Despite food ‘to die for,’ this Boise restaurant closed. A new one already opened

When a restaurant says goodbye, the mood can feel a bit somber.

Louisiana Soul Bayou was no exception.

“Today is the last day, y’all,” owner Jody Charles wrote on Facebook in late April. “I’m so sad to leave but yet so blessed to call you all family.”

After a run of about 3 1/2 years inside Chow Public Market and Eatery at the Boise Spectrum, 7709 W. Overland Road, Louisiana Soul Bayou has shuttered permanently.

It’s been replaced by Bomb Burger, another local operation. Open with limited hours, Bomb Burger specializes in “high-quality burgers and bar bites,” according to its Instagram page.

Louisiana Soul Bayou — LSB for short — will be missed. Describing itself as “the only authentic Cajun restaurant in the valley,” the restaurant offered gumbo, ribs, catfish, shrimp, crawfish and boudin balls. The kind of food that Charles grew up eating in New Iberia, Louisiana.

When he opened LSB in September 2020, it was the culmination of a lifelong journey. “It’s always something I wanted to do,” Charles told the Idaho Statesman. “And once I moved here, I wasn’t able to get half the things that I grew up around in Louisiana. I wanted my kids to be able to taste and see what I come from. Eating here is way different than eating in Louisiana.”

So he cooked things up himself. LSB delivered a satisfying blend of Cajun, Creole and soul food. Google reviewers gave it 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Charles took special pride in his popular po’ boy sandwiches. “The shrimp po’ boys are to die for,” he said.

There’s reason to hope for more in the future. A food truck is planned. A GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for the venture.

“While we are sad to say goodbye to our brick and mortar,” Charles wrote on Louisiana Soul Bayou’s Facebook page, “our catering services will keep those tastes alive, and we have big plans, so stay tuned for updates on our upcoming food truck!”