American food here in Boston has been shaped by a variety of factors, including its history, immigration, and regional influences. While there isn't a single defining characteristic of American cuisine, there are several key elements that you will find here:
Seafood
Located near one of the most productive fishing areas in the world, Boston has a rich seafood tradition that dates back to its colonial days. This tradition has influenced mainstream American food in many ways. From lobster to crab and fish, seafood is now an essential part of American cuisine here in Boston.
Immigrant Influence
American cuisine here in Boston has been heavily influenced by the culinary traditions of immigrants from around the world. Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and Indian cuisines, among others, have all made significant contributions to the Boston culinary landscape. Dishes like pizza, tacos, stir-fries, and curries have become as Bostonian as seafood.
Comfort Food
American comfort food is popular here in Boston—warm, hearty dishes that evoke feelings of nostalgia and satisfaction. This includes dishes like burgers, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes, as well as desserts like apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream sundaes.
Barbecue:
Barbecue is a quintessential American culinary tradition and is alive and kicking here in Boston. Traditionally associated with the South, you will find a good selection of barbecue restaurants.
Innovation and Adaptation
Boston is known for its innovation, and food is no exception. Fusion restaurants, which combine elements of different culinary traditions, are common here in Boston. This can be seen in dishes like sushi burritos, Korean barbecue tacos, and Thai-inspired pizza.
West End Johnnie's Contemporary American Faneuil Hall $$ *4.5 
Shy Bird - Kendall Square Contemporary American Cambridge $$ *4.7 Monument Restaurant & Tavern American Charlestown $$ *4.8 75 Chestnut Contemporary American Beacon Hill $$ *4.7 Back Deck American Downtown Crossing $$ *4.3 South End Buttery Contemporary American South End $$ *4.5 Carrie Nation Contemporary American Beacon Hill $$ *4.3 Shy Bird - South Boston American South Boston $$ *4.8 The Merchant Contemporary American Downtown Crossing $$ *4.4 Black Lamb American South End $$ *4.8 The Bosworth American Downtown Crossing $$ *4.7 Alden and Harlow American Cambridge $$ *4.7 Shy Bird - Fenway American Fenway–Kenmore $$ *4.7 Fenway Johnnie's American Fenway–Kenmore $$ *4.7 Bambara Kitchen & Bar American Cambridge $$ *4.6 Catalyst Restaurant Contemporary French / American Cambridge $$ *4.6 Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant American South Boston $$ *4.7 Five Horses Tavern - South End Contemporary American South End $$ *4.6 Margaritaville - Boston American Faneuil Hall $$ *4.3 ArtBar American Cambridge $$ *4.2 Moxies - Boston Seaport American Seaport $$ *4.6 Russell House Tavern American Cambridge $$ *4.6 Ward 8 American West End $$ *4.3 La Fabrica Central Latin American Cambridge $$ Glass House Contemporary American Cambridge $$ Estella American Downtown Crossing $$$ *4.2 Amber Road American Financial District $$$ *4.6 Alcove American West End $$$ *3.9 Eastern Standard American Fenway–Kenmore $$$ *$31 Earls Kitchen + Bar - Boston - Prudential Center American Back Bay $$$ *4.6 Locke Bar & Restaurant American Cambridge $$$ *4.7 Puritan & Company Contemporary American Cambridge $$$ *$31 Waverly Kitchen and Bar American Charlestown $$$ *4.9 Dovetail - Charlestown American Charlestown $$$ *4.7 Metropolis Cafe American South End $$$ *4.8 Ghost Light Tavern American Downtown $$$ *4.5 Harvest Contemporary American Cambridge $$$ *4.6 Earls Kitchen + Bar - Assembly Row American Somerville $$$ *4.6 The Lexington American Cambridge $$$ *4.5 Artisan Bistro Contemporary American Theater District $$$ *4.1 The Broadway American South Boston $$$ *4.6 Beehive American South End $$$ *4.6 Publico Contemporary American South Boston $$$ *4.7 Joe’s Waterfront American North End $$$ *4.2 Blu Contemporary American Theater District $$$ *4.4 Banners Kitchen & Tap American Downtown Crossing $$$
| Waypoint | Seafood | Cambridge | $$ | *4.6 | |
| La Pizza & La Pasta - Eataly Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Terra - Eataly Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Beacon Hill Hotel | European | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Fogo de Chão - Boston | Brazilian | Back Bay | $$ | *4 | |
| Aquitaine - Boston | French | South End | $$ | *4.5 | |
| The Capital Burger - Boston | Burgers | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Cosmica | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Maggiano's - Boston | Italian | Theater District | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Casa Romero | Mexican | Back Bay | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Rosa Mexicano - Boston | Mexican | Seaport | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Frenchie | French | South End | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Buttermilk & Bourbon | Southern | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Josephine | Italian | Somerville | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Para Maria Kitchen and Bar | Global, International | Seaport | $$ | *3.8 | |
| Trattoria Il Panino | Italian | North End | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Yunnan Kitchen | Chinese | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Burro Bar South End | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Gordon Ramsay Burger - Boston | Burgers | Faneuil Hall | $$ | *3.9 | |
| Ma Maison | French | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.8 | |
| Bab Al-Yemen Boston | Middle Eastern | Back Bay | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Beacon Hill Books & Cafe | Café | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Hobgoblin | Asian | Downtown Crossing | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Tulum Mexican Cuisine | Mexican | Somerville | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Yellow Door Taqueria - South End | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Lucia Ristorante | Italian | North End | $$ | *4.1 | |
| Lucky Tiger | Asian | Charlestown | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Alma Gaucha | Brazilian Steakhouse | Seaport | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Shojo - Cambridge | Asian | Cambridge | $$ | *(0) | |
| Tiki Rock | Comfort Food | Financial District | $$ | *4.1 | |
| MIDA - East Boston | Italian | East Boston | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Citrus & Salt | Contemporary Mexican | Seaport | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Emmet's Irish Pub and Restaurant | Irish | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.6 | |
| TreMonte Restaurant - North End | Italian | North End | $$ | | |
| Ristorante Saraceno | Italian | North End | $$ | | |
| Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - South Boston | Mexican | South Boston | $$ | | |
| Mex Taqueria & Bar | Mexican | Cambridge | $$ | | |
| Antonio's Cucina Italiana | Italian | Beacon Hill | $$ | | |
| Assaggio | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Aqua Pazza | Seafood | North End | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Solea Restaurant and Tapas Bar | Tapas / Small Plates | Waltham | $$$ | *4.1 | |
| Hue | Global, International | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Joia | Italian | Financial District | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Boston Chops - South End | Steakhouse | South End | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Petit Robert Bistro Columbus Avenue | French | South End | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Oceanaire Seafood Room - Boston | Seafood | Financial District | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Amelia's Trattoria | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Riccardo's | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| The Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant | Irish | Beacon Hill | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Legal Sea Foods - Park Square | Seafood | Back Bay | $$$ | *3.9 | |
| Posto | Italian | Somerville | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| Eva | Mediterranean | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Ocean Prime - Boston Seaport | Steak | Seaport | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| The Helmand Restaurant | Middle Eastern | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Legal Sea Foods - Copley Place | Seafood | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.1 | |
| Daniella's Ristorante - Peabody | Italian | Peabody | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Row 34 - Cambridge | Seafood | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Batifol | French | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Bar 'Cino Brookline | Italian | Brookline | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Libertine | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Lucca North End | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Serafina - Boston Back Bay | Italian | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| La Voile | French | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| The Banks Seafood and Steak | Seafood | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Sulmona Restaurant | Bar | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Row 34 - Kenmore Square | Boston | Seafood | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| MIDA - Fenway | Italian | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Bacco Ristorante & Bar | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Little Donkey | Tapas / Small Plates | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Villa Francesca | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| The Fed at the Langham, Boston | Cocktail Bar | Financial District | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Servia | Mediterranean | Financial District | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Standard Italian | Contemporary Italian | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Porto | Italian | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| The Florentine Cafe | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Legal Sea Foods – Downtown Crossing | Seafood | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Don’t Tell Aunty | Gastro Pub | Back Bay | $$$ | *4 | |
| The Painted Burro - Brookline | Mexican | Brookline | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| Monteverdi - Cambridge | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Reunion BBQ | Barbecue | South End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Mistral - Boston | French | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Douzo Modern Japanese Restaurant | Japanese | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Dali | Spanish | Cambridge | $$$ | | |
| Geppetto | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | | |
| Tuscan Kitchen - Seaport | Italian | Seaport | $$$ | | |
| Fuji At Ink Block | Asian | South End | $$$ | | |
| Toro | Tapas / Small Plates | South End | $$$ | | |
| Umbria | Italian | North End | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| STK - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.4 | |
| Smith & Wollensky Boston – Atlantic Wharf | Steakhouse | Seaport | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| Oishii Boston | Sushi | South End | $$$$ | *4.7 | |
| The Capital Grille - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.8 | |
| BASILE - Fine Italian Kitchen | Italian | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.4 | |
| Uni | Contemporary Asian | Back Bay | $$$$ | *$50 | |
| The Palm Boston | Steakhouse | Financial District | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| Taberna de Haro | Spanish | Brookline | $$$$ | *4.6 | |
| The Nautilus - Boston Pier 4 | Pan-Asian | Seaport | $$$$ | *$50 | |
| Abe & Louie’s - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.7 | |
| Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood - Boston | Steakhouse | Seaport | $$$$ | *4.3 | |
| Atlantic Fish | Seafood | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.7 | |
| Zuma Boston | Japanese | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.8 | |
| Smith & Wollensky - Wellesley | Steakhouse | Wellesley | $$$$ | | |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House - Boston | Steakhouse | Downtown Crossing | $$$$ | |