Duckfat is a sandwiches restaurant in India Street, Portland.
Duckfat on Middle Street, since 2005 from Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh, is the Portland sandwich shop built around twice-fried Belgian frites cooked in duck fat.
Signature dishes: Duck fat fries, Meatloaf panino, Beignets
Must order: Large duck fat fries with truffle ketchup, plus the meatloaf panino.
Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 22:00. The Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the quicker takeout window.
Address: 43 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has been on Portland's working waterfront since 1991, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and the breakfast queue behind.
Signature: Becky's pancakes, Eggs with hash, Fish chowder
Order: A short stack with bacon and a cup of clam chowder, the diner's classic combo.
Tip: Open daily 05:00 to 21:00. Cash and card both fine; queues longest 09:00 to 11:00 weekends.
Boda on Congress Street, since 2010 from Bob Wongsaichua and Dan Sriprasert, is Portland's Thai street food room with grilled meats, curries and noodles.
Signature: Grilled chicken with sticky rice, Pad see ew, Khao soi
Order: Grilled chicken with sticky rice and nam jim jaew dipping sauce.
Tip: Daily 16:00 to 22:00. Reservations via their site; walk-ins at the bar.
Pai Men Miyake on State Street, since 2009 from Chef Masa Miyake of Miyake, runs tonkotsu ramen, charcoal yakitori and izakaya plates from a small open bar.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Yakitori, Pork belly buns
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with the soft-boiled egg upgrade.
Tip: Daily lunch and dinner; OpenTable for dinner reservations, walk-ins at lunch.
OTTO Pizza on Congress Street, since 2009, is the flagship of the Portland slice chain that runs unconventional toppings on hand-tossed thin crust.
Signature: Mashed potato bacon scallion pizza, Pulled pork and mango pizza, Slice counter
Order: A slice of mashed potato bacon scallion and a slice of pulled pork mango.
Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 22:00. Slice counter walks in; whole pies via phone or online.
Rose Foods on Forest Avenue, since 2017 from Chad Conley, is Portland's Jewish deli with hand-rolled bagels, house-cured lox and matzo ball soup.
Signature: Lox bagel, Matzo ball soup, Pastrami sandwich
Order: The lox bagel with whipped cream cheese, plus matzo ball soup.
Tip: Daily 07:30 to 14:00. Counter ordering; takeout is fast at peak weekend brunch.
Green Elephant on Congress Street, since 2007 from Dan Sriprasert and Bob Wongsaichua, is Portland's all-vegetarian Thai kitchen by the State Theatre.
Signature: Vegan coconut soup, Mango curry, Veggie pad thai
Order: The vegan coconut soup, then the mango curry over jasmine rice.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday lunch 11:30 to 14:30 and dinner 17:00 to 21:30; Sunday and Monday dinner only.
