Spud Daddy Brings Idaho Baked Potatoes to Downtown Boise

BOISE, Idaho, June 18, 2026 — Spud Daddy, an Idaho potato-themed restaurant, is set to open in downtown Boise, bringing oversized loaded baked potatoes and hand-cut Amsterdam-style fries to the city's BoDo district. The restaurant is moving into the corner space at 404 S. 8th St., at 8th and Broad streets.

The concept centers entirely on the Idaho potato, the crop the state is best known for. Owner Thomas Watson is positioning the fast-casual spot as an affordable, locally rooted option in a downtown stretch that has seen several vacancies.

What Spud Daddy Will Serve

The menu's centerpiece is the loaded Idaho baked potato, customized along a Chipotle-style assembly line with about 28 toppings. Diners can choose proteins such as smoked brisket, garlic chicken or smoked pit ham, then add vegetables, cheeses, sauces, salsas and baked beans.

Spud Daddy uses large russet potatoes grown by Sun Valley Potatoes under a license from the Idaho Potato Commission. The restaurant also offers a full menu Watson has said is gluten-free, along with beer and a merchandise shop selling Idaho potato-themed apparel and goods.

Amsterdam-Style Fries and a Walk-Up Window

A street-level window lets passers-by buy fresh fries without entering the dining room. The Amsterdam-style fries are hand-cut, extra thick, double-fried and served in a paper cone with optional parmesan and a choice of housemade aiolis.

Watson has said the restaurant is built around the Idaho potato and a family-friendly price point. Home cooks can also browse a collection of jacket potato recipes to try loaded potatoes at home.

A Local Owner and a Downtown Bet

Watson, born in Twin Falls and raised in Kimberly among potato farms, moved to Boise in 2008 and comes from a background in product marketing and entrepreneurship. He has said he spent years developing the concept before signing the downtown lease.

The space previously housed the Bodovino wine bar and, most recently, Kichii Sushi & Spirits, and sits across from The Warehouse Food Hall. Earlier in the year, Spud Daddy offered walk-up fries during the Treefort Music Festival ahead of its full debut. More details are available through the Idaho Potato Commission and on the restaurant's official website.

Reporting compiled from coverage by the Idaho Statesman, Idaho Press and BoiseDev, and from owner statements. Verified by HospitalityCareerProfile.com.