Updated 06/07/2019
Boston has a thriving food scene, with a large and active Chinatown, Little Italy (in the North End), and more, there are foods to satisfy every taste. But with so many fantastic restaurants, how could you ever choose? Well, rest assured, because I have narrowed it down for you to 10 incredible restaurants that you must eat at in Boston.
To see restaurants that are open now after the Coronavirus lockdown, read this: The Best Outdoor Dining in Boston: Post-Covid Edition
Quincy Market
Also known as Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market was opened to the public in 1826 and continues to serve customers to this day! If there’s only one spot on this list that you visit, it should be this one. Filled with 18 restaurants and 35 eateries of all cuisines, you’re sure to find something delicious! The most popular spots include Boston Chowda Co for their New England Clam Chowder and Boston and Maine Fish Co for their lobster rolls.
Spyce
This fast-casual eatery is a perfect example of what MIT graduates are capable of. Spyce Food Co is the world’s first restaurant with a robotic kitchen! There are no human chefs; you order at a touch screen, then wait as a robot prepares your food for you. (There are a few human employees staffed, just to help with the ordering process) Spyce prides itself in its accessibility, with bowls priced at a low $7.50, and catering to a number of restricted diets, including vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free and vegan diets. It’s worth a visit for the sheer novelty alone, but the food is also really good!
View this post on InstagramHappy FRYday! Would you go with photo 1, 2, or 3? (You can choose all 3, it’s cool.)
The Barking Crab
Located in a rickety looking space right above the ocean, The Barking Crab sometimes looks like it could fall right into the water. It is one of the most touristy spots to eat in Boston, but for good reason. When a restaurant looks like that, you know it’s authentic as hell. Serving iconic Boston seafood since 1994, it’s kind of expensive, but hey, it’s seafood, and there are far worse ways you could be spending your money.
Cafeteria Boston
Located on bustling Newbury Street, Cafeteria Boston has great food with an even nicer atmosphere. Lunch in the summer outside on the quaint historic streets is one you wouldn’t want to pass up. Even better if it’s your first trip to America, as Cafeteria Boston serves the best classic American comfort food.
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Tatte Bakery & Cafe
Known as a favorite among Instagrammers and foodies alike, Tatte is bringing New York brunch vibes to Boston! Their brunch is as delicious as it is photogenic, and the decor is to die for. Tatte also does amazing pastries, baked goods, desserts, and more, and accommodates for all sorts of dietary restrictions! With 8 locations in Boston and 4 more in Cambridge, I couldn’t recommend Tatte more.
Mike’s Pastry
The number one dessert place in all of Boston, Mike’s Pastry is loved by tourists and locals alike. Unless you come during a weekday, be expected for a long line! But the line is absolutely worth it – Mike’s cannolis are like no other. If the line is simply unbearable for you, try Modern Pastry, one of Mike’s rivals. Some locals swear that Modern is better, others stick to Mike’s, but either will serve you well.
Santarpio’s Pizza
This pizza spot has a cult following, and that’s when you know it’s good. Santarpio’s is super cheap, has oozey and delicious cheese, and has been serving the neighborhood since 1933, and is so well known that it’s a landmark.
Boston Burger Company
Boston Burger Company is known for doing things extravagantly. Their specialty 420 burger is stuffed with fried mac and cheese, onion rings, french fries, mozzarella sticks, bacon, and American cheese, and only costs $4.20 if you come on Monday at 4:20 PM! While that sounds like a heart attack in a burger, I recommend their milkshakes. Similar to the Black Tap in NYC, Boston Burger Co. milkshakes are loaded with sweets, so share with a friend!
Want a full guide to Boston that includes more than just food? Check out: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide to Boston
Blackbird Donuts
With four locations around the Greater Boston Area, Blackbird Donuts is no joke. With each location comes amazing decor, including a large hanging birdcage (for the supposed blackbird for which the chain is named), you get a trendy yet delicious experience. For more donuts, Union Square Donuts is also a local favorite.
Hei La Moon
Located in Boston’s thriving Chinatown area, Hei La Moon is a truly authentic Cantonese dim sum experience. In order to get your food, you have to flag down the various carts that are circulating throughout the restaurant and ask for the dish that you want. I’ve been going here weekly since I was a child, and I will never love another dim sum place quite like this one.
Must-Eats
I only wrote this article to include 10 places so as not to overwhelm you with information, but I wanted to add that there are a couple of dishes that you cannot leave Boston without eating! They are:
- New England Clam Chowder
- Maine Lobster Roll
- Boston Creme Pie
- Oysters
- Fenway Franks (Hot-dogs)
- Cannolis
- Cider Donuts (especially in the fall)
If you want to hit all the spots in one go, I recommend attending a food tour like this one! The benefit of a food tour is that you can sample foods from a variety of different places while being led by a local.
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