Do you feel like you’re missing out on Boston’s finest cuisine? Boston has a wide variety of delicious cuisines that you should try if you haven’t already. Beantown specialties include clam chowder and baked beans. Boston’s picturesque waterfront location makes it a mecca for seafood and the hearty dishes that feature it.
Cannoli, however, are also extremely popular among Boston locals. Any real Bostonian will tell you that the best cannoli in town are sold by two long-time rivals, and your entire identity will revolve around which one you choose. It’s also unlikely that you’ll run into a local who hasn’t enjoyed a world-famous hotdog at Fenway Park while sitting in the shade of their Red Sox cap.
Boston is home to a wide variety of cuisines, and we’ve compiled a list of the best places to eat everything from jumbo lobster rolls to bacon peanut butter bagels. Experience Iconic Boston Cuisine There is no shortage of delicious options in Boston, which is great, but it can make it difficult to zero in on the top eateries in the city. If you only have a short amount of time in a new place, you should not squander any of it researching which restaurants serve the best food.
The solution is to take a food tour of Boston and talk to a foodie there. Your guides on these tours are natives who live and work in the area, so they know all the best spots to get delicious food. If you fall in love with local food in Boston and want to learn how to make it at home, there are plenty of cooking classes available.
Woodman’s of Essex’s Fried Clam Platter
A pot of chowder isn’t the only place to put a boatload of raw clams. In the summertime, fried clams are another one of Boston’s classic dishes. Locals and visitors alike can be found at Woodman’s of Essex, happily squeezing lemons over golden, crispy fried clam platters.
Woodman’s, which first opened in 1914, is another of Boston’s historic restaurants serving up dishes steeped in family history. The “Chubby’s Original” fried clam platter at Woodman’s is excellent because it comes with the golden French fries and onion ring that you wish came with all fried clams elsewhere.
Location: 119 Main Street, Route 133, Essex, MA 01929 Price: $$ Woodman’s of Essex
Union Oyster House’s Clam Chowder
It doesn’t take a Boston insider to tell you that clam chowder (actually pronounced chowdah) is one of the city’s most infamous dishes. Despite its reputation as a New England delicacy, the finest examples can be found in Boston. The abundance of fresh, succulent clams in the surrounding waters has made clam chowder a popular dish, and as a result, there are plenty of restaurants where you can get a satisfying bowl.
Therefore, choosing just one chowder as the best is challenging, but Union Oyster House’s version consistently ranks high on everyone’s list of favorites. Since it dates back to the 1850s, you know the chefs behind it know what they’re doing. Steaming bowls of traditional clam chowder, with chunks of fresh, juicy clam swimming in a creamy, salty broth, are served at Union Oyster House.
Boston, Massachusetts | $$ Union Oyster House | 41 Union St.
Beantown Pub’s Boston Baked Beans
When in Beantown, you must sample some of the locally baked beans. Boston baked beans have been around since colonial times and have left an indelible cultural mark on the city. While we wouldn’t go so far as to call baked beans Boston’s most exquisite dish, they are a local staple that never fails to satisfy.
And you can find them all over the city. But the Beantown Pub is the best place to get baked beans. You can count on a mountain of brown bread and a side of sweet baked beans.
Boston, Massachusetts 2108 (Dollars) | Beantown Pub, 100 Tremont Street
Neptune Oyster’s Famous Clambake
Extra clams! But this time we’re going to add lobster. In New England cities like Boston, a clambake is a staple dish, and at Neptune Oyster, your jaw will drop when you taste their version. Neptune Oyster’s N.O.B. Clambake is a vibrant mix of fresh Maine lobster, clams, sweet corn, and chorizo for an extra kick of flavor.
Location: 63 Salem Street, Boston, MA 02113 Cost: $$$ Neptune Oyster
Omni Parker House’s Boston Cream Pie
What a great way to round out a romantic evening in Boston with one of the city’s famous dishes. Boston cream pie, as the name suggests, is a classic American dessert with roots in this culturally diverse metropolis. Some say it was created in the early 1900s at what was then Parker’s Restaurant, now the Omni Parker House Hotel. Boston cream pie is made of a simple yellow cake soaked in custard and covered in chocolate icing. You can’t leave Boston without getting a fresh slice of Boston cream pie from the Omni Parker House. It’s a party honoring Boston’s past and, of course, its finest cuisine.
Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Parker’s Restaurant | 60 School St. | $$
Cannoli from Mike’s Pastry
A cannoli from Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry is the one thing you must eat while in Boston. Longtime Bostonians have been debating between these two bakeries over who makes the city’s best cannoli. The vote has always been very close, but most locals agree that the overstuffed cannoli at Mike’s Pastry win the day.
You can get more than just chocolate chip cannolis at Mike’s Pastry. Oreo, pistachio, and limoncello are just some of the flavors available. Everyone from Boston natives to out-of-town visitors agrees that no trip to the city is complete without a stop at Mike’s Pastry (and a wait on the Internet).
Pastry Shop “Mike’s” | 300 Hanover St. | Boston, MA 02113 | $$
James Hook & Co.’s Lobster Roll
One of the best cities for food in the United States also has lobster rolls that you simply must try. Probably on almost every street in Boston, you can find a lobster roll that will blow your mind. It’s one of those uniquely delicious Boston specialties.
If you’re going to get a lobster roll, you might as well get it from the place where the dish was first served in Boston. James Hook & Co., a waterfront shack popular since 1925, is known for its abundance of dishes featuring fresh Maine lobster. Lobster rolls can be had either warm with butter or cold with mayonnaise. In either case, you can expect a massive sandwich stuffed to the gills with huge chunks of delicious lobster meat.
As was previously mentioned, Boston is home to many excellent restaurants serving lobster rolls. Neptune Oyster’s lobster rolls are also worth a mention for their exceptional quality.
440 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210 $$ James Hook & Co.
Yankee Lobster’s Lobster Mac and Cheese
Lobster can also be enjoyed with other types of carbohydrates, not just a doughy roll. A bowl of lobster-stuffed mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food indulgence. Most places that offer lobster rolls will also have lobster mac and cheese on the menu, though the recipes may vary slightly.
Yankee Lobster has some of the best lobster mac in Boston, among other crave-able dishes. The lobster mac and cheese has a white cheddar and Parmesan cheese base, juicy roasted tomatoes, and plenty of lobster meat. Crunchy breadcrumbs add a golden, scrumptious finish to the dish.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States: $$
Kelly’s Roast Beef Sandwich
There are many delicious sandwich options in Boston, not just lobster rolls. The North Shore of Boston, however, is where roast beef sandwiches truly shine. Kelly’s Roast Beef is the best place in Boston to get a traditional roast beef sandwich. Thin slices of roast beef and horseradish are the two main components of a classic roast beef sandwich. Every restaurant, however, has its own special way of preparing sandwiches.
However, Kelly’s Roast Beef’s roast beef sandwich very well may be the one that started it all. Arby’s, the major fast food chain that specializes in roast beef sandwiches, has been accused of taking design cues from Kelly’s. Kelly’s serves up sandwiches with medium-rare roast beef, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, barbeque sauce, and mayonnaise atop a soft roll.
Several Locations | Expensive Beef | Kelly’s
Toscanini’s Frappuccino
You probably want something sweet after reading about all these savory dishes. The frappe is a popular beverage and one of Boston’s most infamous dishes. A frappe is similar to a milkshake, but with ice cream instead of milk. It’s one of the classic summertime treats from the Boston area.
There are a lot of places to get a frappe in Boston, but the Boston Burger Company has the city’s largest selection of “freak frappes,” or frappes with unusual ingredients and combinations. However, Toscanini’s is a classic restaurant where you can’t go wrong. The frappes here are thick, creamy, and incredibly tasty.
Union Oyster House’s Famous Oysters
Boston is in a prime location for harvesting not only clams and lobsters, but also fresh oysters. Many area eateries feature these decadent shellfish on their menus, just like lobster and clams. At Union Oyster House, however, one of Boston’s oldest restaurants, patrons have been enjoying freshly shucked oysters for almost 200 years, and for good reason: they are juicy and salty, just as they should be.
Boston, Massachusetts | $$ Union Oyster House | 41 Union St.
Fenway Frank
You can’t call yourself a true Bostonian until you’ve seen a game at Fenway Park and devoured a Fenway Frank. If Boston had a mascot, it would be a Fenway Frank. This is not your average hot dog. The Fenway Frank is a boiled and grilled hotdog that is then placed in a fluffy open-top roll and slathered with yellow mustard for the ultimate juiciness and flavor. They are equally appropriate for consumption following a Red Sox victory or a crushing defeat.
Four Jersey Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Dollars Fenway Park
Union Square Donuts’ Maple Bacon Doughnut
Furthermore, union Square Donuts is a must-visit if you’re looking for a delicious sweet treat in Boston. The doughnut selection at this hip cafe is out of this world. Rocky road, pia colada, baklava, sea salt whisky caramel, and Boston cream are just a few of the mouthwatering options on the menu. The Vermont maple syrup and thick-cut bacon in the maple bacon doughnut make for an irresistible flavor combination.
Multiple Locations | $$ | Union Square Donuts
Yankee Lobster’s Fish and Chips
A heaping plate of greasy fish and chips is a staple of the city’s maritime history. Whitefish (typically cod) is deep-fried in a thick batter and served with fried potato wedges in the dish known as “fish and chips.” Fish and chips are popular citywide, but they are especially popular at Yankee Lobster.
The longevity and popularity of Yankee Lobster attest to the fact that the staff there is well-versed in the art of seafood preparation. People have been coming here for decades for the perfectly crispy and juicy fried fish and the salty, golden chips.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States: $$
Bagelsaurus’s T-Rex Sandwich on a Bagel
It goes without saying that New York and New Jersey bagels are superior to Boston’s. Bagelsaurus, on the other hand, has a line out the door because they serve some of the best bagels in Boston, including the T-Rex bagel, which has long been a fan favorite.
The T-Rex bagel has smoky bacon, honey, banana slices, and almond butter inside it. A tasty morsel that can serve as either a starter or a finisher to your meal.
Inexpensive Bagels from Bagelsaurus | 1796 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
Regina Pizzeria’s Giambotta Pizza
Despite their heated rivalry on the baseball diamond, Boston and New York generally agreed to have equally excellent pizza. Despite the fact that pizza may not be the most well-known Boston dish, you can find excellent pies in the city, particularly in Little Italy.
Regina Pizzeria may be a chain, but its North End location has history, tradition, and excellent brick-oven pizza. Locals recommend the Giambotta, which is loaded with meats and vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, and salami and comes in a massive slice.