Category: Boise

In light of the fact that Idaho boasts close to 25,000 farms and ranches, it’s no surprise that its capital city of Boise should have a thriving vegan food scene. Thanks to their commitment to supporting the state’s agricultural reputation by sourcing sustainable, local produce, Treasure Valley restaurants offer an abundance of vegan and plant-based options for foodies in Boise.

Here are Truckster’s favorite vegan restaurants in Boise.

High Note Cafe

High Note Cafe proudly offers 100% plant-based fresh food—no microwaves or freezers. The menu includes a gyro sandwich of grilled homemade seitan; a torta with spiced black bean puree, avocado, and mozzarella “cheese”; a horseradish cream melt of seitan and mozzarella; quesadillas; and street tacos. Also serves brunch featuring a breakfast burrito with scrambled organic tofu and High Note Potatoes scrambled with mushrooms, spinach, red bell peppers, pico de gallo, and avocado. (225 N. 5th St.)

Wild Root Cafe

Open Tuesday through Saturday, Wild Root Café has several à la carte vegan options including marinated tofu and sweet potato hash. It also has desserts such as vegan chia pudding, vegan shortbread, and a vegan matcha chocolate truffle. (276 N. 8th St.)

Lemon Tree Co.

This artisan eatery serves specialty lemonades, salads, soups, and oat dishes, plus vegan sandwiches such as the Massaman Curry Banh Mi, the Mushroom & Artichoke “Cheesesteak,” the Veggie Vinny featuring roasted yellow squash and zucchini, a Yam & Cheese with roasted garnet yams, and a Veggie Reuben with pastrami-spiced yams and apple-lime slaw. (224 N. 10th St.)

The Matador Boise

A downtown Boise favorite since 2010, the Matador Boise serves Mexican-inspired food and tequila including vegan dishes such as Butternut Squash Tostadas serviced with achiote-chile rice and black or refried beans, a Beyond Burger, and vegetarian enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. (215 N. 8th St.)

The Funky Taco

Originally cooking in the Funky Airstream One, this local staple since 2013 now has a brick-and-mortar location open Tuesday through Saturday. Vegan “nosh and noms” on the menu include “Flower Power,” featuring panko cauliflower and micro kale on smoked flower tortillas, and nachos with white corn chips, organic pinto beans, shiitake mushrooms, pickled jalapeno, and chipotle miso tahini. (801 W. Bannock St.)

RamaPong

This fun hangout offers a full bar along with vegan ramen options and ping-pong tables. Choose from several noodles—including gluten-free—broths such as sweet potato or charred onions and ginger. Ask for no soft-boiled egg and order a side of fried tofu instead. (204 N. Capitol Blvd., Suite 10)

Mai Thai

This Asian restaurant’s separate vegan menu includes sushi; pot stickers of mushroom, tofu, and eggplant; papaya salad; steamed bao buns with plant-based char siu; tofu and corn larb salad with sticky rice; vegan honey “duck”; and yellow curry. (750 W. Idaho St.)

Bombay Boise

Vegans can enjoy authentic Indian cuisine here including appetizers such as vegetable samosas and vegetable pakoras, as well as entrees such as Paneer Tikka Masala, Shahi Paneer, and Navrathan Korma. (928 W. Main St.)

Guru Donuts

Guru Donuts makes it tough to forget desserts with vegan treats such as apple fritters, a vanilla bean vegan cake donut, and vegan yeast donuts in Hipsterberry, Alice-in-Wonderland, and Sea Salt Chocolate flavors. (928 W. Main St. #100)

In addition to these fantastic brick-and-mortar restaurants, it’s worth noting that many of Boise’s food trucks also offer vegan dishes, as well as a variety of vegan cuisine. All of this can be seen as a part of the city’s mission to bring the freshest and healthiest foods to its residents while supporting local industry. The result is a delicious win-win for everybody.

As Idaho’s cultural capital, Boise has no shortage of culinary choices, from tacos featuring Idaho spuds and chorizo to quinoa burgers and Nutella panna cotta. The Treasure Valley also has a thriving food truck community that offers alternatives to sit-down and take-out fare, as well as a Food Truck Rally in Boise (check out our Boise Food Trucks page for all events).
But even though we at Truckster love the food truck movement, we’re also foodies at heart who can’t resist cluing others in on a great meal. Here are our picks for the best restaurants in Boise, Idaho.

Richard’s Restaurant & Bar

Chef and owner Richard Langston has been feeding Boise residents and visitors for more than 25 years, showcasing locally sourced ingredients and natural flavors. His specialties are Italian-style Northwestern fare such as grilled octopus with pork belly, parchment-cooked black cod with broccolini, grilled quail, and potato gnocchi with beets, gorgonzola, and toasted walnuts. Wines on the award-winning wine list include those from Idaho’s burgeoning wine industry, as well as selections from Italy, Spain, France, California, Oregon, and Washington. Save room for desserts such as tiramisu cheesecake or the gluten-free orange cardamom chocolate flourless cake with pistachio crumble. (500 S. Capitol Blvd.)

Fork

Located in the landmark Boise City National Bank Building, Fork pledges to be “Loyal to Local,” sourcing key ingredients from ranchers, farmers, distillers, brewers, bakers, producers, and cheese makers around Boise and the Northwest. That commitment extends to the comfortable yet relaxed dining room, which uses recycled materials and reclaimed Idaho barn wood for the glasses and tables. Menu favorites include asparagus “fries,” cast-iron seared lamb lollipops with green chimichurri sauce, grilled Mahi Mahi tacos, Idaho rainbow trout, a slow-smoked brisket sandwich, and buttermilk fried chicken with balsamic-infused maple syrup and a cheddar waffle. (199 N. 8th St.)

Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery

America’s first restaurant distillery, Bardenay is located on the Basque Block, part of the Old Boise Historic District. It specializes in producing amber rum and ginger rum and has a menu bursting with variety, such as the panzanella bruschetta salad with champagne vinaigrette, flash-fried Pacific cod and chips, and a cider-brined pork chop. Cap off a meal with carrot cake featuring Bardenay Ginger Rum raisins or molten chocolate Bundt cake, then raise a toast with a local pale ale or a signature cocktail like the Huckleberry Lemon Drop pouch made with Bardenay Lemon Vodka and Idaho huckleberry puree. (610 W. Grove St.)

Bar Gernika Basque Pub and Eatery

Another Basque Block staple, the Bar Gernika Basque Pub and Eatery has combined authentic Basque cuisine with sandwiches, Basque wines, and desserts for roughly 20 years. Choices include solomo (marinated pork tenderloin with pimientos on a French baguette), chorizo (Basque pork sausage), slices of roasted lamb leg with grilled onions and mushrooms, and lamb stew complete with potatoes, onions, and green peppers. Don’t forget the croquettas, house-cut fries, Basque peppers, or rice pudding on the side. (202 S. Capitol Blvd.)

Saint Lawrence Gridiron

A few steps from the Idaho State Capitol Building, Saint Lawrence Gridiron is a former food truck that’s settled into a brick-and-mortar location, delivering bold Southern flavors and humor from a giant smoker on the front patio. Don’t miss the brisket platter with buttermilk biscuit and “various picklery;” the “Requisite Veggie Dish” of rotating grains, herbs, and seasonal vegetables; or shrimp served with stone-ground grits, sausage, and tomato gravy. Want a smaller bite? Opt for the “Dirty Bird,” a fried chicken sandwich with Louisiana spices, chili oil, white BBQ sauce, and house slaw. Also serves brunch. (705 W. Bannock St.)