Portland, Maine Food Guide – Top Eats
Portland, Maine Food Guide!
“Most people do not visit Portland in December…” is what we heard a lot. But, we did. And it was DELICIOUS! Sure, it was pretty cold, but that makes steaming seafood chowder, warm lattes or even a spicy bowl of perfectly curried noodles even better!
Just last year Bon Appetite named Portland ‘Restaurant City of the Year”, and after a long weekend you will see how this small coastal city is really playing in the culinary big leagues. A benefit of going in the off-season is you’re less likely to hit long wait times.
Table of Contents
Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Biscuit with Chorizo & Garlicky Greens from Tandem Coffee Roasters
www.tandemcoffee.com
3 locations across Portland
Creamy, garlicky, and so flavorful. I don’t even really like breakfast sandwiches, and this was so good we went back twice! The biscuit was cooked perfectly, soft but held the sandwich together. The combination of the cheese and chorizo tasted like eating biscuits and gravy, but with added protein from the eggs. And even getting in a bit of your vegetables! Even better, it wasn’t greasy at all!
If you’re veg or garlic isn’t your thing, you can also order the sandwich with just egg and cheese.
Note: Tandem sells breakfast sandwiches at all of their locations until 2:30 pm. But, I recommend going earlier because they often sell out. On my first visit, by 11:45 they were out at the Congress St. location. It’s really that good!
Lunch: Seafood Chowder from Gilbert’s Chowder House
The menu also offers a Super Seafood chowder option with “double the catch”, but for me the regular seafood chowder already had plenty of seafood. If you’re really hungry, you can opt for the bread bowl to optimize your meal and your Instagram feed.
Note: My wife tried the baked Haddock meal, and that was also a winner! Gilbert’s is really a great lunch or dinner option!
Read Eater's article 'A Brief history of Clam Chowder' to start your journey to becoming a chowder guru.
Coffee Break!
Latte from Speckled Ax
Whether it’s your first stop in the morning or an afternoon coffee break, Portland has an abundance of high-quality coffee options. Located right near the Portland Art Museum and the Maine Historical Society in Downtown, you’ll be sure to be walking by Speckled Ax during your visit. Speckled Ax is all about the details, from the curation of their single origin coffee options to woodfire roasted coffee beans, this cafe will impress even the most serious coffee aficionados. Note that there is limited seating, so it is a great option for picking up a drink to go and continuing your exploration of the city.
Cappucino from Coffee by Design
Coffee by Design (CBD for short, but not associated with cannabidiol) is the OG Portland coffee roaster! Established in ‘94, CBD has scaled to 3 cafes and a roastery in Portland and a location in the lower lever of the LL Bean store in Freeport. CBD locations are unpretentious with room to sit and enjoy your coffee or get some work done. Even the cafe in LL Bean has a chill vibe to escape retail mania. After my latte / cappuccino taste test, the CBD’s cappuccino came out on top as the best coffee I had in Portland.
Looking for more of the top things to do on a visit to Portland, Maine? Visit Portland Old Port for recommendations on restaurants, museums and more!
Dinner: Công Tử Bột
http://congtubot.com/
Crunchy cabbage salad that leaves your tongue with a tingle, warm curry noodles with fresh cilantro and Thai basil and even traditional Vietnamese fried rice with a local Maine twist! I must admit, as a deep lover of Vietnamese cuisine, I was skeptical. But, Công Tử Bột was probably my favorite meal in Portland! We started with the gỏi bắp cải, cabbage salad with chilis, red onion, peanuts, fish sauce and so many herbs! Tangy and acidic, it was a warming option even in Portland in the winter.
We also shared the cà ri chay, a vegetable-based curry noodle dish. A rich base of stock made from miso, kombu, fermented tofu, lemongrass, dried mushrooms, and roasted vegetables is paired with coconut milk, lime, ginger and chili oil.
Don’t miss Công Tử Bột’s Cơm chiên (fried rice) with scrambled egg, veggies, mushrooms, XO sauce & scallions. Since you’re in Portland, order it “Mom Style” with pineapple, Chinese sausage and Maine red hots, local red-cased hot dogs. These three dishes were a fun combo, and the right amount of food for two.
Note: Công Tử Bột opens at 5 pm, so it’s not a lunch option. If you sit at the bar, you can watch the sautéing, spicing and plating. The space is pretty small, so during the busy season you can expect a wait. No advance reservations. Also, there is a no tipping policy noted on their menu and website.
Need inspiration for your upcoming visit to Portland, Maine?
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Drinks: Root Wild Kombucha
Known for its breweries and craft beer scene, Portland is also home to a couple kombucharies. If you’re looking for a place to take an afternoon break from exploring the city or a low-key hangout spot, add Root Wild Kombucha to your agenda. Root Wild’s kombuchas are fermented on site, and I recommend sharing a flight or two to try different flavors. My two favorites were the Blueberry with lemon, thyme & echinacea and Grapefruit with mosaic hops & hibiscus. The Grapefruit is especially light and refreshing. Available options change based on production, so my recommendations are just to share some examples from earlier this month.
The vibe in Root Wild was welcoming, open and relaxing, with both couches and tables or seating at the bar. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, and would make for a nice spot to rest after walking along Eastern Promenade or shopping along Washington Avenue.
Note that Root Wild Kombucha closes by 8 pm, so it’s not a late night hangout.
Snack Time!: The Holy Donut
Still hungry? Even if you’re not, add The Holy Donut to your agenda. Located right in the middle of Old Port’s shopping area, this is a great stop for quick, sweet snack. The donuts are crafted with a base of local, mashed Maine potatoes, creating a soft and chewy inside. You can’t taste the potato, I promise. Their fruit, eggs and dairy ingredients are also locally sourced! With about 16 flavor options every day, you’ll have plenty to choose from! (Go before noon for maximum selection.) Personally, I loved the Fresh Lemon, with hand squeezed and zested lemon!
Each location has set hours, but the shop will close up early if all the donuts have sold out.
Note that there is limited seating, so you may want to plan for a donut to walk with. They also serve CBD coffee, so The Holy Donut is a great place for a caffeine fix, too.
Honorable Mention: Eventide Oyster Co.
eventideoysterco.com
Eventide Oyster Co. is one of the most hyped-eateries in Portland. Two of us split two dishes and a ½ dozen oysters. They let us choose 3 oyster varieties, with options from as close as Casco Bay! Eventide’s oysters set a high bar.
The Brown Butter Lobster Roll is another Eventide signature dish. When in Maine eating local seafood is a must, and this a fun (and delicious) twist on a classic dish. The lobster is warm, buttery and sweet, and pairs surprisingly well with the bao-inspired roll! I have been eating lobster rolls my entire life, and the Brown Butter version from Eventide was a new experience for me! We also split a daily special. I didn’t test the drink menu, but Eventide is open late and would make for a fun evening hang-out spot before wrapping up your day exploring Portland.
The reason Eventide only made it as an ‘Honorable Mention’ is because although the dishes were delicious, it is pricey. After two hot items and the oysters, we were still quite hungry and went elsewhere for dinner part two.
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Portland, Maine - Gifts for Foodies
Want to share a bit of Portland’s food scene with family and friends back home? Here are a few local souvenirs that make for tasty gifts!
Wild Maine Blueberry Balsamic ($15) from Vervacious
The Wild Maine Blueberry Balsamic is a locally inspired, rich balsamic concentrate that is an honorable ode to Maine’s blueberry season. After sailing down the east of North America and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Portugal and on to Barcelona, Vervacious founders Heidi & Mark decided to enter into the fine foods business including selling spices, rubs and balsamics inspired by their travels. The flagship store is located in Old Port, and the owner Heidi greeted us herself, sharing recipe inspiration for their balsamics. She even wrapped up the bottles we bought as gifts for family back home.
“Good Instant Coffee” ($16 for 6 packets) from Tandem Coffee Roasters
The name doesn’t lie. I would go even further, and say it is “great instant coffee”. They have a few different roast options, including a decaf. I actually bought a box for myself, and it was perfect for the next few days I spent staying with family who don’t share my love of artisanal coffee.
Cup of Sea Maine Seaweed Teas (price and location varies)
You can pick up a package of local seaweed tea at many shops around Portland including LeRoux Kitchen, Heritage Seaweed and limited varieties in bulk at the Portland Food Co-op. Heritage okaySeaweed has more seaweed-based products than you ever even knew existed, and this tea is just the start!
Other locally produced products include Maine Blueberry butter, jams and jellies, canned Maine seafood chowder, and coffee beans roasted by local producers. I found some of the best prices at the Portland Food Co-op, and you do not need to be a member to shop there.
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We had planned to go to Maine this summer to see the puffins, but obviously that won’t happen this year. I’m saving this post for when we do go, because these all look amazing. Especially the Vietnamese restaurant and the donuts! I have only been to New England once and didn’t get to see nearly enough, so I can’t wait to go back.
Hi, Susan – I’m so sorry to hear that your summer plans are cancelled. But, yes this still isn’t the time to do much traveling. I hope you can definitely make it back to New England. It’s really a special part of the U.S. Although, I’m a native Rhode Islander, so I may have a bit of a bias. 🙂
Oh my! I’m hungry just reading through this. So many delicious choices. However, I think the breakfast biscuit in particular has my name on it, so indulgent!!! Especially on a chilly weekend.
The breakfast biscuit was sooo good. The ingredients were simple, but the flavor was incredible. Yummm!
We visited Maine in August; as you say, we would not have considered it in December.
While I have no specific memory of the food in Portland, I do remember that we ate in a lot of small local restaurants and the food was typically excellent.
Oh yum, you’re post has made my mouth water and crave for soulwarming chowder and it’s only 8am ha ha! I heard before from a friend who’s a chef that Portland has a great restaurant scene. I’d love to visit and eat my way around town. But only for a weekend too as elde I’d gain so much weight ha ha!
Zarina – Yes, definitely hard to stop eating when you’re there! Go in the fall or spring so you can also get in some hiking or biking for exercise. And then, of course, eat some more. 🙂
You have covered the entire gamut of meals from breakfast to dinner. Portland indeed offers a range of interesting fare. My attention was riveted by the Donuts, they look so appealing.
Love the look of the Tandem sandwich (there’s a veg option, yay!) and the Holy Donut (can I get the lemon one please, actually make it 2, they look yummy!).
Hi, Smita! Thanks for stopping by. They were yummy!! I want to go back to Maine in the summer or fall so I can get some donuts and go hiking 🙂
Wowza – I had never had a breakfast biscuit before moving to North America, but that one looks amaaaazing! I can see why you went back twice. Back home in the UK, biscuits are cookies, so I was really confused when I was first offered that!!)
I actually love the idea of visiting Portland Maine in the winter- seafood is better when the water is cold, and chowder and oysters both look like good enough reasons to go!
Yum!!! Visiting a place in the off-season is always a win-win situation (even if the weather isn’t amazing) because you often get places to yourself and you get to focus on other aspects of the area, such as an amazing restaurant scene! That sandwich from Tandem Coffee sounds and looks amazing. Also, having lived in Vietnam for most of 2019, it made me smile to see that you guys tried Công Tử Bột! It all looks incredibly delicious and authentic, and I see on their sign they also have bun cha! That is one of my favorites! I didn’t know Portland ME was such a foodie destination but it was already on my wish list. This post confirmed that I definitely need to go!
Yes, you’re so right – we didn’t have to wait for a reservation at all during off season. Was fantastic. I love bun cha! Were you in the north of Vietnam?
Mmmm, all this food looks delicious! That breakfast biscuit is making me so hungry and sounds like a great, indulgent breakfast to have every so often, especially on a cold morning! I am not usually a donut fan but those donuts look and sound really tempting…all those flavours. I would definitely be saving room for one or two of those!
These look like some great places to eat! Unfortunately I’m vegan but hopefully they would have options for that on their menu!
We LOVE oysters! And also clam chowder. So we have to visit Portland someday for all these delicious food! Thanks for sharing this!
This is an interesting city for food lovers. I would love to explore Portland someday in future
Yum! I love seafood and have been thinking about traveling along the East Coast for that. I’d love to visit Maine and try these foods but maybe not in winter because I’m really cold sensitive 🙂
Definitely come to the East Coast for some authentic New England seafood! Yummmm! But, if you’re sensitive to the cold best to wait for summer. You would be freezing. brrrr 🙂
Mmmm! Everything here looks delicious. We have Portland near the top of our list of places to go and I’ll definitely refer to this list when we make plans.
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