From Seafood to Shakes: The 20 Most Popular Portland, Maine, Restaurants

Maine Restaurants

One of my favorite things to do on an open weekend is take a trip within the state to try a new restaurant. My wife and I will drive for hours based on a review, article, tip, or social media post—you get the point.

It’s fun, adventurous, and always satisfies the palate.

While traveling through Maine, we’ve discovered amazing diners, great pubs, outstanding sandwich shops, delicious pizza parlors, and perfectly brewed coffee. The Pine Tree State is certainly not lacking in great places to enjoy a fine meal.

However, sometimes that travel is just a few miles away to a city that’s a culinary powerhouse. Of course, I’m talking about Portland.

Portland Food Scene

It’s not hyperbole to say that Portland has it all.

The food scene in the Forest City is exemplary. Whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or late-night snacks, Portland stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of them.

I’ve been fortunate to eat in some of the greatest foodie towns in America, yet most of my favorite meals come from restaurants right here in our little city.

Portland is extraordinarily lucky to have so many homegrown chefs, as well as those from away who’ve figured out how amazing it is to live and work in our fine state. That melting pot has helped turn Portland into a “can’t-miss” culinary paradise.

Portland's Most Popular Restaurants

While I have my favorite spots, I was curious to see what the masses believe are Portland’s best. I decided to take a look at the latest "best of" list from TripAdvisor. The popular review site compiled its list based on several factors, including popularity and relevant write-ups.

Below is a list of the top 20 Portland restaurants, as listed by TripAdvisor. It’s a solidly diverse group. Many different concepts are represented, and a variety of Portland neighborhoods are included. Some of these may surprise folks, but I think it offers a great snapshot of many of Portland’s finest establishments.

How many of these have you been to? Is your favorite missing from the list? How hungry are you at this point?