Where to find some of the best vegetarian and vegan food in the Boise area
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In recent years, Boise has become more of a hot spot for vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
In fact, WalletHub, a personal finance website, ranked Boise 11th in the country for best cities for vegetarians, up from 15th in 2019. And two additional fully vegan restaurants opened downtown in 2023, adding even more variety.
Here is a list of some of the best restaurants to go to for vegetarian and vegan food.
Vegetarian and vegan menu options
These restaurants have meat on the menu but they do have clearly marked vegetarian and vegan options.
The Wild Root has a wildly delicious and colorful menu of seasonal, craft comfort food with an emphasis on locally sourced fare. Aside from scratch-cooked food, they offer a seasonal menu with enticing options for those with specialized diets including vegan and vegetarian options, whether it be a tofu scramble for brunch, or a spring risotto loaded with microgreens and beets for dinner.
Address: 276 N. 8th St.
Because much of Indian cuisine is already vegetarian, you’ll find plenty of flavorful plant-based options to choose from at this restaurant. They have an entire vegetarian entree menu filled with Indian classics like chana masala made with chickpeas cooked in a tomato based stew, and aloo gobi, cauliflower and potatoes cooked in aromatic spices.
Address: 6930 W. State St.
Kibrom’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Restaurant
There are options here for everyone. Kibrom’s opened in 2017, bringing a taste of Africa to Boise’s North End for meat-eaters and plant-based eaters. To avoid meat, options include veggie samosas, spiced vegetarian spaghetti and veggie Firfir. Chef-owner Kibrom Milash received his first James Beard award semifinalist nomination this year.
Address: 3506 W. State St.
Being vegan or vegetarian doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good pizza. Pizza Twist has 13 veggie paneer pizza options and 11 vegan pizzas.
Address: 1505 S. Broadway Ave.
If you love Tex Mex tacos, then you’ll love Tin Roof Tacos. The best part is that they also offer vegetarian options of their amazing street-style tacos. Choose between Roasted Corn tacos, Black Bean tacos or Rajas tacos made with roasted poblanos.
Address: 115 S. Broadway Ave.
This quirky and elegant taqueria and cocktail bar offers some delicious vegan and gluten free options on its menu, including Crispy Artichoke Tacos, Smashed Fried Potato, the house signature Pozole Verde soup, Blackened Broccolini appetizer and gluten-free onion rings.
Address: 246 N. 8th St.
This restaurant with both fine-dining and casual sides, offers great vegan and vegetarian options on the menus and by request. Art Haus cocktail bar serves an array of noodle dishes with a house-made vegan base that can be served with tofu or other protein, and beet salad and potato salad. When you’re ready to splurge the Kin team and Mountain Region James Beard winner (Boise’s first) chef de cuisine Kris Komori will create a vegan experience – they can do gluten free, too, – inspired by its tasting menu. And you will need a reservation for the prix fixe dinner.
Address: One Capital Center, 999 W. Main St.
This family owned pho restaurant offers one of the best vegan phos around. It starts with the family’s secret vegan broth recipe, which often sells out. But don’t worry, if you’re patient they will make more. They also serve vegetarian/vegan summer rolls and vegan vermicelli salad.
Address: 2146 Broadway Ave., Boise
Fully vegan menus
These restaurants have meat on the menu but they do have separate menus featuring vegan options.
It sounds hard to believe that you’d find outstanding vegan fare at a BBQ joint, but at BBQ4Life, the vegan menu is thoughtful and well-executed. They were even recently named the best BBQ restaurant in Idaho by Yelp. You’ll find menu options such as the popular Smoked Tempeh Sandwich, the Mushroom Mozzarella Burger and Vegan Nachos.
Address: 930 S. Vista Ave.
One of Boise’s best Thai restaurants know for its happy hour specials, Mai Thai offers a full vegan menu in addition to vegetarian and meat options. It includes vegan sushi made with jackfruit, vegetables and tofu, and vegan – and gluten-free – versions of its signature dishes such as Pad Thai and Swimming Angel.
Address: 750 W. Idaho St., Boise
Located on the east side of downtown Boise, Dharma Sushi & Thai offers multiple tofu-based rolls, vegan tots and teriyaki bowls, and the brand-new Rainbow Rice — rice cooked with basil, pineapple and coconut.
Address: 122 N. 5th St.
If you’re looking for a dairy-free and vegan dessert, The STIL is anything but your average ice cream shop. The ice cream menu features four categories: dairy-free, vegan, custom ice cream and booze-infused.
Addresses: 3724 S. Eckert Road, 786 W. Broad St., 13 S. Latah St., 712 Arthur St. in Boise.
This Idaho ice cream shop now has locations throughout the Treasure Valley. It serves a dozen or more vegan and gluten-free coconut-based ice cream flavors, such as Milk & Cookies, Lavender, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Mocha.
Addresses: 100 N. 8th St. and 4740 W State St., Boise, 2609 Blaine St., Caldwell, 2826 S. Eagle Road Suite 140, Eagle, 1212 3rd St. S., Nampa, and 1020 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. in Twin Falls.
Fully vegan restaurants
These restaurants have no meat and all have plant-based menus.
Opened in March, this downtown vegan restaurant strives for plant-based pub fare that’s “big,” “sloppy” and “satiating,” according to its owner. Whether it’s the Backwoods Burger or Philly Cheez-Shroom Sandwich, everything is made from scratch. Alchemist strives for a coffeehouse vibe in the mornings before switching to pub mode later in the day.
Address: 620 W. Idaho St.
Got a craving after hitting the bars? This fully vegan downtown newcomer is open after dark — until midnight on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays. It specializes in sandwiches, tacos, build-your-own burritos and gluten-free nachos.
Address: 103 N. 10th St.
This cozy restaurant flipped to a fully vegan menu in 2019. Scrambled tofu breakfast burritos are sold all day, and vegan versions of tacos, quesadillas and sandwiches are available at different times of the day.
Address: 225 N. 5th St.
Located inside Chow Public Market at the Boise Spectrum, this vendor describes its food as “the one and only vegan soul food in the city of Boise.” In 2020, it was highlighted in a PETA list of best vegan soul food restaurants. The menu includes dishes such as vegan chicken and sides of collards and mac-‘n’-vegan cheese.
7609 W. Overland Road, Boise
