Downtown Boise has a pizza problem, and by problem, we mean an obsession with The Wylder’s sourdough crust that customers can’t stop raving about. 🍕
Since opening in 2017, this craft pizza restaurant has transformed into a Boise institution, earning legions of devoted fans who line up outside the door on weekends.
Owners Lizzy and David Rex built their reputation on slow-batch pizza made with a 53-year-old sourdough starter, proving that patience and quality ingredients create magic.
With inventive topping combinations, craft cocktails featuring hilariously clever names, and an atmosphere that welcomes everyone from date-nighters to families, The Wylder has redefined what Boise Idaho pizza can be.
How The Wylder Won Boise’s Hearts
The Wylder’s meteoric rise to becoming one of Boise’s most beloved restaurants stems from their unwavering dedication to exceptional dough—customers consistently identify the perfectly cooked, flavorful sourdough crust as the reason these pizzas taste so addictive.
The Rex family didn’t just open another pizza joint. They created a dining experience that celebrates local ingredients, creative flavor profiles, and genuine hospitality that makes first-timers feel like regulars. 🎯
Their strategic decision to focus on hand-crafted, slow-batch pizza using that legendary 53-year-old sourdough starter immediately differentiated them from competitors churning out generic pies.
The restaurant’s commitment to family-style dining, where tables share multiple pizzas and salads, encourages exploration of its diverse menu, creating memorable communal experiences. 🍷
What truly captured local hearts was The Wylder’s ability to balance sophistication with approachability—they serve craft cocktails with names like “Blackberry, Beets, Battlestar Galactica” while providing Wikki Stix for kids to play with during waits.
Their menu strategy of offering both red pizzas (made with Bianco DiNapoli organic tomatoes) and white pizzas (featuring parmesan cream sauce) gives customers endless combinations to explore across visits.
The option to split pizzas in half allows diners to sample four different flavor combinations in one meal, a policy that multiple reviewers cite as enhancing their experience. 📸
The addition of creative seasonal vegetables prepared in inventive ways—like roasted radishes on hummus or crispy acorn squash on goat cheese—demonstrates their commitment to showcasing local produce beyond just pizza toppings.
By expanding their concept to include Certified Kitchen and Bakery in 2019, the Rex family proved they could scale their quality standards, solidifying their status as major players in Boise’s restaurant scene. ⭐
Food Highlights
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Honey Badger Pizza: The most popular white pizza featuring Italian sausage, ricotta, caramelized onion, and spicy honey that creates a perfectly balanced flavor profile. 🍯
- Mushroom Pizza: This earthy creation celebrates market mushrooms in pizza form, appealing to vegetarians and mushroom lovers seeking umami-rich flavors showcased on their famous sourdough crust.
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Crispy Pepperoni Pizza: This deceptively simple creation featuring red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan has customers declaring it “maybe the best pizza we’ve had in Boise” and claiming it makes every other pepperoni pizza look absolutely pathetic by comparison. 🔥
- The Bronco: Customers consistently rank this pizza as their second favorite after the Gem State of Mind, earning specific praise for being worth trying when taking advantage of the half-and-half pizza splitting option that lets diners explore multiple flavor profiles.
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Hula School Pizza: The restaurant’s Hawaiian-style offering features candied bacon, pickled jalapeños, and charred pineapple—these little details transform the controversial pineapple pizza into something extraordinary that changes everything about this classic style 🍍
- Yaya’s House Pizza: A delicious combination featuring sausage and mushroom with the perfect chewy crust that exemplifies The Wylder’s ability to execute crowd-pleasing combinations with their exceptional sourdough base.
- Italian Sausage Pizza: Features the restaurant’s house-made Italian sausage that appears across multiple menu items, earning consistent praise for its quality and flavor that enhances every pizza it tops
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Farm Girl Pizza: A vegetable-forward option that demonstrates The Wylder’s commitment to seasonal produce and creative combinations that make vegetables the star attraction rather than an afterthought 🥕
- Gem State of Mind: This genius Idaho tribute pizza showcases fingerling potato, caramelized onions, rosemary, and sage—multiple reviewers call it “so.dang.good” and the standout pizza at their table, celebrating Idaho’s famous spuds in pizza form that Reader’s Digest named the best pizza in Idaho.
- Citrus Harissa Wings: These flavor-bomb appetizers deliver sour and spicy notes that really hit, according to recent reviews, proving The Wylder’s creativity extends beyond pizza to outstanding starters worth ordering
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Wylder Chopped Salad: Featuring provolone, salami, crispy chickpeas (a clever crouton stand-in), and oregano vinaigrette—easily feeds three people and arrives noticeably fresh according to detailed customer account
Atmosphere
Located at 501 W Broad Street in downtown Boise, The Wylder creates a trendy yet casual environment that successfully balances sophistication with family-friendly warmth.
The restaurant features a dog-friendly patio perfect for Boise’s outdoor dining culture, while the indoor space maintains moderate noise levels despite getting super packed during weekend dinner rushes.
The full bar serves craft cocktails with hilariously clever names, local wines, and draft beers, while street parking and private lot options make access convenient despite the downtown location. 🍸
Bottom Line
Experience legendary sourdough pizza made with a 53-year-old starter that customers claim rivals anything in Italy.
Try the signature Honey Badger white pizza with Italian sausage, caramelized onions, ricotta, and spicy honey—it’s their most popular for good reason.
Explore Idaho’s famous potatoes in pizza form with the Gem State of Mind, which Reader’s Digest named the best pizza in Idaho.
Support locally-owned Boise, Idaho restaurants run by passionate entrepreneurs who’ve earned lines out the door through consistent excellence. ✨
Address:
501 W Broad St, Boise, ID 83702
📞 (208) 209-3837
🕐 Open Mon-Thu, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Fri-Sat, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sun, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM