Where to catch great music with a side of great food in Boise
A view from the upper stage at The Funky Taco. | Courtesy of The Funky Taco
Story by Kurt Orzeck
The Funky Taco
801 W Bannock St.
Fusing Asian, Indian, Mexican and Americana styles of food, this casual dining restaurant is one of Boise’s hippest spots. “I built the Funky Taco for sound,” founder Justin Archambo said. “I have a fully integrated sound system/PA with a plug and play scenario for the musicians.”
Designed and installed by local talent Jason Ringelstetter, who owns the Tonic Room Recording and Mastering Studio, the establishment features Tectum, a 2-inch acoustical wall made of recycled newspaper. “We also have a 9-wood drop ceiling for aesthetic and acoustics,” Archambo added, also noting that local artist Cody Rutty created the Funky Taco’s 1,000-square-foot mural painting.
Its musical offerings range from jazz artists to singer/songwriters, while its culinary options include … tacos! Every carnivorous music fan should be obligated to order the best music-themed dish in Boise: the Piggy Stardust, which consists of slow-roasted, Yucatan-style pit pork along with cabbage, pickled red onion, lime crema and chicharrones. The authenticity of the tacos compensates for their slightly high price tag ($14.50-$16.25).
thefunkytaco.com
The Knitting Factory
416 S 9th St.
The best food-and-music combo in Boise is undoubtedly the Knitting Factory, one of the top concert venues in town. With a capacity of up to 1,000 guests, the Knit maintains a relatively intimate atmosphere while luring major national artists including — in the last few years alone — Sleater-Kinney, Lizzo, Yola and Spoon. Knitting Factory locations in New York, Los Angeles and Reno all shut down over the past 13 years, but the Boise venue remains standing — even after a devastating fire in 2018 destroyed more than half the establishment. In fact, with a new sound system and a concert calendar representing virtually every music genre, the venue appears to be stronger than ever. The modestly sized menu includes party-size nachos and pizza ($16 each), burgers ($10 to $12), tacos ($9), chicken strips ($10) and finger steaks ($12). Attendees who sate their appetite get the privilege of sitting at one of the tables on the second floor, with an ideal view of the stage.
bo.knittingfactory.com
KIN
999 W Main St., Suite P101
The classy downtown restaurant opened in April 2021, distinguishing itself with one of the best tasting menus in town and an outdoor music series called “piKINic” (we’ll let you try to pronounce it). Best of all, the spectators don’t have to make trips back and forth if they want to nosh; KIN staff serve food to customers sitting on the grassy knoll. Bands play Sundays, Tuesdays and sometimes Saturdays in the summer, with pop-up shows happening in the fall.
“Seating is mostly in our hillside ‘amphitheater,’ where audiences took in the inaugural season of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival over 40 years ago,” KIN co-owner Remi McManus said. “Relax in the grass and enjoy food, cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.”
kinboise.com
Even More:
Beyond this triad, hungry music fans can head to …
Sandbar Patio Bar & Grill (2900 W Chinden Blvd., Garden City), which features multiple musical acts almost every day
The BrickYard Steakhouse (601 W Main St.), where dueling pianos start battling at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights
Vista Bar (813 S Vista Ave.), a venue hosting multiple concerts each month on its two outdoor patios.
