Basque Block

Cool area to walk! Was nearly empty when we visited.

Unique cultural block celebrating a culture pivotal in establishing this area of the United States. Great food, some great memorabilia, and picturesque with lots of historical markers. The food alone makes visiting this area worth it. Basque food is a great food culture a lot of people don't know about. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed the fruit smoothie (frozen sangria)😉 Call ahead to reserve your portion of paella on Friday.

I was born and raised here, but I moved away and I am just visiting, so my bf and I wanted to try a Basque restaurant and this was on the list. We've nevered has Basque food before, so this was def a place we wanted to try out. We walked in, with no reservation and we got seated immediately. The hostess asked if we wanted to do the dining room or bar, and we chose the bar and it was a good atmosphere to walk into. It was super crowded and the bar looks nice. Our server was Elena and she was lovely. She did a great job with recommendations and checked in with us to make sure everything we ordered was good. We started with the Croquetas, Nick had the chorizo sandwich and I had the Leku Ona Burger. For dessert, we got to check off the Basque burnt cheesecake. We loved everything we ordered and wished we could have room for more, but we shall come again to eat! Def recommend this place for some good eats!

I didn’t realize that Boise has a huge Basque population! We walked around Basque Block on a beautiful sunny, winter day. Unfortunately, the pandemic has everything in the city on a ‘shut down’ type of atmosphere and not much was happening at all. I definitely would like to come back when the festivals are in full effect so we can experience this culture.

Loved this place. Buzzing with people and lots of restaurants and bars

The atmosphere is awesome, but parking is a challenge with so much ongoing construction.

Cool area and completely unexpected in the middle of Boise. We had dinner at Bardenay and were seated right away. The food was amazing and the prices were great considering the quality. The Smoked salmon, pita, and pickled veggie appetizer was out of this world!

We enjoyed our tapas lunch at the Basque Market. Cute market filled with food and wine products...and tables in the middle of it all. You order from the counter and they bring the food to your table. The woman who took our order was friendly and explained the tapas we had questions on and made some good suggestions. Our order... - Croquetas: fried goodness, deliciously savory - Pimentos Verdes: green peppers tossed in garlic and sea salt, so addicting. - Patatas Bravas: the potatoes are in a yummy sauce and topped with garlic alioli. - Meatballs: in a delicious sauce, highly recommend. - Jamón Ibérico Plate: thinly cured ham that comes with an olive tapenade, roasted garlic and an onion pepper jam. You must try this, it was our favorite. We kept trying to decide which of the 3 accoutrements we liked best but loved them all. It's $29.99 and worth every bite. It comes with a freshly baked baguette. We enjoyed our leisurely lunch with some craft beers and soaked in the culture. They have neat decor, especially the giant paella pan hanging on the wall. Such a great experience before going across the street to the Basque Museum.

Very small market in downtown Boise. I did not find much in the market but the main attraction is the food and the paella. To be very honest- I don't actually like paella. I was with a group who said this was a must. I was actually surprised! That paella was delicious! It's only available on Friday at certain times so be aware of that. Basque Market has only a few patio tables so we ate across the street on a park bench. The market is more deli like in size and shape. I would like to revisit here for other foods.

This is a cute little shop in the center of Basque block. If you see the Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery, Basque market is on the right. It's small inside, but there's outdoor seating as well. The store is very charming, and as someone who is not familiar with Basque culture or food, there were a lot things I didn't recognize on the menu. All of the pintxos I tried were very flavorful and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. The ingredients in the Jamon Serrano and Manchego Cheese sandwich were also savory. It initially appears too simple (ham & cheese), however the ingredients are legit quality and this was their recommended popular sandwich. It doesn't feel like I'm eating something from Walmart. The flavor of the Spanish ham, cheese, and Spanish olive oil is unique. Water was helpful as the sandwich is a bit dry from the bread. Overall portion looks small, but it was a perfect amount of food to keep me full and happy. On some days they make paella outdoors, which I'm sad I missed out on. It could be more crowded on those days, but when I went on a weekend afternoon it was busy but still spacious. I'll have to come back sometime!

They are very nice, patio is great, shop is very cute. The food is lowkey mid though. Like its good but small portions for like 15$.

Great food and specialty shop! And specials that you can only find at the Basque Market!!!

Just arrived for six days in Boise and the surrounding area. My first stop for food was this lovely little bistro for lunch. Delicious meatballs and veggie/tomato soup, along with some wonderful pinxtos of the day. Friendly service and food delivery. Really nice atmosphere. Sat with strangers and really thought that was very European and lovely. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend

The Basque market never fails! So yummy and one of my favorite places in town. Every guest I bring in town falls in love with it. The only bad part is you always want to purchase a million items from the market inside to bring home the yummy food as well!

Been here once or twice just passing through, but finally had a chance to check out the food for Taste of Downtown Boise 2023. They had a wonderful $12 braised lamb over mashed potato special with a side of country bread. It was very tasty. Perfect for a cold fall day. The service was very friendly and attentive and a nice friendly vibe for the space as well as between the clientele and staff. Definitely worth checking out for the special as well as their usual offerings.

This small market / cafe is in the Basque area in Downtown Boise. While the hours are limited, it is someplace that you should try. We ordered a variety of Basque appetizers and the bean and chorizo soup. Everything was delicious! My favorite was the tapenade pinwheels, with flaky dough and yummy tapenade. . . so good. The staff is friendly and knowledable. There is limited indoor and outdoor seating. In addition to food, you can also find a good variety of ingredients for Basque food. I'm glad that we were able to grab some pintxos at this place.

BOISE VISITOR AND SIGHTSEER ALERT! CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAY. Like a lot of Basque businesses, this is a small, family-run operation. For over 20 years, Tony & Tara Eiguren have been doing it right and right in the middle of the Basque Block in Boise. Zorionak, Eigurens. Tony prepares a 5 foot paella every Wednesday & Friday right outside in their patio. You can start watching the preparation about 10:30 am. It can be served as early as 11:45 am. If you want paella, you will have to get there and order your dish well before noon as the whole paella (80 servings) is gone in about 30 minutes. Boise regulars know this but many Boise visitors do not. Just to be clear, paella is from 15th century Spain and with its noted popularity as Paella Valenciana where it began as a rice dish in which local Valencians would put vegetables, beans, dry cod, rabbit and mariscos (caracoles, mussels, periwinkles, etc.). The paella concept has evolved over the six centuries to include a whole array of different things other than what Valencians had available to them. If you miss the timing, no problem as Tony has great pintxos (pronounced peen-chos) for sale throughout the day. Pintxos are the darling little bites of food that are served on small plates. Some examples are: Cantaloupe & Jamon Serrano; Shrimp & Krab Pinwheel; 'Bravas' Brussel Sprouts; and Cider-Braised Chorizo. The tortilla espeziala (not to be confused with a Mexican tortilla) is delicious. Also served is cold Txakoli (pronounced chaco-lee) from the famous native, white grape (Hondarribi Zuri) growing region of Getaria, Gipuzkoa. Have the chorizo bocadillo (the baguette is fresh and crunchy) as the locally-made chorizo is spicy and aromatic. Along with a plate of fried green peppers (pimientos verdes), you will enjoy your day. The spiciness is a great complement to the effervescent Txakoli. Have some class and do not order tapas. Basques do not make tapas. Spain makes tapas and Spain has persecuted, imprisoned, raped and tortured people from the Basque country for most of the 20th century, so show some sensitivity, if you can. Also, Basque chorizo is not Mexican chorizo. When you see Basque chorizo sliced it IS NOT salami - that is from yet another country that you failed to learn about in your world geography class. The frozen sangria is an American thing, not found in the Basque culture. For the cheapskates who always want something for nothing and also provide some of the worst Yelp reviews, you will be able to park in local parking lots and PAY BY THE HOUR during your visit. The area is regularly patroled and tickets are placed on windshields all day. The citizens of Boise wish you a fond farewell and thank you for your donations.

We arrived at approximately 12:40 p.m on a Wednesday and didn't see any activity in their patio. A snarky woman in front of the restaurant informed us that they sold out on the paella. At12:30 which is still lunchtime but I guess they don't make much of it to last until closing time. I asked for soup and again got snapped at that there's no more soup by the same woman. The other female employee told us that they are making more soup. I eventually got a tomato bisque soup after the server said it was ready. I've been to Spain several times and I couldn't say that the food at Basque Market closely resemble the ones I've tried in Spain. In my opinion, this place is overrated and the unfriendly and unaccommodating staff do not help with the blahness of the place. I will never return to this place nor recommend it to anyone.

I am speechless, absolutely blown away. I cried honestly this food is like no other. It's 10000/10 top notch, fresh, made with love and the best ingredients. The pricing is actually really good for the quality of food you get, the service was above and beyond, the wine prices are incredible. I wanted every single item on the menu. I ended up getting 6 tapas and it did not disappoint let me tell you. My favorite food spot in all of Idaho, actually in all of the entire United States! Thank you for making my week with your food.

One of my absolute favorite spots in Boise! The paella is worth the wait, and don't forget to get some croquetas. Great soups! Also everyone here is kind and makes you feel welcome. I love bringing guests here and sitting out on the patio.

This place is amazing! It's like a cozy little market/cafe tucked away in some European alley! The food was so delicious especially their in house olives and the paella was an especial treat! The servers were happy to share their passion for their products and to give you a helping hand when you weren't sure what was what

I decided to take a day to relax and visit the Basque Market. I lucked out as it way Paella day. The photos will share the story better than my words, but the meal was amazing from being able to watch the creation to the final tasting. They start with a base that has a sausage and then as the cooking continues they add various ingredients. I love how the shrimp lays still while the mussels & clams face upward. The combinations of flavors was amazing. In fact it was so good I visited the Basque museum and bought four cookbooks to learn. Plus I bought a Paella kit from the Basque market shop. I see Basque food in my future. It will be fun to learn a new cuisine.

I loved this place!! It was on my must try list coming to visit Boise, and I was so pleased with the experience. You order at the counter, and then sit down at a table inside of your choice. All of the menu items are smaller plates, so you can pick a few different ones and try all of them. We ordered the patatas bravas, meatballs, and salami + cheese sandwich. Everything was so amazingly good and they also came out super fast! The potatoes had to be my favorite though, which is fitting since its idaho:) Prices are really reasonable as well, so I'd highly recommend giving it a try!

(Review based on 3.5 stars) Boise is the home to the largest community of Basque in the US. What is Basque you ask? Well the Basque Country is one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities, that is located in northern Spain that borders on France and Cantabrian Sea. The Basque people are the oldest surviving ethnic group in Europe. The blending of nearby provinces and countries, their food has a variety of delicious foods that include seafood and fish, beef, potato, stews and cheeses. The Basque Market is a hidden find with limited (free) street parking, in downtown, down the street from Boise Centre. Here you will find pintxos, which are tapas or little plates/ dishes that is to be enjoyed family style. There is limited seating inside and some seating outside (partially covered). My husband and I came on a Tuesday afternoon last month, around 12:30 pm. We were greeted by a very friendly employee behind the counter. After looking over the menu, we ended up getting the following to go: Potatas Bravas, $7 prior to tax- These potatoes were fried and topped with a garlic alioli sauce. As much as I love potato, this dish was very salty. I wouldn't order this one again. Croquetas, $7 prior to tax- With the many flavors to choose from, we ended up picking cod. But would be interested in tasting lamb and shrimp. The employee helping us said the cod was a popular one but I thought the cod was very subtle as you could barely taste it. This was on the bland side and wouldn't recommend ordering the cod. Arroz con Leche, $5 prior to tax- This was consumed much later after purchase. This rice pudding was one of the best things we purchased here. The pudding itself wasn't too sweet but had a nice creaminess and consistency. The rice was not hard but tender. The only thing disappointing with this dessert was that we finished it and had no more. It would have been nice for the cinnamon to be spread throughout the pudding though (since most of it stuck onto the back of the lid) but I liked it with and without the cinnamon. Piquillo Cheese Spread, $5.99 prior to tax- Another favorite that we had purchased. This cream cheese and cheddar cheese spread was fantastic on everything. We had this on crackers, toast and carrot sticks (since that is what we had with us). The flavors were very good and everything was in perfect balance. I would purchase that again. ----------------------------- (Total= $26.49 after tax) While we waited, the employee had asked if we wanted any water. He also offered me a sample of the frozen white wine sangria. Wow it was really good but unfortunately, they only sell that in a quart for to go orders (for $16 prior to tax). A whole quart was just be way too much, especially since it would be me who would be drinking it since my husband was driving (which we were driving to another state to). I would definitely come back here to get myself a glass of this frozen sangria because it is just perfect for a warm day. Our food items (the hot food items) were just average. If we were to come back, I think I'd just stick to the cold food items like the cheese, rice pudding and frozen sangria.

Everything I ordered was great! I ordered to go but wished I was have ate in as it was a cozy little place to sit and enjoy. I grabbed some hard to get items in their grocery area. Super reasonably priced!

Friendly and helpful staff. The guy knew how to do marketing and understand the food, also seem passionate. Croquettes were fun to snack on, they were great. Meatballs were good, nothing special but good enough. Prices are quite high but its downtown so maybe.

I am in love with this place! We stopped by last minute with a large group for lunch, and they were able to fit us in. We ordered a bunch of tapas, but the ones that really stood out to me were the croquetas (we pretty much ordered every kind you could get, and they were all to die for!) and the chorizo bocadillo. The staff was extremely friendly and efficient. I definitely have to make my way back here for paella sometime!

I have been to Spain several times, I even worked there for three months, so every time I see anything Spanish I want to try it. I came here for the paella, served only Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, but I missed it by a little. I decided to try the rest, the tortilla was ok, but nothing like the ones I had in Spain where it's often made to order, fresh and fluffy. The chorizo bocadillo was very good; the baguette was fresh and crunchy, and the chorizo spicy and aromatic. I also ordered some pinchos, I wasn't impressed. I didn't care for the Sangria either, although it was imported from Spain, it was a generic quality, nothing like a house made sangria with marinated real fruits. Service was friendly, but when ordering I asked if the chorizo was going to be whole or shredded like the Mexican chorizo, I got a snarky "We are not Mexican, we are Spanish!", you mean to tell me the Basque Country is not in Chihuahua?! Who knew. Overall the experience was unconvincing.

Super cool place! Love getting to try so many of the basque dishes. The food was really good. The inside is small but if you can get a table it's awesome.

The staff members were incredibly nice! The frozen white sangria was sooo yummy. The only suggestion I have is maybe a slightly larger menu (which given the basque culture/menu they have, I know it's difficult)! Also on the sandwich we got, it said it had "creamy piquillo pepper cheese spread" which seemed to just be pimento cheese. I'll definitely go back though! Don't go super hungry unless you want to spend a decent amount on tapas!

Very friendly service. The gentleman made us feel very welcome and he explained their ordering process right away. Extremely clean and it was obvious they remember regulars! Loved the wine and the outdoor seating was beautiful.

Oh my G--. Just had the paella which is out of the world. So flavorful! Will be a new weekly haunt. Staff was also very helpful

We've been wanting to visit the Basque Market for a while now. Finally made it and luckily they had just started serving the paella. Delicious and a good sized portion. We had several of the pintxos as well. I really enjoyed the bacon wrapped date, the fried manchego cheese with a spicy/sweet topping, and the wine braised chorizo. I believe the paella is only available on Wednesdays and Fridays, so keep that in mind.

Nice service and a huge selection of wines from Spain. It is tiny. I thought it would be larger. Cute inside though and fun to pick up a few condiments too.

Paella to die for!!! Worth the wait and drinks aren't bad either!!! ...............................................

This is a fun restaurant. Ate out doors, Very Delicious food, fantastic service, from ordering at cash register to the food being brought out to our table, welcoming, friendly and helpful staff.

Great little lunch find, tucked amid the cute Basque district of Boise. Excellent wines to taste and pick and enjoy, while your authentic Basque lunch is prepared. Try the "Pintxos" trio of appetizers menu - so good I had a second order, with croquettes, gazpacho & zucchini fritters. The speciality quiche is excellent. Enjoyable experience!

The Basque Market was the highlight of my Boise experience. I happened to come to Boise on the first Thursday of the month--that's right--PAELLA NIGHT! We LOVED, LOVED the paella experience... we got our table early enough to sit right outside where they were making the paella for 100 people! The staff was great... we loved talking with them. I learned how to make a great paella (if I'm ever inspired to actually try it). I just absolutely LOVED this experience... and I walked out with a couple of bottles of wine and munchies afterward too!

I am so glad I found this place before they closed for Christmas for a few days. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. I feel bad I didn't catch their names. I took a sampling of 3 pintxos and a sandwich to go, along with a few souvenirs. The guy helping me even offered me a few sips of cava to try while I browsed and waited for my sandwich. The experience and food were on point.

I am a huge tapas fan and while visiting Boise for a snowboarding trip, I stumbled on the Basque Market. It's located just a block east of the main big street (Capitol Blvd.) near the downtown area. The whole block is known for their basque market and stores so it is a cool neat place to check out after you are done eating. There are plenty of metered street parking in the surrounding areas. The entrance may be a little bit hard to find but look for the sign they have on the sidewalk listing their specials! I walked in to find a few dining tables in the middle of a market. They sell general goods along with a few specialty items from the market. It's basically a one stop shop for groceries and restaurant. It was pretty empty at 430pm on a Thursday with only 1 other party inside the restaurant. I opted to get 3 small dishes, the poutine and the pork loin main dish. My favorite was the server's recommendation of poutine. It is not your traditional poutine but instead has a Spanish twist with chorizo. The gravy is absolutely delicious. The small plates were a nice little bite while the pork loin was a miss for me. The sauce was a bit too sour for my liking and the risotto was a bit runny. For the amount of food you get, the prices are awesome. I was able to stuff my face and still have 2 leftover boxes for all under $40. I was told on Wednesday and Friday's they have a huge paella cookout outdoors that's very popular so make sure you go on those days!

Such an amazing place! After a commute from Oakland, Ca to Boise for a 3 hour meeting I was ready for a special bite in celebration of my birthday. These people are very good at what they do. I was allowed to taste a wine or two before settling on a glass. I ordered the 3 for 5 tapas bites and each one more delicious than the next. My favorite had a bit of White Anchovy and Spicy Pepper, and Olive. Wow what a flavor sensation. I also really liked the Zucchini Frito, Manchego & Pepper Jam on baguet. I bought myself a little Jamon para llavar . I can't wait for my next trip to Boise to enjoy this place with more time

The paella sells out! That's the most important piece of advice for The Basque Market for you to know! I flew into Boise on a Friday and rushed to the Basque Market for the paella on the patio, which they do on Fridays, starting at noon. I arrived around 12:40 and it was all gone. SO SAD! The friendly employee informed me that the paella usually sells out within 20 minutes after noon, so, I never really had a fighting chance. Although I missed out on the paella party I did enjoy myself with the tapas, sangria and getting to know some of the regulars who come here every week for the paella party. I was sitting at a communal table and spoke to a group of locals who even offered to give me some of their paella since they saw I missed out and was visiting. Too sweet! But this is the kind of social gathering you can expect at The Basque Market. I loved seeing the staff converse with all the patrons, especially the regulars, catching up with them and whatnot. The Basque Market has a few grocer items to take home, like a paella-making kit, candy from Spain, oils, cooking utensils, etc... They make their own Spanish cider where tastings are free, and the sangria with a red wine float will make you mighty fine! The tapas were awesome, as the chef makes whatever is in store and however he's feeling. Can't argue with the professional. The Basque Market is an absolute must when in Boise. They have the friendliest staff, the atmosphere is inviting, and the food is a great culinary introduction to the Basque region. If you're so lucky to try the paella, do message me and let me know how it is! Maybe I'll be able to try it for myself someday.

I love the Basque market! Best orange olives I have ever had. I also like the convince of the frozen sangaria to go and make at home...perfect anytime. They're always friendly and welcoming. Recommend on days when they have paella but must get there early.

Best frozen Sangria!!! Good food and very friendly staff. Also allow small dogs on the patio, something the restaurant next door doesn't do. We'll be back!

Absolutely love this place!! What a hidden gem! Try all the tapas and wine there and be sure to take some bottles home! Delicious & authentic foods you won't find anywhere else. And the staff is so friendly and helpful!

Neat quick eats location for lunch. Wednesday and Saturday are paella days and what else would you eat when presented with the opportunity. Very good, fresh ingredients, and if you arrive early, you can watch it be prepared. For the other times, there is a tapas style bar where you pay by the "skewer." Pick and choose to make a complete meal or a tasting of different traditional foods of the Basque culture. The interior is filled with crafts and wines from the region and make an excellent accompaniment with your meal.

Great food and selection. I love the Basque market and all the yummy food! Expand your horizons and give this a try.

I thought this place was supposed to be a market at first! But it's a lovely little restaurant that carries shelf stable food and kitchen tschokies. They're really cute! I wanted to buy some but I was afraid to break them on the flight home. We walked in and was happy to see the communal tables - they have real Basque style eating! We overheard some folks that were on a Boise food tour. That seemed quite fun. We chatted with the waiter who talked to us about getting a few things - everything is tapas style. We got a jamon sandwich - this was a cold cut prosciutto di parma. So good. The fried calamari came with a great breading. The sardine skewers were also great! It had pickled peppers and olives, but it's not very spicy. We saved the olive oil from the sardines to soak bread up with. My favorite thing was the shrimp pil pil. Those marinated shrimp were so delicious! Definitely recommend this place if you're in the Basque area of Boise.

Wonderful place to have lunch. The tapas are delicious, the frozen sangria is refreshing, and the staff is the best!

I had somewhat low expectations when I came to this small venue- I was SO impressed! The food, the cozy atmosphere, the exceptional service, fantastic food- clearly super fresh food & faces- (reminded me of my 2 perfect experiences at State & Lemp... miss them!!!) I would definitely recommend for locals & tourists alike!

I hadn't been here in many years and ended up stopping by with family in town. I absolutely adore this place. The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly, ready to explain the awesome tapas selection of the day. They also offered samples and were all around friendly. The Basque wines and other imported goods are also fun to browse. Will definitely be back.

Enjoyed some lovely tapas in this cute shop/restaurant! The calamari was unique in that it was more mozzarella cheese style squid than traditional calamari, but still hit the spot. The mini baguettes were delicious as well, but could have used more meat/cheese inside. I paired it with the meatball sauce, and that really hit the spot. The real star of the show was the cheese board, and at around $14 it was incredibly affordable. They explained the 3 different types of cheese and meats, and it also came with marcona almonds, olive oil, savory and sweet spreads, and a warm baguette. I would recommend this place, especially the cheese plate, for sure!

This is one of my favorite spots in Boise, it's got great food, even better drinks & is authentic as it gets (I've lived in Basque Spain for a year and this place truly lives up). They make fresh paella in an enormous pan on the street on Wednesday & Friday for lunch and Thursday or dinner, get there right when it's done at noon or you may not get a plate as it guess fast! They have pinxtos they are also very authentic & good! They change daily which makes it lots of fu , but you can usually always find a bocadillo & croquetas!

Loved this! The food was 5 star! We were there for paella lunch ... so perfect. It was cooked outside in this giant pan. And the whole thing was gone in 30 minutes. We also got a trio of the pintxos...small bites....but oh so delicious. And we got an order of the croquetas.....they look like a large tater tot that is filled with gravy. Yummmm Go there!!

Loved their spin on the paella. The Tapas were a perfect compliment to start out the meal. It was a little weird sitting at the table eating somebody came in to shop their little market shelves directly behind me.

Such a cool spot! I originally stopped in for help picking out a few bottles of Basque wine, and the staff gave me such awesome recommendations, I returned for more! The second time I was able to relax a bit and enjoyed some delicious sangria and "Pintxos." The spicy olives, calamari, and pimento were so delicious, the friend I brought went back the next day for more. They also do an easy to-go business, so search thebasquemarket.com for pickup options.

Quaint little place with large tables to sit and share with your neighbors. Tapas ALL worth a try! You can't go wrong with any of them. I've been to the Basque Region 10 years back and boy was this food just as delicious! Pair with a glass of wine! One of the highlights of my weekend trip! If you're in the area you should definitely check out this area and this restaurant. Looks like during peak times and days they have several tapas out for you to pick your pleasure- just like they do in San Sebastian!