10 Best Massachusetts Restaurants

Massachusetts is famous for New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, and fried clams. The state's food identity is shaped by its long coastline and its history as a center for fishing and trade. What sets Massachusetts' food apart is its focus on local Atlantic seafood, particularly shellfish like clams, lobster, and oysters. New England clam chowder is a thick, cream-based soup, distinct from the tomato-based Manhattan style. The lobster roll is another key dish, served either hot with drawn butter (Connecticut-style) or cold with mayonnaise (Maine-style), with the cold version being more common in the state. The Boston cream pie, which is a cake with a custard filling and chocolate glaze, was invented at Boston's Omni Parker House hotel in 1856.

The average cost of a meal in Massachusetts at a budget restaurant is between $20 and $35 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $90 and $150. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like O Ya or The Old Inn on the Green start at $150 per person and can exceed $250, depending on the tasting menu and selections.

Massachusetts is the birthplace of Dunkin', making it the most ubiquitous and popular fast-food chain in the state. Regional favorites like Kelly's Roast Beef and national brands such as McDonald's and Starbucks also have a very strong presence. These chains are some of the most popular fast-food restaurants in the state.

• Dunkin': Founded in Quincy in 1950, this chain is a state institution, known for its coffee, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches.
• Kelly's Roast Beef: A North Shore institution famous for its roast beef sandwiches, fried clams, and lobster rolls.
• Regina Pizzeria: While a sit-down restaurant in the North End, its multiple locations with quick-service counters make it a popular choice for its classic brick-oven pizza.
• McDonald's: A leading national chain with a large footprint across the state, popular for its burgers and fries.
• Starbucks: A major competitor to Dunkin', with a large presence in cities and suburbs for coffee and light fare.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill: A popular fast-casual choice for burritos and bowls.
• Cava: A fast-growing Mediterranean fast-casual chain with numerous locations, known for its customizable grain bowls, salads, and pitas.
• Anna's Taqueria: A local Boston-area chain beloved for its large, mission-style burritos.
• Legal Sea Foods (airport locations): While primarily a full-service restaurant, its quick-service locations at Logan Airport are a popular choice for clam chowder and seafood.
• Papa Gino's: A New England-based pizza chain known for its classic American-style pizza and pasta.

The Massachusetts dining landscape, especially in Boston and its surrounding cities, is constantly evolving with new restaurant openings. Recent additions include Faccia a Faccia, a coastal Italian restaurant in Boston, and a new branch of the popular pizzeria Sally's Apizza. These new establishments bring fresh energy and concepts to the state.

• Faccia a Faccia: A new restaurant on Newbury Street in Boston serving coastal Italian cuisine with a focus on vegetables and seafood. Located at 278 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116.
• Sally's Apizza: A legendary New Haven pizzeria that recently opened its first Massachusetts location in Woburn, serving its famous thin-crust, coal-fired pizzas. Located at 298-300 Mishawum Rd Ste. 600, Woburn, MA 01801.
• Mida (Newton): A new location for the popular South End Italian restaurant, bringing its handmade pastas and Italian fare to the suburbs. Located at 261 Walnut St, Newton, MA 02460.
• Gufo: A restaurant and cafe in Cambridge that serves Italian-inspired food with a focus on pizza and small plates in a large, industrial space. Located at 660 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141.

Downtown Boston and the adjacent Back Bay and North End neighborhoods serve as the primary hub for many of Massachusetts' best restaurants, offering a high concentration of acclaimed and innovative dining. These central areas feature some of the most fun restaurants in Massachusetts. The best restaurants in this central area are listed below:

• Neptune Oyster: A small, perpetually crowded North End oyster bar famous for its lobster rolls and fresh seafood.
• Krasi: A Greek wine bar in the Back Bay offering an extensive all-Greek wine list and authentic meze.
• O Ya: An exclusive, high-end Japanese restaurant in the Leather District serving an inventive omakase tasting menu.
• La Padrona: A grand Italian restaurant in the Raffles Boston hotel, offering both a trattoria and a formal tasting menu experience.
• Sarma: Located just outside the downtown core in Somerville, this lively spot is one of the most cool restaurants in Massachusetts for its creative Turkish and Middle Eastern meze.
• Union Oyster House: One of America's oldest restaurants, located near Faneuil Hall, serving classic New England seafood.

Yes, there are lunch spots in Massachusetts worth trying, including Boston's Neptune Oyster, the local chain Anna's Taqueria, and Flour Bakery + Cafe. Neptune Oyster in the North End is a destination for its acclaimed lobster rolls and raw bar, though it requires waiting in line. Anna's Taqueria, with multiple locations, is a go-to for quick, large, and customizable Mission-style burritos. Flour Bakery + Cafe, founded by Joanne Chang, is a beloved local institution offering a menu of expertly made sandwiches, salads, and high-quality pastries and baked goods.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in Massachusetts, such as the Greek restaurant Krasi in Boston, the fine-dining establishment The Old Inn on the Green in the Berkshires, and the Portuguese-inspired Baleia in the South End. Krasi offers a lively, upscale-casual dinner of shared Greek meze and a deep selection of Greek wines. The Old Inn on the Green provides a unique fine-dining experience with its seasonal tasting menus served in a historic inn lit only by candlelight. For a more contemporary dinner, Baleia serves coastal Iberian cuisine with a focus on wood-grilled seafood in a stylish, modern setting.

Massachusetts has vegan restaurants like PlantPub, Veggie Galaxy, and My Sister's Crawfish. PlantPub, with locations in Boston and Cambridge, offers a menu of 100% plant-based pub food, including pizzas, burgers, and appetizers, created in collaboration with chef Matthew Kenney. Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge is a vegetarian diner with a completely vegan bakery, serving classic diner fare like pancakes, burgers, and frappes, with vegan options for every item. My Sister's Crawfish in Boston's Allston neighborhood serves a menu of plant-based Cajun-style seafood boils, using ingredients like konjac to mimic shrimp and crawfish. For Allston serves vegan Asian street food, and Grasshopper Restaurant is another long-standing Allston establishment offering a pan-Asian vegetarian menu that is almost entirely vegan.

Restaurants in Massachusetts that serve gluten-free food include dedicated bakeries like Jennifer Lee's and restaurants with extensive gluten-free protocols such as Legal Sea Foods. Jennifer Lee's, located in the Boston Public Market, is a 100% gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free bakery. Legal Sea Foods, a regional chain, is known for its thorough allergy protocols and offers a dedicated gluten-free menu with items like baked scrod and gluten-free fried seafood. Picco in Boston's South End is an Italian-American restaurant that offers a well-regarded gluten-free pizza crust. Many fine-dining establishments, including The Old Inn on the Green, can accommodate gluten-free requests with advance notice.

Massachusetts's most famous cuisines are New England Seafood and Italian-American. The state's culinary identity is deeply connected to its Atlantic coastline and its history of immigration. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Massachusetts.

• New England Seafood: This is the cornerstone of the state's cuisine. It is defined by local ingredients like lobster (served in rolls or boiled), clams (fried, steamed, or in chowder), cod (baked or fried), and oysters from Cape Cod and the North Shore.
• Italian-American: Boston's North End is one of the country's most famous Italian-American neighborhoods. The cuisine is known for its "red sauce" pasta dishes, thin-crust pizza from historic pizzerias, and classic pastries like cannoli and tiramisu.
• Portuguese: Southeastern Massachusetts, particularly cities like New Bedford and Fall River, has a large Portuguese-American population. This has made dishes like linguiça (a smoked pork sausage), kale soup, and marinated pork sandwiches (cacoila) local staples.
• Irish-American: Boston's strong Irish heritage is reflected in its pub culture. While many pubs serve modern American food, traditional dishes like corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie are common.
• Modern American: The state has a strong contingent of chef-driven restaurants that focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from New England farms. This approach is prevalent in Boston's South End and in fine-dining establishments across the state.
• Greek: The influence of Greek immigrants is seen in neighborhoods across the state. The cuisine is highlighted by restaurants specializing in meze (small plates), grilled meats, and an increasing focus on regional Greek wines.