15 Famous Foods Boston Is Known For
What food is Boston known for? For starters, Massachusetts cuisine, and particularly the food of Boston, is renowned for an abundance of fresh seafood dishes. Additionally, in Boston’s North End, you’ll find delicious specialties brought to Beantown by Italian immigrants. Some traditional foods date back even further to British settlers and Native Americans. On the flip side, some of the most legendary Boston food creations were invented at a local hotel.
Sounds like a lot to track down? Not to worry! Boston restaurants serve some of the best food in the United States, and we’re here to help you find it.
This list details the best foods Boston is known for! It will guide you to the most famous food in Boston that you should not miss, and some of the best places to eat these local specialties.
Lobster Rolls
Lobster rolls are a warm-weather highlight of New England cuisine. Invented in Connecticut in the 1920s, the lobster roll was long a low-key state secret. Then, in the 1970’s, this under-the-radar classic was popularized by Red’s Eats in Maine and shot to fame as the iconic Maine lobster roll. From there, it spread throughout New England, and today, no Best of Boston Food List would be complete without it.
For those who don’t know, the lobster roll is an incredibly simple, but amazingly tasty treat. At its most basic, steamed lobster is cut into chunks, stuffed into a New England–style, top-sliced hot dog bun, and dressed with either butter or mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It’s most traditionally served with potato chips, although French fries are now a common sidekick.
This quintessential New England favorite is a perfect food to try in Boston, and James Hook & Co. is the perfect spot to do so. Founded in 1926 to provide fresh Maine lobster to Boston area restaurants, this family-run business now saves enough lobster for itself to serve up at its own Boston waterfront eatery. What a delicious way to enjoy this mouth-watering classic and check off the box for a great New-England lobster experience on the Ultimate U.S. Food Bucket List.
Lobster rolls are one of the best foods Boston is known for.
Boston Cream Pie
Did everyone catch the big clue that this is a famous food of Boston because it has “Boston” in the name? Good work. But the name can also be misleading. This decadently delicious dessert is actually a cake, but back when it was invented by French Chef M. Sanzian in the 1850s, the terms “cake” and “pie” were used interchangeably because both were cooked in the same type of pans.
Chef Sanzian was working at Parker’s Restaurant in Boston’s Parker House Hotel, and his creation consisted of two layers of French butter sponge cake filled with rich vanilla custard brushed with rum syrup. The top was then covered with chocolate fondant. Baking chocolate to coat such a creation was a culinary breakthrough at the time, so to highlight the novelty, the dessert was originally just called a chocolate cream pie. It was later called the Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie, and eventually the Boston Cream Pie that we know today.
Although it’s possible that the Boston Cream Pie could compete with some of the best desserts of Paris, it's certainly one of the must-eats in Boston. And the perfect spot to enjoy what is now the official state dessert of Massachusetts is where it was invented, the Omni Parker House Hotel, which has been continuously operating since it opened in 1855.
Boston Cream Pie, a famous food of Boston invented at the Parker House Hotel
New England Clam Chowder
Food historians tell us that what we know today as New England or New England–Style Clam Chowder was introduced to the region by French, British, or Nova Scotian settlers as early as the 1600s. And being a coastal city with plenty of easy access to clams, Boston was certainly an early adopter of this thick soup that is traditionally made with clams, potatoes, onions, salt pork, and milk or cream.
The milk or cream is responsible for the chowder’s trademark white color, and the thickness is sometimes enhanced by the addition of crumbled oyster crackers. This Boston Massachusetts food is easy to distinguish from its New York rival, the Manhattan Clam Chowder, which is tomato-based and milk free, giving it a reddish hue and completely different flavor.
With a more than 300-year history of deliciousness, New England Clam Chowder is still a must-eat in Boston. Luckily, it’s served throughout the Boston area, from the best restaurants to the most humble diners. One of the great spots to try the hometown version is Legal Sea Foods, a Boston institution since 1950 with many locations throughout the city.
New England Clam Chowder, a must-eat in Boston, Massachusetts, food
Oysters
Oysters have long been a favorite food of Boston, and the best way to enjoy them might well be at America’s oldest restaurant, Union Oyster House. This national historic landmark makes its home in a building constructed before the American Revolution, and the restaurant itself opened for business in 1826. Located on the Freedom Trail, just steps away from Faneuil Hall, this beloved establishment continues to treat its customers to some of the best food in Boston.
Freshly shucked oysters are always available at the legendary horseshoe-shaped oyster bar and are served with the famous house cocktail sauce. If raw oysters are not your style, fried oyster rolls are a great sandwich option, and fried oysters are available as an entrée. Come for the history, stay for the flavorful varieties of oysters, or opt for any of the myriad other fresh fish or shellfish offered on the extensive menu.
A national historic landmark, Union Oyster House is not only the oldest restaurant in Boston, but in the entire United States.
Fenway Frank
As if a trip to see a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the oldest baseball stadium in Major League Baseball, isn’t enough of a thrill all on its own, there’s also a famous Boston food to chow down on while you’re taking in the action. That Boston must-eat food is, of course, the Fenway Frank.
They’ve been selling hot dogs at Fenway since the park opened in 1912, but in 2009 the Sox decided to part ways with their prior hot dog vendor and switch to Kayem Foods. Kayem wanted to update the dog but retain the approval of life-long frank fans, so taste tests and tinkering ensued. The new Fenway Frank is the most popular ever! The new combination of spices and meats give the frank a bolder flavor, but the real key is the preparation.
Whereas most stadium dogs are steamed or grilled, the Fenway Frank is first boiled then grilled. Boiling locks in all the juicy flavor, while grilling adds a little extra texture and a touch of tasty char. Top yours with yellow or brown mustard, relish, all, or none of the above. Any way you decide, you’ll have a delicious day at the ballgame.
Fenway Franks, the Boston must-eat food at Fenway Park
Cannoli
Boston’s North End has long been known as one of America’s most vibrant Little Italy neighborhoods. Italian immigrants began arriving in the area in the early 1900s and brought with them two indispensable imports: the tenacity to work hard against all odds to make a successful new life for themselves in their new home—and their family recipes for the culinary treasures of Italy.
One of those treasures is now a must-eat Boston dessert: cannoli. In the North End, where many Italian restaurants don’t offer desserts, diners often finish off their meal with a glass of Vin Santo wine and then head off to a favorite pastry shop to end their evening on a sweet note. Luckily, several beloved bakeries in the neighborhood offer amazing versions of cannoli, the Sicilian treat that consists of a fried dough, tube-shaped shell stuffed with a sweet, rich, creamy ricotta filling. But who makes the best cannoli is a subject of never-ending debate.
Contenders include Mike’s Pastry, located on Little Italy’s main thoroughfare of restaurants and shops, Hanover Street. Mike’s offers over 20 different versions of cannoli. Modern Pastry Shop, also on Hanover, has been satisfying customers for generations. And Bova’s Bakery, just around the corner, has been turning out their crowd pleasers since 1926. You really can’t go wrong with any of these three. Just beware that these cannolis are so delicious they’re one of the Boston foods known for drawing long lines of people to sink their teeth into them. Pack your patience; your reward will be worth it.
Cannoli, the must-eat Boston dessert from the North End
Yankee Pot Roast
Yankee Pot Roast originated in New England from the most humble of beginnings. Recipes call for a tough, fatty cut of meat like chuck or brisket. The meat is then browned, braised, and combined with root vegetables. It must cook a long time, literally for hours, before transforming into one of the great comfort foods of American cuisine.
Today, this classic main course is a Boston staple more likely to be found at casual pubs and taverns than at high-end fine dining establishments. But before you head out on a cold night, check that the restaurant hasn’t run out, because, due to the extensive braising time, they won’t be able to just whip up a new batch on the spot. Also, some places, like The Dubliner, only offer this Boston dish as a Sunday special.
Yankee Pot Roast, a specialty of Massachusetts cuisine
Parker House Rolls
Does this name look familiar? Yup, these scrumptious rolls are another one of the local specialties born at the historic Parker House Hotel. But this Parker House creation has has nothing to do with layers of sponge cake and everything to do with pillowy, buttery bread.
Invented in the early 1870s, legend has it that the rolls were first made by a disgruntled baker who hastily cooked a tray of unfinished dough, which is why these rolls often appear folded in half or dented. Whatever the story, they had me at butter. Truth be told, I’m probably going to call anything loaded with this amount of butter one of the best things to eat anywhere.
In recent years, this popular Boston food surged in status and has garnered a following across state lines. Although you should still try a batch in Boston, you can find them in some of our favorite cities, like Boulder, CO, and Portland, OR. I’ve also tasted an excellent version on my California road trip last year.
Buttery Parker House Rolls are one of the best things to eat in Boston restaurants
Roast Beef Sandwiches
Boston food lore credits Kelly’s Roast Beef on the North Shore with creating the modern-day roast beef sandwich in 1951. After a last-minute wedding cancelation, the eatery got stuck with 3 whole roast beefs. They sliced the beef thin, put it on grilled hamburger buns, and figured they’d try to hawk their new creation from their hot dog stand. They sold out in an hour, and roast beef sandwiches went on to become a classic simple food Boston is known for.
Kelly’s is still the place for some of the best roast beef sandwiches. To order like a local, simply ask for a “three way.” In Boston, that means James River Barbecue Sauce, white American cheese, and Cain’s Extra Heavy Mayonnaise. I like to add horsie mayo (horseradish mayo).
If you want to compare, try Cusser’s Roast Beef and Seafood. They have 3 Boston locations and a loyal following for their great flavor and butcher shop freshness.
Roast beef sandwiches, a famous food Boston invented
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here’s a good reason to indulge your sweet tooth when visiting America’s Cradle of Liberty! Chocolate chip cookies were invented by Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, MA, just outside of Boston. In 1939, there were no bags of Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate chips. Ruth broke apart a chocolate bar into small pieces and added brown sugar, flour, and select other ingredients to create the original Toll House cookies, aka chocolate chip cookies—perhaps the most famous food from Massachusetts.
Of course, you can get good cookies in every state in America. But at Flour Bakery in Boston, James Beard award-winning baker Joanne Chang raises the bar. Chang admits she uses the original Nestlé Toll House recipe as a base for her chocolate chip cookies. But then she adds caramelized bits of milk chocolate, bread flour, and uses a few secrets to make hers some of the best cookies in Boston. P.S. The sticky buns at Flour Bakery are also quite dreamy!
Chocolate chip cookies, the most famous food from Massachusetts
Boston Baked Beans
Anyplace nicknamed Beantown is bound to have a famous bean dish. Boston food history traces this staple of Massachusetts cuisine to the Native Americans. In clay pots, they baked beans with maple syrup, and if they were lucky, a little venison meat and bear fat.
In the colonial days, more than 100 years prior to the American Revolution, Boston-area Puritan settlers embraced the Native American recipe for baked beans. The biggest attraction: On Saturdays, they could cook the beans overnight and still observe the Sabbath on Sunday.
Later, when Boston became a major rum producer, it required high quantities of molasses to make the alcohol. Bostonians took advantage of its availability and began substituting molasses for maple syrup and salt pork for venison. This is the version commonly associated with modern New England fare. Try them at Beantown Pub or at taverns throughout the city.
A Boston signature dish, Boston Baked Beans
New England Clambake
To truly immerse yourself in Boston food culture, you must experience a traditional clam bake, (or clambake; either way’s OK in New England). If you love seafood, this is the #1 must-try Boston food. At its most basic, a clambake includes local clams, lobster, and sweet corn.
But really, any kind of seafood can be included, such as scallops, mussels, or fresh fish. Many Boston restaurants add distinct creative touches to put a new twist on this classic favorite. At Neptune Oyster, which serves one of the best clambakes in Boston, they enhance the flavor with chorizo.
As we’ve noted, some of the best Boston foods originated with the Native Americans, and New England clambakes are another example on that list. The first clambakes were covered in seaweed and cooked over an open fire on the shore. To most closely recreate this culinary original, take a clam bake tour during your visit to Boston.
New England clambakes, one of the most traditional foods of New England cuisine
Fried Clams
It may be a little late to mention that I used to live in New England and would enjoy most of the items on this Boston food list on a regular basis. Of course, that includes fried clams, otherwise known as clam strips. Nowadays I try not to eat fried foods, but in Boston I make an exception. I seem to have a weird nostalgic yearning for these slightly chewy clammy delights. I squirt on a good amount of fresh lemon juice, and enjoy every strip.
If you’re up for a foodie pilgrimage, the best place to order this Boston traditional food is at Woodman’s of Essex, the birthplace of fried clams. In 1916, Chubby and Bessie Woodman wanted to make a clam that tasted as good as a potato chip; they succeeded. Hard to believe that no one tried to fry a clam before! But even the nation’s largest maker of fried clams, Howard Johnson’s, learned their secrets from Chubby.
However, Woodman’s is more than a half hour’s drive from Boston proper. An exceptional fried clam experience can also be had right in town, at Saltie Girl.
Fried clams, a popular Boston food for over 100 years
Indian Pudding
What do you get when you make the British dish Hasty Pudding with ingredients from Native American cuisine? Why, Indian pudding, of course. Printed recipes for this traditional New England dessert date back to the 1700s. At the time, the wheat flour normally used for Hasty Pudding was in scarce supply. The colonists replaced it with cornmeal, known then as Indian flour, hence the name.
It’s not surprising that molasses was eventually settled on as the chosen sweetener for this treat. Additions such as cinnamon, fruits, and nuts have turned this polenta-like porridge into an even more tasty dessert similar to modern-day bread pudding. A big scoop of ice cream always helps too!
Indian Pudding, a colonial Boston food that retains a contemporary appeal
Frappe
Much of the food in Boston, MA, has its own lingo. Take the milkshake for example. What most everyone else in the U.S. calls a milkshake (milk, ice cream, and flavorings), Boston and much of New England calls a frappe. Take away the ice cream and that’s what Boston calls a milkshake.
Is the frappe just a famous food Boston renamed? Sort of. The first frappes were coffee flavored, but they evolved to encompass any flavor profile. This is a local food Boston takes seriously, and frappes have become a thing! Vendors strive to create the most Instagrammable concoctions with grand toppings and dripping syrups. For the most outrageous frappes, check out the lineup at Boston Burger Co.
In Boston food culture, a frappe is a milkshake, and a milkshake has no ice cream.
More on the Famous Food of Boston
Hopefully, you can now answer the question, “What food is Boston famous for?” And you are armed with a list of some of the best places to find these foods! What more could you need for a fabulous culinary adventure?
I’ve learned there’s not always time to fit everything in, and sometimes restaurants fill up. So, just to be on the safe side, let’s discuss a couple of other options in addition to those above where you can find the food Boston, MA, is most famous for.
One of the Boston famous food places you should visit is Boston Public Market. With a large selection of artisan food shops, it’s the perfect place to purchase food gifts and souvenirs. Once you’re there, you might as well grab a quick bite at one of the eateries that offer a wide variety of Boston specialties.
Not quite as famous as Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland, Oregon, the creations at Union Square Donuts are quite popular in Boston. If you don’t make it to the Parker House for a Boston Cream Pie, the Boston Cream Donut should be your fallback.
Perhaps the easiest way to explore the Boston gastronomic scene is to take a local food tour. Here are three fun ways to eat Boston:
Boston: South End Sweet and Savory Local Food Tour
Boston: Guided Walking Tour with Seafood Tasting
Boston: North End Food Walking Tour
For a more complete list of options and detailed descriptions of what each offers, check out our Best Boston Food Tours article.
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