Restaurants in Boise

Just as Thomas Edison stumbled through useless prototypes of light bulbs and movie cameras before perfecting the phonograph, the alchemists at Qdoba Mexican Grill took 47 attempts before landing on the franchise's signature blend of three cheeses, known simply as queso. That attention to detail still pervades every aspect of the menu, as employees spend hours each day chopping, dicing, and simmering the fresh ingredients that find their way into burritos, taco salads, and grilled quesadillas. Beyond the marinated bites of chicken, beef, and pork and hand-crafted tortillas, cooks protect their ripe, fragile avocados from harm by smashing them into batches of fluffy guacamole.

Bosnia Express brings the flavors of Bosnia to Boise through lunches and nightcaps alike. Before the restaurant undergoes its nocturnal transformation into a nightclub and neighborhood bar, cooks layer hearty paninis with thinly sliced meats and vegetables, as well as season gyro meat that’s ready to nestle inside pita pockets. In addition to making fresh sandwiches and pouring drinks, they stock products from overseas, such as Bosnian, Turkish, and Mediterranean snack cookies, pickled vegetables, hair products, and Pavlovic Ointment, whose lid automatically opens whenever a bell rings.

A locally owned Boise institution since 1961, Delsa's Homemade Ice Cream hits the spot with fresh-pressed burgers, succulent sandwiches, and combo meals. Inside, Delsa’s boasts a classic diner setup, with shiny red and white booths and stools gathered around elevated tables. There, diners soak up familial vibes while taking down a bacon cheeseburger, or a homemade bowl of soup. True to its name, Delsa’s also satisfies sweets cravings with hand-dipped cones, decadent sundaes, and more than 10 milkshake flavors.

Burger Belly, an independently owned eatery located near Boise State University campus, keeps customers coming back with the classic taste of burgers that are grilled to order. “We cook it right in front of you,” owner Despina Simitjis told the Idaho Press-Tribune. Customers can pair those burgers with fries and creamy milkshakes, or opt for fish sandwiches, hot dogs, and chicken.

From breakfast burritos to nocturnal burgers, this Boise Weekly-lauded American-fare oasis keeps stomach growls at bay with hearty plates of food. Slapped onto sourdough, heaped with pastrami, and slathered with ranch and swiss, burger hogs the spotlight, though it's also available as its unadorned, Platonic ideal self.

At Fiesta Chicken, diners can savor charbroiled chicken in a variety of ways. Cooks layer the meat in quesadillas, stuff it into tacos, and roll it into burritos with ingredients such as roasted corn and creamy chipotle sauce. They also toss it in crisp salads and simmer it in flavorful lemon-chicken or tortilla soup.