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People eating dinner on the patio at Fork

Family-friendly Restaurants in Boise

Where to eat, where to eat. It’s always the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Luckily, Boise has a ton of great restaurants and international cuisines to add to your list of things to do with kids in Boise. Waffles, french fries, flatbreads, empanadas and everything in between, here’s some must-try family-friendly restaurants in Boise, Idaho.

Reasons why families love these restaurants

  • Good bathrooms, an essential amenity
  • Lots of options for picky and adventurous eaters alike
  • There are no tiny or super quiet restaurants on this list (meaning a meltdown could go virtually unnoticed)
  • Great patios or outdoor access (in case of said meltdown or for little ones on the move)
  • Good food and drinks for parents (you deserve it)

Boise Fry Company

Downtown: 204 North Capitol Boulevard, Boise, ID
Bown Crossing: 3083 South Bown Way, Boise, ID
State Street: 6944 West State Street, Boise, ID
Overland: 2020 East Overland Road, Meridian, ID

Just as the name suggests, fries are the star of the show at Boise Fry Co. BFC sources all of its products and potatoes locally and even developed its own preparation method to keep fries healthy and high quality. First, order your fries by choosing the type of potato and cut style you want. Then, choose which housemade patty you want for your burger. Tip: The bison burger is excellent. Kids can choose any patty and topping for their burger, or go for a grilled cheese. The final step is adding seasoning to your fries and choosing your made-from-scratch sauces, like blueberry ketchup, fry sauce, chipotle aioli, and honey mustard. Pick your faves or try them all.

Waffle Me Up

204 N Capitol Blvd, Boise, Idaho

If waffles are a staple in your household, look no further than Waffle Me Up. The breakfast and lunch cafe has something for kids and parents, serving housemade waffles that have a distinct sweetness and are loaded with sweet or savory toppings. Get the best of both worlds with the strawberry and Nutella waffle or the banana waffle topped with peanut butter and honey. There’s no shortage of savory options with the classic chicken and waffles topped with gravy or the BOB waffle, topped with melted Havarti cheese, an over-medium fried market egg, bacon, organic syrup and fresh basil. 

Fork

199 N 8th St, Boise, ID

Fork is one of the great local restaurants on 8th Street and has plenty of options for kids. In addition to the kids’ menu, shareable sides like mashed potatoes, risotto and seasonal veggies make a great dinner for little eaters. Starters like asparagus fries and the tomato basil fondue and grilled cheese will be a hit for the whole family. Don’t forget dessert—the buttercake will rock your world.

Flatbread Pizza

Bown Crossing: 3139 S Bown Way, Boise, ID

Did someone say pizza night? At Flatbread, there are options for everyone—specialty pizzas, pasta, flatbreads, soups, salad, sandwiches, and a big wine and cocktail menu. Kids have the option to create their own pizza or go the pasta route with bolognese or mac and cheese.

Sid’s Garage 

1003 West Main Street Boise, ID 83702

If you’re on the hunt for a burger and a shake in a sit-down restaurant, go to Sid’s Garage. Sid’s is a family-owned restaurant with a family-friendly vibe, darn good food, and milkshakes that your kids will be talking about for weeks. The restaurant is known for taking the classic milkshake and doctoring it up into an over-the-top creation. A customer favorite is the 420 shake, a mountain of crumbled Oreo cookies, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream with a jumbo cookie n’ cream sandwich resting on top.

Kids can choose from chicken tenders, grilled cheese, a burger, or mac n cheese. Parents can go a little wild with one of Sid’s insane burgers and sandwiches, like the Jekyll & Hyde Burger, a half-pound beef patty topped with swiss cheese, caramelized peach, stone ground mustard, and bacon onion jam on a toasted brioche bun. Note that burgers are à la carte and you’ll have to order fries on the side or choose one of their delicious starters to pair with your burger. The bucket of fries is perfect for sharing!

Tangos Empanadas

701 N Orchard St, Boise, ID

Tangos introduced Boise to authentic Argentinian empanadas and people quickly fell in love. These fluffy, flaky half-moon-shaped pastries are filled with cheese, meat, veggies or dessert fillings, and make for the perfect kid-approved cultural cuisine. While there is no kids menu at Tangos, it’s similar to a pizza menu with dozens of options and combinations, all of which can be customized. Get some crinkle-cut fries on the side and a few dessert empanadas, like the made-from-scratch dulce de leche, and you’ll be one happy family. Tangos’ flagship restaurant is on the Boise Bench in a small, casual space that offers dine-in and take-out.

If you’re on the search for more options, Boise has plenty. If it’s burgers your family loves, read this blog.