Welcome to the Food Blog!

Here in this blog I will introduce you to the surprising variety of food available in Rexburg, Idaho. Being a relatively small town, with relatively not a lot to do, and yet pressure to go on dates anyway, I decided it would be fitting to analyze the many local eateries and help you make important decisions such as "Where do I want to eat today?" or "What restaurant would be good tonight?" or "Where so I take my date to dinner?" Therefore, check out the reviews (written by an amateur connoisseur) and make your decisions accordingly. Since some of the restaurants are major chains that you can find all over the place, I chose to ignore those and focus on the smaller chains and local gems. for you convenience I will list what restaurants were reviewed in what month. You can also follow them as links. You can also also follow the labels to find specifics such as desserts, burger joints, or the coveted Top 10. (The labels are at the bottom)

June:

Frontier Pies

5 Buck Pizza

Da Pineapple Grill

BRC’s Frozen Custard/Franks Pulled Pork/We’re Twisted Pretzels

Gator Jack's Sandwich Shack

Snoasis Sno Shack

Big Jud's Country Diner

The Cocoa Bean

Paradise Donuts

Joe's Filling Station

The Flap Jack Shack

JB's Restaurant

Craigo’s (The Pizza Pie Café)

Idamont Café

Mill Hollow Frozen Yogurt

Kiwi Loco

Twizlberry

G’s Dairy Quality Dairy Products

Karie Anne's Frozen Desserts

Nielsen's Frozen Custard

Nipa Hut

Ying Yang Oriental Kitchen

El Garden

Ramirez

Gringo’s Mexican Restaurant

Taco Buses

May:

Teriyaki Express

Original Thai

New Fongs

Fongs (Old Fongs)

Mandarin's Chinese

 April:

Rexburg Root Beer Selection

Great Harvest Bread Company

College Ave. Deli

Sammy's Cafe

New York Burrito

Screw Flanders.

The Flap Jack Shack

Located near the Taco Bell on Main Street

The Flap Jack Shack is a dang good breakfast eatery conveniently located on Main Street. However, rather inconveniently, it closes at 3. The nerve – they expect us to eat breakfast at a breakfast like time. I’d curse them if they weren’t so delicious. My favorite part is their syrups. More specifically, I love their coconut syrup. I would put it on steak it’s so delightful. It’s sweet and coconutty, but not too bad. Their caramel syrup is also supreme. You can get eggs, which are great. Sausage, which is great. And I would mock you relentlessly if you didn’t get yourself a flap cake. A hot jack. A flap jack? That sounds right. The pancake to get is their huckleberry pancake – the thing is larger than your face, which is good because you pay a relatively large sum for a single flap jack, but it’s a Frisbee sized flap jack, so I don’t complain. You can put huckleberry syrup on it, but there are already huckleberries, so use that coconut syrup and you’re in breakfast heaven. Just be sure to show up before 3 pm. They’re in my top 10.

Mill Hollow Frozen Yogurt

1^st E near the Pinnacle Building

I like frozen yogurt, but really, what I want most is a sandwich. Hamburgers count as sandwiches, and you won’t find those at Mill Hollow, but what I really like is their sandwiches, so I’ll elaborate on the namesake yogurt later. Mill Hollow is a pleasant little log cabin turned restaurant, on the outskirts of the Date District. I kind of get the drift that it is family run. Like most sandwich shops, you go, you select your meat (what the price depends on) and then select your bread, cheese, and toppings. Therefore, like most sandwich shops, you need to have a good idea of what makes a good sandwich (balance of toppings more than anything). Mill Hollow does an excellent balance – not too much, not too little. They don’t give you a sub or hoagie style – you get thick slices of sandwich bread, fantastic sandwich bread, and then they add the items requested in perfect order and amount. Their sandwiches are works of art. You can even get them toasted/grilled, so the sandwich is warm and the cheese is melty. While I usually have a hard time justifying going out for a homemade style sandwich instead of making my own at my place, I acquiesce from time to time, because it’s totally worth it. It’s also a great place for dates – classy, yet not uncomfortably over the top. Their variety is wide but not overwhelming, and service, while not instant, is quick and accurate.

Their frozen yogurt is good too. You can get it in a bowl, cone, or shake, and they introduce flavors that aren’t common but are fantastic. Blueberry (and strawberry) cheesecake? It’s like eating the real thing. My favorite is the Irish Mint. The jury is still out on what makes it Irish. Perhaps it’s made from the tears of real Leprechauns. Most likely it’s because it is green as all get out. But it is fantastic, and served at a slightly lower temperature than found at your other FroYo shacks. While this may interfere slightly with the taste buds, it keeps the frozen yogurt solid and stable, so it doesn’t become a melted dribbling mess in your cup before you finish eating. Melty is for cheese, not for FroYo. This place is in my Top 10.

G’s Dairy Quality Dairy Products

600 Handcart Lane, near World’s Gym

G’s Dairy is probably the best ice cream you will find in Rexburg. None of the trendy FroYo, old fashioned custard, or non ice cream frozen treats – G’s Dairy serves ice cream the way George Washington intended it to be – dang good. There are literally dozens of flavors (though not generally all at once) and is perfect for going stag, on a date, or in a group. You can get the Brown Cow Shake (think fine chocolate ice cream mixed with fine chocolate milk) making something so thick and chocolaty that you border on overdose. I don’t even like chocolate ice cream that much and my mouth is watering. Technically they call them shakes and it doesn’t have to be chocolate with chocolate, but really, why not? You can also get their large Holy Cow platter (13 generous scoops) that can take 6 people to eat, and still be full of ice cream. Not in a group? Get a scoop. Not planning on sticking around? Get a half gallon to go. But then you need to beat off roommates. Cheese and milk is also available.

Technically the ice cream is from Reed’s Dairy, an Idaho Falls firm, but we can forgive them for that. They make a good ice cream that has lower air content and more milk fat and cream. Air is naturally added into ice cream due to the cooling/whipping process used – cheaper ice creams have higher air content. The really good ice cream doesn’t have as much. G’s Dairy has really good ice cream. They also have toppings if the normal ice cream contents aren’t enough for you, but the flavors usually have bits of deliciousness in them anyway, so why ruin a good thing? Definitely on my top 10.

Nielsen's Frozen Custard

Across the street from Porter Park, next to Crazy Mike’s Video/Jimmy Johns

Despite the name, there is much more to Nielsen’s Frozen Custard than iced cream. What drew me in more than anything was the potential of a new burger joint, and I was not disappointed. I arrived just ahead of a massive line, which is good, since I hate waiting. Their menu is rather straightforward – you can order burgers, fries, onion rings, and “grinders” more commonly known as sandwiches. Think sub meets hoagie – that’s a grinder. And then you have your dessert menu, which consists of “Concretes” and cones basically. You order your food, you tell them what you want on it (they give you a paper to mark) and then you have the option of getting dessert after you’ve eaten. It’s a novel concept for a fast food joint, but after I ordered everything, the gal behind the counter gave me the dessert slip and told me to bring it back after I was done, so I didn’t have my custard becoming unfrozen while I ate. That was cool.

Now before I get into talking about the food, I’ll address the differences between custard and ice cream. Personally, the word custard sounds gross, but unless you’re allergic to eggs, there’s nothing gross about it. Simply put (perhaps too simply) is that custard has more egg, less air than traditional ice cream. Air is naturally added to ice cream during the whipping process. Custard has a flavor closer to homemade ice cream than the store bought stuff. In the end though, it’s the same ingredients. The only difference is the quantity.

The custard was good, but nothing spectacular or novel. I ordered a cone instead of a concrete, since my focus was the meal. It reminded me of most other fast food chains’ soft serve. If you go for dessert, get the concrete. it will be a more authentic Nielsen’s experience. They advertise it as a really thick shake you eat with a spoon. In other words, it’s a bowl of custard that you eat with a spoon. Get mix-ins such as Oreo's or nuts if you feel adventurous, but at an additional cost per item. You can also get floats (custard and soda).

What I fell in love with were the burgers. They had the taste, smell, and texture of a backyard barbecue. Not at all like fast food, and while perhaps not the greatest hamburger ever made, it was fantastic. You could taste the slight char – not enough to make you think “hmm, this is burnt,” but just enough to give it that backyard flavor. Unlike many burgers that are prepared medium rare (seems to be most popular), Nielsen’s burgers are a browned medium well, which I think is much better.

The grinder was also quite good – well made, well balanced, and all of it slightly warm – it was heavenly. I only wish I had gotten it with a pickle instead of mayonnaise (in my haste to get the burger just right, neglected the grinder). But sandwiches that taste like them grinders are sandwiches worth talking about days later. They are similar to the Jimmy John’s chain, which is dang good.

The fries are the best I have had in Rexburg, hands down. This is beating out my previous favorite of Sammy’s Café. They aren’t too greasy, but not too dry, and have an old fashioned style – think and soft. They may be the second best fries I’ve ever had in my life actually. That’s not entirely superlative. And for you fry sauce lovers; their fry sauce is one of the better ones I’ve tasted, even though I don’t honestly believe in fry sauce.

The only drawback is that they are kind of pricy, comparable to Sammy’s. Not your cheapest date, but one that is still classy and quality. In spite of cost though, Nielsen’s earned themselves a spot on my coveted top 10.

Nipa Hut

Located across the street from Horkley's, near Porter Park

The Nipa Hut is something new. It's a Filipino food shack, named for the regional palm frond. The shack is brightly colored, and joy of joy! they give out free samples. I was super excited when I went over. We pretty much ordered one of everything. A popular food is their Adobo, which is a marinated meat - I believe they used chicken. It was slightly tangy, and the flavor was subtle. They also had marinated chicken, which tasted a little like teriyaki, but really good teriyaki. I mean really good. Get their marinated chicken - that's an order. And while you're at it, they have lumpia. Lumpia always makes me happy. It's like a fried spring roll, and when you get it it also comes with a sauce that is sweet, sour, and spicy rolled into one, and it's to die for. I would finish it off with a spoon. And, as a way to make the food go further, they would also include rice. Rice is always good. The service is quick, the wait is short, and if you speak Tagalog you're in good company. When it's sunny outside, you should eat something tropical-ish. Filipino food is tropical-ish. And I haven't met a single person who went to the Nipa Hut and regretted it. Could this new player make it into my top 10? They just might.

Taco Buses

As a southern Californian by birth and a world traveler by trade, I love eating things from places that seem a little bit sketchy, especially if those things happen to be Mexican food. I am also really surprised that itty bitty Rexburg boasts the same amount of taco buses as several larger cities I’ve been too. Being the purist/enthusiast that I am, I immediately hit up the three locales I could find. Rumor has it there is a forth, but it is another branch of one of the buses, so I haven’t tried too hard to find it, since I know the original all too well. I judge my Mexican restaurants by the lesser known (in this country) tacos al pastor. It’s basically marinated pork, and if it is well done, there is nothing better, and it is that standard that I have judged the buses. So, without further ado:

Tacos Iz Cali

Currently located near Broulims and Cajun Bob’s, on Main Street

This is the smallest of the Mexican buses, technically being a truck. The first time I went here, I had to wait in line behind a Mexican family. That was a huge sign of promise – surely it would be the real deal. I was super excited, and for good reason. I was feeling adventurous, so I ordered not one, but two tacos. When I got my al pastor, I excitedly bit in. Not quite the most magnificent – the pork was a little dry, but it was spicier than expected (a good thing) and definitely flavorsome. The other taco was with chunks of beef, and that my friend, is their money taco. They also do a real good chicken. Both have excellently prepared meat – rather well done, as is the Latin way (and the best way), with some cilantro and onion – nothing fancy, but it was dang good, mos def.

Taquería La Parilla

Near the Tesoro Gas Station past Wal-Mart

This is the newest taco bus establishment. True to form, I ordered my taco al pastor. While the meat was non-descript, the taco was piled on with salsa, lime, and radish. Most places just put it on the side. The prices were reasonable, the variety was plentiful (and there is a bilingual menu on the side of the window) and the food was good, just not special. The salsa was actually quite good though - a pleasant and subtle kick, with a dominant flavor. I liked it.

Tacos Tepito

Located on 2^nd E, past Papa Murphy’s, but before Wal-Mart, on that side of the road

This is the first taco bus I visited, and as such it has certain nostalgia. It probably won’t be as nostalgic for you, but that’s okay – you just want tacos. I actually haven’t had tacos here – Tepito serves a mean torta, and so that’s my usual order. I lived in Argentina a couple of years, and down there, torta translates to cake. Tacos Tepito taught me that in Mexico, and probably most Central American countries, torta means sandwich/burger. If a taco and burger had a baby, that baby would be named torta, and would probably be delicious. You’ve got to order one to understand. Their tortas are well prepared, although the meat is a tad on the dry side – just a tad. There is a certain amount of grease and juices, so it’s not the cleanest thing I’ve ever eaten, but certainly not the messiest. It is however satisfyingly filling, and worth the wait in prep time. They can also give you some salsa, but it doesn’t need anything extra – pick up a torta and just have at it.

Tacos El Rancho

located near the Round About, past Tuscany and around Frontier Pies

I saved the best for last. My most favorite taco bus, these guys lived up to the Al Pastor standard. They also serve lengua, or cow tongue, which is far more awesome than it sounds. They will serve burritos, mulitos, quesadillas, tortas, and tacos, but I always get my tacos here. It’s even a great date place since you can sit inside and enjoy Mexican soap operas, soccer games, or each other’s company while you wait. I had a date once where I ordered cow tongue in Spanish, and then shared that with her. Once she said it was good, I told her what it was. Much to my surprise, she went out with me on a second, and then some more, date(s). And she’ll probably remember me forever, once the topic of cow tongue is brought up. But that’s a rant for a different time. I’ll start with the cow tongue – they serve it chopped up into tiny, non-tongue shaped chunks, so it looks completely harmless, unless you look real close. It is prepared well done, but is still tender and juicy. Honestly it reminds me of pot roast. I ordered it once out of curiosity, and a hundred times more because it is dang good. And their pastor is fantastico. The pork is marinated, and while not saucy, it has taken on the flavors of whatever they put it in (it could possibly be a dry rub, so I won’t call it sauce). It is softly spicy, enough that your tongue just senses the bite, but it doesn’t hurt your mouth, it doesn’t bring tears, it’s near negligible. Normally I demand more of a kick, but here, it merely accents the flavor of the meat – kind of like black pepper on macaroni and cheese or something. It’s there but it doesn’t impose. The rest of the pastor is an Italian meets Mexican taco flavor. My mouth waters just writing about it. And the best thing is, your taco order comes with four tacos, and they don’t have to be the same taco, so you can mix it up. A mulito by the way (mentioned above) is a taco with another tortilla over top, like a sandwich. It’s still good. This bus is in my top 10 for sure.

Teriyaki Express

At the old Hogi Yogi, across the street from the BYUIC

The Teriyaki Express originally started as a trailer parked at Horkely’s that had a 15 minute line whenever you showed up. Now that they’ve moved to the old Hogi Yogi, the lines seem shorter, since you can sit and wait in peace. Famous for their large portions, the house special is chicken thigh and white rice, with what I believe is a homemade teriyaki sauce (but don’t quote me on that). You can spring extra for chicken breast, beef, sometimes pork, or replace the rice with vegetables, but why mess with a classic? The lovely part is that for $6 you can feed two people or yourself…twice. They advertise two days worth of food for $6, and it’s totally worth it. On dates, as long as she doesn’t think you’re cheap it’s easy to share. You can order smaller, separate containers if you want to be less awkward. Their beef is a little dry – I much prefer their chicken, which is a rarity, but these guys do a good job. One day, all the construction will finish there, and the restaurant will look more conventional, but I admire that they keep feeding us during the remodeling. Seriously my mouth waters every time I walk by. This is on my top 10 for sure, and as such I insist you check it out during your time in the ‘Burg.

Original Thai

On Main street,  a little bit closer to Broulim’s than Fongs is

I have had some good Thai food in the past, and this place ranks among my top 5 Thai Restaurants. Their green curry is excellent, and it’s the only place that can get me to knowingly eat egg plant. You can go spicy or not on most dishes, and I vote you should, but I won’t force you. I also hear good things about their pad Thai. This isn’t the kind of restaurant you go to looking for meat though – everything is dominantly vegetarian, but that’s okay. It isn’t the kind of vegetarian restaurant that makes me want to eat ribs to make a statement – it’s just the recipes don’t need a dead cow. That is the only time I’ll ever say that too. My only concern is that the portions are small and pricey. It’s not that the cost is more than any other restaurant; it’s just how little you get for the price. I believe they serve what are known as single portions, not the American portions I’m used to. However, if you’re looking for a classy and exotic date in town, this is one of the best places to take your lady friend.

College Ave. Deli

Located on College Avenue, a block from the Spori – near Sammy’s

Formerly known as the Pita Pit, College Avenue Deli came about because the Pita Pit owners wanted to branch away from the franchise. Pitas are still offered, but in the more traditional sense – not so much the wraps one might be familiar with, but more like a taco. Sandwiches and wraps are also available. The only difference between the three is your bread. Since you order your meat and then select from a list of toppings, the awesomeness of your pita/wrap/sandwich depends on how well you can balance the flavors in selecting your fillings. The variety is extensive, and the quality good, so if your sandwich is bad, it’s all you, because they do a dang good job. Remember – the key to a good sandwich is balance, and these guys have that down. And, since I am an expert in sandwiches and sandwich filling, you can have it on authority that theirs are awesome. But there are many sandwich places in town, so The Deli offers even more than you’d expect.

We’re talking hot dogs, corn dogs, and fried baskets. They have a variety of hot dogs and polish dogs, which are at half price after 10 pm for the budget conscious (second dinner anyone?). The corn dogs are technically located on the kid’s menu, but since we’re all someone’s kid, there’s no shame in that – they don’t judge. The fried baskets can be chicken strips, shrimp, or finger steaks (battered beef strips) served with fries or tater tots. They also offer fried desserts, such as deep fried Oreos, Twinkies, and cheese cake. They also have candy bars, but the Oreos are probably my favorite. If you’re young enough, eat them at least once, and apologize to your arteries later – it’s totally worth it. There is rather cheap hot chocolate available on those cold Rexburg nights (you know the ones), and on Friday nights from 10-11p, they have your coin toss option, where you can flip a coin to try and get free fried cheese cake. I won once.

To speed up the process, the menus are on sheets of laminated paper, which you mark with available markers to tell them exactly what you are ordering, with all fillings and condiments on them. It catches a few people of guard at first, but after a while, you realize it's pretty simple. While not usually my favorite date place because of how weird it feels to mark x2 on the sheets, it is one of my favorite eateries, and most definitely scores in my top 10 places to eat in town.

Sammy's Cafe

Located a block away Gringos, near the Craze Fun Center. A Landmark in itself.

I remember opening day in Fall of 2010. I stood in line for 2 hours and it was totally worth it. Mere months later, I don’t remember where we used to hang out before Sammy’s existed – it’s the most happening place in Rexburg, and you sort of have to go there at least once. The Sammy’s ambiance is part old timey soda bar, part trendy/indie hipster. There is live music every weekend, which has saved me on more than one date occasion (that is a rant for a different blog), ranging from jazz to alternative to folk music.

The thing you absolutely must try is the pie shake. Basically a piece of pie is inserted into a blender with milk and ice cream, and voila! Awesomeness. To maximize the experience, go with either pumpkin pie or coconut cream. Your shake will be like a regular shake, with chunks of pie crust augmenting the experience. If you opt for a fruit pie, it comes out to be the same as a normal fruit shake – good but not special. And you want special. They also have cupcake shakes, using the Cocoa Bean cupcakes. However, this basically results in a shake with soggy cupcakes, so go for the pie.

The burgers are excellent as well. The meat is high quality, cooked to perfection, at a slightly larger than normal proportion. There is a variety of burgers listed, with the Promo being your basic burger. I like the Big Lou (supposedly names for Lou Buhrly, an Anat/Phys teacher here) which adds pastrami, but there are many options, all pretty dang good.

They also have a unique promotion called Mustache Mondays. I sported a horrible mustache for the better part of a Monday so that I could get me a free grilled cheese sandwich there. Mostly I just wanted to say I took part in the promotion. Fake mustaches get half off – it’s a good sandwich though. Go with Swiss cheese.

The only drag is that when the place gets busy, service can reflect that – I once had my order forgotten about for over an hour. When I finally brought it to their attention, I was given free food, so I don’t harbor hard feelings, I’m just giving the warning. Sometimes it’s best to go during the non-peak hours. Overall though, it’s one of the best places to go eat, albeit a little bit pricey on my poor man budget, so I reserve it for first dates only. Good food, good music (usually), and good atmosphere – Sammy’s doesn’t even need my review to garner attention, but it’s on my top 10 anyway. It is Sammy’s after all.

B Big Bites

Located across the street from Gringos and the Paramount theatre

One of the newest establishments in Rexburg, B Big Bites is one of Rexburg’s best kept secrets, and I’m letting the cat out of the bag. Family run, it is a throwback to the old fashioned neighborhood diners, where you knew the owner, she knew you, and she cooked you what you wanted. Therein lays the charm of this place. While the specialties are Soups and Sandwiches, there is always something new, off the menu. Every Friday and Saturday there is the $5 meal special – it could be anything from lasagna to meat and potatoes, and is usually all you can eat, plus a drink. There is a large selection of sandwiches, which are actually quite good. There is a good balance of bread to meat to cheese, and etc., which is key to a fine sandwich. Their soups are also good, usually served in a bread bowl. My favorite that I’ve had there is bacon and potato, hearty and creamy, and involving bacon. The ice cream selection is slightly limited, but they have the finest vanilla I have had in town, so I don’t even care. It’s sweet and creamy like nothing you can find in stores, and I recommend it to everyone.

The owner and chef is an amiable woman named Ida. She treats all patrons as family, and has a presence that is both laid back and comfortable. She also is one of those cooks who likes to always try new things out, and is always open to suggestions of new products. If you want something different and off the menu, she’ll find a recipe for you.

Because of her openness to suggestions, there is always something new available at Big Bites. My favorite has been chocolate covered bacon (which is definitely worth trying when available), but other offers have included fried cookie dough and chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, and kiwi. There is also a constant selection of blueberry muffins and cookies as well.

The prices are well within a poor college student’s budget - $1.00 for three scoops of ice cream, $0.50 muffins, and $3.50 sandwiches, if you want to eat out for cheap, this is the place to go. And there’s something to be said for a business that offers free Easter dinner to its patrons. This ranks on my top 10 places to eat in the ‘Burg.