The best ‘outside of ... SoCal,’ new Idaho chain opens 3rd Boise restaurant in 18 months
Ramen and sushi fans in West Boise have a new restaurant to try — with a growing fan base.
Nara Ramen soft opened Monday at 8675 W. Franklin Road. It’s the second location launched by the Boise-based chain this year; another recently appeared at 3110 S. Bown Way. Nara debuted 18 months ago with a fast-casual store at 7610 W. State St.
The newest restaurant — at Franklin Towne Plaza — stands apart from the Bown location because of its menu. “We have a lot more sushi in here than Bown Crossing,” owner Johnny Deng said in an email.
Like the Bown restaurant, the new Nara offers full-service dining. It serves 14 ramen varieties, including vegan, ranging from $11 to $15. The menu also includes Asian steamed (bao) buns, appetizers and several boba teas, along with beer, wine and sake.
Sushi focus
The increased focus on sushi should appeal to a wider audience. There are 30 rolls on the menu. You’ll find standards such as a California Roll ($6, eight pieces) and Spicy Tuna Roll (same). However, there also are seductive picks such as the Sweetheart Roll ($13.95, eight pieces): salmon, tuna, whitefish and mango wrapped in soy paper and topped with honey sauce.
Want to show love for the Gem State? Try the Idaho Roll ($11.95, 10 pieces): salmon, cream cheese and avocado deep-fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo. (Top it with a finger steak, and they might be on to something, right, natives?)
Because of a late-arriving piece of equipment, sushi won’t be available Monday until later in the day, if at all. But it will be served starting Tuesday, according to Nara Ramen’s Stephanie Nguyen.
Nara has expanded rapidly since its first restaurant opened — and not just in Boise. It also has a store in Twin Falls and in Bismarck, North Dakota, for a total of five.
Increasingly, Idahoans are deeming Nara their new favorite ramen option. Even transplants. Locals might bristle, but there’s a certain satisfaction that a restaurant can take when experienced larger-market diners compare it to their former home.
‘Really is that good’
“It is the best ramen we have found outside of our favorites from SoCal,” a reviewer said on Yelp. “And I’m not even saying that ’cause my standards have gotten lower and lower with each other place we’ve tried in the Boise area. It really is that good.”
“Absolute best ramen and best boba tea in Idaho hands down,’ added a commenter on Google, where Nara has a 4.3-out-of-5-star rating. “I had the traditional tonkotsu ramen and the rich broth, noodles, marinated egg and chashu pork at Nara blew me away. The closest I’ve found to my favorite back in LA. Definitely worth a try if you want some serious ramen.”
The Nara Ramen on Franklin is open from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Reservations aren’t necessary.
Check out the store’s menus at nararamen.com, where you also can order online for takeout and delivery.
