Awesome Oven BBQ Pork Ribs

05 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, BBQ Pork, bbq ribs, BBQ Rubs, Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Buy Idaho, Buy Local, Chef Lou, Classic Cuisines, Cooking Styles, Dinner With Family, Local Farmers Markets, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipe By: Chef Lou, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes - Salad, Salad, Spices, Westside Drive-In, What's For Dinner?

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bbq ribs, food, herbs and spices, Potato Salad

Ok. Finally got my computer running correctly after 12 hours of working on it. I know, take it to a shop next time! And miss all the fun?

But now, the real purpose of this post – Oven BBQ Pork Ribs. You can use any ribs you prefer, but we like pork and St Lewis Style at that. Easy to do but takes time,4 hours or so.

These are right out of the oven. Notice the crispness of the outer surface. The broiler did this. The recipe –https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Pork-Ribs-2.pdf And then we served Potato Salad (https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Lou-Potato-Salad.pdf) The recipe comes from Chef Lou Arron of Westside Drive-In on State Street, Boise, ID. The only problem is that he no longer offers this on the menu. He was kind enough to give it to me and it is very similar to my Mom’s. I use it with permission from the Chef. Thank you Chef Lou!! I have added fresh Lovage to the salad to increase the celery flavor just a small amount, abt 2T of fresh, diced. I grow my own and it is easy to grow, even here in Idaho. It is a Scandinavian herb of the celery family.

“… Lou moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1981 and worked for Hilton Hotels until 1983. In 1983, he opened The Top of the Hoff restaurant in Boise, Idaho. From 1986-1988, Lou worked for Hilton Corporation in San Antonio, Texas, where he was featured in the national television series “Great Chef’s of the West” along with the companion cookbook, “Southwest Tastes”. Lou has won numerous awards for his food presentations and recipes. “He has been a contestant on “Guy’s Grocery Games”(although he didn’t fare very well!)” Westside Drive-In website

3 of the herbs I used with the ribs.

**plated ribs with potato salad and fresh peach sections**

Westside Drive-In Opens Additional Location

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Sandwiches, Special Events, Special Information, Westside Drive-In, What's For Dinner?

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Yes. It is true! Chef Lou has opened a second location for the Westside Drive-In. And it is definitely a 5-Star location, just as the original location is. The new drive-in is located at 1113 Parkcenter Blvd, Boise (208) 424-0000 whereas the original drive-in is located at 1939 W State street, Boise (208) 342-2957. Chef Lou still has the same website at Chef Lou. The food is delicious and one can tell that his staff takes great care in producing a good product. Will we be back? Probably.

Here is page one of the Westside Drive-In Menu. Left-Click to see a larger view.

Here is Page Two of the menu.

Page 3

Page 4.
Look at the daily specials. Are you a Senior Citizen – or as my Mom said, “A Seasoned Citizen” – then you get a 10% discount every day! Want a recommendation? Don’t miss the Prime Rib! It is awesome.

Hard to pass this photo up! It says it all.

The interior. The Parkcenter location has indoor seating, something the State Street location does not have, although State Street has a heated outdoor dining area. Look at the smile on the young lady at the cash register. Everyone was smiling. So pleasant to see that!

I had the Fried Egg Burger and Fries and Robin had the BLT. Loved the mustard, or “special” sauce on mine, that had a hint of turmeric. It was delish!

Robin and I waited for you, but food this good just will not last long. There is a little lettuce left and some fry sauce (an Idaho thing). Maybe next time. Cheers!

"Westside Drive-In", Boise, Goes National!

06 Sunday Feb 2011

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Special Information, Things To Do, Westside Drive-In, What's For Dinner?

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The Westside Drive-In on W State Street in Boise is going national! (The marquee is correct … the Foodnetwork ad is old.) Tonight on KTVB-TV, they had a segment on the drive-in and Chef Lou Aaron. (I worked 3 seasons for him in his catering section.) Here is that segment and here is a link to The Video of Westside Drive-In. It’s just down the alley from us! Close.

Local chef featured in national business magazine

by KTVB
KTVB.COM
Posted on February 5, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Updated today at 5:23 PM

BOISE — Chef Lou Aaron, owner of Westside Drive-in in Boise is on the cover of the latest My Business magazine – a magazine that reaches almost a half-million small business owners across America.
Aaron was a part of a larger story that addresses how small business owners use technology in their businesses.
“I’ve tapped into Facebook, and the Blackberry Apps, and the iPhone Apps, or I could send a text to somebody and say hey, ‘Come down to Westside right now and get two bucks off this,'” Aaron said. “And we’re just beginning to experiment with that, and it’s working.”
Aaron said he didn’t expect to be on the cover, but that it is an honor to bring the extra attention to Boise, especially in a time when many small businesses are struggling.
My Business magazine, which is the publication for the National Federation of Independent Business, only goes out to NFIB members.

The article listed by KTVB about Chef Lou in My Business Magazine, is listed here.

NFIB member company Chef Lou’s Westside Drive-In, a 1950s-style drive-thru restaurant in Boise, Idaho, started selling frozen dinners and restaurant souvenirs online about 10 years ago. While online sales only account for about 2 percent of the company’s $1.2 million in annual sales, owner and founder Lou Aaron sees big potential for expanding his operation online—particularly because social media tools make it easier than ever to spread the word about his site. The diner manages a Facebook page, uses mobile marketing to text coupons to customers’ mobile phones, and emails website promotions to a growing list of customers.
It takes an offline effort, too, to drive ecommerce sales. Each order at Aaron’s restaurant comes with a small card informing customers that they can purchase frozen dinners and other souvenirs online, and Aaron makes sure all print, radio and TV ads mention his Web address, ChefLou.com. He hosts a Saturday morning cooking show on his local NBC affiliate and mentions his Web address so that viewers will check it out.
Aaron plans to soon sell spices and pre-made sauces online and says he will try to get local media coverage to drum up interest. “Everybody goes online now” to shop, he says. “We need to be there, too.”

Our congratulations to Chef Lou, the Westside Drive-In and the staff that serves us so well. Cheers and hope to see you here sometime.