Food Crawl Through Boston, Massachusetts

Written By Adrian Noguera

When you think of the kind of food Boston, Massachusetts is known for what’s the first thought that crosses your mind? If your initial thought is seafood, then you’re not wrong! While it’s easy to associate Boston with plenty of seafood restaurants, there’s certainly more to explore alongside this initial thought. Before I headed out to Boston for a week-long stay, I compiled a long list of restaurants to check out. Although I couldn’t hit all the locations from my original list, I’m happy to share with you the places I’ve eaten with personal, unfiltered takes on each restaurant. Please note that these restaurants are ordered simply in alphabetical order. Their placements on this list doesn’t designate from best to worst.

At the time I compiled my food list I had a strong craving for burgers (a trend you’ll notice with some of the restaurants as you continue to read this guide). Out of all the burger places I visited in Boston, the one restaurant that reigns supreme in terms of sheer quantity of burger choices and creativity has to be Boston Burger Company. With four storefront locations, I ended up visiting the one in Cambridge after spending time at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (if you’re visiting museums in Boston, then add this one to your list). At first glance at the menu, I noticed they pack their burgers with so many ingredients. Even though there’s so many options to choose from, no two burgers are going to be the same - something I appreciate as each burger retains its own sense of originality.

I ended up ordering “The Roots Burger” because I was craving for something with a little kick to it. Pictures, whether it's the one you see to your right or even the ones you see on the internet about this place, don’t accurately depict the sheer size and amount of food stuffed between two buns. As packed as they make their burgers, I appreciate how the flavors from each individual ingredient still shine through. The individual flavors blend together nicely to provide a consistent taste throughout without taking your taste buds to unexpected twists or turns while savoring the flavor. My big recommendation, if you’re going to eat here, then bring an appetite. One burger (let alone a milkshake) will help you reach that 2,000 calorie daily limit easily.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has so many food shops and vendors within it that you can be pretty overwhelmed by the amount of choices in and out of the building. The way the marketplace is structured is a bunch of food stalls line the long central hallway with a common eating area in the middle of the building. You can find a wide mix of food choices such as Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and American food. With the food vendors located within the central part of the building, the rest of the vendors, small shop owners selling souvenirs and other goods, are placed on the outskirts of the marketplace. I ended up eating at Jen Lai’s kitchen which serves  hot Chinese food in a point and choose style. A pleasant break from all the seafood I had that week, I appreciate Jen Lai’s for being a casual Chinese food joint with simple offerings.

Hojoko is a hidden gem located just 5 minutes away by walking from Fenway park. Before hitting a Red Sox game with my brother, we had to make a visit to this izakaya for one reason - the wagyu burger. If you’re not familiar with an izakaya style, it’s a type of restaurant where the serving sizes are small but just enough for one person. Usually the small dishes are accompanied with alcoholic beverages. Although this restaurant is attached to The Verb hotel, the ambiance inside the restaurant is pretty laid back. The neon signs and string lights, along with old school toys lining up the shelves that decorate the interiors give off a night time, retro feel. 

When it comes to the drinks, there’s no shortage of alcoholic beverages to choose from as they serve a long list of sake options in addition to cocktails with Japanese spirits mixed in. As for the food, although portions are small it’s a great chance to try out different things. I’d say this type of environment is a great place to bring a friend along to sample a wide array of dishes. From the items we ordered, my favorite dish has to be the wagyu burger. The tender, juicy burger nestled between two soft buns simply melts in the mouth. Along with the crisp, thin cut fries helps balance out the meal which provides two opposite, yet complementary textures to the palette. The drawback of this burger was how the size is just a tad bigger than an adult sized fist. 

From the rest of what my brother and I sampled at the time, I highly recommend getting the shrimp toast and the truffle okonomiyaki. The shrimp toast is crisp, light, and doesn’t skip out on the shrimp. There’s a tinge of sweetness to this dish since it’s also topped with mayo which leads to a smooth creamy finish as well. The truffle okonomiyaki was packed with a lot of corn which made it nice and fibrous. The great part about this dish is how they don’t skip out on the truffle - each bite packing a punch with flavor. Whether you’re in the neighborhood catching a game or looking for some stellar Japanese food in South Boston, then you have to add Hojoko as a stop.


Another chain restaurant, I’d say Legal Sea Foods is a great place to check out. At the time I went to this restaurant, it was difficult to choose what I wanted to eat since I had already dined at a few seafood places from my list beforehand. I was almost tempted to order a beef burger to change things up a bit until I settled on the New England crab roll. No regrets were made as I can describe the crab roll as otherworldly awesome. For a footlong roll they pack the sandwich with plenty of crab which is a definite plus. Unexpectedly so, I feel what truly made this roll shine was the bread itself. Crisp edges and a super soft interior, the inside of the roll is cushiony and melts in your mouth while the butter spreads across your tongue. My only reservation with the dish is that the fries accompanying the roll were on the softer side. Nonetheless, if I had to cast my vote for best crab roll in North End, it would undoubtedly give it to Legal Sea Foods.


Little Donkey is located on the Cambridge side of the Charles river just 10 minutes away by walking from MIT. The food menu is small and be aware that dishes are served in a tapas style. Even though serving sizes are small as well, it’s similar to Hojoko where it’s a great place to bring a friend along and share an assortment of plates. The reason why we picked this place even though the restaurant is far from our hotel accommodation is because (surprise, surprise!) their signature Little Donkey burger. As the name would suggest, the Little Donkey burger is little, almost to the size of an adult sized fist. Yet small in stature, it still packs plenty of flavor as the jalapeno chips and the caramelized onions give it a nice tanginess. 

From the other dishes we tried, my favorite dish from the menu has to be the Bangkok noodles. The noodles itself had different flavor personalities that blended in with each other, without any of the accompanying flavors competing for attention. The tamed nuttiness of the peanuts, the oiliness of the noodles, and the abundance of pork combine nicely into a melody of flavor. I’d say it’s not my first recommendation on my list and it’s a ways away from North Boston. Nonetheless, it’s worth checking out if you’re in the area.


It’s hard to walk around North End Boston without seeing someone carrying a white and blue box with a white knot on top. A staple in the heart of Little Italy, if you’ve got a sweet tooth then Mike’s Pastry is a must to visit. Keep in mind this place is cash only, but nothing to fret over too much as there’s plenty of ATMs within the surrounding neighborhood. The best times to go are the mornings and afternoons where there aren’t any lines. It’s during the evenings once everyone is off work and dining out are when lines can be out the door. Ordering is pretty straight forward, simply pick and choose what you’d like from the wide assortment of sweets behind glass counters. The kinds of sweets you can expect here include Italian style cookies, donuts, cakes, and their cornerstone product, the holy cannoli.

The biggest upside about visiting Mike’s Pastry in person is they serve over 20 different types of cannolis! From what I sampled, I highly recommend the oreo, amaretto, espresso and the mint chip cannolis. Where I feel a drawback of Mike’s Pastry is even though they have an online store and they can ship nationwide, the online selection is very limited. No matter where you are in Boston, the popularity and significance of Mike’s Pastry can be found everywhere. From the Italian streets to the local airports, Mike’s Pastry is the place to know and the place to be.


Oysters for breakfast anyone? That’s exactly what my brother and I did! Neptune Oyster is a well known restaurant tucked away in Little Italy, known for (and you could probably guess by its name) oysters! Although it’s a small establishment with only one location, people start lining up before the doors open. Although Neptune Oyster sources oysters from different regions of the country, I suggest trying their assortment of locally sourced oysters instead along with the Neptune Johnnycake. The Massachusetts sourced oysters range in terms of consistency and flavor - some oysters being big and briny to some being small yet sweet and buttery. 


The Neptune Johnnycake is a must try and my most favorite item from what we ordered. Just think of a pancake packed with bits of bluefish distributed evenly throughout and drizzled in a sweet syrup. The best part about the johnnycake is how the honey butter isn’t overpowering which blends very well with the rest of the flavor palette. In addition to the oysters and the Johnnycake, I also ordered the Acadian redfish and chips. The breading on the fish is on the lighter side and not too crispy - helping the fish’s flavor to shine through more.

As great as the food tastes served by friendly staff, there’s only two drawbacks I can point out here: floor space is limited so you will be bumping elbows to elbows with other diners and wait times can be long if you’re not the first batch of customers to enter the restaurant. Other than those two points, the culture here is solid and a definite must try if you’re looking to eat from a great selection of oysters.


A simple, little American style restaurant located on the outskirts of North End Boston and just a couple streets down from the Paul Revere House. Something that stood out to me when I walked in was how “homey” the environment felt. The staff are pretty friendly and frequently checked in with me during the course of my dining experience. On top of friendly staff who make you feel at home, when it came to the food, the complimentary banana bread and the home fries knocked my socks off! The banana bread is chewy with loads of banana flavor and hints of nuttiness. The home fries that came along with the fig and prosciutto eggs benedict are some of the best potatoes I’ve had in Boston. Although the skins aren’t crispy (which is normally how I like my home fries to be), each bite bursts with pepper yet mellows out to a smooth finish thanks to the natural subtle flavor of the potatoes. It’s pretty clear to me why this place was so highly rated throughout the years and received numerous accolades. If you’re in the mood for a solid American joint, North Street Grille may be right up your alley. 



Located in the Omni Parker House, the Last Hurrah is a small and relaxed bar serving up cocktails and other small bites. Although this location wasn’t included within the list, I’ve added this place on the list for one reason: their Boston cream pie. The night before our flight back home, my brother pointed out how this place has a pretty exceptional cream pie - oh boy was he right. Spongy, nutty, chocolatey, and oh so creamy in the middle, if it’s a cream pie you need to eat before leaving Boston, then the cream pie has to be from The Last Hurrah. 



One of the first few restaurants I put on my list for “burger places to eat in Boston”, I’d say The Paramount has a very simple yet solid cheeseburger. It was during my research that “The Paramount” consistently popped up as a search result. To test out the claims about their Paramount Burger, I made it a mission to come here. Located just a block away from the Boston Public Garden, it’s a pretty spacious place with options to sit either inside or outside in their designated patio section.

For the star of the show, the Paramount Burger certainly lives up to its name. Although it’s not  excessive compared to something from the kitchen of Boston Burger Company, where I feel the Paramount burger shines is how the juiciness of the beef patty and the toastiness of the buns harmonize. In savoring each bite of this medium rare creation, I can share from first hand experience the juices of the beef patty is soaked up by the toasty consistency of the bun so you’re not left with soggy bread during your meal! If you’re looking for a clean tasting charred burger that’s just the right amount of toastiness, juiciness, and consistency, then you have to make your way to The Paramount.


Tenoch Mexican wasn’t in the original food list before I left for Boston, but something I’ve added to this list during the trip. Initially, I was pretty excited to eat some Mexican food and after checking the reviews I thought it would be a great place to break away from the seafood and American food I’ve been eating beforehand. Located on the outskirts of Little Italy, I’d say that Tenoch Mexican isn’t bad, however it’s not exceptional either. This place serves up your standard Mexican food such as burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and the like. If it’s something Boston doesn’t shine in (and has a lot of in general), is Mexican food. Nonetheless, I’d still recommend Tenoch Mexican as a good place to eat if you’re looking for a break from seafood/American food. I would make a stronger recommendation for this restaurant if they had a wider selection of meats to choose from. The meats they currently advertise on their menu range from the usual chicken, pork, beef, chorizo, and fish. If they served meats such as lengua, tripas, buche, and shrimp, then this would be an entirely different review. Overall, pretty average and straightforward.



Theo’s Cozy Corner was never in the original food location list - and what a sin it was to not give this place the attention it deserves. My brother and I found this place one night when looking for a breakfast place to eat the next morning. If you’re making a list of where to eat within the North End area, then I must stress how it’s an absolute necessity to go here. Although it’s a cash only business, there’s a couple stores on the same street as Theo’s with ATMs. It’s also a very small restaurant where you will be elbow to elbow with diners so be mindful of how stuff is on your person coming in. What’s pretty cool about Theo’s Cozy Corner is how it serves three different styles of food: American, Italian, and Brazilian food. I didn’t go here not only once, but twice - with the sequel being even more amazing as my first time here. 


The first time around I ordered the eggs benedict with the porto wine french toast. The eggs benedict was pretty solid - runny eggs, generous serving of hollandaise sauce, and plenty of home fries to go around. The porto wine french toast after the eggs benedict was simply otherworldly. The presentation itself looked like something straight out of a Cirque du Soleil performance. Mounds of whipped cream, strawberries galore, and showered in sprinkles, the placement of everything was a feast for the eyes alone. Although the porto wine is subtle in taste in the initial bite, its flavor profile becomes more apparent as the slice of toast melted in my mouth. If I had to describe the porto wine french toast in one word, I’d say it’s “art”.

The second time I went back to Theo’s Cozy Corner was before doing some street photography in Little Italy. This time I tried the Brazilian steak and eggs with grilled onions. The Brazilian breakfast is a hefty meal that includes two steak flanks, two eggs, a mound of white rice, and a cup of beans. If the porto wine french toast is art then the steak and eggs with grilled onions is a DaVinci masterpiece. Topped off with Theo’s orange sauce, the tanginess and kick of the sauce elevates the combined flavors of the dish to another level. The only drawback to this place besides being a cash only business and small space is wait times can be long due to the restaurant’s popularity. Nonetheless, my personal favorite restaurant and highest recommendation from this list goes to the one and only Theo’s Cozy Corner.


High-end dining simply isn’t my cup of tea, however Uni is a pretty good high-end Japanese restaurant to eat at. Portions are pretty small, so I’d recommend ordering either four or five dishes for one person. Although each dish is small in quantity, each individual dish is packed with complex and distinct flavors that excite the palate. From the menu, I highly recommend ordering the choereg bread, hokkaido uni spoon, and aburi toro (fatty tuna). Keep in mind there’s a dress code where diners are expected to dress in smart, casual clothing. Another way to put it would be to dress up like you work in tech or in finance and you’ll be set. The nice part about dining here too is the staff is pretty friendly and mindful about checking in with their guests. Another added bonus would be there’s a separate room where the reservationist can store your bags while you eat.



The first restaurant from my original list and the last one on this final list, the Union Oyster House was the first stop once my brother and I hopped off the plane. The Union Oyster House is both the oldest restaurant not only in Boston, but in the country - first opening up its doors  back in 1826. I had pretty high expectations of this place coming in. Although the lobster and breaded mac and cheese and the oysters were pretty good, I have to admit there’s other restaurants I think we're better later on during my trip. Although I believe the food to be just above average, I find this place to have the most character and history embedded within the walls and the floors relative to all the other places I ate at. For nearly two centuries (and even a pandemic!), countless visitors and well known figures have dined within these halls - making this place one of the most distinct dining experiences in the country. My consensus, as good as the food is, the history is what you need to come for. 


Final Thoughts:

While it’s true the city of Boston is well known for its vast assortment of seafood options, I’m glad to have experienced a wider range of food options in addition to what I initially thought. Although eating at a different seafood restaurant a day seemed like something I would get tired of quickly, I can respect how each seafood place I visited can distinguish themselves from their competitors - either in creativity of their menus or the historical significance to the greater Boston culture. 

As someone who was born and raised in the Bay Area, California it comes as no surprise to see no shortage of food options from many different Asian backgrounds. Traveling to Boston was a great break from the “normal life” in the bay area - both in exploring a culture with different norms than what I grew up with and tasting a flavor palette that’s more “American” in nature. There’s still so much to see, explore, and eat within Boston that I feel like I’m only scrapping the tip of the iceberg. I’m not sure when I’ll be back here, but I can definitely say I’m not done with this city. I hope you find this guide helpful and in the words of one of my favorite food critics Andrew Zimmerman, “If it looks good, then eat it!”

Adrian Noguera
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