Idaho Eats · region
Boise, McCall and Mountain Home restaurants
On this site, Boise, McCall and Mountain Home is Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties: the counties Central District Health looks after. They hold 1,315 restaurants, cafés, bars and bakeries across 18 towns, including 7 hand-checked Basque spots, 13 finger steak and drive-in spots, 4 spud plate spots, 3 places for huckleberry, 3 hand-checked taquerías, 4 historic saloons and supper clubs, 7 James Beard honorees and the oldest restaurants (back to 1957) from our hand-checked lists.
Basque food in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 7 Basque spots in Idaho.
Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering
560 W Main St, Boise
James Beard nomineeBasque On the menu: chorizo, croquetas, marinated solomo, txistorra, Basque meatballs, patatas bravas, cod and clams in salsa verde · Since 2020
The Ansotegui family's chorizo maker and lunch counter in the Pioneer Building in Old Boise, a block from the Basque Block.
Bar Gernika
202 S Capitol Blvd, Boise
Basque On the menu: croquetas, chorizo, lamb stew, lamb grinder, pork tenderloin
Corner pub on the Basque Block whose owner, Jeff May, told Boise State Public Radio in 2025 that croquetas are its most popular item.
Basquenese
370 S 8th St, Boise
Basque On the menu: croquetas, solomo fries, banh mi
Basque and Vietnamese counter inside The Warehouse Food Hall downtown.
Leku Ona
117 S 6th St, Boise
Basque On the menu: txipirones en su tinta, braised lamb, lamb sandwich, croquetas
Basque restaurant, bar and small hotel at the edge of the Basque Block.
The Basque Market
608 W Grove St, Boise
Basque On the menu: paella, pintxos, imported Basque goods
Basque grocery and pintxos counter on the Basque Block that cooks paella outdoors at noon on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Txikiteo
175 N 14th St, Boise
Basque On the menu: pintxos, chorizo sandwich, charcuterie board · Since 2018
Pintxos and wine bar in the Linen District, a few blocks west of the Basque Block.
Epi's A Basque Restaurant
1115 N Main St, Meridian
Basque On the menu: croquetas, red beans, Grandma Epi's garlic dressing
Basque dinner house named for the founders' grandmother Epifania 'Epi', now owned by her great-grandson, chef Erik McFarland, who bought it in 2019.
Finger steaks & drive-ins in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 21 finger steak and drive-in spots in Idaho.
Big Bun Drive-In
5816 W Overland Rd, Boise
Drive-inHuckleberry On the menu: burgers, huckleberry shake, milkshakes, fry sauce, tater tots
Overland Road burger drive-in whose long shake list includes a seasonal huckleberry shake (The Takeout, 2025).
Fanci Freez
1402 W State St, Boise
Finger steaksDrive-inHuckleberry On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, huckleberry cheeseburger, Boston shake, waffle fries
Drive-thru burger and soft-serve stand on State Street that serves finger steaks with homemade fry sauce.
Hawkins Pac-Out
2315 N Bogus Basin Rd, Boise
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks, burgers, tots, breakfast burritos, milkshakes
Family-run drive-thru burger stand on the road to Bogus Basin whose lunch menu lists a finger-steak basket served with toast.
Legends Pub & Grill
7609 W Overland Rd, Boise
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks
West Boise pub whose menu lists finger steaks made from thin-sliced tri-tip in panko with horseradish cocktail sauce.
Lindy's Steak House
12249 W Chinden Blvd, Boise
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks, top sirloin finger steaks, steaks
West Boise steakhouse on Chinden Boulevard whose general manager, Bob Tinker, makes finger steaks from top sirloin dusted in seasoned flour rather than batter (KIVI; Boise State Public Radio).
O'Michael's Pub & Grill
2433 N Bogus Basin Rd, Boise
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks, corned beef and cabbage
Irish pub at the foot of Bogus Basin Road whose menu marks its hand-cut, batter-dipped beef-tenderloin finger steaks as a house favorite.
The Lift
4091 W State St, Boise
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks, homemade queso
State Street bar and grill whose menu lists finger steaks hand cut and dipped to order with spiked cocktail sauce.
Westside Drive-In
1929 W State St, Boise
Finger steaksDrive-inSpud plate On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, Idaho Ice Cream Potato, tater tots, garlic bread · Since 1957
Its owners told The Takeout (2019) that their finger-steak batter is the original recipe from Boise's Torch, whose finger steaks historian Rick Just (2020) traces to an August 1956 Idaho Statesman ad while noting that both cook Milo Bybee and owner Willie Schrier have been credited with inventing them.
Westside Drive-In
1113 E Parkcenter Blvd, Boise
Finger steaksSpud plate On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, Idaho Ice Cream Potato
Chef Lou Aaron's second Westside Drive-In location; East Idaho News/Idaho Statesman (2023) lists both addresses for the Idaho Ice Cream Potato.
Diamond Lil's Steakhouse & Saloon
407 Main St, Idaho City
Finger steaksSpud plateHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steak dinner, finger steaks, loaded baked potato, ribeye, pork tenderloin chop · Season: Its site says it is open four days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day; call for winter hours.
Saloon, steakhouse and small museum at 407-409 Main Street in the gold-rush town of Idaho City whose menu lists a finger-steak dinner and loaded baked potatoes.
Lardo Grill & Saloon
600 W Lake St, McCall
Finger steaksHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steaks, burgers, loaded Lardo fries, spaghetti, hot buttered fudge cake · Since 1973
Saloon at the west end of Lake Street on the site of the 1880s mining camp of Lardo, which The Takeout (2019) listed among Idaho places serving finger steaks.
Fanci Freez
1750 W McMillan Rd #100, Meridian
Finger steaksDrive-inHuckleberry On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, huckleberry cheeseburger, Boston shake
Meridian branch of the State Street drive-in with a drive-thru and the same finger-steak and shake menu.
Gramercy Park Pub & Grill
1626 S Wells Ave, Meridian
Finger steaks On the menu: finger steaks and fries
Meridian pub whose menu lists panko-breaded finger steaks with fries.
Spud plates in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 9 spud plate spots in Idaho.
Boise Fry Company
204 N Capitol Blvd, Boise
Spud plate On the menu: Idaho russet fries, homestyle fries, po' ball fries, Idaho fry sauce, bison burger, poutine
Fry-first burger shop whose site says its potatoes typically come from King's Crown Organic Farms in Glenns Ferry and are cooked Belgian-style in two stages.
Westside Drive-In
1929 W State St, Boise
Finger steaksDrive-inSpud plate On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, Idaho Ice Cream Potato, tater tots, garlic bread · Since 1957
Its owners told The Takeout (2019) that their finger-steak batter is the original recipe from Boise's Torch, whose finger steaks historian Rick Just (2020) traces to an August 1956 Idaho Statesman ad while noting that both cook Milo Bybee and owner Willie Schrier have been credited with inventing them.
Westside Drive-In
1113 E Parkcenter Blvd, Boise
Finger steaksSpud plate On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, Idaho Ice Cream Potato
Chef Lou Aaron's second Westside Drive-In location; East Idaho News/Idaho Statesman (2023) lists both addresses for the Idaho Ice Cream Potato.
Diamond Lil's Steakhouse & Saloon
407 Main St, Idaho City
Finger steaksSpud plateHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steak dinner, finger steaks, loaded baked potato, ribeye, pork tenderloin chop · Season: Its site says it is open four days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day; call for winter hours.
Saloon, steakhouse and small museum at 407-409 Main Street in the gold-rush town of Idaho City whose menu lists a finger-steak dinner and loaded baked potatoes.
Huckleberry in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 23 huckleberry spots in Idaho.
Big Bun Drive-In
5816 W Overland Rd, Boise
Drive-inHuckleberry On the menu: burgers, huckleberry shake, milkshakes, fry sauce, tater tots
Overland Road burger drive-in whose long shake list includes a seasonal huckleberry shake (The Takeout, 2025).
Fanci Freez
1402 W State St, Boise
Finger steaksDrive-inHuckleberry On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, huckleberry cheeseburger, Boston shake, waffle fries
Drive-thru burger and soft-serve stand on State Street that serves finger steaks with homemade fry sauce.
Fanci Freez
1750 W McMillan Rd #100, Meridian
Finger steaksDrive-inHuckleberry On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, huckleberry cheeseburger, Boston shake
Meridian branch of the State Street drive-in with a drive-thru and the same finger-steak and shake menu.
Taquerías in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 9 taquerías in Idaho.
Calle 75 Street Tacos
110 N 11th St, Boise
Taquería On the menu: carne asada tacos, burritos, nacho burrito
Downtown taco shop that grew out of a 2008 farmers-market taco stand.
Madre Boutique Taqueria
1034 S La Pointe St, Boise
Taquería On the menu: Idaho spud and chorizo taco, short rib taco, tacos
Chef-run 'boutique taqueria' on La Pointe Street whose tacos include an Idaho spud and chorizo filling.
Rosa Garden City
214 E 34th St, Garden City
Taquería On the menu: al pastor tacos, barbacoa tacos, bean and cheese burrito
Counter-service taco shop from the Wylder Hospitality Group on East 34th Street in Garden City.
Historic saloons in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
By town. Each one was read against a 2025–26 menu or news story in October 2026. The whole state: 14 historic saloons and supper clubs in Idaho.
The Stagecoach Inn
3132 W Chinden Blvd, Garden City
Historic saloon On the menu: jumbo prawns, prime rib, top sirloin, loaded baked potato, cream pies
Its own history says Schrier created finger steaks at the Torch, left the recipe with Milo (Bybee) and promised never to serve them at the Stagecoach, so jumbo prawns became its specialty instead.
Diamond Lil's Steakhouse & Saloon
407 Main St, Idaho City
Finger steaksSpud plateHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steak dinner, finger steaks, loaded baked potato, ribeye, pork tenderloin chop · Season: Its site says it is open four days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day; call for winter hours.
Saloon, steakhouse and small museum at 407-409 Main Street in the gold-rush town of Idaho City whose menu lists a finger-steak dinner and loaded baked potatoes.
Foresters
304 E Lake St, McCall
Historic saloon On the menu: New York-style pizza
Downtown McCall bar that its owners call McCall's historic downtown bar, now also serving New York-style pizza seven days a week.
Lardo Grill & Saloon
600 W Lake St, McCall
Finger steaksHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steaks, burgers, loaded Lardo fries, spaghetti, hot buttered fudge cake · Since 1973
Saloon at the west end of Lake Street on the site of the 1880s mining camp of Lardo, which The Takeout (2019) listed among Idaho places serving finger steaks.
James Beard honorees in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
Honors the James Beard Foundation gave from 2023 to 2026, from semifinalist up to winner and America's Classic. They're facts, not ratings. The whole state: 10 Idaho James Beard honorees.
KIN
999 W Main St, Boise
James Beard winner
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain winner 2023 (Kris Komori)
Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering
560 W Main St, Boise
James Beard nomineeBasque On the menu: chorizo, croquetas, marinated solomo, txistorra, Basque meatballs, patatas bravas, cod and clams in salsa verde · Since 2020
The Ansotegui family's chorizo maker and lunch counter in the Pioneer Building in Old Boise, a block from the Basque Block.
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2023 (Dan Ansotegui); James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2024 (Dan Ansotegui); James Beard: Outstanding Hospitality nominee 2026
Bar, Please!
620 W Idaho St, Boise
James Beard nominee
James Beard: Best New Bar nominee 2026
Kibrom's Ethiopian & Eritrean Food
3506 W State St, Boise
James Beard semifinalist
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2023 (Kibrom Milash)
Susina
1621 N Orchard St, Boise
James Beard semifinalist
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2026 (Alex Cardoza)
Terroir
160 N Eighth, Boise
James Beard semifinalist
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2025 (Rémi Courcenet and Nathan Whitley); James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2026 (Nathan Whitley)
The Avery
1010 W Main St, Boise
James Beard semifinalist
James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2025 (Cal Elliott); James Beard: Best Chef: Mountain semifinalist 2026 (Cal Elliott)
Oldest restaurants in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
Oldest first, each dated at the address it has now from its own account or a published history; the note under each one names the source. The whole state: Idaho's oldest restaurants.
Westside Drive-In
1929 W State St, Boise
Finger steaksDrive-inSpud plate On the menu: finger steaks, fry sauce, Idaho Ice Cream Potato, tater tots, garlic bread · Since 1957
Its owners told The Takeout (2019) that their finger-steak batter is the original recipe from Boise's Torch, whose finger steaks historian Rick Just (2020) traces to an August 1956 Idaho Statesman ad while noting that both cook Milo Bybee and owner Willie Schrier have been credited with inventing them.
The Takeout (2019) says the drive-in was originally opened in 1957 by Ralph Caskey; chef Lou Aaron bought it in 1994 (KIVI; East Idaho News/Idaho Statesman 2023).
Lardo Grill & Saloon
600 W Lake St, McCall
Finger steaksHistoric saloon On the menu: finger steaks, burgers, loaded Lardo fries, spaghetti, hot buttered fudge cake · Since 1973
Saloon at the west end of Lake Street on the site of the 1880s mining camp of Lardo, which The Takeout (2019) listed among Idaho places serving finger steaks.
Valley Lookout/BoiseDev (2024) says the Howard family launched the restaurant and bar in 1973; Valley Lookout (2026) says it has been open since the 1970s. The property was listed for sale in September 2024.
Txikiteo
175 N 14th St, Boise
Basque On the menu: pintxos, chorizo sandwich, charcuterie board · Since 2018
Pintxos and wine bar in the Linen District, a few blocks west of the Basque Block.
An Idaho Statesman story (2018-05-30, reprinted by Euskal Kultura) says it opened in March 2018 in the Linen District building then addressed 1401 W Idaho St, with Dan Ansotegui cooking at night; Visit Boise (2026) lists the same corner as 175 N 14th St.
Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering
560 W Main St, Boise
James Beard nomineeBasque On the menu: chorizo, croquetas, marinated solomo, txistorra, Basque meatballs, patatas bravas, cod and clams in salsa verde · Since 2020
The Ansotegui family's chorizo maker and lunch counter in the Pioneer Building in Old Boise, a block from the Basque Block.
Euskal Kultura (2020-06-18) reported Dan Ansotegui would open Ansots at 560 W Main St in mid-July 2020.
Towns in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
Where Boise, McCall and Mountain Home's places to eat cluster, counted from open map data. Town pages: Boise, Meridian, Eagle, McCall.
| Town | Places to eat |
|---|---|
| Boise | 663 |
| Meridian | 315 |
| Eagle | 75 |
| Garden City | 57 |
| McCall | 42 |
| Mountain Home | 42 |
| Kuna | 34 |
| Star | 33 |
| Cascade | 12 |
| Idaho City | 9 |
| Glenns Ferry | 8 |
| Donnelly | 7 |
Health inspections in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home
Central District Health licenses and inspects restaurants in Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties, about once a year. Like Idaho's other districts, it publishes no inspection results in bulk and issues no grade, placard or score, so Idaho Eats shows none.