in ,

Faneuil Hall Restaurants You Should Be Dining At This Week

While you may think farmers’ markets and food halls are a new trend, Boston’s Faneuil Hall is as old as America itself.

chef decorating dish at faneuil hall houston restaurant

Built in 1742 in the heart of downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall is an iconic food and retail market in a gloriously preserved building.

It’s worth a visit just as a historical landmark and feat of early American architecture, but luckily for visitors, it also contains over 35 food stalls and 13 full restaurants. Below, I list my favorite picks for the best restaurants in Faneuil Hall, Boston.


Boston Chowda Co

1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-742-4441
Visit Website

Featured in the Boston Globe and winner of countless chowder competitions, Boston Chowder Co is a beloved Quincy Market haunt that has been serving downtown Boston for over 40 years.

Owned by the native Lamattina family, Boston Chowda Co uses generations-old family recipes and New England seafood to create award-winning soup

They serve their award-winning clam chowder in a hollowed-out sourdough bread bowl and offer a wide assortment of fish pies.

If clam chowder isn’t your favorite, try their delectable corn chowder or lobster bisque, which won a few competitions itself.

You could even try the bisque in pie form with the decadent Ritz cracker topped pie with extra lobster meat.


Salty Dog Seafood Grille & Bar

206 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-742-2094
Visit Website

Salty Dog Seafood Grille and Bar is a local Seafood raw bar and restaurant, sourcing their seafood from the New England coast and using classic New England recipes and cooking techniques.

The restaurant has old-school New England décor, exposed brick walls, and a laid-back vibe. During the summer months, they open streetside seating.

Salty Dog sources its oysters from cape cod, its lobsters from Maine, and all other fresh fish from the shores of New England, so you can expect the freshest plates of seafood in the market.

I recommend their authentic New England clam chowder. They also make a mean basket of fish and chips.


Bostonia Public House

131 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-948-9800
Visit Website

An homage to Faneuil Hall’s origins as a town meeting place, Bostonia Public House is an elegant two-story restaurant with refined vintage chic décor, serving rustic American cuisine and craft cocktails.

Located inside the turn of the century Board of Trade Building in the Financial District, Bostonia offers a sophisticated and romantic dining experience 

See also  Boston Distilleries that are Perfect for Grabbing Drinks

Executive Chef Zachary Osbourn’s menu has won the Diner’s Choice and Traveler’s Choice Awards, while the ambiance is a favorite for wedding receptions.

The menu is a varied New American selection of global flavors using fresh, locally sourced fish, produce, and meat. I loved the Bourbon and apple glazed pork chop with roasted corn, poblano, and pearl onion succotash.


Mmmac N’ Cheese

1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA 02109

If you’re a mac n cheese lover, you’ll be in heaven with this fast food stall in the heart of Faneuil Market Hall.

There’s every combination of flavors, pasta shapes, and consistencies imaginable served piping hot in tidy little to-go boxes.

You order at the counter from a bright menu overhead, and while prices may be a little steep for a food stand, the high-quality cheese and fancy add ons make it worth the extra cash.

In addition to mac n cheese, they also make a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches served with a cup of classic tomato soup.

Still, the mac n cheese is the dish to get, and I chose the Cajun Mac with sausage, pepper, onions, cajun spices, and extra cheese.


MIJA Cantina & Tequila Bar

1 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 857-284-7382
Visit Website

Meaning “my daughter” in Spanish, Mija Cantina and Tequila Bar is a classy and authentic Mexican food restaurant at the entrance of Quincy Market.

Their tequila menu is the most extensive in town, and their upscale yet cozy atmosphere is great for unwinding after work or a family-style meal with the kids.

In addition to tequila, they also have a robust list of mezcal, and you can order tequila and mezcal flights to sample a few.

Their coco bongo margarita was like a coconut milkshake. I soaked up the tequila with an order of authentic carnitas tacos with confit pork, salsa verde, and pineapple salsa.


Ned Devine’s

1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-248-8800
Visit Website

Boston has one of the largest populations of Irish immigrants in the nation, and Ned Devine’s is a proud Boston Irish pub with decades in the Faneuil Food Hall.

Their selection of local and imported Irish brews, fusion of New England and Irish bar fare, and lively sports bar dining room is a Boston favorite for grabbing a beer with family and friends or watching a Celtics game at the bar.

Their clam chowder won Best Chowder in Boston from Boston Magazine, and they’re famous for their `100 Oz beer towers.

For an Irish fusion dish, try the Irish Poutine with crispy tater tots topped with braised beef gravy and drizzled with creamy Irish cheddar sauce.

See also  Where to Eat the Most Incredible Greek Food in Boston

Wicked lobsta

Quincy Market, Boston, MA 02109
Visit Website

Another Quincy Market staple, Wicked Lobsta is a counter service food stand specializing in lobster preparations of all kinds.

They source their lobsters from Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The staff is friendly, the prices are fair, and the preparation is gourmet.

They have various forms of lobster rolls, stuffed baked lobster, lobster bisque, chowders, and lobster pot pies. They also serve peel and eat shrimp and shrimp scampi.

My favorite dish is the cheesy lobster grilled cheese melt with a heaping portion of lobster meat and butter mixed with creamy cheese and fried to a melted bliss between two garlicky pieces of Texas toast.


Walrus & Carpenter Oyster Bar

8 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109

Walrus and Carpenter is a fast counter service seafood stand and oyster bar, serving three kinds of New England coast oysters daily.

They also serve lobster, clams, shrimp, and beer. Located in the Quincy Market, Walrus and Carpenter is the premier spot to grab a couple of dozen fresh oysters on the half shell for a great price.

You can get lob54ster rolls, lobster bisque, clam chowder, and clams on the half shell. I recommend sampling both oysters and clams on the half shell as you won’t find a fresher lot of shellfish than at this modest yet delicious food stand. If you want to fit in with the Bostonians, order some steamed clams with a pint of Sam Adams.


wagamama faneuil hall

Within Faneuil Hall marketplace, 1 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-742-9242
Visit Website

Located in the Quincy Hall building, Wagamama is a trendy, modern Japanese-style noodle bar in a stylish contemporary dining space with marble and wood bar height tables and booths.

Originating in London in 1992, Wagamama has become an international sensation, bringing creative ramen dishes in an Izakaya-style dining atmosphere.

Menus are seasonally and locally driven by farm-fresh ingredients presented in the colorful and elegant Japanese aesthetic.

Their menu features authentic ramen, curry, donburi, teppanyaki, gyoza, cocktails, sake, wine, and imported beer.

I loved the newest ramen addition, grilled duck ramen with crispy duck leg garnished with cilantro and ponzu sauce served over noodles in a rich veggie broth served with bok choy, fresh chilies, scallions, and a tea-stained egg.


Clarke’s at Faneuil Hall

21 Merchants Row, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-227-7800
Visit Website

Clarke’s is a festive and casual all-American bar and gastropub with giant TVs projecting your favorite sports games, friendly service, a wealth of cocktails, beer, and wine, and all your favorite American bar fare.

See also  Where to Get BBQ Food in Boston

They’re downtown Boston’s favorite spot for business lunches, happy hours, and celebratory late-night dinners.

You can drink to your heart’s content knowing that you have an abundance of luxuriously greasy foods to soak up the booze. I started with an order of potato skins topped with bacon, cheddar, scallions, and sour cream.

They have a wide selection of entrée salads for a more refined and healthful lunch. I opted for the delicious seared tuna sandwich on ciabatta with spicy mayo, arugula, and tomato.


North 26

26 North St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-557-3640
Visit Website

Located in the North End, a short walk from Faneuil Hall, in the modern and elegant Millennium Hotel, North 26 is a refined New American bistro and steakhouse with breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner service.

The clean contemporary dining room has wonderful views of the historic neighborhood buildings and a wonderful patio for spring and summer dining.

Their sophisticated multi-course dinner menu has a wide selection of craft cocktails and fine wines to accompany a rich meal.

I started with the Fig and Pig flatb54read with arugula, mascarpone, prosciutto, and fig jam. I followed it with a bright and flavorful bowl of spicy garlic shrimp pasta with parmesan cream sauce, roasted garlic, chili flakes, and spaghetti.


The number of food choices in and around the historic Faneuil Market can be overwhelming. My list of the best restaurants in Faneuil Market narrows it down to the local and critic’s favorites.

Looking to try out Japanese sushi? You don’t need to travel far to taste authentic sushi. There are a lot of amazing sushi spots around Boston but we narrowed down the best in this list.

Whether you want oysters on the half shell or a frozen margarita and fresh guacamole, you’ll find the best of it on my carefully researched list. Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!

Why Trust Us?

When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 6 credible sites and blogs, including Ttripadvisor.com and Opentable.com. 

We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible. 

Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 6 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g60745-d104824-Faneuil_Hall_Marketplace-Boston_Massachusetts.html
https://www.opentable.com/landmark/restaurants-near-faneuil-hall
https://www.timeout.com/boston/restaurants/best-quincy-market-restaurants
https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/dining
https://www.urbandaddy.com/boston/landmarks/restaurants-near-faneuil-hall
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/boston/faneuil-hall-restaurants-ranked

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.