Discover Boise’s Top-Ranked Restaurant Among Food & Wine’s Best 20 in the U.S.

Downtown Boise restaurant Kin is no stranger to high praise.

After all, chef and co-owner Kris Komori won a James Beard Award last year — the only Idahoan ever to do so.

But a little more ego strokin’ never hurts. Especially when it’s well-deserved.

Food & Wine recently selected Kin, 999 W. Main St., as one of the top 20 restaurants in the nation — #16, to be exact. The honor is part of the website’s second annual Global Tastemaker Awards. “From a Michelin-starred Indian dining destination to a former F&W Restaurant of the Year,” Food & Wine says, “this list has it all.”

Unlike the vast majority of online “best of” lists — which are throwaway listicles — this recognition carries actual prestige. Food & Wine was founded in 1978 as a magazine, which it still publishes. The choices were made by a “panel of expert food and travel journalists,” it says.

Food & Wine made no attempt to wax poetic in its blurb. I’m OK with that. Kin being selected as one of “the most memorable dining experiences from coast to coast” is all that matters.

“At Kin,” Food & Wine wrote, “Komori launches frequently rotating tasting menus that highlight seasonal harvest from regional farmers and food purveyors. One week the star dish might be a deconstructed chicken-noodle soup. Another menu delights with an unusual raw-bar twist on fish and chips. Many of these menus are themed around community initiatives, including fundraising for a range of causes.”

If you’ve never eaten at Kin (stylized as “KIN”), you should. It’s the most uniquely engaging dining experience in Idaho. Kin transforms food into more than just sustenance. Picking up your fork at Kin is communal, artistic, maybe even challenging — and always fun.

It’s not for everyone. I understand that. (Sort of.) However, I want to clarify that it’s not something to be feared. I’ve had a great experience with Kin and recently, I also enjoyed multiple Crunchwrap Supremes at a Taco Bell drive-thru late at night.

The takeaway? You won’t know until you give it a go. Also, one of the top 20 restaurants according to Food & Wine is located in our very own capital city.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!