CHOW Public Market is Idaho’s first eat, work, and play food court hall and their two current restaurants are a must-try. When you’re trying to find where to go out to eat and can’t quite agree on what sounds good, CHOW Public Market is the perfect option.
Inside their hall, located on the Boise Spectrum Campus, you can snag a table, and an unforgettable meal from either Louisiana Soul Bayou or Tamales Nelly.
Louisiana Soul Bayou — Bringing Cajun Food to Boise
Bringing the flavors of his home state to Boise, Owner, Jody Charles of Louisiana Soul Bayou has created one of the Valley’s only spots to get handcrafted Cajun dishes. Initially from the New Iberia area of Louisiana, Jody moved to Boise in 2004.
After years of working around the Valley, like helping open Juniper on 8th street, and other notorious kitchens, Charles broke into his own niche of cooking. He took the time to learn family recipes, and the rest from self-teach with trial and error.
To introduce his flavors and style to Boise, LSB started as a catering business, quickly expanding into his physical location at CHOW. Now customers flock to his Louisiana specific dishes because they taste unlike anything you’ll find in the Valley. Dishes like Shrimp Po’ Boys, family-recipe Gumbo, and even a crawfish boil to celebrate Mari Gras in February.
If you’re in the mood for flavorful comfort food that any Cajun would salivate over, Louisiana Soul Bayou is calling for you!
Tamales Nelly — Made from Scratch Tamales in Boise
On the East side of the CHOW hall, you will find your year-round source of fresh, hand crafted tamales. What started as a small passion project between two sisters and their families has blossomed into a fully-fledged restaurant at CHOW.
When one of the sisters' children was facing challenges in their health, and needed to be supported financially, the family got to work. Soon their customers grew in numbers and the idea of “should we turn this into a restaurant” became a reality.
It’s clear to see why people keep returning. Their menu features Mexican favorites like fajitas, pozole, quesadillas, and the classic rice & beans. Each recipe is crafted from scratch, nothing is written down, but shared from one generation to the next. The restaurant's name, Tamales Nelly, is infact the nickname of one sisters’ granddaughters. The love shared between this family is palpable in every bite.
If you’re in the mood for good Mexican food, Tamales Nelly is for you!
How To Spend An Afternoon At CHOW
CHOW Public Market has a little something for everybody. Not only do they have a variety of restaurants, their space is the ultimate entertainment destination.
Here’s what to do at CHOW:
- Get dinner before a movie
- Take a painting class with Paint n’ Sip
- Catch up over drinks at the bar
- Shop the Wildflower Boutique for the perfect gift
Every Tuesday is $5 movie night at the Regal Edwards Boise Stadium 21. Make it a fun, affordable night out with a date or good friends!
The CHOW space is also available for events, and we personally highly recommend them!
Totally Boise Annual Block Party At CHOW
Head to CHOW for some chow!
Getting out and enjoying the good food of Boise is a true passion of ours, and we’ve found something truly special at CHOW Public Market. Be sure to stop by for happy hour, dinner, or a fun work lunch at this unique Boise spot. Tag us at @totallyboise and #totallyboise to show us your favorite Tamales Nelly or Louisiana Soul Bayou dish!
Learn more about CHOW here:
CHOW Is The Neighborhood Spot Where Everyone Knows Your Name