East Idaho Eats: Diablas Kitchen offers ‘clean comfort food’

IDAHO FALLS — Diablas Kitchen in Idaho Falls shows that healthy dishes can be tasty too.

“We call our food ‘clean comfort food,’ so everything is fresh and homemade, and it’s the things that you really want as a comfort, but it’s made in a more healthy way,” said Deana Brower, owner and chef at Diablas Kitchen.

The kitchen is open, which means customers can watch as Brower prepares their food.

Brower said nothing in Diablas Kitchen is fried.

“It’s always healthy, good ingredients — that’s why we come here mostly because you can see what you’re eating,” customer Kris Taylor said.

Brower said she does everything possible to keep all of her ingredients organic, fresh and bought locally.

“I have a little flat electric griddle and an oven. I make rice in the oven. I’ve pretty much figured out how to do everything in an oven,” Brower said.

Brower changes the Diablas menu every week and keeps a quiche along with one or two other customer favorites on at a time.

“The hot Thai salad (is) so good. It’s my favorite. All the soups are good. We love brunch on Sundays. Our kids love it here,” Kris Taylor’s wife, Tasha, said.

Brower said a favorite that’s been on the menu for more than a month is the brunch nachos. It’s fresh baked nacho chips smothered in spinach, cheese, a homemade apricot habanero sauce and other fresh ingredients.

She said customers are also welcome to go with the “Something Tasty” menu option. That’s a mystery dish Brower decides to make for you.

“I do a lot of research. I read a lot. I try new things. I’m very visually inspired. When I see something in a story that I find interesting or pretty, that will sometimes be the start of a recipe,” Brower said.

Brower said she is very conscious of what customers can or can’t eat, and is willing to cook around food allergies or intolerances. She’s said she’s committed to making everyone’s eating-out experience enjoyable.

“I just want to bring some food awareness just in the sense that there’s a lot out there to explore and try, especially when it comes to flavor profiles,” Brower said.

Diablas Kitchen specializes in brunch and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. On Friday nights Diablas hosts themed dinners with a beer or wine pairing at 6:30 p.m. that are reservation only. It’s location is on 368 A Street in Idaho Falls. Check the restaurant out on Facebook or at DiablasKitchen.com.