Ultimate Food Tour in Boston – Where and What to Eat

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Boston is the largest city in the New England region. The city which is right beside the ocean in way of Massachusetts Bay has great history that shaped America and the immigrants that contributed to what it is today. On top of those contributions, it has amazing cuisines too. Main reasons to venture here is that their seafood dishes are great and even desserts!

During my quick weekend trip to Boston, I did not miss the opportunity to eat as much seafood as possible and try Boston’s very own Boston Cream dessert. I could not believe I ate so much lobster in such a short period of time and it was so worth it! So when you’re planning for a quick trip to Boston, I highly advise you go to these places! They’re super accessible and even walkable when you’re in the Downtown core. All these places are household Boston names that you for sure would not want to miss when in Boston.

Boston Public Market

Enjoy Boston artisan foods and products at the Boston Public Market. It is open all-year round Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 20:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00 located right outside Haymarket Train Station. An indoor marketplace where you can find locally sourced produce, meat, dairy, seafood, baked goods, and prepared food. It gets pretty crowded and touristy but locals enjoy this place as well to get their favourite local goods.

I suggest you check out the amazing bagels at Levend Bagelry like the salt flake. Try the infamous Boston Cream at the Union Square Donuts, and shop local produce at the Siena Farms and Stillman’s Farm. Boston Honey Company has great local artisan food and skin products.

Luke’s Lobster

This lobster focused food joint makes lobster rolls Maine style on top of other seafood rolls like shrimp and crab and clam chowder. Started back in 2009 by Luke Holden, the success of the quality seafood rolls gained popularity with amazing expansion with locations in Chicago, New York, and around New England region.

I went to the Downtown Boston location and got the Luke’s Trio so I can try all the rolls and the clam chowder. Yummy three rolls: lobster, crab, and shrimp! It was so deliciously buttered and it’s nice how they write down on the chalkboard where the seafood came from. They’re all locally-sourced and nicely seasoned. Just a touch of light seasoning so you can definitely enjoy the seafood themselves.

The Daily Catch

Tiny yet popular with the locals and visitors alike, this Italian restaurant has infused Boston’s seafood with Italian cuisine. Specifically, Sicilian-style. They’re menu is very authentic with traditional Italian flair! This place is cash only so make sure you have enough American dollars to spend. What I love about this place is the open kitchen concept so I saw Mr. Chef cook my meal right in front of my eyes. My food was hot taken from the stove then served to my table right away!

They don’t have a large menu and everything is on the board but make no mistake because you would definitely want to order everything on their menu. Be sure to get your taste of Lobster Fra Diavolo and the one of a kind black pasta. I highly recommend the Ground Squid Sauteed with Garlic and Olive Oil Aolio Olio in the black pasta selection. If you’re not eating alone, you should order more like the Stuffed Calamari to share. I loved every bite of the dishes I ordered!

Legal Seafoods

A Boston local chain, they are a full alcohol service restaurant with excellent seafood lunch and dinner menu as well as happy hour menu. They are scattered around Greater Boston Area and expanded in the North East Area of the states. Famous in Boston and the country as #1 Best Seafood Restaurant. Their legendary New England Clam Chowder is served at every President’s Inauguration since 1981.

I went to the Cambridge location near the MIT campus as part of the Cambridge excursion day trip. After all that walking, oysters and gin & tonic sounds great so I went to try their happy hour which is from 3pm to 6pm and they were serving oysters 6 for $6.00! Talk about a great deal, this one definitely is one of the greatest!

Pauli’s

Pauli’s carries great reputation as being one of the best places to eat in town for the quality and affordable prices. With only one location right on Salem Street in North End, make sure you stop by here. A quick bite or order everything on the menu, would be good for you when you’re strolling Downtown Boston. They are open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 21:00, Saturday 10:00 to 21:00, and Sunday 10:00 to 17:00.

Their menu consists of Italian inspired sandwiches and wraps on top of seafood. They are great for their lobster rolls so go ahead and get more lobster rolls while in town! I did so why shouldn’t you? They are voted Best Lobster Rolls in town, they offer it Classic Cold and Hot Buttered. More butter the ‘butter” so I tried their Hot Buttered Lobster Roll served with a bag of chips. They put hefty servings of chunky lobsters on the hotdog bun nicely coated with butter!

Quincy Market

A public market of food and artisan products, this hall is inside a Roman architecture building and beside the historic Faneuil Hall. It is open daily Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. Quincy Market is one of the must place to visit when in Boston because it’s right at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Once you enter the building, you’ll be in an alley of amazing Boston food stalls. This place has great variety: seafood, international cuisines, desserts, and bakery all in one place! In the middle there’s a dining area so just grab all the food you want to try and seat in the middle as you enjoy your food.

Modern Pastry

Modern Pastry is an Italian bakery that has amazing baked goods. Family owned for over three generations, this pastry shop has been proven as one of the best bakeries in the city. They have great baked goods, cakes, cannolis, and Italian cookies! Pistachio flavoured goods here are amazing as well as

If you’re a pistachio fan, you should grab some pistachio cookies maybe a pound, pistachio muffin, and pistachio cannoli. If you’re not yet full, grab more Italian baked goods like Lobster Tail with amazing cream inside, ricotta pie, and sfogliatella. I delighted myself with a pistachio muffin and the swirly crisp on the outside with amazing almond taste of sfogliatella while drinking Italian coffee. All three were perfect together.

Mike’s Pastry

When you enter the Italian neighbourhood of Downtown Boston, you’ll notice people carrying around a white box with blue writing on it. That box comes from none other than Mike’s Pastry.

This Italian bakery have awesome cannolis in Boston and they live up to their slogan of ‘Home of the Cannoli’. They have multiple locations in Greater Boston Area in Downtown and Harvard Square. I went to the one in Hanover Street right at downtown in the Italian neighbourhood. I ordered late at night around 9pm and this place was super crowded. It’s so popular and definitely what more can you do but end your day the perfect way with a perfect dessert.

They are famous for cannolis and Boston cream pie. I ordered chocolate cream and pistachio cannolis and Boston cream pie because I’m in Boston. I enjoyed the sweetness of the three desserts I got.