Clam Chowder in Boston

New England clam chowder is a famous cream-based soup that is popular throughout much of the Northeastern United States. This soup is also considered one of Boston’s signature dishes. Containing clams, bacon, potatoes, and other ingredients, clam chowder can be found all over the city, and is both a local favorite and a must-have for Boston visitors.

New England Clam Chowder

Originally a common man’s food, this tasty soup can be found everywhere from Boston’s upscale restaurants to its down-home eateries. The New England staple is made up of milk or cream, clams, potatoes, onions, flour, and bacon or pork. Some places also include celery, leeks, carrots, or garlic in their chowders. This dish varies in consistency, color, and flavor, depending on who cooks it, making it a unique dish around the Boston area. Usually served with oyster crackers, New England clam chowder is not to be confused with Manhattan clam chowder, which includes tomatoes, or Rhode Island clam chowder, which has no cream at all but a broth made of clam juice. Mixing these three up is a major Boston faux pas.

Whether it’s in the heat of a summer day or a snowy winter evening, clam chowder is enjoyed all year round. Restaurants around Boston serve gallons of the steamy dish every day. 

History

 While the very first origins of New England clam chowder are hard to track, this creamy concoction can be traced back to Boston and Cape Cod’s early history. When it was first eaten in the United States, chowder was composed of anything people could find, including biscuits, chicken, vegetables, and other seafood. The abundance of clams and other shellfish along the Massachusetts coast probably led to the domination of clam chowder, and it became a staple dish as early as the late 1850s.

 Boston Chowderfest

As part of Harborfest held in Boston’s City Hall Plaza on Fourth of July weekend, Chowderfest celebrates the city’s heritage with heaping vats of New England clam chowder. For the price of admission, visitors get to sample clam chowder from all over the city and vote for their favorites. Just to make sure you cast the correct vote, you can always go back for seconds.

Legal Seafood

Legal Seafood is one of the most well known seafood stops in Boston. Famous for their freshness, this restaurant has a variety of locations around Boston. Their creamy clam chowder is full of Cape Cod clams and is one of the most well-known in the city.

The Union Oyster House

Started in 1826, this culinary time capsule is the longest continuously run restaurant in the city. While it may be famous for its oyster bar, the thick and traditional Oyster House clam chowder is award winning. As patrons sip their soup or slurp oysters, they can also enjoy the fascinating history of Boston and the restaurant itself, starting with the booth where John F. Kennedy often sat to enjoy many seafood meals.

Ned Devine’s Irish Pub

Among the shops and history of Quincy Market is Ned Devine’s Irish Pub. Their clam chowder joined the Chowderfest Hall of Fame by winning the competition in three different years. Ned Devine’s place is also known for its music scene.

B and G Oysters

If you are in the mood for something a little more contemporary, try B and G Oysters. Their clam chowder veers away from the traditional and uses spicy croutons instead of oyster crackers and bacon lardons instead of the normal chunks of bacon.

Atlantic Fish Company

This local chain has also won awards for its clam chowder and is known for being one of Boston’s top spots for seafood. Its chowder is known not only for the soup itself but for the tasty bread bowl it comes in. 

Learn how to make some of Boston's best chowder:

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