Caleb Padgett has been a part of the Ling & Louie’s family for more than a decade. He got his start as a server over 14 years ago when the first Idaho location opened in Meridian. Padgett—who was living with his brother and working on cars at the time—was looking for a change. “My brother came home one night talking about how awesome his job is and about how much money he was making,” Padgett shared. “So I asked him if he could get me a job there too. I started at Ling & Louie’s just two weeks later. I soon became a bartender and within roughly two years I became the general manager of the Meridian location.” Not long after, Padgett bought out a few of the investors and became an owner of the Meridian location.
Ling & Louie’s was originally founded by Randy Schoch, who opened the first location in Scottsdale, Arizona. Just a few short years later, Schoch’s long-time friend and business partner—Rex Chandler—brought the concept to Meridian, Idaho, where it has become a staple along the bustling corridor of Eagle Road ever since.
Ling & Louie’s has since expanded again in the Gem State. In 2023, Chandler partnered with the Riverside Hotel Hospitality Group to renovate the massive Chart House property in Garden City. This stunning property—the former home of Joe’s Crab Shack and the 1976 restaurant The Chart House—rests by the riverside, winding around the Boise Greenbelt. The vast patio boasts over 100 seats and waterfront views, where you can sip cocktails and enjoy delicious food inspired by Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and American cuisine.
And although he enjoys many of the Ling & Louie’s dishes, Padgett’s all-time top favorite dish on the menu is the Evil Jungle Princess. “It’s an Asian-inspired peanut red curry, coconut cream dish known as panang. Plus, the name always makes me smile,” he said.
“The executive chef, Greg Smith, has been the creative mind behind Ling & Louie’s since its inception,” explained Padgett. “Greg works to challenge the norm of traditional Asian restaurants by introducing bold ingredients and flavors that aren’t typically seen or used in Asian cuisine.” Like Ling’s Meatloaf, with szechwan-style vegetables, wasabi-mashed potatoes, and red wine-mushroom gravy. Or the brunch special Mu Shu Chicken Tacos with chicken, Asian slaw, hoisin, roasted potatoes, and egg.
Ling & Louie’s is committed to quality—from the dishes they serve to the ambiance they create, they strive to provide more than just a dining experience. And who doesn’t love top-notch service coupled with a vast and unique menu? Combine that all with a spring-time cocktail on a patio nestled by the river—yes, please!
