In a series of changes, another restaurant is leaving the Warehouse Food Hall. Bao Boi, known for its Asian-inspired street food, will close its downtown Boise location within days. The restaurant announced this decision on social media Monday.
“After two amazing years, we’re closing our warehouse doors at the end of the week,” Bao Boi wrote. “Thank you for your incredible support and for helping us grow! Excited to announce our new location along the Boise River, opening mid-October!”
Bao Boi on the River will be part of a new food-and-drink destination at The Boardwalk Apartment Homes, 521 E. 41st St., in Garden City. This new spot aims to bring a fresh experience for Bao Boi’s loyal customers.
Specializing in steam bun sandwiches and Japanese curry, Bao Boi was one of the original vendors at the Warehouse Food Hall, which opened in July 2022.
“Bringing his passion for Asian cuisine to life, Chef Frank Jordan’s Bao Boi takes warm, fluffy dough, fills it with sweet or savory meats and veggies, then steams it to perfection,” the Warehouse Food Hall’s website states. “Pair your steam buns with a side of street corn, gyoza, or fries, and your taste buds will be singing ‘Bao Chica Bao Bao.’ See what we did there?”
The Warehouse, located at 370 S. 8th St., typically offers more than a dozen places to eat or drink. Bao Boi’s departure marks the latest change in a series of recent adjustments. Four concepts have left this year, while five new ones have been announced so far.
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Among the changes:
- Totally Smashed, a burger concept from food hall operator Geronimo Hospitality Group, replaced grilled-cheese vendor Totally Toasted. The new menu offers smash burgers, fries, and shakes.
- The former Piedaho spot has reopened as the first brick-and-mortar location for Foy’s Franks, previously a local hot dog cart.
- Mazzah Mediterranean Grill, which operates a Boise restaurant at 1772 W. State St., plans to bring “authentic Greek and Middle Eastern flavors to the food hall,” according to a media release. The menu will feature savory gyros, falafel, kababs, baba ghannooj, and more. Mazzah will open in a new space next to KB’s Burrito.
- Driftwood FryHouse will revive seafood at the Warehouse with “Alaskan cod, shrimp, lobster bisque, and other fish-and-chip options.” It will take over the former home of Freshie’s Lobster Co., which closed in March.
- Poppy Seed Bakery and Cafe is slated to open its third Boise location at the Warehouse Food Hall in the former Paddles Up Poke space.
It’s not clear whether a replacement vendor is lined up for Bao Boi’s spot. A message to Geronimo Hospitality Group was not immediately returned.
