Whole-belly soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria), dredged in evaporated milk and corn flour, then deep-fried until crisp. Maine clam shacks favour whole-belly over strip; the milk-and-corn-flour dredge produces a lacy crust.
Fried clams trace to Woodman's of Essex, Massachusetts, where Chubby Woodman is credited with the first fried clam in 1916. The Maine variant, almost exclusively whole-belly (not strip clams), spread along the working waterfronts through the 1930s and 1940s. The dredging in evaporated milk and corn flour, rather than batter, gives the canonical lacy crust. Portland's Becky's Diner, Bite Into Maine and the Old Port seafood rooms all run them seasonally; the Mid-Coast clam shacks from Wiscasset to Camden are the day-trip destinations.
4 editor picks for Fried Maine clams in Portland, ranked by editorial score. All Portland signature dishes · Fried Maine clams across every city.
Harbor Fish Market ★ 4.7
old-port · 9 Custom House Wharf, Portland, ME 04101
Harbor Fish Market on Custom House Wharf has been the Portland working waterfront's retail fish counter since 1969, with lobster, fresh-cut fish and oysters.
Scales ★ 4.5
old-port · 68 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
Scales on Maine Wharf opened March 2016 from Sam Hayward, Dana Street and Victor Leon (the Fore Street team) with whole local fish, oysters and a raw bar.
Becky's Diner ★ 4.3
old-port · 390 Commercial 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.
Boone's Fish House + Oyster Room ★ 4.3
old-port · 6 Custom House Wharf, Portland, ME 04101
Boone's Fish House on Custom House Wharf reopened 2014 on the site of the 1898 original, with Maine lobster rolls, halibut and fish chowder on the deck.