Unearth The Voyage
Idaho isn’t just famous for growing potatoes, it’s home to restaurants that turn the humble spud into something truly extraordinary. From creative fry bars to desserts shaped like baked potatoes, these seven spots prove that gourmet potato dishes belong on every food lover’s bucket list. Get ready to discover how Idaho chefs are transforming America’s favorite side dish into unforgettable main events.
1. Boise Fry Company (Boise & beyond)
Walking into Boise Fry Company feels like entering a potato theme park for grown-ups. You start by picking your potato type russet, purple, sweet potato, gold, or even yam, then choose from cuts like shoestring, homestyle, or thick-cut.
Next comes the fun part: a dazzling array of house-made salts and creative sauces that range from garlic rosemary to wild blueberry ketchup. They proudly list which local Idaho farm grew your potatoes, making each order feel personal and fresh.
For maximum flavor adventure, order purple potatoes in a homestyle cut with truffle seasoning, then experiment at their epic sauce bar.
2. Westside Drive-In (Boise)
This Boise landmark went viral for one brilliantly quirky creation: the Idaho Ice Cream Potato. Vanilla ice cream gets molded into a baked potato shape, rolled in cocoa powder to mimic skin, then topped with whipped cream “sour cream” and chocolate sprinkles for “chives.”
Sure, it sounds like a novelty gimmick, but one bite reveals genuine craftsmanship and surprising deliciousness. The cocoa adds just enough bitterness to balance the sweet vanilla perfectly.
Order this famous dessert after enjoying classic drive-in burgers and shakes. It’s Instagram gold and tastes even better than it photographs, which is saying something for such a photogenic treat.
3. Idaho Potato Museum—Potato Station Cafe (Blackfoot)
At the Idaho Potato Museum’s on-site cafe, potatoes aren’t just food—they’re an art form worthy of study. The Potato Station Cafe specializes in made-to-order baked potatoes, and they’re so serious about texture that they recommend calling ahead to ensure perfect fluffiness.
Each potato gets treated with reverence, baked until the skin crisps just right and the inside turns cloud-like. Load yours with classic toppings or keep it simple with butter and salt to appreciate pure potato perfection.
Road-tripping potato enthusiasts consider this cafe a pilgrimage site. Check the display case for rotating potato treats that change seasonally.
4. Fork (Downtown Boise)
Fork’s commitment to local ingredients shines brightest in their potato preparations. Their brown-butter mashed Idaho potatoes transform a comfort food classic into something restaurant-worthy, with nutty richness that complements their premium steaks beautifully.
The rosemary-parmesan Idaho fries offer another elevated option, crispy outside and fluffy within, dusted with fragrant herbs and aged cheese. Every potato dish here celebrates Idaho’s agricultural heritage while pushing culinary boundaries.
Pair the Northwest filet or tender short ribs with those signature brown-butter mashed potatoes for a meal that honors tradition while embracing sophistication. Fork proves potatoes belong on fine-dining menus.
5. Pioneer Saloon (Ketchum/Sun Valley)
James Beard recognition doesn’t come easy, but Pioneer Saloon earned it partly through dedication to one simple thing: enormous, perfectly executed baked potatoes. We’re talking 22-ounce behemoths that could serve as a meal all by themselves.
These aren’t just big—they’re expertly baked with crispy skins and steaming, fluffy interiors that practically beg for butter and sour cream. Paired with their legendary steaks, especially the prime rib, this becomes a classic Idaho dining experience.
Go traditional with prime rib and the massive baked potato loaded with all available toppings. Sometimes bigger really is better, especially when quality matches quantity.
6. Bittercreek Alehouse (Boise)
Bittercreek Alehouse elevates pub food by treating potato sides like headlining acts. Their house-cut fries showcase Idaho potatoes at their crispiest, while warm German potato salad brings tangy, herbaceous complexity you won’t find at typical alehouses.
The real showstopper? Poutine listed prominently on the menu, featuring hand-cut fries smothered in rich gravy and squeaky cheese curds. It’s Canadian comfort food made with Idaho pride.
Skip boring fries and upgrade your side to poutine or German potato salad to witness how far thoughtful preparation can take humble spuds. Pair with one of their rotating craft beers for the complete experience.
7. The Wylder (Boise)
Wood-fired pizza topped with potatoes might sound unusual until you taste The Wylder’s “Gem State of Mind” creation. Thinly sliced fingerling potatoes caramelize beautifully in the wood oven, creating crispy edges while staying creamy inside, all mingling with sweet onions, fragrant herbs, and aromatic garlic oil.
This isn’t just novelty—it’s genuinely delicious, proving potatoes work brilliantly as pizza toppings when treated with creativity and respect. Fingerling potatoes also appear as a side dish, roasted crispy and served with bright lemon aioli.
Order the signature Gem State pizza alongside crispy fingerling potatoes for a double dose of Idaho’s finest tubers, wood-fired style.
