Spring has (finally) sprung in the Boise area and it seems like the number of new businesses in our area is blossoming as quickly as our beautiful trees! 

Earlier this year, a new tenant took over the vacant Locavore cafe at the corner of S Bown Way and E Riverwalk Dr in Boise’s bustling Bown Crossing. What we didn’t realize at the time, was that the Southeast Boise location was just ONE of the new locations they were opening in 2023.

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The restaurant we’re talking about is Nara Ramen & Izakaya. Their first location on State Street in Boise opened in December 2021 with a menu of appetizers, ramen, steam bun sandwiches rice bowls and teas. They quickly became a neighborhood favorite, achieving a 4.3-star rating on Google and a 4-star rating on Yelp.

Facebook/Boise Nara Ramen & Izakaya
Facebook/Boise Nara Ramen & Izakaya
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When they opened their second Boise area location in Bown Crossing, they expanded the menu. While it still includes all those items from the State Street location, they added nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls to the menu. 

The expanded menu must have been a hit at the Bown Crossing location because it’s nearly identical to the one listed for the new location at 8675 W Franklin Road in Boise. According to the Japanese restaurant’s Facebook page, the new location is holding a soft opening beginning May 8 during lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. If you want to try the sushi, you’ll have to wait. They say that they won’t be serving sushi during the soft opening, but it will be available soon. 

The new location is moving into a spot that used that once housed Rumbi Island Grille. You’ll find them next to the Crumbl Cookies location that opened in 2019.  

The new Nara Ramen location joins a growing list of new businesses that have opened in the Boise area recently!

KEEP READING: Cool New Businesses That Have Opened in the Boise Area in 2023

Each year we put together a running list of businesses that have opened in the Treasure Valley. This is the 2023 list. Did we miss one? Send us your tips HERE.

Businesses the Boise Area Lost in 2023

Each year we put together a running list of businesses that have closed in the Treasure Valley. This is the 2023 list. Did we miss one? Send us your tips HERE.

Businesses the Boise Area Has Lost in 2022

It's always tough saying goodbye to a business that has truly felt like an old friend. These are the businesses the Boise area has said goodbye to in 2022.

41 Treasure Valley Businesses We've Lost Since March 2020

The pandemic. Staffing issues. A struggling parent company. Deciding to re-brand. Those are all reasons over 40 local businesses called it quits over the last two years.

 

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