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A close-up shot of a man sprinkling seasoning on top of a bowl of udon. — Some of the best noodles in Boston can be found at Yume Ga Arukara.

The 38 Essential Restaurants in Boston

The definitive guide to where to eat in and around the city right now

by Eater Staff Updated Apr 9, 2024, 4:04pm EDT

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Some of the best noodles in Boston can be found at Yume Ga Arukara.

| Zachary Sousa/Yume Ga Arukara

by Eater Staff Updated Apr 9, 2024, 4:04pm EDT

Welcome to Boston’s Eater 38, otherwise known as the answer to any question that begins with: “Can you recommend a restaurant?”

Whether new to Boston or a lifelong resident, an eater will find much to explore here: The city is lucky to have an incredible seafood-filled dining scene, for one thing, but there’s so much more, including world-class bowls of udon, fantastic banh mi, flavor-packed Mediterranean on a romantic patio, and funky wines in intimate bars.

As such, this elite group of 38 must-try restaurants is meant to cover the city of Boston and a little bit beyond while spanning multiple cuisines, costs, and neighborhoods, collectively satisfying every restaurant need.

Every quarter, Eater Boston adds a few pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months), or have stepped up their game. As such, a few restaurants are retired from the map each quarter — not necessarily forever — to make room.

This quarter, we welcome three new additions to the map: Yume Ga Arukara, an udon sensation that recently expanded into the Seaport, Peruvian showstopper La Royal in Cambridge, and Lehrhaus, an ambitious recent addition to the city that traces the many threads of the Jewish diaspora.

(Check out the Eater Boston Heatmap to find the hottest new restaurants in town right this very second.)

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Spoke Wine Bar

It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on sambal cured mackerel, for example, with coconut, milk bread, and Thai basil, or savory doughnuts made with sunchokes. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. Cocktails with interesting ingredients — fermented plantain, habanada pepper, “secrets” — round out the menu.

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89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

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A plate with slices of duck breast, whole peppers, and green apple slices fanned out on the dish. — Chilled coffee-poached duck breast served with apple slices and pickled pepper.

Sugidama

A nearly decade-old staple of Somerville’s Davis Square, izakaya and soba shop Sugidama recently re-joined the restaurant scene after a nearly year-long hiatus while the spot moved down the block. The shiny, light-filled space is a calm, cozy respite where diners can dig into some of the best soba around Boston. The snappy buckwheat noodles are excellent, and Sugidama’s signature umami-rich broth is a smoky, savory delight. An array of sushi, donburi, and yakitori fill out the menu.

264 Elm Street, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

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A large white bowl filled with a brown broth, soba noodles, and green lettuces. — A hot bowl of soba from Sugidama.

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La Royal

We generally try to avoid having the same restaurant group make multiple appearances on the Eater 38, but in the case of La Royal, from the same folks behind the award-winning Peruvian stunner Celeste, it’s really just that good. JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau didn’t miss a beat at La Royal, which cultivates the same transportive, fun-night-out energy in a larger space. The tart, punchy ceviches sing here, as well as regional plates that nod to different aspects of Peruvian culture and food, including some Peruvian-Chinese, or Chifa, plates like stir-fried noodles with seafood or vegetables. On the drinks side, the pisco martini has won fans from all over, and the classic pisco sour hits the spot every time.

221 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Overhead view of an array of colorful dishes on a metallic table surface, including a whole grilled and steamed fish, a burger, two giant prawns coming out of a bisque, and more. — A spread of dishes at La Royal in Cambridge.

Giulia

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Cambridge’s Giulia is an especially beloved destination thanks to its impressive take on the cuisine and its warm staff. If the pappardelle with wild boar is available, get it, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia, especially among the meticulously made pasta dishes. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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A shallow bowl filled with yellow pasta noodles topped with green arugula leaves and white parmesan shavings. — A satisfying bowl of pasta at Giulia.

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Barra

This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and bacanora. Those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio in warmer months; it’s the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers and drink mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails.

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Interior of a small bar, dimly lit with green accents. The bar itself is lined with corrugated galvanized aluminum. The bar’s name, Barra, is hand-painted in thick black paint on the wall, and a spotlight casts lines through the leaves of a potted plant. — Inside Barra.

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Celeste

Celeste, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year in 2018, is a dreamy little spot in Somerville’s Union Square, serving flavorful Peruvian in a neighborhood known for its Peruvian options. All are worthy destinations, but Celeste is the spot for bright ceviche, fragrant lomo saltado, and the feeling of sipping pisco as the honored guest at the joyfully crowded dinner party of co-founders JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau.

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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A vibrantly colored portion of ceviche is presented on a white plate on a white table, with a glass of beer on the side. — Ceviche at Celeste.

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Taquería Jalisco

Ask any local about the best Mexican restaurant in Boston, and the conversation will inevitably turn to Taquería Jalisco. For nearly 25 years, Bostonians have been packing into this welcoming little spot to get their hands on bowls of belly-warming pozole, tacos stuffed with juicy carnitas, spicy pork tamales, and some truly excellent scoops of rice and refried beans. Top off each order with a sweet, fresh fruit juice, including pineapple or tamarind.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

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An oval plate topped with a dark brown salsa and a tamale wrapped in a corn husk. — A pork tamale at Taquería Jalisco.

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Lehrhaus

A great restaurant can do multiple things — serve excellent food, sure, but also provide a window into different cultures and traditions for far less money than a plane ticket. At Lehrhaus, Somerville’s self-proclaimed Jewish tavern and house of learning (why not drop in on a class while you’re around), the team aims to dismantle stereotypes about Jewish food by tracing the Jewish diaspora through many corners of the world, from fish and chips with Old Bay-seasoned fries (invented by a German Jewish immigrant in Baltimore) to Southern-inflected mac-and-cheese kugel and Eastern European kasha with miso tahini eggplant. Don’t pass up a cocktail while you’re here; the person who dreamt up the bar program, Naomi Levy, is one of the best in the business.

425 Washington St (Beacon St), Somerville, MA 02143

A high-ceilinged space with bookshelves, big, puffy couches and chairs and sun streaming in through large front windows. — Inside Lehrhaus.

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Moona

Moona is a delicious tribute to Eastern Mediterranean ingredients intertwined with New England seasonality. The snug, 30-seat restaurant starts with rigorously sourced pantry ingredients — such as olive oils, spice blends, and different molasses varieties — and goes to work from there, turning out sublime meze like a creamy eggplant fatteh with grape molasses, grilled shish tawouk (a Lebanese-style chicken kebab) with a garlicky, tangy dollop of toum, and golden-fried feta fritters drizzled with an orange blossom honey. The ratio of plates ordered to table space available is always a challenge at Moona, and that’s just part of the fun.

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A small pile of fried orange fritters garnished with green diced scallions sits on a small blue plate. — The crowd-favorite feta fritters served with orange blossom honey.

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Puritan & Company

An homage to New England, Inman Square’s Puritan & Co. dresses up local classics beautifully. This isn’t your grandmother’s baked cod, unless she serves it wrapped in phyllo dough and with lobster stew on the side. It’s the place to go for spot-on scallops, roast chicken, and Parker House rolls, or buckle in for a chef’s-choice ride with the seasonal, five-course tasting menu for $75 per person.

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1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A plate with a single square roll topped with flaky salt and a swirl of butter on the side. — A perfect Parker House roll at Puritan & Company.

Wusong Road

One way to tell you’re about to have a great night? Take notice of a restaurant’s ability to transport you to a different locale once you step through the doorway. Wusong Road scores extremely high marks here. Chef and owner Jason Doo’s American Chinese restaurant and accompanying bar is a lush, tiki-filled escape. Sip on rum-soaked drinks, eat crab rangoons and maple pork dumplings, and enjoy the vacation.

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112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Two wooden peacock-style chairs sit in front of an intricately carved wooden table in a tiki-themed restaurant. — Inside Wusong Road.

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Oleana

This gem of Greater Boston goes hand in hand with its Somerville sibling, Sarma, in serving quality, memorable meals, drawing inspiration from Turkey and elsewhere around the Mediterranean coastline. The cozy restaurant has one of the most romantic patios around, and its seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time. The restaurant has an inventive cocktail menu, with a wide array of sherry and aperitifs, and it’s famous for its baked Alaska dessert.

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A tall baked Alaska with a tower of toasted meringue sits on a white plate in a pool of yellow sauce. — Oleana’s baked Alaska.

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Cicada

Lively and artsy and full of tropical greenery, not to mention furniture restored by cofounder and chef Vinh Le, Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar Cicada transports its diners thousands of miles away with dishes like black rice topped with mushrooms and eggplant; noodle salad topped with cured salmon; and a selection of banh mi. In warmer weather, definitely snag a spot in the peaceful back garden.

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106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Three banh mi with different fillings sit on a straw tray on a beige tiled floor — Banh mi at Cicada.

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Regina Pizzeria

Follow the neon red sign to one of the best pizzerias in town: Regina, a nearly 100-year-old Boston institution. You may see the bright Regina logo at plenty of other places in town — the pizzeria now has outposts in malls, grocery stores, and food halls — but for the quintessential Regina experience, nothing beats the North End shop.

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

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Exterior of Regina Pizzeria in the North End. — Regina Pizzeria in the North End.

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Neptune Oyster

It may be a couple of decades old, but North End seafood stalwart Neptune Oyster is still topping national best restaurant lists. Yes, it’s walk-ins only. Yes, there will be a line. If you’re lucky, you’ll nab a bar seat and settle into a plate of ice-cold oysters, a crisp glass of wine, and an unbeatable people-watching scene. You’ll be glad you waited.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

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An overhead photo of a lobster roll with a grilled hot dog bun and a pile of fries on the side. — A hot lobster roll and fries at Neptune Oyster.

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haley.henry

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; a ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat smoky sprats in oil, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as beef sliders; mix-and-match charcuterie boards, and, on the larger side, sirloin steak and salmon plates.

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45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

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The interior of an intimate wine bar that has a bit of a nautical vibe. — The intimate bar at Haley Henry.

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Taiwan Cafe

Boston’s Chinatown is an essential dining destination for newcomers and locals alike, and Taiwan Cafe is one of its most reliable staples, serving an extensive selection of Taiwanese dishes as well as a bit of Sichuan cuisine. For the former, try the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings, the duck and cold beef over rice, and a roast beef scallion pancake roll; for the latter, the Sichuan-style white fish in chile oil always satisfies.

34 Oxford St, Boston, MA 02111

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Slices of a flaky white fish sit in a fiery red broth in a metal bowl over a flame. It’s on a table inside a busy, casual restaurant. — Sichuan fish at Taiwan Cafe.

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Peach Farm

Peach Farm is the quintessential Chinatown destination, known especially as a late-night haunt for Boston’s restaurant industry workers. Open until midnight, the busy basement space is still the place to go for lobster with ginger and scallions or roast duck or really anything from the enormous menu. (When in doubt, go for a seafood dish.)

4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

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A plate with a blue border embellished by birds holds a portion of lobster with scallions and ginger — Lobster with scallions and ginger at Peach Farm.

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Yume Ga Arukara

Yume Ga Arukara’s niku udon is legendary around these parts, and for good reason. The chewy, bouncy noodles are well worth the lines they conjure up, either at the restaurant’s original, shoebox-sized space inside the Porter Exchange food hall at Lesley University, or at its flashy new sibling restaurant at the Seaport. There’s little choice here — the udon is served either hot or cold; spicy or not — which leaves less time for deliberation and more time for slurping those noodles.

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70 Pier Four Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

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A blue ceramic bowl filled with noodles, sliced beef, and green garnishes in a brown broth. — The star of the show at Yume Ga Arukara.

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Mooncusser

Mooncusser is a fine dining restaurant, but it’s far from the hushed, stuffy image that phrase can conjure up in Boston. The experimental tasting menu riffs off of New England ingredients without getting bogged down by tradition, which makes it a fun, forward-thinking ride to buckle into for a night. If you like a particular dish, savor each bite, because chef Carl Dooley and his team rip up the menu and rewrite it every six weeks or so.

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

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A white plate with scallops set in a creamy yellow sauce and topped with nuts, green grapes, and a green herb garnish. — Scallops and sliced grapes from a past Mooncusser tasting menu.

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Row 34

This lively spot is the embodiment of Boston’s modern New England seafood scene. Row 34 is one of several key players in the Fort Point restaurant boom, drawing massive crowds to a once-quiet section of town. With a creative beer list, ultra-fresh seafood, and some of the best lobster rolls in town, this is one of the trickiest reservations to make. (Try the recently opened Cambridge spot or the suburban location in Burlington if you can’t get into this location.)

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

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A lobster roll on a white plate with a side cup of slaw and potato chips. — A warm buttered lobster roll.

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Krasi

Krasi, a swanky Greek wine bar and restaurant located just off of a bustling corner of Newbury Street in Back Bay, opened just before the pandemic hit in 2020. Now, you’ll be lucky if you score a reservation. The team is top-notch: Krasi’s executive chef Valentine Howell was a James Beard finalist in 2023, and expert wine director Evan Turner leads a bunch of fun programs at the restaurant, including a monthly wine club.

48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115

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A spread of Greek food on a clear glass table that’s set over a platform of greenery. The table includes breads, dips, a glass of red wine, and more. — A spread of food at Krasi.

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Fox & the Knife

The first solo restaurant from James Beard award winner Karen Akunowicz, Fox & the Knife was named one of the best new restaurants in the country when it opened in 2019, and today it remains Akunowicz’s love letter to Italian cooking, particularly the Emilia-Romagna region. Her stacked team consists of master bakers, pasta makers, and chefs who turn out beautiful dishes, such as spaghetti with clams, saffron, and tomato butter, and tagliatelle Bolognese; the cheesy focaccia is a must. Pair it all with an aperitivi flight.

28 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

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Overhead view of a round white plate filled with bright green twists of pasta. — Campanelle al pesto di pistacchio at Fox & the Knife.

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Kava Neo-Taverna

Boston’s seen some major growth in its Greek food scene over the last few years, including openings like Kava Neo-Taverna, which debuted in 2016. The restaurant has really made a niche for itself in the South End with dishes like fried zucchini chips, keftedes, and oktapodi. In-the-know diners will save room for the honey-drizzled Greek yogurt dessert at this date-night spot.

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2112, 315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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An overhead shot of small white plates filled with various meat and vegetable dishes. — The imam, a baked eggplant dish at Kava.

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Toro

At Toro, industry heavyweights Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette produced one of the city's most popular restaurants, period. Open for almost two decades in the South End, Toro serves modern and traditional Spanish tapas ranging from simple-yet-delicious pan con tomate to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up at the energetic spot. Definitely eat your way through plenty of small plates, but try the paella, too.

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

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Two thick slices of bread topped with red tomato sauce, criss-crossed anchovies, and dollops of white cream. — Toro’s incredible pan con tomate.

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Blossom Bar

Blossom Bar, sibling to Woburn’s acclaimed Baldwin Bar, is one of Greater Boston’s top cocktail destinations, but it’s also worth visiting for the food. The emphasis is on Sichuan cuisine, with plenty of bold, spicy options available; try the Chengdu dry hot chicken, spicy dry rubbed beef brisket, and the pork dumplings with chile vinaigrette. An “American comfort” section rounds out the menu, such as chicken, beef, or shrimp stir-fry and General Tso’s chicken.

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295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A boozy dole whip sits in a Blossom Bar branded glass, with a pineapple in the background. — Duan’s Whip at Blossom Bar.

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Mahaniyom

The concise menu at quirky, boozy Thai restaurant Mahaniyom features dishes you won’t readily find elsewhere in the Boston-area Thai scene — many of them small plates that pair particularly well with one of the restaurant’s tasty cocktails or a mild Thai lager. Fill up on crispy chicken skins; seasonal fruit salads like rambutan with fried shrimp and toasted coconut; salt-and-pepper pork cheek; and green papaya pad thai.

236 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A Thai pomelo salad with shrimp, betel leaves, thinly sliced red chile, and a variety of crispy condiments sits in a black bowl on a wooden table in front of a brick background. — Yum som-o (pomelo salad), which appeared on Mahaniyom’s opening menu. The current salad features rambutan.

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Thistle & Leek

Like other restaurants on this list, Thistle & Leek uses the New England seasons as a guidepost for the menu, shifting in vegetables like beets, tomatoes, carrots, and pumpkin as it makes sense throughout the year. But it’s the well-executed, globe-trotting experimentation — charred bok choy dressed in a lemongrass curry and sprinkled with peanuts; thick and sturdy romano beans piled over a black lime yogurt — that makes the restaurant an essential stop on this list. Apart from the seasonal fun, don’t miss the always-on-the-menu lamb meatballs, bathed in a subtle tomato and ginger curry and served with slices of puffy naan to scoop up every drop of sauce. Oh, and don’t forget dessert.

105 Union St, Newton, MA 02459

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A small metal dish with two handles on either side, filled with a red sauce, three meatballs, a parsley garnish, and two slices of naan tucked on the side of the bowl. — Lamb meatballs in a tomato and ginger curry at Thistle & Leek.

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Suya Joint

Amid Boston’s impressive African restaurant scene, Suya Joint is an exemplary dining experience in the city. Nigerian chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte oversees a menu of delicious West African fare, including an outstanding rendition of egusi stew, a Nigerian staple thickened with ground pumpkin seeds, and suya chicken wings coated in a subtly spicy seasoning blend.

185 Dudley St, Boston, MA 02119

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The Oxtail Pepper Stew, $8.75, shown with pounded yam fufu, at right, taushe (peanut soup) at back left, and stewed black eyed peas, back right. — Suya Joint’s oxtail pepper stew with pounded yam fufu, taushe (peanut soup) and stewed black-eyed peas.

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Blue Nile

For unbeatable Ethiopian food and house-made tej, or honey wine, head to JP’s Blue Nile, a handsome restaurant where you can use tangy injera to scoop up saucy specialties ranging from tender lamb to spicy red lentil dish misir wat (one of six vegetarian sides included in the “veggie revenge” combo).

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389 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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Yellow lentils, stewed carrots, lettuces, and chicken in a red sauce are scooped over an unfurled brown circle of injera on a blue and green patterned plate. — A two-person feast at Blue Nile.

Merengue Restaurant

This restaurant has been dishing out Dominican food on Blue Hill Avenue for a quarter of a century. Merengue’s excellent cocktail list includes a number of frozen daiquiris (get the passionfruit), as well as a variety of margaritas and mojitos. The grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce and the stuffed shrimp tostones are must-orders, as are the fried pork chops and grilled steak with peppers and onions. Oh, and the mofongo is among the best in the city.

156 Blue Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02125

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A restaurant interior features bold pink walls, bright blue accents, and colorful art. — Merengue’s colorful interiors.

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Tres Gatos

Jamaica Plain mainstay Tres Gatos puts several of life’s finest pleasures together in a single eclectic destination: Snack on Spanish tapas including lamb bocadillos, gambas al ajillo, and boquerones in an old house while sipping on cocktails and then saunter to the record store out back, with shelves packed full of records and books in numerous genres.

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A mixed seafood and meat paella with clams and head-on shrimp, garnished with green sprigs of parsley. — The paella is worth the extra wait time.

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Comfort Kitchen

A beloved pop-up gone permanent in Dorchester’s Upham’s Corner, Comfort Kitchen has made many waves since its debut in January 2023. It nabbed a five-star review in the Boston Globe, was named one of the New York Times’ 50 best restaurants of 2023, and was honored on Eater Boston’s 2023 awards list. The restaurant explores the African diaspora and global spice trade routes by way of standout dishes like a za’atar brown butter trout, seared okra with masala-spiced yogurt, and jerk-roasted duck legs. Pair the meal with a well-balanced drink from Comfort Kitchen’s exemplary cocktail program.

611 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

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A whole roasted fish set over a smoked eggplant puree and tomato salad, and topped with a green onion chimichurri. — Comfort Kitchen’s crispy, delicious za’atar brown butter trout.

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Singh's Roti Shop

Roti, a dish that originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad), consists of curried stew served with or wrapped by a flatbread that is similar in constitution and taste to the kind you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. While there are several fine roti shops in Boston, the house-made hot sauce at Singh’s pushes this Dorchester Avenue spot ahead of the competition. Order the goat roti, and get doubles, too, a dish that sandwiches sweet and spicy chickpeas between two delicately fried pieces of dough.

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

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A serving of doubles — spicy and sweet chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried dough — sits on white paper on a counter, illuminated by a glowing blue light. — Doubles at Singh’s Roti Shop.

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Banh Mi Ba Le

This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passionfruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

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Hands hold two banh mi over pavement — Banh mi (one with beef, one with tofu) from Banh Mi Ba Le.

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Tonino

This tiny gift of a restaurant — truly, the dining room is not much bigger than yours at home — has quickly established itself as a quiet force to be reckoned with in Boston’s Italian restaurant scene. The tightly edited menu features a handful of pizzas, pasta, and small plates that are all hits, from the clams bathing in a broth studded with melt-in-your-mouth guanciale to the tiny pockets of cappelletti bursting with warm taleggio cheese. Don’t leave without ordering a bowl of tiramisu.

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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A bowl of open clams with a brown sauce visible underneath and a garnish of green basil leaves, and ripped up squares of fluffy bread on the side. — Tonino’s countneck clams with a side of pizza bianca to mop up the sauce.

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

Brassica was an early example of Boston’s growing trend of successful pop-ups putting down roots. This JP gem has a casual, neighborhood feel, but the creative menu has fine-dining undercurrents, highlighting local ingredients in playful ways while drawing inspiration from around the globe. The fried chicken is one of the best in town, and there’s a healthy dose of fermented and funky ingredients on the menu.

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A white plate with three giant pieces of fried chicken and four wedges of waffle, plus a cup of red sauce on the side. — That gorgeous fried chicken, served with waffles at brunchtime.

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Rubato

A modern spin on a Hong Kong-style cafe, Rubato has been a crowd-favorite addition to the Boston-area restaurant scene. It has scooped up awards left and right since its opening, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of the best new restaurants of the year in 2023 and Eater Boston’s best new restaurant in 2023. Go for decadent French toasts oozing with creamy egg yolk, bouncy ji cheung fun (rice rolls) with toppings including beef brisket and curry fish balls, and one of the city’s best fried chicken sandwiches.

412 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

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A fried chicken sandwich on a metal serving tray. — Rubato’s fried chicken bolo.

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Spoke Wine Bar

89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on sambal cured mackerel, for example, with coconut, milk bread, and Thai basil, or savory doughnuts made with sunchokes. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. Cocktails with interesting ingredients — fermented plantain, habanada pepper, “secrets” — round out the menu.

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89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

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A plate with slices of duck breast, whole peppers, and green apple slices fanned out on the dish. — Chilled coffee-poached duck breast served with apple slices and pickled pepper.

Sugidama

264 Elm Street, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

A nearly decade-old staple of Somerville’s Davis Square, izakaya and soba shop Sugidama recently re-joined the restaurant scene after a nearly year-long hiatus while the spot moved down the block. The shiny, light-filled space is a calm, cozy respite where diners can dig into some of the best soba around Boston. The snappy buckwheat noodles are excellent, and Sugidama’s signature umami-rich broth is a smoky, savory delight. An array of sushi, donburi, and yakitori fill out the menu.

264 Elm Street, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

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A large white bowl filled with a brown broth, soba noodles, and green lettuces. — A hot bowl of soba from Sugidama.

La Royal

221 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

We generally try to avoid having the same restaurant group make multiple appearances on the Eater 38, but in the case of La Royal, from the same folks behind the award-winning Peruvian stunner Celeste, it’s really just that good. JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau didn’t miss a beat at La Royal, which cultivates the same transportive, fun-night-out energy in a larger space. The tart, punchy ceviches sing here, as well as regional plates that nod to different aspects of Peruvian culture and food, including some Peruvian-Chinese, or Chifa, plates like stir-fried noodles with seafood or vegetables. On the drinks side, the pisco martini has won fans from all over, and the classic pisco sour hits the spot every time.

221 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Overhead view of an array of colorful dishes on a metallic table surface, including a whole grilled and steamed fish, a burger, two giant prawns coming out of a bisque, and more. — A spread of dishes at La Royal in Cambridge.

Giulia

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Cambridge’s Giulia is an especially beloved destination thanks to its impressive take on the cuisine and its warm staff. If the pappardelle with wild boar is available, get it, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia, especially among the meticulously made pasta dishes. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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A shallow bowl filled with yellow pasta noodles topped with green arugula leaves and white parmesan shavings. — A satisfying bowl of pasta at Giulia.

Barra

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and bacanora. Those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio in warmer months; it’s the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers and drink mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails.

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Interior of a small bar, dimly lit with green accents. The bar itself is lined with corrugated galvanized aluminum. The bar’s name, Barra, is hand-painted in thick black paint on the wall, and a spotlight casts lines through the leaves of a potted plant. — Inside Barra.

Celeste

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

Celeste, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year in 2018, is a dreamy little spot in Somerville’s Union Square, serving flavorful Peruvian in a neighborhood known for its Peruvian options. All are worthy destinations, but Celeste is the spot for bright ceviche, fragrant lomo saltado, and the feeling of sipping pisco as the honored guest at the joyfully crowded dinner party of co-founders JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau.

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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A vibrantly colored portion of ceviche is presented on a white plate on a white table, with a glass of beer on the side. — Ceviche at Celeste.

Taquería Jalisco

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

Ask any local about the best Mexican restaurant in Boston, and the conversation will inevitably turn to Taquería Jalisco. For nearly 25 years, Bostonians have been packing into this welcoming little spot to get their hands on bowls of belly-warming pozole, tacos stuffed with juicy carnitas, spicy pork tamales, and some truly excellent scoops of rice and refried beans. Top off each order with a sweet, fresh fruit juice, including pineapple or tamarind.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

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An oval plate topped with a dark brown salsa and a tamale wrapped in a corn husk. — A pork tamale at Taquería Jalisco.

Lehrhaus

425 Washington St (Beacon St), Somerville, MA 02143

A great restaurant can do multiple things — serve excellent food, sure, but also provide a window into different cultures and traditions for far less money than a plane ticket. At Lehrhaus, Somerville’s self-proclaimed Jewish tavern and house of learning (why not drop in on a class while you’re around), the team aims to dismantle stereotypes about Jewish food by tracing the Jewish diaspora through many corners of the world, from fish and chips with Old Bay-seasoned fries (invented by a German Jewish immigrant in Baltimore) to Southern-inflected mac-and-cheese kugel and Eastern European kasha with miso tahini eggplant. Don’t pass up a cocktail while you’re here; the person who dreamt up the bar program, Naomi Levy, is one of the best in the business.

425 Washington St (Beacon St), Somerville, MA 02143

A high-ceilinged space with bookshelves, big, puffy couches and chairs and sun streaming in through large front windows. — Inside Lehrhaus.

Moona

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Moona is a delicious tribute to Eastern Mediterranean ingredients intertwined with New England seasonality. The snug, 30-seat restaurant starts with rigorously sourced pantry ingredients — such as olive oils, spice blends, and different molasses varieties — and goes to work from there, turning out sublime meze like a creamy eggplant fatteh with grape molasses, grilled shish tawouk (a Lebanese-style chicken kebab) with a garlicky, tangy dollop of toum, and golden-fried feta fritters drizzled with an orange blossom honey. The ratio of plates ordered to table space available is always a challenge at Moona, and that’s just part of the fun.

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A small pile of fried orange fritters garnished with green diced scallions sits on a small blue plate. — The crowd-favorite feta fritters served with orange blossom honey.

Puritan & Company

1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

An homage to New England, Inman Square’s Puritan & Co. dresses up local classics beautifully. This isn’t your grandmother’s baked cod, unless she serves it wrapped in phyllo dough and with lobster stew on the side. It’s the place to go for spot-on scallops, roast chicken, and Parker House rolls, or buckle in for a chef’s-choice ride with the seasonal, five-course tasting menu for $75 per person.

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1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A plate with a single square roll topped with flaky salt and a swirl of butter on the side. — A perfect Parker House roll at Puritan & Company.

Wusong Road

112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

One way to tell you’re about to have a great night? Take notice of a restaurant’s ability to transport you to a different locale once you step through the doorway. Wusong Road scores extremely high marks here. Chef and owner Jason Doo’s American Chinese restaurant and accompanying bar is a lush, tiki-filled escape. Sip on rum-soaked drinks, eat crab rangoons and maple pork dumplings, and enjoy the vacation.

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112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Two wooden peacock-style chairs sit in front of an intricately carved wooden table in a tiki-themed restaurant. — Inside Wusong Road.

Oleana

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

This gem of Greater Boston goes hand in hand with its Somerville sibling, Sarma, in serving quality, memorable meals, drawing inspiration from Turkey and elsewhere around the Mediterranean coastline. The cozy restaurant has one of the most romantic patios around, and its seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time. The restaurant has an inventive cocktail menu, with a wide array of sherry and aperitifs, and it’s famous for its baked Alaska dessert.

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A tall baked Alaska with a tower of toasted meringue sits on a white plate in a pool of yellow sauce. — Oleana’s baked Alaska.

Cicada

106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Lively and artsy and full of tropical greenery, not to mention furniture restored by cofounder and chef Vinh Le, Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar Cicada transports its diners thousands of miles away with dishes like black rice topped with mushrooms and eggplant; noodle salad topped with cured salmon; and a selection of banh mi. In warmer weather, definitely snag a spot in the peaceful back garden.

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106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Three banh mi with different fillings sit on a straw tray on a beige tiled floor — Banh mi at Cicada.

Regina Pizzeria

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

Follow the neon red sign to one of the best pizzerias in town: Regina, a nearly 100-year-old Boston institution. You may see the bright Regina logo at plenty of other places in town — the pizzeria now has outposts in malls, grocery stores, and food halls — but for the quintessential Regina experience, nothing beats the North End shop.

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

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Exterior of Regina Pizzeria in the North End. — Regina Pizzeria in the North End.

Neptune Oyster

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

It may be a couple of decades old, but North End seafood stalwart Neptune Oyster is still topping national best restaurant lists. Yes, it’s walk-ins only. Yes, there will be a line. If you’re lucky, you’ll nab a bar seat and settle into a plate of ice-cold oysters, a crisp glass of wine, and an unbeatable people-watching scene. You’ll be glad you waited.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

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An overhead photo of a lobster roll with a grilled hot dog bun and a pile of fries on the side. — A hot lobster roll and fries at Neptune Oyster.

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haley.henry

45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; a ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat smoky sprats in oil, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as beef sliders; mix-and-match charcuterie boards, and, on the larger side, sirloin steak and salmon plates.

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45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

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The interior of an intimate wine bar that has a bit of a nautical vibe. — The intimate bar at Haley Henry.

Taiwan Cafe

34 Oxford St, Boston, MA 02111

Boston’s Chinatown is an essential dining destination for newcomers and locals alike, and Taiwan Cafe is one of its most reliable staples, serving an extensive selection of Taiwanese dishes as well as a bit of Sichuan cuisine. For the former, try the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings, the duck and cold beef over rice, and a roast beef scallion pancake roll; for the latter, the Sichuan-style white fish in chile oil always satisfies.

34 Oxford St, Boston, MA 02111

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Slices of a flaky white fish sit in a fiery red broth in a metal bowl over a flame. It’s on a table inside a busy, casual restaurant. — Sichuan fish at Taiwan Cafe.

Peach Farm

4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

Peach Farm is the quintessential Chinatown destination, known especially as a late-night haunt for Boston’s restaurant industry workers. Open until midnight, the busy basement space is still the place to go for lobster with ginger and scallions or roast duck or really anything from the enormous menu. (When in doubt, go for a seafood dish.)

4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

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A plate with a blue border embellished by birds holds a portion of lobster with scallions and ginger — Lobster with scallions and ginger at Peach Farm.

Yume Ga Arukara

70 Pier Four Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Yume Ga Arukara’s niku udon is legendary around these parts, and for good reason. The chewy, bouncy noodles are well worth the lines they conjure up, either at the restaurant’s original, shoebox-sized space inside the Porter Exchange food hall at Lesley University, or at its flashy new sibling restaurant at the Seaport. There’s little choice here — the udon is served either hot or cold; spicy or not — which leaves less time for deliberation and more time for slurping those noodles.

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70 Pier Four Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

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A blue ceramic bowl filled with noodles, sliced beef, and green garnishes in a brown broth. — The star of the show at Yume Ga Arukara.

Mooncusser

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Mooncusser is a fine dining restaurant, but it’s far from the hushed, stuffy image that phrase can conjure up in Boston. The experimental tasting menu riffs off of New England ingredients without getting bogged down by tradition, which makes it a fun, forward-thinking ride to buckle into for a night. If you like a particular dish, savor each bite, because chef Carl Dooley and his team rip up the menu and rewrite it every six weeks or so.

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

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A white plate with scallops set in a creamy yellow sauce and topped with nuts, green grapes, and a green herb garnish. — Scallops and sliced grapes from a past Mooncusser tasting menu.

Row 34

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

This lively spot is the embodiment of Boston’s modern New England seafood scene. Row 34 is one of several key players in the Fort Point restaurant boom, drawing massive crowds to a once-quiet section of town. With a creative beer list, ultra-fresh seafood, and some of the best lobster rolls in town, this is one of the trickiest reservations to make. (Try the recently opened Cambridge spot or the suburban location in Burlington if you can’t get into this location.)

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

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A lobster roll on a white plate with a side cup of slaw and potato chips. — A warm buttered lobster roll.

Krasi

48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115

Krasi, a swanky Greek wine bar and restaurant located just off of a bustling corner of Newbury Street in Back Bay, opened just before the pandemic hit in 2020. Now, you’ll be lucky if you score a reservation. The team is top-notch: Krasi’s executive chef Valentine Howell was a James Beard finalist in 2023, and expert wine director Evan Turner leads a bunch of fun programs at the restaurant, including a monthly wine club.

48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115

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A spread of Greek food on a clear glass table that’s set over a platform of greenery. The table includes breads, dips, a glass of red wine, and more. — A spread of food at Krasi.

Fox & the Knife

28 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

The first solo restaurant from James Beard award winner Karen Akunowicz, Fox & the Knife was named one of the best new restaurants in the country when it opened in 2019, and today it remains Akunowicz’s love letter to Italian cooking, particularly the Emilia-Romagna region. Her stacked team consists of master bakers, pasta makers, and chefs who turn out beautiful dishes, such as spaghetti with clams, saffron, and tomato butter, and tagliatelle Bolognese; the cheesy focaccia is a must. Pair it all with an aperitivi flight.

28 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

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Overhead view of a round white plate filled with bright green twists of pasta. — Campanelle al pesto di pistacchio at Fox & the Knife.

Kava Neo-Taverna

2112, 315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Boston’s seen some major growth in its Greek food scene over the last few years, including openings like Kava Neo-Taverna, which debuted in 2016. The restaurant has really made a niche for itself in the South End with dishes like fried zucchini chips, keftedes, and oktapodi. In-the-know diners will save room for the honey-drizzled Greek yogurt dessert at this date-night spot.

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2112, 315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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An overhead shot of small white plates filled with various meat and vegetable dishes. — The imam, a baked eggplant dish at Kava.

Toro

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

At Toro, industry heavyweights Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette produced one of the city's most popular restaurants, period. Open for almost two decades in the South End, Toro serves modern and traditional Spanish tapas ranging from simple-yet-delicious pan con tomate to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up at the energetic spot. Definitely eat your way through plenty of small plates, but try the paella, too.

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

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Two thick slices of bread topped with red tomato sauce, criss-crossed anchovies, and dollops of white cream. — Toro’s incredible pan con tomate.

Blossom Bar

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

Blossom Bar, sibling to Woburn’s acclaimed Baldwin Bar, is one of Greater Boston’s top cocktail destinations, but it’s also worth visiting for the food. The emphasis is on Sichuan cuisine, with plenty of bold, spicy options available; try the Chengdu dry hot chicken, spicy dry rubbed beef brisket, and the pork dumplings with chile vinaigrette. An “American comfort” section rounds out the menu, such as chicken, beef, or shrimp stir-fry and General Tso’s chicken.

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295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A boozy dole whip sits in a Blossom Bar branded glass, with a pineapple in the background. — Duan’s Whip at Blossom Bar.

Mahaniyom

236 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

The concise menu at quirky, boozy Thai restaurant Mahaniyom features dishes you won’t readily find elsewhere in the Boston-area Thai scene — many of them small plates that pair particularly well with one of the restaurant’s tasty cocktails or a mild Thai lager. Fill up on crispy chicken skins; seasonal fruit salads like rambutan with fried shrimp and toasted coconut; salt-and-pepper pork cheek; and green papaya pad thai.

236 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A Thai pomelo salad with shrimp, betel leaves, thinly sliced red chile, and a variety of crispy condiments sits in a black bowl on a wooden table in front of a brick background. — Yum som-o (pomelo salad), which appeared on Mahaniyom’s opening menu. The current salad features rambutan.

Thistle & Leek

105 Union St, Newton, MA 02459

Like other restaurants on this list, Thistle & Leek uses the New England seasons as a guidepost for the menu, shifting in vegetables like beets, tomatoes, carrots, and pumpkin as it makes sense throughout the year. But it’s the well-executed, globe-trotting experimentation — charred bok choy dressed in a lemongrass curry and sprinkled with peanuts; thick and sturdy romano beans piled over a black lime yogurt — that makes the restaurant an essential stop on this list. Apart from the seasonal fun, don’t miss the always-on-the-menu lamb meatballs, bathed in a subtle tomato and ginger curry and served with slices of puffy naan to scoop up every drop of sauce. Oh, and don’t forget dessert.

105 Union St, Newton, MA 02459

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A small metal dish with two handles on either side, filled with a red sauce, three meatballs, a parsley garnish, and two slices of naan tucked on the side of the bowl. — Lamb meatballs in a tomato and ginger curry at Thistle & Leek.

Suya Joint

185 Dudley St, Boston, MA 02119

Amid Boston’s impressive African restaurant scene, Suya Joint is an exemplary dining experience in the city. Nigerian chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte oversees a menu of delicious West African fare, including an outstanding rendition of egusi stew, a Nigerian staple thickened with ground pumpkin seeds, and suya chicken wings coated in a subtly spicy seasoning blend.

185 Dudley St, Boston, MA 02119

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The Oxtail Pepper Stew, $8.75, shown with pounded yam fufu, at right, taushe (peanut soup) at back left, and stewed black eyed peas, back right. — Suya Joint’s oxtail pepper stew with pounded yam fufu, taushe (peanut soup) and stewed black-eyed peas.

Blue Nile

389 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

For unbeatable Ethiopian food and house-made tej, or honey wine, head to JP’s Blue Nile, a handsome restaurant where you can use tangy injera to scoop up saucy specialties ranging from tender lamb to spicy red lentil dish misir wat (one of six vegetarian sides included in the “veggie revenge” combo).

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389 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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Yellow lentils, stewed carrots, lettuces, and chicken in a red sauce are scooped over an unfurled brown circle of injera on a blue and green patterned plate. — A two-person feast at Blue Nile.

Merengue Restaurant

156 Blue Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02125

This restaurant has been dishing out Dominican food on Blue Hill Avenue for a quarter of a century. Merengue’s excellent cocktail list includes a number of frozen daiquiris (get the passionfruit), as well as a variety of margaritas and mojitos. The grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce and the stuffed shrimp tostones are must-orders, as are the fried pork chops and grilled steak with peppers and onions. Oh, and the mofongo is among the best in the city.

156 Blue Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02125

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A restaurant interior features bold pink walls, bright blue accents, and colorful art. — Merengue’s colorful interiors.

Tres Gatos

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Jamaica Plain mainstay Tres Gatos puts several of life’s finest pleasures together in a single eclectic destination: Snack on Spanish tapas including lamb bocadillos, gambas al ajillo, and boquerones in an old house while sipping on cocktails and then saunter to the record store out back, with shelves packed full of records and books in numerous genres.

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A mixed seafood and meat paella with clams and head-on shrimp, garnished with green sprigs of parsley. — The paella is worth the extra wait time.

Comfort Kitchen

611 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

A beloved pop-up gone permanent in Dorchester’s Upham’s Corner, Comfort Kitchen has made many waves since its debut in January 2023. It nabbed a five-star review in the Boston Globe, was named one of the New York Times’ 50 best restaurants of 2023, and was honored on Eater Boston’s 2023 awards list. The restaurant explores the African diaspora and global spice trade routes by way of standout dishes like a za’atar brown butter trout, seared okra with masala-spiced yogurt, and jerk-roasted duck legs. Pair the meal with a well-balanced drink from Comfort Kitchen’s exemplary cocktail program.

611 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

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A whole roasted fish set over a smoked eggplant puree and tomato salad, and topped with a green onion chimichurri. — Comfort Kitchen’s crispy, delicious za’atar brown butter trout.

Singh's Roti Shop

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

Roti, a dish that originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad), consists of curried stew served with or wrapped by a flatbread that is similar in constitution and taste to the kind you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. While there are several fine roti shops in Boston, the house-made hot sauce at Singh’s pushes this Dorchester Avenue spot ahead of the competition. Order the goat roti, and get doubles, too, a dish that sandwiches sweet and spicy chickpeas between two delicately fried pieces of dough.

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

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A serving of doubles — spicy and sweet chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried dough — sits on white paper on a counter, illuminated by a glowing blue light. — Doubles at Singh’s Roti Shop.

Banh Mi Ba Le

1052 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passionfruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

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Hands hold two banh mi over pavement — Banh mi (one with beef, one with tofu) from Banh Mi Ba Le.

Tonino

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

This tiny gift of a restaurant — truly, the dining room is not much bigger than yours at home — has quickly established itself as a quiet force to be reckoned with in Boston’s Italian restaurant scene. The tightly edited menu features a handful of pizzas, pasta, and small plates that are all hits, from the clams bathing in a broth studded with melt-in-your-mouth guanciale to the tiny pockets of cappelletti bursting with warm taleggio cheese. Don’t leave without ordering a bowl of tiramisu.

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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A bowl of open clams with a brown sauce visible underneath and a garnish of green basil leaves, and ripped up squares of fluffy bread on the side. — Tonino’s countneck clams with a side of pizza bianca to mop up the sauce.

Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Brassica was an early example of Boston’s growing trend of successful pop-ups putting down roots. This JP gem has a casual, neighborhood feel, but the creative menu has fine-dining undercurrents, highlighting local ingredients in playful ways while drawing inspiration from around the globe. The fried chicken is one of the best in town, and there’s a healthy dose of fermented and funky ingredients on the menu.

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A white plate with three giant pieces of fried chicken and four wedges of waffle, plus a cup of red sauce on the side. — That gorgeous fried chicken, served with waffles at brunchtime.

Rubato

412 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

A modern spin on a Hong Kong-style cafe, Rubato has been a crowd-favorite addition to the Boston-area restaurant scene. It has scooped up awards left and right since its opening, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of the best new restaurants of the year in 2023 and Eater Boston’s best new restaurant in 2023. Go for decadent French toasts oozing with creamy egg yolk, bouncy ji cheung fun (rice rolls) with toppings including beef brisket and curry fish balls, and one of the city’s best fried chicken sandwiches.

412 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

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A fried chicken sandwich on a metal serving tray. — Rubato’s fried chicken bolo.

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