Boise
Hip, Close-in Urban Haven for Foodies and Bike Commuters.
Median Household Income
$84,055
Median Home Value
$635,000
Average Rent
$1,593
Walk Score
93
About Boise
Sometimes referred to as “Boise-Eliot,” this close-in North Portland neighborhood is a foodie wonderland and a bike commuter’s dream. Over the last 20 years, redevelopment has transformed the neighborhood’s two commercial districts—Williams Avenue and Mississippi Avenue—into hip, walkable corridors featuring some of the best restaurants in town.
Along Williams Avenue at Eem, you’ll find an inspired mashup of Thai and barbeque from chef Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom, who was named a 2022 James Beard finalist for best restauranteur. A few doors down, Kayo’s Ramen Bar serves up steaming bowls of ramen with complex but delicate broths. EaT: an Oyster Bar features a lively New Orleans-style Sunday jazz brunch with classic Cajun dishes and cocktails. And at XLB, the restaurant’s namesake Xiao Long Bao are the best steamed dumplings you’ll find anywhere. No less than 30 bars, restaurants, and coffee shops are packed along a 10-block stretch with bike commuters zipping by on their way from downtown.
Just a half mile to the east, the Mississippi Historic District is home to an equally dizzying number of restaurants. You’ll find wood-fired pizzas at Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty, hearty made-from-scratch breakfasts at Gravy, and lines out the door for ¿Por Que No? Taqueria. The family-friendly Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge serves up hot slices along with live music, bingo nights, and spelling bees. Other live music venues, recording studios, unique shops, and cool finds like The ReBuilding Center and Pistils Nursery round out the offerings. Even laundry gets upgrade at Spin Laundry Lounge, where you can wash down snacks with a frothy pint while waiting for the spin cycle.
The neighborhood’s redevelopment has given rise to countless new apartment buildings along Williams and Mississippi Avenues. But the residential streets between the two commercial districts are lined with a mix of charming old Portland architectural styles and a smattering of small ranches and modern in-fills. Ample bike routes and public transportation via Trimet buses and the yellow line light rail make getting into downtown or anywhere else in the city a breeze.
