Maine is more than just lighthouses, dramatic cliffs and beaches. Portland is well renowned for their culinary chops and is hailed as a foodie paradise too.

Join us as we cover must try foods in Portland including Maine and regional specialties, seafood, dessert and more.

Transcription

Being a port town with a working waterfront, Portland is known for its seafood. Specifically Lobster, but also shellfish such as Oysters, Scallops and Mussels; but also fish such as haddock, cod and halibut.

The final boss of the Portland food scene is the Lobster Roll. Maine style is Lobster in a mayo based dressing, but Connecticut style, which is Lobster with butter, is just as common.

Let’s pull off the bandage, being so seafood heavy, this also means the food scene is on the more expensive side. A lobster roll regularly goes for $30-$40. They’re delicious, but generally won’t fill you up by themselves.

Also, never mind the lobster rolls, I’d argue its the Lobster Grilled Cheese, Lobster BLT and Lobster Mac & Cheese are must tries too.

Just remember, seafood was traditionally working class fare. The best seafood is often found at the lobster pounds right next to the docks where the daily catch comes in. These are often no more than seaside shacks, not necessarily fancy restaurants.

The top places for Lobster in Portland will be High Roller, Luke’s Lobster, Portland Lobster Company, Bite Into Maine and JJ’s. Any of those will be great options. Though you might want to drive to one of the many lobster pounds outside of town too.

These are also great spots for Maine Oysters, fried clams & fish & chips.

Award Winning Japanese

With great seafood also comes great sushi and Japanese cuisine in Portland definitely punches well above its weight in that regard. The best Japanese Restaurants are often cited as Iyakaya Minato, Miyaki and Pai Men Miyake.

Chowdah

Haddock and Clam Chowder are extremely popular. The New England variety being cream based as opposed to tomato based like the weirdos in Manhattan enjoy. Our favorite spot is Gilbert’s right on the water.

Blueberry Everything

Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the entire country. If you see blueberry pancakes, blueberry lattes, blueberry ice cream and other goodies, don’t hesitate to pick them up.

Maple Maple Maple

Maine is also the 3rd largest producer of maple syrup, so it’s also a huge deal in the state. Maple lattes and candies are very popular, but even maple milk (and blueberry milk now that I think about it), maple popcorn and maple ice cream are a thing too.

Desserts

Needham’s are a coconut and potato candy dessert sold in little bars often with some sort of filling like mint, maple or blueberry (see a trend) and they originated in Portland.

While whoopie pies did not originate in Maine, they are an extremely popular dessert and I’d argue we do it best, fight me.

Fiddleheads

More seasonal, but Fiddleheads are a local delicacy. These are foraged in local woods and often sauted in butter and served either as a side or an ingredient in a larger dish.

Beverages

Let’s move to beverages. Moxie is a soda invented in 1884 in Lowell, Massachusetts and is a staple of Maine. Using Gentian Root, the flavor profile is very polarizing often described as Root Beer mixed with Black Licorice. Either you like it or you don’t but everyone should try it at least once. For bonus points, check out The Moxie Festival held in Lisbon Falls every year.

Allen’s Coffee Brandy might as well be the official state spirit. Created in Massachusetts in the 1960s, this liquor is extremely popular in Maine and is often used as a replacement for Baileys. Often used in Irish Coffee, Espresso Martinis and other cocktails.

If you want to go the extra mile, some bars offer a drink known as the burnt trailer which combines both Allens Coffee Brandy and Moxie for a very polarizing, very Maine Cocktail.

Ok, I think that covers Maine’s Specialties (ok sorry guys, I’m not going to talk about the Maine Italian Sandwich or Bean Supper), but let me know in the comments if I missed anything else.