12 Best Lunch Places in Boise
As a Boise local, it feels like every week there is a new eatery opening up! My list of Boise restaurants to visit seems to never end. Korri and I love checking out both new places and old favorites at lunchtime, especially if we get a break from work during the week. There are so many yummy and delicious lunch places to visit all over Boise! It’s impossible to highlight them all in one blog post, but I hope this helps you narrow it down, whether it’s your first visit or you call Boise home (hi, neighbor!).
Below, I rounded up 12 of the best lunch places in Boise where you can grab a satisfying noontime meal. An interactive map is included at the end of the post so you can plan where to you want to eat during your visit!
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12 Best Lunch Places in Boise, Idaho
(according to Boise locals!)
a Café • 10th Street, Downtown Boise
Pronounced like “aye café”, a café is one of my favorite places to grab lunch (or brunch) in downtown Boise. This may not technically be a lunch meal, but my go-to order is the breakfast burrito...honestly I eat it at any time of day. I’ve waxed poetic about how absolutely OBSESSED I am with it. It’s the best in Boise! They’re full of eggs, potatoes, and beans and are huge and so delicious. Korri likes adding avocado and bacon to his. I also really enjoy the buttermilk scenario salad, and they also offer a selection of other salads, bowls, and sandwiches for lunch.
a café is open 8 am to 3 pm Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.
Baguette Deli • Orchard and Franklin, Boise Bench
If you find yourself on the Boise Bench craving pho, Baguette Deli is where you need to be. It’s our favorite place in town to eat pho! (This is the only place I’ve tried because Korri said it’s the best that he’s tried, haha.) Baguette Deli serves authentic Vietnamese food, including pho (beef noodle soup), Vietnamese-style sandwiches, and even regular “American”-style sandwiches (turkey, ham, roast beef, etc.). The pho comes in two sizes which is great depending on your appetite! You can also order anything to go!
Baguette Deli is open daily from 9 am until 7 pm.
Blue Sky Bagels • Multiple locations (Chinden, Downtown, State Street)
If you’re looking for an inexpensive yet delicious and quick lunch, head over to Blue Sky Bagels! As a bagel shop, you may not think to visit for lunch, as many of their offerings are more on the breakfast side of the three meals. But they offer a wide selection of bagel sandwiches a well as daily soup options! My favorite bagel is the cinnamon sugar, but I also enjoy their egg sandwich on a savory bagel like the everything bagel.
All Blue Sky Bagels locations in Boise are open daily. The Chinden and State Street locations close at 3 pm, and the downtown location closes at 6 pm Monday through Friday, 5 pm Saturday, and 4 pm Sunday. There is also a location in Meridian.
Boise Fry Company • Multiple locations (Downtown, Bown Crossing, State Street)
Boise Fry Company is a popular local fast casual restaurant that offers fries with burgers on the side. You first order your fries (select from type of potato and cut of the fries) and then order anything else you want with them, like burgers (including bison burgers and vegan black bean burgers) or a BLT (my personal favorite). After you place your order, wander over to wide selection of dipping sauces and fill up cups of your favorites! I always get spicy ketchup, garlic aioli, and jalapeño ranch.
All locations are open daily from 11 am to 8 pm (and until 9 pm Wednesday through Saturday). On Sunday, they don’t open until 12 pm. There are also two locations in Meridian and one in Nampa.
Boise Pie Co. • Orchard Street, Boise Bench
You might hear the name Boise Pie Company and think they only offer pies…and you’d be wrong! 😉 While Boise Pie Co. does have an incredible selection of pies for any occasion, it’s also a great spot to grab lunch. They offer a plethora of sandwich options in addition to their sweet and savory pies. I loved the Hawaiian grilled cheese sandwich (available seasonally)!
Boise Pie Co. is open for lunch Monday through Saturday 11 am to 4 pm. You can also place an order through delivery apps.
CasaBlanca Cuban Grill • Overland Road, Boise Bench
CasaBlanca offers delicious, authentic Cuban food in their cozy restaurant on the Boise Bench. My go-to meal is Carne con Papas (beef and potatoes served with white rice, black beans, and plantains). It’s SO good! I’ve heard from colleagues that the Cubano sandwiches are also excellent. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu!
CaseBlanca Cuban Grill is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm.
Deli George • Broadway and Front, East of Downtown
Deli George is a locally-owned deli offering delicious sandwiches and salads, and they even cater/offer boxed lunches for work meetings and events. In addition to enjoying one of their yummy sandwiches, you can enjoy a cold beer from their rotating tap list!
Deli George is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 7 pm and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Idaho Pizza Company • Multiple locations (Broadway, Cole, Fairview, Glenwood, Overland)
I’ve eaten at the Idaho Pizza Company lunch buffet since I was a kid (probably since it was known as Round Table Pizza, haha)! It’s so yummy and a nostalgic favorite for me. The lunch buffet includes slices of pizza (including dessert pizza), the salad bar, and a fountain drink. Go on Wednesdays for double punches on your lunch buffet punch card!
All Idaho Pizza Company locations are open daily from 11 am to 9 pm (though hours may vary slightly based on location). There are also locations in Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Nampa, and Caldwell.
Flying Pie Pizzaria • Multiple locations (Broadway, Fairview, Overland, State Street)
Flying Pie is another Boise-area classic pizza place, and it also offers a great lunch buffet. Select from slices of pizza, different types of salads (with all the fixings already on them except for dressing, of which you can choose what you want), and even pasta (including mac and cheese!). You can also grab yourself a beer! They also have a punch card for the lunch buffet.
All Flying Pie locations are open daily starting at 11 am. They close at 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and at 11 pm Friday and Saturday. There are also locations in Meridian, Eagle, and Nampa.
Lemon Tree • Multiple locations (Downtown, Harris Ranch, Parkcenter)
Lemon Tree is another fantastic locally-owned sandwich shop in Boise! They have unique flavor combinations that you won’t find anywhere else in town. My go-to is the turkey Boursin sandwich; it reminds me of Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich! There are three locations where you can find their sandwiches (and salads—yum!), and the new location on Parkcenter is I believe the only location with a hot grill. At that location, they also offer burgers, tacos, and bowls! Korri and I ate there recently; I got the short rib tacos and he got the short rib bowl. Both were delicious!
Lemon Tree’s hours vary by location but all are open daily by 11 am for lunch. Harris Ranch and Parkcenter are also open for dinner.
Tango’s Empanadas • Orchard Street, Boise Bench
If you’re looking for an inexpensive lunch, head over to Tango’s on the Boise Bench! They offer authentic Argentinian empanadas in a wide variety of flavor combinations, including savory and sweet. I love getting their combo meal that includes an empanada, fries, and a fountain drink. My favorite empanada is the salteña (with ground beef and potatoes). Korri usually gets the combo plus one additional empanada. They also have sub sandwiches and churros! Tango’s was recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on Food Network!
Tango’s Empanadas is open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 7 pm and on Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. It is closed on Sundays. There is also a location in Meridian.
Tin Roof Tacos • Broadway Avenue, East of Downtown
Tin Roof Tacos is a popular and inexpensive lunch destination on the east side of downtown Boise (it’s close to Deli George). Stop in for a selection of tacos (including breakfast tacos), quesadillas, desserts, beer, and more!
Tin Roof Tacos is open daily from 6:30 am to 9 pm. There is also a location in Meridian and a location in Nampa.
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