a business, please consider opening a rooftop pool!

The Insider’s Guide to Boise’s Best Patios

The Best Patios in Boise

For 41 years, the local Greek community has hosted one of the valley’s biggest and most beloved festivals: the Boise Greek Food Festival. (Our friends at 

The kitchen of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church has been busy lately. Months in advance, they’re preparing and freezing pastries, playing with recipes, and planning for two long days.

It’s free to enter! Just pay for your food.

There’s free music, dancing, and even dancing lessons.

It’s the church’s biggest fundraiser, so get some great food and support them.

, and the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., today and tomorrow.

restaurants & bars

Boise's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Best Chicken Wings in Boise

Three of Boise’s Must-Try Fall Cocktails

Latest articles

Boise's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Best Chicken Wings in Boise

Three of Boise’s Must-Try Fall Cocktails

3 Questions With the Owners of Common Ground

Comfort Food for Rainy Days in Boise

New and Reopening Boise Restaurants

How to Make the Most of Boise's Farmers Market Season

Latest articles

3 Questions With the Owners of Common Ground

Comfort Food for Rainy Days in Boise

New and Reopening Boise Restaurants

How to Make the Most of Boise's Farmers Market Season

3 Questions About the Boise Hawks

The Best Patios in Boise

Food & Drink: Greek Food Festival