Chef Lou’s Westside Drive-In on West State Street in Boise has been a drive-in institution in the Treasure Valley since it opened, serving the Idaho specialty of finger steaks — beef strips battered and deep-fried, invented in Boise in the 1950s — alongside classic American drive-in burgers and the kind of comfort food menu that has kept a neighborhood loyal for decades. It appeared in Season 6, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Who’Da Thunk It?,” which aired May 11, 2009. Guy Fieri found finger steaks for the first time and understood immediately why Boise considers them a point of local pride that deserves national recognition. The Idaho finger steak is largely unknown outside the state and its neighbors, and Westside Drive-In is considered one of the best places in Boise to find them.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Chef Lou’s Westside Drive-In
City: Boise, Idaho
Cuisine: Burgers / Drive-In
DDD Season: 6
DDD Episode: 6
Episode Title: Who’Da Thunk It?
Original Air Date: May 11, 2009
Address: 1939 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702
Phone: 208-342-2957
Website: https://www.westsidedrivein.com/
Status: Open
What to Eat at Chef Lou’s Westside Drive-In
Idaho finger steaks are the must-order: beef strips battered and deep-fried, served with fry sauce (the Utah-Idaho invention of half ketchup, half mayo that is non-negotiable as a dipping sauce in this part of the country). The classic drive-in burgers and the full American comfort food menu round out the order. Find a Boise hotel on Booking.com — Boise has two DDD stops, Westside Drive-In and Bar Gernika, that are each worth visiting.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours.
Address: 1939 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702
Phone: 208-342-2957
Website: https://www.westsidedrivein.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Who’Da Thunk It? episode on Amazon and bring drive-in energy home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning.
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Chef Lou’s Westside Drive-In appeared in Season 6, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Who’Da Thunk It?,” originally aired May 11, 2009.