The Reuben Sandwich At This Old-Timey Restaurant In Idaho Is So Delicious, It’s Worth The Drive
Boise has a Reuben capable of making a GPS say, “Turn around, this is important.”
Along West State Street in Idaho, an old-school drive-in is still serving 1950s energy without acting like it needs a museum plaque.
Then the sandwich shows up, and suddenly rye bread has main-character confidence.
Corned beef gets serious, while the spicy sauce makes napkins feel less like an option and more like emergency equipment.
Calling it a detour feels rude. This is the kind of sandwich that makes lunch plans file for an extension.
The Reuben Sandwich Itself
Some sandwiches are just sandwiches. The Reuben at Westside Drive In is something else entirely.
Built on toasted rye bread, it layers tender corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and a spicy house sauce that ties every bite together in the most satisfying way.
Located at 1929 W State St in Boise, Idaho, this diner takes its Reuben seriously enough to give it a dedicated menu page, offering both half and full sizes so you can eat smart or go all in. The full size is a genuine event for your taste buds, and most people who try it end up talking about it long after they leave.
What makes it stand out is the balance of flavors. The richness of the beef meets the sharpness of the kraut, while the spicy sauce adds just enough kick to keep things interesting.
Westside does not overthink it, and that restraint is exactly what makes this sandwich shine. Regulars swear it rivals any deli Reuben they have ever had, and first-timers are almost always surprised by just how good it really is.
The Nifty 1950s Atmosphere
Neon nostalgia hits before the food does at Westside Drive In, and the restaurant knows exactly what kind of mood it is selling. Its official site calls it a “Nifty 50s American diner in Boise,” promising “food, fun & fifties” alongside scratch-made burgers, ribs, the famous Ice Cream Potato, finger steaks, fries, sandwiches, salads, desserts, shakes, dinners, and more.
This is not a place trying to pass as sleek or minimal. Pink retro styling, drive-in energy, and old-school comfort are the whole point.
Such atmosphere matters because a Reuben tastes better when the setting has a little theatrical charm. Visitors do not just stop for a sandwich; they step into a Boise landmark with personality built into the sign, colors, and ordering rhythm.
The restaurant’s history also adds weight. Westside’s about page says Lou Aaron’s ownership helped shape it into a Boise institution, with a second location opening after national attention.
Retro can feel forced when a place invents it overnight. Here, the look feels connected to years of local memory.
Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato
Dessert confusion becomes part of the fun when Westside’s Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato arrives looking suspiciously like dinner. Westside’s official menu lists the dessert at $6.99, and Allrecipes reported in April 2026 that the treat originated at Westside Drive-In under owner Lou Aaron, who sells more than 1,500 per month at the restaurant and more than 10,000 annually at the Western Idaho State Fair.
The joke works because the dessert looks like a loaded baked potato while actually being ice cream. Idaho could not have asked for a more on-brand sweet ending if it held auditions.
After a Reuben, finger steaks, or a burger, the Ice Cream Potato gives the visit a playful final scene. It also helps explain why Westside draws travelers who may have heard about the dessert before they ever studied the sandwich menu.
Some restaurants have one signature dish. Westside has a signature sandwich candidate and a dessert with statewide personality.
Anyone planning a first visit should leave room, because skipping the potato-shaped ice cream would feel like leaving Boise with unfinished business.
The Impressive Menu Variety
Menu sprawl usually sounds risky, but Westside Drive In somehow makes the variety part of its appeal. The official homepage lists famous finger steaks, burgers, fries, sandwiches, salads, desserts, shakes, dinners, and more, while the State Street menu includes the Idaho Ice Cream Potato and State Street-only items such as a teriyaki burger.
Third-party menu listings also show classics such as Monte Cristo, meatloaf sandwich, French dip, corn dogs, fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and other diner-style choices. Variety matters because Westside does not feel like a one-item pilgrimage.
The Reuben may be the reason for the headline, but the rest of the menu gives everyone in the car a way to be happy. One person can chase the sandwich, another can order finger steaks, and someone else can go straight for dessert with suspicious potato energy.
Boise travelers passing through get a stop that works for families, picky eaters, nostalgic diners, and people who simply like big old-school menus. Westside’s charm comes from letting the menu be a little wonderfully unreasonable.
The Finger Steaks Worth Knowing About
Idaho pride gets crispy at Westside Drive In through finger steaks, one of the state’s most recognizable regional comfort foods. Westside’s homepage names famous finger steaks among its core offerings, and its online ordering menu lists “Boise’s Best Finger Steaks” among popular dishes.
For visitors unfamiliar with them, finger steaks are strips of beef, battered or breaded, fried, and usually served with dipping sauce. They fit perfectly inside Westside’s world because the restaurant already leans into generous, old-school diner satisfaction.
Finger steaks also give the Reuben some competition. A sandwich lover may arrive with rye bread on the brain and still be tempted by a basket of Idaho history.
Such regional dishes matter on road trips because they make a meal feel tied to the place instead of just filling a gap between exits. Westside’s version also benefits from the diner’s retro setup, where fried beef strips, fries, and a shake feel completely at home.
Anyone building a full Idaho food stop around the Reuben should add finger steaks to the table, because they make the visit feel more local.
Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Recognition
Television attention did not create Westside Drive In’s personality, but it definitely helped broadcast it. Westside’s official about page says the Boise institution was featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2009, and Lou later opened another Westside location in Southeast Boise in 2012.
Such recognition matters because the show tends to spotlight places with real character, memorable food, and stories bigger than a standard roadside meal. Westside fits that mold easily.
Reuben sandwiches, Idaho finger steaks, the famous Ice Cream Potato, retro style, and a chef-owner with a long local connection all give the place more personality than a generic drive-in could manage. Travelers often like knowing a stop has national attention, but the stronger test is whether the food still feels worth ordering after the cameras leave.
Westside has continued operating with two Boise locations and a broad menu, which suggests the spotlight landed on something durable. For road-trippers who enjoy places with both local roots and TV fame, Westside makes the detour feel easy to justify.
Practical Visit Tips And Hours
Weather planning matters more here than at a standard sit-down restaurant because the State Street Westside Drive In leans into drive-in energy and outdoor-style convenience. The official contact page lists the State Street location at 1929 West State Street in Boise with the phone number 208-342-2957, while Westside’s site also lists a second Park Center location.
Current hour details can vary by season, and Westside has posted seasonal updates through its social channels, so checking the restaurant’s website or calling ahead is smart before a long drive. The Reuben is available through the official menu, and ordering online may help if timing matters.
Visitors especially interested in baked potatoes or limited-time items should confirm availability, because larger comfort-food items can depend on prep time and location. Bring an appetite, prepare for a casual ordering setup, and leave room for the Ice Cream Potato.
Westside is not the place for a rushed nibble; it is the kind of stop that rewards leaning into the full diner mood.
Why It Is Worth The Drive
Road-trip restaurants need more than one good bite, and Westside Drive In checks several boxes at once. The Reuben gives sandwich fans a clear reason to show up, with corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and spicy sauce on rye listed directly on the official menu.
The retro setting gives the meal personality, the finger steaks add Idaho food culture, and the Ice Cream Potato supplies the kind of dessert story people repeat before they even leave the parking lot. Westside’s own site frames it as a Boise institution, and its about page notes awards, cookbook recognition, and the 2009 “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” feature.
That mix makes the stop feel less like a random diner and more like a compact Boise food experience. Some visitors will come for the sandwich, others for the potato-shaped ice cream, and many will leave remembering the whole pink, retro, slightly over-the-top package.
For anyone exploring Idaho with a soft spot for classic drive-ins, Westside gives the Reuben a setting worthy of the detour.
