Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
New England fish and chips is beer-battered or breadcrumbed haddock or cod, deep-fried until crisp, served with thick-cut fries and tartar sauce. The Friday-night Catholic-Irish staple in Boston since the 1880s.
Cod was the foundation of Boston's pre-revolution economy: the dried-salt cod trade with the Caribbean financed the city's merchant class through the 1700s. The Sacred Cod, a five-foot pine carving, has hung in the Massachusetts State House since 1784 to memorialise the fish. Boston's Irish-Catholic immigrant wave after the 1840s built Friday-night fish-and-chips into the standard family meal, supported by the church's no-meat-Friday rule. The dish reaches the table breaded or beer-battered; haddock has replaced cod as the kitchen-side default since cod stocks collapsed in the 1990s. Union Oyster House, Legal Sea Foods and South End Buttery keep the classic plate on the menu year round.
4 editor picks for New England fish and chips in Boston, ranked by editorial score. All Boston signature dishes · New England fish and chips across every city.
Also in: Auckland, Edinburgh, London, Santa Monica.
James Hook & Co on Atlantic Avenue has sold live lobster and lobster rolls from the harbor wharf in Boston since 1925. Located in Seaport Fort Point.
OrderLobster roll with mayo, $28, served cold on a buttered split-top bun.
TipTake-out window, eat on the waterfront bench out back. The retail counter sells live lobsters at wholesale prices.
Union Oyster House on Union Street has shucked oysters in Boston since 1826, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States.
OrderA dozen Wellfleets at the U-shaped bar and a cup of clam chowder.
TipSkip the dining-room tables and sit at the historic raw bar. The bar is the original 1826 plank.
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue has run the South End's all-day cafe-and-bistro in Boston since 2005. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans american.
OrderButtermilk pancakes with maple syrup and crispy bacon.
TipBrunch books on Resy; walk-in line moves in 30 minutes. The bakery counter at the front is the easy take-away seat.
Legal Sea Foods on Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium in Boston, has anchored the chain's flagship since 1968. Kitchen leans seafood.
OrderA cup of clam chowder, the recipe served at five presidential inaugurations.
TipLunch with a harbor-side window is the best seat. The raw bar runs daily until 22:00.
New England fish and chips makes more sense with someone from Boston explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Sample and learn about iconic Boston dishes as you’re treated to the city’s best spots for Lobster Rolls, New England Clam Chowder, Boston Baked Beans and Brown Bread ...
Guided tour · 2 hours
Choose a 2-hour express or 3-hour full Boston food tour. Taste clam chowder, arancini, brick oven pizza, cannoli, and more while exploring the North End’s history and ...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Sample Boston's most iconic seafood dishes on a guided walking tour. Enjoy fresh, local favorites and learn about local history during your adventure.
