Finally! This ‘OG’ restaurant chain plans to give Boise and Meridian the finger
Despite chains flooding into growing Idaho, one fast-food model remains elusive.
The chicken-finger-only establishment.
Thanks to the Deep South, that’s about to change.
Alabama-based Guthrie’s — “the OG in chicken fingers,” as QSR magazine puts it — plans to invade the Treasure Valley. Building-permit applications have been submitted for locations at 1103 S. Vista Ave. in Boise and 1840 W. Chinden Blvd. in Meridian.
Guthrie’s claims to be the first restaurant with a menu exclusively offering chicken fingers as the main course. That earth-shattering moment came in 1982. (Long before the origin of competitor and rising star Raising Cane’s, which reportedly is targeting the Boise area in 2024.) Founded in 1965, Guthrie’s also served burgers and such for the prior 17 years.
Fast forward to 2023. Guthrie’s is expanding “in a big way,” according to a press release. The fast-casual brand is flocking to Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and, yep, Idaho. “There are huge, underserved swaths in cities like Las Vegas, Reno, and Boise,” franchisee Stephen Galbraith said in the release, “and we believe Guthrie’s will catch fire once people get a chance to taste our food.”
In Boise, Guthrie’s is slated to inhabit an existing building, while the Meridian restaurant will be new construction. Both would include drive-thru windows.
Cars in line won’t wait long. Guthrie’s menu is straightforward. For around $10, you get a box — a “gut box,” in Guthrie’s lingo — of chicken fingers, fries, cole slaw, Texas toast and dipping sauce. That’s the entirety of grub cooked up at Guthrie’s. Granted, there’s also a three-finger sandwich for $5.65. (Note: These prices are samples from a Guthrie’s in Tennessee.)
Otherwise, it’s fingers, fingers, fingers. You can save a couple of bucks and buy a “snack”-size version of the aforementioned box, which comes with fingers, fries and sauce, but sans toast and slaw. (The gutless box?) Purchase an individual Guthrie’s finger for $1.54. Or get a big bucket of 25 fingers for $34.50. Or a massive Family Meal for $44.95.
Speaking of super-sizing? Guthrie’s also sells drinks. You can even order a hefty gallon of sweet tea, in a plastic jug, to quench your thirst for Southern cuisine.
There’s no word on when Guthrie’s hopes to debut. (Messages to a Guthrie’s media contact were not returned.) There’s also no guarantee that the majority of Idahoans will pay much attention. After all, In-N-Out Burger is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Next Big Thing to Open here. Everything else? An underdog — or underchicken.
Pay no mind, Guthrie’s. Give Idaho the finger.
We might not deserve it. But if it’s fast food, we’ll definitely try it.
