Sorry, Boise. This ‘most wanted’ California restaurant chain delays opening to 2024
Idaho fast-food junkies who relish the thought of chomping into a chili-smothered Wienerschnitzel hot dog will have to be patient.
Or maybe settle for an In-N-Out Burger first instead?
Irvine, California-based Wienerschnitzel — which calls itself the “world’s most wanted wiener” — still intends to invade the Treasure Valley soon. Just like In-N-Out.
But Wienerschnitzel is playing “ketchup.”
Ted Milburn, director of U.S. franchise development, told the Idaho Statesman in 2021 that Wienerschnitzel hoped to open a restaurant near Eagle and Ustick roads in about a year. It was to be the first of three in the Boise area.
That timeline has been delayed. And the location will be near West McMillan and Ten Mile roads. The new standalone Wienerschnitzel building, with a drive-thru, will be at 3110 W. Quintale Drive in Meridian, Milburn said in an email.
A local Boise franchisee has signed a deal for three stores covering Ada and Canyon counties. “Progress is happening,” Milburn said in an email, “but the store opening is now slated for early 2024. There is already a search for a second location in the Treasure Valley.”
In addition to hot dogs, chili cheese fries and sandwiches, Wienerschnitzel also sells Tastee-Freez soft-serve ice cream in the form of shakes, cones and sundaes. Tastee-Freez is owned by the same parent company, Galardi Group.
Founded in 1961, Wienerschnitzel operates 330 franchise stores in 11 states, according to Milburn, with the vast majority in California. It’s the world’s largest hot dog chain, selling more than 120 million dogs annually. The menu also offers hamburgers (including a chili cheeseburger), as well as breakfast burritos and biscuit sandwiches.
Wienerschnitzel hasn’t had a Boise presence in decades. Adding one — or three — to the arsenal of chain restaurants in the Treasure Valley will up the fast-food ante.
Case in point? Wienerschnitzel’s #7 Crowd Pleaser combo: four chili dogs, four corn dogs and four chili cheese fries. It clocks in at a scale-demolishing 4,240 calories.
“This (is) a nostalgic place for us and we love it,” explained a Yelp reviewer. “I imagine if you never eaten this before, it’s not going to beat restaurant hot dogs or chili, so don’t go in thinking it’s anything but fast food. Prepare for messy eating and licking the wrappers.”
Still reading, fast-food freaks? You deserve a reward.
So here’s the very latest on In-N-Out. The popular California burger chain is scheduled to open in November at 3520 E. Fairview Ave., according to Village at Meridian general manager Hugh Crawford. It would be the first of three planned stores.
