Westside Drive-in

Best food ever. Came up from Blackfoot ID to see my kid. We stopped in for lunch was the best food ever! Definitely be back.

West Side is way Out of The Box eating experience. It’s a drive through with a tent side show. I’ve been going to West Side State street for a dozen years with a tremendous consistency for its product, even though being very unique it has been very good during this time. I’ve tried some of its specialties to its mainstay burgers. It’s all good. No burger place in America should receive five stars because just because it serves burgers. The «Chef» of the West side brings his A game to the table in the tent or to the car in a paper sack.
What I like and depend on from Westside Drive-​in, is its generous components in the burger. It dresses its burgers with a full compliment of shredded lettuce, cheese and and special fixings as ordered. It’s not comparable with California’s «N and Out Burger», because Westside has achieved its own uniqueness apart from any other Burger place I know about. My choice is always the Mushroom burger supplying a one and done satisfaction for lunch. I’ve even tried the Potato ice cream, a treat everyone must have if they claim they are from Boise. It is uniquely Boise and a delight. Full diner trays are offered from the drive-​through window, another separate distinction you almost never find in a burger based restuarant. From Lasagna to Prime Rib comes the diners. Something «N and Out Burgers» would never attempt. It’s difficult if not impossible to have excellent dinner take-​outs. Try Applebee’s take-​out and you will know what I’m talking about. It’s not the same as what is found indoors by the time you get home. However West-​side tries the impossible and satisfies every dinner party with my four star rating.

It’s a drive through. Don’t expect to get faster service ordering ahead. They give you a time to come pick it up but if they are busy it seems like they make it when you get there. Hear alot of complaints from whiney babies about flies in a tent. Why would you eat your food in a tent when it’s a drive through. It’s idaho we have lots of flies. Why don’t we make the «TENT» heated and air conditioned for your entitled asses. The food has a lot of potential and is fairly good. Think this place should move to a dinner and cut out the drive through. The love is there and the workers work there asses off to provide a good meal. This place is slammed on the weekends so they must be doing something right. It’s hard to be 100% in a drive through. I think they have a bigger market and are growing out of what they have going on. I honestly think they strive for quality but need to invest in growth.

I love that this place exists and I love the heated tent (but couldn’t you clean it/​fix it up just a LITTLE?) So I hate to say something bad but some of the food just isn’t good. I guess you have to know what to order. They BUTCHERED the tater tots, which to me is a sacrilege. If it ain’t broke– don’t fix it-​. Why «double fry» or over fry them so that– literally– I was afraid I would break a tooth and had to chew *really carefully*? Threw out most of them. On another occasion I ordered the baked potato with broccoli, both of which i love. I threw out most of it– it just wasn’t prepared well; it didn’t taste good.
My mom loves the prime rib.

Nailbanger Here Again; This place was featured on Guy Fieri /​Diners, Drive– Ins and Dives. Mostly Burgers and Sandwiches, but they have Salads and Fish– N-​Chips. Also on Friday‘s and Saturday from Noon till they run out Prime Rib Dinner. Don‘t miss the Seasoned French Fries, they are Very Good. They offer Ice Cream Treats like the stuffed Potato. Menu Items are about the same as a chain place but cooked to order and way better. I got the Double Cheese Burger and my wife got the Cheese Burger. They come with Shredded Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Pickle and what they call Fry Sauce. We came in December and they had a Outdoor Tent to eat in. Walk-​up to the window and they call you or of course the drive thru. The Food is Good. Did not see a restroom ?11AM –10 PM Mon-​Sat and 11AM –9 PM Sunday. Plenty of Parking .
Here is part of the Story. Westside Drive-​In, which began as a grocery store in the 1930s and was converted to a restaurant in 1957. Its owner today is Chef Lou Aaron, and there is now a second location on ParkCenter Boulevard. Enjoy

I heard about this place via Diner’s Drive Ins and Dives. Unfortunately we didn’t get any savory food but we did get the ice cream sundae that is shaped like a baked potato, haha. It really is deceiving! Overall it was alright… the ice cream wasn’t the best quality (not so creamy!) but it was cool to share with my girlfriends.
The restaurant is actually pretty cool… super 1950s vibes, very rad! It’s nice to see drive in spots like this.

Great customer service. I was greeted with a smile and very quickly! I appreciate great customer service. I was craving a Corn Dog and I was happy!

I like a drive in that has prime rib dinners on fridays and saturdays. Unfortunately we came here for a snack, so i got a ice cream potato, and a jr hamburger. Hamburger was good, ice cream potato was unique.
I tried my friends fries (meh), and my other friend’s white chocolate huckleberry milk snake (too sweet).

I may have just not chosen the best thing for me, but I didn’t love the Cajun burger. It was big and neat looking… But oh my god, way too spicy! The float i ordered also wasn’t a win. It was the coffee cooler, but not so cold. It was like drinking unsweetened coffee at room temperature. However, the mozzarella sticks were the best I ever had! Yum! And the service was great! Very cute location, willing to go back.

As a wise man once said, a burger is only as good as the fries it is served with. Even though the burger was tasty, the fries were smothered in seasoning salt and it kind of ruined the taste of everything else.
The vibe of the place is pretty cool though. Maybe tone it down on the Guy Fieri posters.

Yes, it’s a drive in! Family member in town had heard of it. .so off we went. Just happened to beat the rush getting here on Prime Rib night about 6:20ish-nice!
Ordered the Guacamole Burger, peanut butter shake, Mr ordered the Dadio, brother ordered grilled cheese & corn dog. Husband loved his burger, the messy layers that he finished eating with a fork. Brother & I split the burger. Neither of us cared for the very thick layer of cold & crisp shredded lettuce which made it very «slippery» so once that was pared down ok. Liked the buns with a dusting of cornmeal letting you know this isn’t just store bought bums. Seasoned fries & tots were perfectly crisp and liked the fry sauce too. Peanut butter shake was thick but not really peanut butter-​y (yes, a high tech term there). Was hoping they’d read previous review!
The 21^st Street patio is a nice addition (don’t think it was here the last time!) & provided much needed evening shade.
Yes, it’s a diner but on the upper end of diner food! So, we’ll be back again.

I would say 3.5 stars if that was an option. I had a chicken sandwich that was good but not memorable and my husband had the avocado burger which he said was ok. The fries were good but nothing to get excited about. The Ice Cream potato was cool, looked like a real baked potato! I will be back to try out some of the yummy desserts on the menu!

After all the hype this place has it was a sore disappointment. I would recommend Fanci Freeze just up the road as an alternative.
We were over charged by about five dollars the first time. We went back and they gave us a dollar and some change back. After some arguing we finally were charged the correct amount. When they called our order they said a teriyaki sandwich when we had ordered a burger. We asked if it was in fact the teriyaki sandwich and they doubled back and said it was something else, whatever it was that we ordered. We double checked to make sure our order looked correct and finally left.
My monte cristo sandwich was disgusting, and I couldn’t finish it. DO NOT ORDER if you are a fan of traditional monte cristos. They put a hard crusted breading on it almost like what would go on chicken or something. It is definitely not the traditional french toast like sandwich. Overall, the burger and fries were okay besides being a little soggy. Neither of us finished our food.
Additionally, they make their fry sauce with tarter sauce and ketchup. This is Idaho, and there are some things you don’t mess with.
Will likely not go back.

I absolutely love it here! We got a bacon burger and a BBQ bacon burger that were really reasonably priced, so we were expecting the norm burger. We were way off! They were huge! And seriously good! Made from what appeared to be all fresh real food they were amazing! Though at one point I did question how Id fit it in my mouth. Haha. Good food and good times!

Yummy! Triple is always right on… got the bacon burger, worth the wait time.

Amazing drive-​in food! My husband have been there now twice! Together we’ve ordered the finger steaks, Monte cristo sandwich, pulled pork burger and the peanut butter burger! Everything has been delicious and of good quality. It’s not that nasty greasy fast food you would expect from the looks of the place! The chocolate malt is to die for! The fries and fry sauce are perfect. I definitely recommend this place if your looking for good food that’s not your average burger joint!

Being a Triple-​D fan… the show on Food Network not the other one geez! I knew it was time to visit one of the many stops on Guy Fieri’s (or as my grandma calls him Guy Ferrari) trail of good eats! Approaching the place it reminded me slightly of the run down Sno-​White Drive Ins that still dot many California towns but as they say, don’t judge a book by it’s cover!
Westside is your typical drive-​in with all the mouthwatering favorites which put drive-​ins on the map except this place has an extra special secret weapon… The Ice Cream Baked Potato!!! Yes you heard me right and no it’s not what you would expect! Basically they take ice cream and form it into the shape of a potato, deep freezing it I’d imagine so it keeps its form. Then they roll it in cocoa powder to give it that authentic potato skin. Next up they make a slit in the potato to fashion it like a baked potato and spray in some whipped cream to mimic sour cream. Finally they place it in the tray or to go box in a pool of chocolate sauce!
The end result is one of the tastiest and gluttonous desserts you’ll ever eat! Grandma though we should be a bit naughtier and add in some real potatoes in the form of fries along with their signature fry sauce. This was a very delicious mecca to a now very popular drive-​in!!! Thanks Mr. «Ferrari»!

How I heard of this place: When we checked in to our hotel, I asked the young lady assisting us about food in the area, and her recommendations. She was all too happy to make a number of suggestions, including the original Westside Drive-​In on State Street… and its Idaho Ice Cream Potato.
Type of cuisine: After dinner with my husband and one of his colleagues, we made our way nearly one mile to the northwest, and the stand-​alone establishment that has been entertaining and feeding customers since 1957! Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and finger foods, not to mention shakes and malts and all things 50s, Westside Drive-​In sure knows how to keep ‘em coming back for more.
Ambiance: Bright pink, neon lights line the edges of the single-​story, stand-​alone building in the midst of a seemingly residential neighborhood. A mural of a waitress on roller skates bringing food to a leather-​clad man sitting in Grease Lightening adorns the front, the red umbrella-​lined patio to the back. A walk-​up window, complete with early menu, or drive-​thru options exist for patrons of all tastes.
What I ordered: The Idaho Ice Cream Potato.
What I loved: The novelty. The creativity. The detail in the assembly-​line, handmade potato.
Why I loved it: It’s ice cream… in the shape of a potato!
Cost: Low to average ($ 4 — $ 8 per sandwich)

Even with Boise pounded by nearly eight inches of snow in two days — an all-​time record in November — the Westside Drive-​In hardly missed a beat. Customers were still pouring in over the weekend.
I came in for an order of finger steaks. With the outside temperature at about 10 degrees, steam from the finger steaks and Tater Gems rose in the car.
The finger steaks, an Idaho original, were tasty as ever. The Gems, the J.R. Simplot version of that other potato product from Ore-​Ida, were also good. The dinner combination also includes a large chunk of Texas toast. Containers of cocktail sauce and fry sauce rounded out the condiments, plus a Westside fortune cookie.

Pros: Huge selection of food, fair prices, 50s drive-​in atmosphere
Cons: Huge grease bucket