The full ranking
Bon Appetit once named it America's Restaurant City of the Year, and the tables keep getting better. From James Beard institutions to nationally acclaimed newcomers, these are Portland's essential restaurants, packed into a few walkable peninsula blocks.
Central Provisions (Old Port)
Chris Gould's wildly popular small-plates room organizes its ever-changing menu around three ideas, raw, cold, and hot, from bluefin tuna crudo to caramelized sheep's cheese with apple-chamomile vin cotto. The national breakout that reset Portland's dining scene, it stays packed a decade on.
Twelve (Eastern Waterfront)
Colin Wyatt, back home after years at Daniel and Eleven Madison Park, turns Maine's peak-season ingredients into a polished prix fixe inside a rebuilt waterfront storehouse. The New York Times named it one of the country's best new restaurants, and its lobster roll on a croissant is the stuff of legend.
Fore Street (Old Port)
The James Beard Award-winning hearth that made Portland a food city, open since 1996 and still turning out wood-fired mussels, grilled squid, and turnspit-roasted meats from an open kitchen. Nearly three decades on, it remains Maine's benchmark and one of the hardest tables in town.
Izakaya Minato (East Bayside)
Husband-and-wife team Thomas Takashi Cooke, a James Beard nominee, and Elaine Alden run this tiny, beloved Washington Avenue izakaya. Sashimi, duck udon, okonomiyaki, and a family-style omakase pair with carafes of sake, earning a rare 4.8 across the board.
Scales (Old Port)
The Fore Street group's grand waterfront seafood house sits right on Maine Wharf, where lobster boats unload outside the window. Start with clam chowder or salt cod croquettes before a whole steamed lobster, all at a 4.7 across nearly 3,000 reviews.
Mr. Tuna (Old Port)
Jordan Rubin took Mr. Tuna from a sushi cart to a Middle Street brick-and-mortar and to a Food & Wine Best New Chef honor in 2025. Hand rolls, sushi burritos, and a deep local bluefin program built around responsibly sourced Gulf of Maine fish.
Eventide Oyster Co. (Old Port)
The oyster bar that redefined Maine seafood when it opened in 2012, with a dozen local varieties on the half-shell and the famous brown-butter lobster roll on a steamed bun. Most seats go to walk-ins, and its 5,300-plus reviews make it one of the city's essential stops.
Chaval (West End)
The married team of Damian Sansonetti and two-time James Beard semifinalist Ilma Lopez runs this warm West End brasserie of Spanish and French seasonal cooking. Patatas bravas, coq au vin, and local monkfish arrive in the dining room and on a fire-pit patio.
Crispy Gài (Old Port)
Born as a Thai fried-chicken pop-up, Cyle Reynolds' Exchange Street spot serves Hat Yai-style fried chicken alongside khao soi, grilled pork skewers, and funky som tum. Tropical cocktails and a genuine community streak keep the line out the door.
Leeward (East End)
Jake Stevens' handmade-pasta destination on the East End turns out some of the most talked-about Italian cooking in the state, in a cozy, candlelit room. Fresh, flavorful pastas and thoughtful service earn it a 4.8 on Google.
Ranked across 6 sources: The Infatuation · The Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine (unordered roundup); Boston Magazine · 18 Restaurants Worth the Drive to Portland (alphabetical) 2026; The Adventurist · The Best Restaurants Right Now in Portland, Maine (alphabetical) 2026; Source of Truths · House Ranking (June 2026); Yelp · Ranked by Rating (June 2026); Google Reviews · Ranked by Rating (June 2026). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
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