Duckfat's house specialty: hand-cut Maine potato fries fried twice in rendered duck fat, served in a paper cone with one of seven dipping sauces (truffle ketchup, curry mayo, garlic aioli). Maine's most photographed fry.
Duckfat opened on Middle Street in Portland in 2005 under chef Rob Evans (formerly of Hugo's, the city's first James Beard winner) and his wife Nancy Pugh. The conceit was a casual sandwich shop where the fries were the structural centrepiece: hand-cut Maine potatoes fried twice in pure duck fat, in the Belgian frites tradition rather than the American style. The dish became Maine's most-photographed plate of food, written up by Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, and the New York Times within the first three years. Evans expanded with Duckfat Frites Shack at Allagash Brewing and a takeaway shop, but the original Middle Street counter remains the canonical address.
3 editor picks for Duckfat Belgian Fries in Portland, ranked by editorial score. All Portland signature dishes · Duckfat Belgian Fries across every city.
Duckfat ★ 4.6
india-street · 43 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
Duckfat on Middle Street opened 2005 from Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh and rebuilt the Portland sandwich shop around twice-fried Belgian frites in duck fat.
Duckfat Frites Shack ★ 4.6
east-bayside · 43 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04101
Duckfat Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the takeout sibling to Duckfat, serving duck fat fries, fried snacks, milkshakes and beer at a shared patio.
Bite Into Maine at Allagash ★ 4.5
north-deering · 50 Industrial Way, Portland, ME 04103
Bite Into Maine runs its lobster-roll truck and counter at the Allagash Brewing taproom on Industrial Way, Connecticut-style warm butter on a top-split bun.