Sal's Howdaj — Restaurant in Garden City

My girlfriend and I were visiting Boise last weekend (a favorite quick trip from our hometown of Salt Lake) and, after a hot day of playing in the refreshingly cool Boise River, were hungry for a hearty meal that we could take back to our campsite near the Greenbelt. We’d had takeout Thai our first night, Korean fusion at a greenbelt spot the second, and not being strangers to good Middle Eastern cuisine, knew that something along THAT line could fit the bill for satisfaction. Hitting the web, I was happy to find countless highly-rated options, but many things about the Sal’s Howdaj result really appealed to me: its five-star rating for a fair number of reviews, its appetizing-looking menu, its nearness to our campsite, and, well, the interesting name of the place—“What the heck’s a howdaj?” I wondered. We hit the road.

Our first stop en route was Bert’s Brewing for a few local cold ones—the waiter at the greenbelt’s Korean fusion Bao Boi joint the night before had said that, right now, Bert’s seemed to be at the top of the local brewery game, and we weren’t disappointed (their Mexican lager was especially fine for that hot afternoon). Initially, I had a hard time spotting Sal’s Howdaj, was watching for a brick and mortar with roadside signage, but then my girlfriend pointed out that they’d been right there all along—a wide, red food truck paralleling Glenwood Street, in the parking lot of a big, old western bar (gotta love our American melting pot 😉).

Sal Senior was quick to take our order—the mixed meat plate, the falafel dish, and chickpea salad. It was surely much more than we needed at the time, but we were hungry and wanted to try all the things. Besides, Middle Eastern leftovers NEVER go to waste. Sal Junior showed up a few minutes later with some needed supplies for the truck, energetically confirmed our order, and dove right in to help his dad in the making. Everything was deeelicious: the mixed meats; the rice; those deepfried falafel “donuts” (yum!); the flatbread, hummus, and unique sauces; and the chickpea salad—delicious hot from the truck and warmed up again a few days later, back in Salt Lake. Sal Junior was super polite and friendly—it was a pleasure chatting with him for a few while paying up and grabbing our goods.

Try Sal’s Howdaj—I’m certain you won’t be disappointed and will likely go back and back and back...

I can't imagine a better experience! Young Sal himself waited on us, and he was extremely friendly and helpful, with an ever-present, huge smile. :) Don't miss this restaurant by driving by as it is the back half of a building with a car dealership up front on Fairview Avenue. Actually, it is hard to miss with the bright green siding and red roof. Be sure to park only in the designated restaurant spaces. The interior was quite well decorated, clean and organized. The art, videos and music all are appropriately matched to the cuisine, as well. I doubt that you could go wrong with anything on the menu as all of our choices were outstanding. Everything is freshly homemade, or I should say store-made. They welcome you in with a generous bowl of lentil soup (free) that is extremely delicious and definitely teases the appetite. The touch of sumac on the hot french fries was a huge hit! Several sauces accompany every dish. Be sure to try their tahini (sesame butter, light & loose) as well as their garlic sauce. If you are feeling adventurous, definitely go for the amba or hot sauce. See something that you have never heard of before? Go for it! You will not be disappointed. If you are seeking a genuine Middle Eastern-Iraqi experience with great fresh made food in a friendly, clean restaurant, then you have found your five-star location. This is the type of small business that you do...

The wife and I just hit Sal's in July 2025. We got there about 45 minutes before they closed. Sal was there working with his dad and they are just the nicest guys, Service gets 5 stars. The wife and I both ordered his #3 meal which is half chicken and half beef. It's a lot of food for the money and was really good! Their humus was silky smooth and had the taste if fresh chickpeas. Their bread (which they make themselves) was also fresh, stretchy, and cooked perfectly. The salad had plenty of dressing and the pickled veggies were nuts good. The wife and I WILL be going back, not just becuase the food was good but because Sal was such a great dude! See...