Bostonians aren’t big on bragging (unless they’re talking about their sports teams) which might be the reason most people don’t realize that they have one of the best dining scenes in the country. As a local, you can skip the touristy route because life’s too short to only eat at Legal Seafood and Regina Pizzeria. Here’s our 10 favorite can’t-miss spots in Boston.
Saltie Girl
You can’t live in New England and not savor every opportunity to eat fresh seafood, and there’s no place better to do it than the intimate, nautically-themed Saltie Girl. Their original location in Back Bay is putting out some of the most delicious seafood anywhere, and their new Time Out Market outpost features a smaller, but just as tasty, menu. Head to the Back Bay location for fried lobster and waffles with sweet corn butter and spicy maple syrup or the Saltie Girl Burger topped with fried lobster and house-cured pork belly. At the Market location, try the Whitefish Katsu Sando or Signature Tinned Fish Platter.
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Address: 279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
Mei Mei
What started out as a food truck and has since grown into one of Boston’s most beloved, casual eateries. The creative Chinese-American menu changes with the seasons, but you can always rely on their lemongrass pork dumplings and sweet corn fritters. What you really want are their scallion pancake sandwiches, though. Crispy, scallion pancakes are filled with anything from beet salad to pulled pork, then folded over. It’s one of the most unique—and addictive—sandwiches you’ll ever have. Check this place out the next time you want something to coat your stomach before the Sox game. You can get a Fenway Frank next time.
Neighborhood: Fenway-Kenmore
Address: 506 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215
R.F. O’Sullivan
Nowhere on this list feels more Boston than R.F. O’Sullivan, tucked away in a quiet part of Lynn. It’s vaguely Irish, dimly lit, and full of locals looking to enjoy O’Sullivan’s famously massive burger (no smashed burgers here, folks) and some local craft brews. There are nearly 30 burger varieties on the menu, but you can’t go wrong with a classic bacon cheeseburger, served with Sully’s thick cut fries.
Neighborhood: Lynn
Address: 151 Central Ave, Lynn, MA 01901
Make a reservation for this place, because there’s probably going to be a line. In 2018, Myers & Chang chef Karen Akunowicz won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast, and you’re going to want to experience some of her creations. Most of the restaurant’s dishes are inspired by Taiwanese soul food and Southeast Asian street food, so you’ll get a mix of things like their cold Tawainese Dan Dan Noodles or their Braised Short Rib and Pear Bahn Mi Sandwich.
Neighborhood: South End
Address: 1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Sofra
Sofra is the casual sister restaurant to the esteemed Mediterranean restaurants Oleana and Sarma, specializing in sweets and savories from Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece. Stop by in the morning for fresh out of the oven baked goods, like orange blossom morning buns or Turkish-style grits with lamb sausage. For a light lunch or dinner, you’ll want to dive into their meze bar—or, if you’re famished, just stick with their hearty lamb shawarma.
Neighborhood: Cambridge
Address: 1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Highland Kitchen
Highland Kitchen is everything you want in a neighborhood restaurant: it’s unpretentious, cozy, and has a menu full of reasonably-priced dishes with a Southern emphasis, like the Blackened Catfish Po’ Boy, Buffalo Fried Brussels Sprouts, and Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Besides their mouth watering food, Highland Kitchen is also one of the city’s best cocktail bars. Order a Highland original cocktail, toss a few quarters in the jukebox, and get ready for a fun night in Somerville.
Neighborhood: Somerville
Address: 150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Modern Pastry
In a constant battle with other local favorite, Mike’s Pastry, for the title of best bakery in the North End, this iconic Italian pastry shop is worth a visit even if you’re a local. It doesn’t matter what kind of self-control you think you have—you’re going to be leaving with a box full of pastries. Load up on their famous cannoli, cream puffs, and a couple Italian cake slices. You won’t regret a thing.
Neighborhood: North End
Address: 257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Alden & Harlow
Alden & Harlow is the kind of modern American restaurant that’s becoming increasingly popular, mixing a large menu of creative shared plates with a casual, contemporary environment that instantly puts you at ease. If you’re willing to eat early, you can show up right at 5pm to try and get your hands on their not-so-secret “Secret Burger,” — made of 33% brisket, 33% short rib, and 33% beef plate — is one of the best in town. If you miss it, there’s still plenty to choose from: the Creekstone Farms New York Strip Steak, Pickled Verrill Farm Corn Pancakes, and even something as “simple” as the Honey Roasted Carrots are crowd pleasers. And, the drink menu is equally impressive. They make it hard to go wrong here.
Neighborhood: Cambridge
Address: 40 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Neptune Oyster
Located in the heart of the traditionally Italian North End neighborhood is Neptune Oyster, a restaurant that has absolutely nothing to do with Italy. It’s pure New England cuisine, focused on the simplicity of the amazingly fresh, local seafood in Boston. Cram into this 42-seat restaurant if you can, order a few things from the raw bar, maybe a couple appetizers, then get their Maine Lobster Roll, hot with butter. You’ll thank us later.
Neighborhood: North End
Address: 63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113
O Ya
There are plenty of “splurge” restaurants in Boston, but the queen of them all might very well be the Boston outpost of sushi mecca, O Ya. If there’s an award they could win, they’ve done it. Don’t even bother with the a la carte menu—if you’re going, do it right: get the Grand Omakase tasting menu. Sure, it’s one of the most expensive tasting menus in the country, coming in somewhere around $300 per person (not including drinks!), but it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 9 East St, Boston, MA 02111
Read next: Best Neighborhoods in Boston for Newcomers
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