Best Dishes in Boston
90 restaurants to explore
Restaurants in Boston
90 restaurants@Union
American·Allston·$$
Allston café with chef-crafted brunch, house-roasted coffee, and creative plates like kimchi bulgogi quesadillas.
311 Omakase
Japanese·South End·$$$$
Boston's only Michelin-starred restaurant — 18 courses of pristinely sourced sushi in a 10-seat South End basement.
Abe & Louie's
American·Back Bay·$$$$
Back Bay steakhouse serving dry-aged prime beef and white-tablecloth service since 1965.
Alden & Harlow
American·Cambridge·$$
Michael Scelfo's subterranean small-plates restaurant — thoughtfully sourced American food where even vegetables get James Beard semifinalist-level technique.
Alma Gaucha
Brazilian·Seaport·$$$$
All-you-can-eat Brazilian rodízio where gauchos bring prime cuts tableside until you surrender.
Angela's Café
Mexican·East Boston·$
Puebla-style Mexican from founder Mama Angela—complex moles, pipiáns, and award-winning guacamole since 2007.
Ball Square Café
American·Somerville·$
Somerville brunch institution with thick French toast and housemade corned beef hash.
Bánh Mì Ba Le
Vietnamese·Dorchester·$
Dorchester landmark famous for house-baked baguettes with crispy crust and cloud-light interior, filled fresh daily.
Bar Mezzana
Italian·South End·$$$
Chef Colin Lynch's coastal Italian restaurant where the daily-changing crudo menu is the headline.
Bar Volpe
Italian·South Boston·$$
Wood-fired Southern Italian with a glass-walled pasta room where gauchos work before your eyes.
Boston Sail Loft
Seafood·Downtown·$$
Waterfront seafood since 1984 with Boston Harbor views — clam chowder that ships nationwide on Goldbelly, Boston Magazine's best.
Brassica Kitchen + Café
New American·Jamaica Plain·$$
Boston Magazine's Best Neighborhood Restaurant — JP's cafe-to-dinner transformation with housemade doughnuts.
Bricco
Italian·North End·$$$
Frank DePasquale's refined North End flagship where wild boar pappardelle and veal ossobucco are paired with an award-winning wine list.
Buttermilk & Bourbon
Southern·Back Bay·$$
Chef Jason Santos' New Orleans-inspired restaurant — house-fried chicken and honey-glazed biscuits in Back Bay.
Carmelina's
Italian·North End·$$
Michelin-recognized Hanover Street trattoria where garlic, butter, and fresh lobster run wild across a seafood-forward menu.
China Pearl
Chinese·Chinatown·$$
Moy family dim sum restaurant with 40+ years of pushcart tradition, recently renovated.
Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar
American·Fenway·$$
Fenway gastropub with 325+ whiskeys, fresh oysters, and weekend brunch.
Citrus & Salt
Mexican·Fort Point·$$
Chef Jason Santos' Baja-inspired taqueria with 12am tequila and monthly drag brunches.
Coppa
Italian·South End·$$
Ken Oringer's 2009 South End enoteca where house-cured charcuterie and wood-fired pizzas pair with natural wine.
Dalí Restaurant & Tapas Bar
Spanish·Somerville·$$
Three-room tapas bar where Mario Leon's Spanish classics thrive since 1989.
Eastern Lamejun Bakers
Armenian·Watertown·$
Armenian bakery serving Watertown since the 1940s—lamejun flatbread pizza, börek, Middle Eastern pastries.
Empire Garden Restaurant
Chinese·Chinatown·$$
Dim sum in a 1903 French Renaissance theater with vaudeville history and cart service.
Eventide Fenway
Seafood·Fenway·$$
Maine's Eventide Oyster Co. in Boston: brown butter lobster roll on bao bun near Fenway Park.
Fallow Kin
New American·Cambridge·$$$
2025 farm-to-table restaurant in Cambridge's iconic Craigie on Main space — vegetable-forward, zero-waste concept by Conor Dennehy and Danielle Ayer.
Field & Vine
New American·Somerville·$$
Union Square wine bar where natural wines pair with small, ingredient-forward plates.
Flour Bakery + Café
Bakery·Fort Point·$
Joanne Chang's flagship bakery: world-famous sticky buns and sandwiches since 2000.
Fox & The Knife
Italian·South Boston·$$
Chef Karen Akunowicz's Modena-inspired enoteca where housemade pastas and Amaro programs are the draw.
Galleria Umberto
Sicilian·North End·$
James Beard America's Classic — thick Sicilian pizza slices and crispy arancini that vanish as fast as the ovens turn them out.
Giulia
Italian·Cambridge·$$$
Michael Pagliarini's handmade pasta restaurant where reservations require weeks of patience.
Grill 23 & Bar
American·Back Bay·$$$$
Boston's first Wine Spectator Grand Award steakhouse — 40+ years of dry-aged beef and Japanese wagyu.
Harvest
New American·Cambridge·$$$
Harvard Square institution celebrating New England's farmers and seasons since 1975 — the original sustainable dining restaurant.
Hei La Moon
Chinese·Chinatown·$
Two-story dim sum hall with traditional cart service and one of Boston's largest seating capacities.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Japanese·Back Bay·$$
Hokkaido's 35-year-old ramen chain brings its signature tonkotsu broth and 18-hour pork bone reduction to Back Bay.
Hong Kong Eatery
Chinese·Chinatown·$
Counter-order Cantonese BBQ spot with roasted duck hanging in the window since 1992.
Jahunger
Uyghur·Cambridge·$$
Cambridge's first Michelin Bib Gourmand Uyghur restaurant with hand-pulled noodles and spiced lamb specialties.
James Hook & Co
Seafood·Downtown·$$
Waterfront institution since 1925 — no-frills red shack where James Hook's family ships 50,000 lbs of lobster daily from Maine.
Kaia
Greek·South End·$$$
Condé Nast's 2025 Hot List: modern Aegean cooking with rotating whole fish in pale pink rooms.
Krasi
Greek·Back Bay·$$$
Boston's largest Greek wine bar with 300+ bottles and tableside tzatziki — regional mezze and natural wine.
Legal Harborside
Seafood·Seaport·$$$
Legal Sea Foods flagship: three floors of seafood, raw bar, and unobstructed harbor views.
Little Sage
Italian·North End·$$$
Chef Tony Susi's reborn North End gem — handcrafted pastas and brick-oven dishes in a 50-seat intimate space.
Little Whale
Seafood·Back Bay·$$
Chef Michael Serpa's New England oyster bar on Newbury Street — raw bar, fried clams, and lobster rolls.
Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
Mexican·Back Bay·$$
Modern Mexican with 100+ tequilas and hand-crafted margaritas — Back Bay late-night destination since 2010.
Lone Star Taco Bar
Mexican·Cambridge·$
Casual taco bar with breakfast tacos all day and a mezcal-forward bar — Cambridge's go-to for weekday lunch and weekend hangover cure.
Lucia Ristorante
Italian·North End·$$$
The 1977 Abruzzo-region trattoria where handmade pasta and veal are paired with Montepulciano wine — Filippo Frattaroli's mother's name on the door.
Lulu's
American·Allston·$$
Allston brunch seven days a week—French toast with unique twists, four types of Benedict, house-roasted coffee.
Mahaniyom
Thai·Brookline·$$
Brookline's Michelin Bib Gourmand Thai ran-lao with 25 seats and creative cocktails.
Mamaleh's Delicatessen
Jewish Deli·Cambridge·$$
Modern Jewish deli in Kendall Square hand-slicing pastrami and baking babka since 2016.
Mi Pueblito
Mexican·East Boston·$
Mexican and Salvadoran cooking in East Boston—huevos rancheros at breakfast, venado specials at dinner.
Mike's Pastry
Italian·North End·$
Since 1946, Boston's go-to for cannoli in two dozen flavors — tourists recognize the iconic white box with blue lettering.
Modern Pastry
Italian·North End·$
Since 1930, the locals' side of Hanover Street — fresh-filled cannoli with a silky ricotta that's less sweet than the other guy's.
Moona
Mediterranean·Cambridge·$$
Eastern Mediterranean mezzas in a cozy Inman Square space with string lights and a loyal monthly crowd.
Myers + Chang
Taiwanese·South End·$$
Joanne Chang's Taiwanese-Southeast Asian street food diner in the South End with weekend dim sum and a patio.
Nan Xiang Express
Chinese·Chinatown·$
Fast-casual Shanghainese soup dumplings opened 2023, offshoot of Michelin-recommended original.
Neptune Oyster
Seafood·North End·$$$
The 37-seat seafood shrine where 8 ounces of Maine lobster arrives on toasted brioche — hot or cold.
Oleana
Eastern Mediterranean·Cambridge·$$$
Ana Sortun's Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with a lush patio garden — James Beard winner serving Turkish, Lebanese, and Greek dishes since 2001.
Oliveira's Steak House
Brazilian·Somerville·$$$
Somerville's traditional Brazilian churrascaria with rodizio tableside service and premium beef cuts.
Pagu
Japanese·Cambridge·$$
Tracy Chang's Japanese-Spanish fusion tapas bar — 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for bold flavors and thoughtful technique.
Pammy's
Italian·Cambridge·$$$
Italian-inspired trattoria where Chris and Pam Willis reinvented the neighborhood restaurant — Bon Appétit's Top 50 pick for America's best new in 2018.
Parish Café
American·Back Bay·$$
Since 1992, chef-designed sandwiches by Boston's most famous culinary names — open until 2am on weekends.
Peach Farm
Cantonese·Chinatown·$$
Live-tank Cantonese seafood in a basement dining room — Boston's 24-hour Chinatown institution since the 1980s.
Phở Lê
Vietnamese·Dorchester·$
Family-run Vietnamese for 30 years—bone broth simmered 12 hours daily, phở đặc biệt with five beef cuts.
Pho Pasteur
Vietnamese·Chinatown·$
Boston's oldest Vietnamese restaurant since 1991 with 100+ menu items and affordable pho.
Punjabi Dhaba
North Indian·Cambridge·$
Authentic Punjabi counter-service spot in Inman Square since 1998—hefty portions, cash-friendly, Bollywood vibes.
Quattro
Neapolitan·North End·$$
Frank DePasquale's Neapolitan brick-oven pizzeria where pies hit 900 degrees and mozzarella di bufala melts into charred crust.
Regina Pizzeria
Pizza·North End·$$
Boston's brick-oven pizza legend since 1926 — the North End original on Thatcher Street that TripAdvisor ranked #1 in America.
Row 34
Seafood·Fort Point·$$$
Fort Point's iconic seafood hall with 40+ craft beer taps and a raw bar that never stops.
Santarpio's Pizza
Pizza·East Boston·$
East Boston legend since 1903—charcoal-grilled lamb skewers and thin-crust pizza, cash-only and beloved.
Sarma
Turkish·Somerville·$$$
Chef Cassie Piuma's Turkish meyhane in Somerville with creative Mediterranean meze—books weeks ahead.
Select Oyster Bar
Seafood·Back Bay·$$$
Chef Michael Serpa's intimate neo-bistro seafood bar — James Beard semifinalist 2025 for raw bar excellence.
Shōjō
Asian Fusion·Chinatown·$$
Cocktail-forward Asian fusion in Chinatown with creative small plates and Japanese spirits.
Somaek
Korean·Downtown Crossing·$$
Jamie Bissonnette's Korean restaurant where his mother-in-law guides the kitchen toward homestyle Seoul.
Sumiao Hunan Kitchen
Chinese·Cambridge·$$
Authentic Hunanese cuisine with customizable heat — 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for good value in a region dominated by Sichuan.
TABLE
Italian·North End·$$$
Chef Jen Royle's communal seven-course Italian feast where strangers become friends over award-winning meatballs.
Taqueria Jalisco
Mexican·East Boston·$
20+ year East Boston taqueria famous for birria tacos with crispy shells and consomé for dipping.
Tatte Bakery & Café
Israeli·Fenway·$$
Israeli-inspired bakery in Fenway with handmade pastries, shakshuka, and roasted coffee.
The Painted Burro
Mexican·Somerville·$$
Davis Square tequila bar with 100+ bottles and chef-driven Mexican regional cuisine.
The Paramount
American·Beacon Hill·$$
Beacon Hill's 1937 diner — classic breakfast, brunch cocktails, and the Nutella waffle that keeps locals coming back.
Toro
Spanish·South End·$$$
Ken Oringer's 20-year Spanish tapas bar where bone marrow with oxtail marmalade started Boston's love affair with tapas.
Toscano
Italian·Beacon Hill·$$$
Beacon Hill's 40-year Tuscan cornerstone — charcoal-grilled sirloin, hand-pressed risotto, and neighborhood ritual since 1983.
Trattoria Il Panino
Italian·North End·$$
Frank DePasquale's casual trattoria where handmade pasta and fresh shellfish arrive at crowded tables in the Amalfi tradition.
Tres Gatos
Spanish·Jamaica Plain·$$
Jamaica Plain's Spanish wine bar where tapas pair with records, books, and rare mezcal.
Tresca North End
Italian·North End·$$$
CBS-rated #1 Italian in Boston — intimate Hanover Street spot with wood-fired kitchen and chef Ray Bourque's playbook.
Uni
Japanese·Back Bay·$$$
Ken Oringer's intimate sashimi bar sourcing from Tokyo's Tsukiji market — back Bay institution since 2002.
Union Oyster House
Seafood·Downtown·$$$
America's oldest continuously operating restaurant since 1826 — oyster bar counter unchanged, historic seafood classics, Freedom Trail landmark.
Urban Hearth
New American·Cambridge·$$$$
James Beard-nominated chef Erin Miller's intimate four-seat chef's counter with a five-course tasting menu built daily from local farms.
Vinal Bakery
Café·Somerville·$
Union Square bakery with thick English muffins and hot egg sandwiches.
Waypoint
Seafood·Cambridge·$$$
Chef Michael Scelfo's seafood-focused restaurant with wood-fired pizzas, raw bar oysters at $1-3.50 (5-7pm), and Uni Bucatini.
Winsor Dim Sum Café
Chinese·Chinatown·$
Small, made-to-order dim sum with English menus and photos - less touristy than cart service.
Zaftig's Delicatessen
Jewish Deli·Brookline·$$
Brookline deli with housemade pastrami, matzo ball soup, and New York-quality portions.
Zurito
Spanish·Beacon Hill·$$$
Chef Jamie Bissonnette's new Beacon Hill pintxo bar — Basque-inspired small plates, jamón, and Wine Spectator gold-rated wine list.