Voted better burger than In-N-Out, another California chain plans to open Boise restaurant
After a false alarm six years ago, an expanding fast-food chain finally is on track to open its first restaurant in Boise proper.
Habit Burger & Grill, which already operates in Meridian and Nampa, has filed paperwork with the city of Boise to build a new 2,257-square store at the intersection of Milwaukee Street and Preece Drive. It’s the same shopping center as Natural Grocers and Planet Fitness. Plans include a 500-square-foot outdoor patio and a drive-thru.
The company also hopes to construct another Meridian restaurant at 445 S. Innovation Road. Located in the Ten Mile Crossing development, it would be 2,800 square feet, with a 500-square-foot outdoor patio and a drive-thru, according to pre-application request.
There’s no information yet about a target opening date for the Boise store, according to Kathy Kwon, a spokesperson for Habit Burger. But the new Meridian restaurant is slated for late 2026, she said in an email.
For Boise, the clock has been ticking for a while. In 2019, Habit Burger was set to make its City of Trees debut in a former Popeyes Louisiana Chicken on Broadway Avenue. But a lease default nixed the franchise restaurant.
Founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California, Habit Burger isn’t as trendy as, say, In-N-Out Burger. But last year, Habit Burger’s Double Char was named best fast-food food burger in USA Today’s annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Even better than the No. 2 finisher: In-N-Out’s Double-Double.
Habit Burger grills its meat over an open flame, not on a flat-top. The Double Char includes two chargrilled beef patties, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. If you order it with cheese — and you probably should — it’s $7.89.
Other options on the menu include a Portabella Char, BBQ Bacon Char, Teriyaki Char — even a vegetarian burger. Habit also serves chicken sandwiches and bites, and salads. There’s also an Ahi Tuna Filet Sandwich.
Do not forget to order Tempura Green Beans. That item also topped USAToday’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards last year as the No. 1 best fast-food side. “Made by dipping fresh green beans in a tempura batter and then deep-frying them,” USA Today wrote, “this unique side combines the crispiness of tempura with the fresh flavor of green beans and is served with ranch dipping sauce.”
Stomach growling? You can always drive to Habit Burger & Grill at 2206 N. Eagle Road at The Village at Meridian or at 16291 N. Marketplace Blvd. in Nampa.
Habit Burger & Grill operates more than 385 restaurants in 14 states and internationally, according to a press release. And it “continues to grow, serving up delicious meals that capture the essence of California feel-good food.”
