Famous Boston Foods: What to Eat in Boston and Where to Find It
If you’re wondering what to eat in Boston, start with the classics. Boston is known for their seafood, plus a couple of unique dishes the city invented and still serves today. This guide covers six Boston foods to try and where to get each one, with a top-rated spot and the classic version for every dish. My favorite is listed last, a dish I love for the fresh ingredients and the best place to get it for great vibes.
1. Oysters on the Half Shell: A Boston Seafood Staple
Oysters are the easiest way to start eating your way through Boston. They come raw on the half shell, usually by the half dozen or dozen, with lemon and mignonette on the side. Many raw bars list oysters by farm, so you can order a few from different spots and compare.
Where to Find It: Row 34 in Fort Point has a full raw bar, and the crispy oyster slider is $5 if you want something cooked. For the classic version, sit at the oyster bar at Union Oyster House, which has served food since 1826 and calls itself America’s oldest restaurant. The oyster bar is still in its original position.
2. Lobster Roll: Hot With Butter or Cold With Mayo
The lobster roll is a classic with lobster meat served in a toasted roll one of two ways: warm with melted butter, or cold and dressed with mayo. They’re very different experiences, so try both if you can.
Where to Find It: Eventide Fenway does a brown butter lobster roll for $22, which makes it a great stop before a Red Sox game. For the classic version, Neptune Oyster in the North End serves its lobster roll on toasted brioche, hot with butter or cold with mayo. Neptune doesn’t take reservations, so go early.
3. Parker House Rolls: Boston’s Original Dinner Roll
Parker House rolls are soft, buttery dinner rolls that are folded over before baking, so they pull apart in layers. They’re named for the Omni Parker House hotel, which dates them to the 1870s.
Where to Find It: I had the Parker House rolls at Mooo…. Beacon Hill, and they were excellent. For the classic version, go to Parker’s Restaurant at the Omni Parker House, which calls itself the birthplace of the Parker House roll.
4. Boston Cream Pie: The Dessert Named for the City
Boston cream pie is a cake, not a pie. It’s two layers of sponge cake filled with vanilla custard and topped with chocolate glaze. The Omni Parker House credits its kitchen with creating it in the 1800s.
Where to Find It: Contessa on the 17th floor of The Newbury serves the Crema di Boston, a take on the classic with vanilla custard, chocolate ganache, and ladyfingers. For the original, go to Parker’s Restaurant, which still serves Boston cream pie for dessert. The hotel also ships whole pies nationwide.
5. Fenway Frank: The Ballpark Hot Dog
This is a pure classic. The Fenway Frank is the Red Sox’s own name for the hot dog sold at Fenway Park. It’s a simple ballpark hot dog, and eating one in the stands is a great way to spend an afternoon in Boston.
Where to Find It: Concession stands throughout Fenway Park during Red Sox home games. If you want a sit-down meal before the game, Eventide Fenway is close to the ballpark and serves excellent seafood.
6. The Best Boston Food to Order First: New England Clam Chowder
New England clam chowder is a creamy soup of clams, potatoes, and usually bacon or salt pork. You’ll find it on seafood menus all over Boston, and the versions range from thick and hearty to lighter and brothier.
🏆 My Personal Pick
The clam chowder at Saltie Girl is my favorite in Boston. The ingredients are pure, and you can taste how fresh everything is. The vibes are great too, especially at the bar, so it’s a fun place to settle in with a bowl of chowder and a cocktail. This place gets packed, so reserve ahead.
Where to Find It: Saltie Girl in Back Bay makes its chowder with marble potato, salsify, and bacon. For the classic version, order the Oyster House Clam Chowder at Union Oyster House.
Famous Boston Foods: What to Know Before You Go
A few things make eating your way through Boston easier:
- You can get all the classics for dinner at Parker’s Bar, which has an excellent, old school ambiance.
- Get to Neptune Oyster early, since it’s walk-in only and doesn’t take reservations.
- Try the Fenway Frank at a Red Sox home game, since it’s sold inside the ballpark.
- Book Saltie Girl ahead for dinner, as it’s very popular.
What to Eat in Boston: FAQs
What food is Boston known for?
Boston is known for New England seafood, especially oysters, lobster rolls, and clam chowder. The city is also the home of Boston cream pie and Parker House rolls, both of which the Omni Parker House says it created. At Fenway Park, the Fenway Frank is a classic ballpark bite.
Where was Boston cream pie invented?
The Omni Parker House credits its kitchen with creating Boston cream pie in the 1800s. Parker’s Restaurant at the hotel still serves it, and the hotel ships whole pies nationwide.
Where can I get the best clam chowder in Boston?
My pick is Saltie Girl in Back Bay for the fresh ingredients and the vibe at the bar. For the classic version, Union Oyster House serves its Oyster House Clam Chowder near Faneuil Hall.
Should I get my lobster roll hot or cold?
Try both if you can. Hot lobster rolls come with melted butter, and cold ones come with mayo. Neptune Oyster in the North End serves both, and Eventide Fenway does an excellent brown butter version for $22.
Where to Stay in Boston: My Top Picks
- citizenM Boston Back Bay is my favorite place to stay in Boston, with Bubble Bath on the roof. My wife and I love citizenM, and this one is on Newbury Street in the heart of everything.
- citizenM Boston North Station is my pick for a game at TD Garden. It’s often way cheaper than other hotels in the city with a great view and location, even if it isn’t the best in the city. It’s a great value-to-comfort ratio.
- Canopy by Hilton Boston Downtown is a trendy lifestyle hotel near Faneuil Hall, with free bikes for getting around the city.
- Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District is the best option if you’re booking on points. Many rooms have harbor views, and breakfast is included.
- The Lenox Hotel is my historic pick. It’s a Back Bay hotel that opened in 1900 and is a short walk from Copley Square.
🍪 Final Bite
The most famous Boston foods include great seafood and a few hometown classics. Here’s where to start:
- Order oysters at Row 34, or sit at the original oyster bar at Union Oyster House.
- Try a brown butter lobster roll at Eventide Fenway, or the hot or cold version at Neptune Oyster.
- Get the Parker House rolls at Mooo…. Beacon Hill, or the originals at Parker’s Restaurant.
- Finish with the Crema di Boston at Contessa, or the original Boston cream pie at Parker’s.
- Grab a Fenway Frank at a Red Sox home game.
- Book Saltie Girl for my favorite clam chowder in Boston.
What’s the first thing you eat when you get to Boston? Tell me in the comments.
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