Best Fried Seafood in Massachusetts: 21 Coastal Favorites
There’s a certain kind of happiness that only comes from a paper boat of fried clams, a squeeze of lemon, and a view of the water. Along the Massachusetts coast, generations of clam shacks and seafood restaurants have perfected this classic summer meal.
This guide brings together 21 favorite places for fried seafood across Cape Cod, the South Coast, and Boston. You’ll find casual counter-service spots, working-waterfront markets, longtime local landmarks, and a few polished city restaurants. Whether you’re craving whole-belly clams, fish and chips, scallops, oysters, or a full fisherman’s platter, here’s where to start.
Planning a longer coastal adventure? Explore our Massachusetts Bucket List for memorable stops throughout all three regions.
Hours and menus can change seasonally, so check each restaurant’s website before heading out.
Explore by region:
Cape Cod | South Coast | Boston
Best Fried Seafood on Cape Cod
Cape Cod was made for a fried seafood road trip. We’ve organized these favorites by region, so you can find a satisfying stop wherever your Cape Cod travels take you.
Pair lunch with a day by the water using our guide to the best beaches on Cape Cod.
Upper Cape
Seafood Sam’s in Sandwich
Seafood Sam’s traces its roots to Sam’s Clams, a small Falmouth seafood shack that opened in 1974. The Sandwich restaurant followed in 1985 and remains a favorite for casual counter service near the Cape Cod Canal. Order fish and chips, whole-belly clams, scallops, or one of its generously sized fried seafood platters.
The Seafood Shanty in Bournedale
The Seafood Shanty is a casual roadside stop along the Cape Cod Canal. Choose from fried clams, scallops, fish and chips, or a full seafood platter. Homemade onion rings, tartar sauce, coleslaw, and chowder round out the meal.
Mid Cape
The Skipper Chowder House in South Yarmouth
The Skipper Restaurant & Chowder House pairs traditional New England seafood with views of Nantucket Sound. The menu covers chowder, fried clams, scallops, and other regional staples. Afterward, save room for one of the restaurant’s towering frozen treats.
Sesuit Harbor Cafe in Dennis
Sesuit Harbor Cafe is a cash-only, BYOB spot overlooking Northside Marina. Try the fish and chips or fried scallops, then round things out with a stop at the raw bar. During the summer, arrive early because the line can build quickly in the evening.
Lower Cape
Chatham Pier Fish Market in Chatham
Chatham Pier Fish Market serves casual seafood beside one of Cape Cod’s working fish piers. Order clams, fish and chips, a seafood basket, or the popular clam fritters. Then grab a picnic table and watch the fishing boats come and go across Chatham Harbor.
Sir Cricket’s Fish & Chips in Orleans
Sir Cricket’s Fish & Chips is a longtime Orleans favorite for traditional fried seafood. Order classic fish and chips or choose whole-belly clams, scallops, shrimp, or oysters. Generous portions make it a reliable stop when a serious fried seafood craving hits.
Outer Cape
PJ’s Family Restaurant in Wellfleet
PJ’s Family Restaurant began in 1971 as a small burger stand called PJ’s Dari-Burger. The restaurant remains family-run three generations later. Order at the counter, find a picnic table, and dig into fried clams, fried oyster tacos, and onion rings.
The Lobster Pot in Provincetown
The Lobster Pot is an iconic Commercial Street fixture operated by the McNulty family since 1979. Settle into one of its waterfront dining rooms and order a fried seafood platter. All the while, Provincetown Harbor provides a fitting backdrop for the meal.
Best Fried Seafood on the South Coast
The South Coast may not receive the same tourism spotlight as Cape Cod. However, its working fishing ports give the region a seafood identity all its own. From East Wareham to Westport, these local spots serve everything from simple fish and chips to overflowing fisherman’s platters.
Make a day of it with our guide to the best beaches on the South Coast of Massachusetts.
Lobster Pot in East Wareham
Lobster Pot in East Wareham serves traditional New England seafood in a casual setting. Not to be confused with the Provincetown restaurant of the same name, this local spot offers an extensive fried menu. Choose from whole-belly clams, scallops, oysters, shrimp, fish and chips, or a full fisherman’s platter.
Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett
Family-owned since 1983, Turk’s Seafood combines a lively dining room, sushi bar, and in-house fish market. Its “top of the trip” sourcing brings seafood from offshore boats to the market quickly. The fried selections range from fish and chips to scallops and combination platters.
Gene’s Famous Seafood in Fairhaven
Ask a South Coast local where to find fried clams, and there’s a good chance Gene’s Famous Seafood will come up. This unassuming Fairhaven favorite has served seafood for more than 70 years. Its fisherman’s platter arrives loaded with fish, whole-belly clams, shrimp, and scallops.
Whale’s Tail Clam Bar in New Bedford
Right on Fisherman’s Wharf, Whale’s Tail Clam Bar is a casual, order-at-the-window kind of place. Choose a fisherman’s platter piled with scallops, shrimp, whole-belly clams, and fish. Then find a picnic table and watch the activity along New Bedford’s working waterfront.
Cape Quality Seafood in South Dartmouth
Cape Quality Seafood brings its boat-to-table approach to a casual South Dartmouth restaurant and market. The family’s seafood business also includes a New Bedford processing operation and fishing vessels. For diners, that means straightforward fried seafood served close to its source.
The Bayside Restaurant in Westport
Family-run for more than 40 years, The Bayside Restaurant overlooks the coastal landscape near Westport’s beaches. Go for whole-belly clams, fried oysters, or a full fisherman’s platter. With its relaxed dining room and water views, this is an easy place to linger.
Best Fried Seafood in Boston
Boston may be a city, but it has not lost touch with its clam-shack roots. Around the harbor and across the city, casual counters and polished seafood bars offer their own takes on New England’s fried favorites.
Before or after your meal, explore one of the best beaches in Boston and the surrounding area.
Saltie Girl in Back Bay
Part raw bar and part European-style boîte, Saltie Girl gives New England seafood a polished Back Bay setting. Its crispy Ipswich clams offer a city take on a clam-shack favorite. It’s a good choice when you want fried clams alongside oysters, tinned fish, and creative cocktails.
Little Whale Oyster Bar in Back Bay
From the team behind Select Oyster Bar, Little Whale Oyster Bar brings date-night energy to classic New England seafood. Its fried selections include whole-belly Ipswich clams, fish and chips, and Rhode Island-style calamari. Pair your choice with oysters or another selection from the raw bar.
The Daily Catch in the North End
The Daily Catch began in 1973 as a tiny calamari cafe in Boston’s North End. Today, the original location still serves Sicilian-style seafood from an open kitchen. Of course, the crispy fried calamari remains the order that started it all.
Boston Sail Loft on the North End Waterfront
Boston Sail Loft has served casual seafood and broad harbor views since 1984. The menu includes fish and chips, fried shrimp, and other crispy selections alongside its well-known chowder. Because seating is first-come, first-served, expect a wait during busy times.
Row 34 in Boston and Cambridge
Row 34 offers a more polished take on New England seafood at locations in the Seaport, Kenmore Square, and Cambridge. Menus vary, but fried selections may include fish and chips, crispy oysters, or seasonal preparations. Check the menu for your preferred location before visiting.
Yankee Lobster in the Seaport
Yankee Lobster combines a working seafood market with a casual counter-service restaurant near the Boston Fish Pier. Start with fried oysters or clam strips, or choose a shrimp platter or crispy calamari. When the weather cooperates, take your meal out to the patio by the harbor.
Sullivan’s Castle Island in South Boston
A South Boston warm-weather tradition since 1951, Sullivan’s Castle Island almost always draws a summer line, and it is easy to understand why. Pick up a seafood basket, then find a picnic table overlooking Boston Harbor. Afterward, a walk around Castle Island provides a fitting finish to this classic seasonal stop.
Plan Your Massachusetts Fried Seafood Road Trip
From casual Cape Cod clam shacks to South Coast fishing ports and polished Boston seafood bars, every region offers its own take on this New England favorite. Start with whole-belly clams, order a platter to share, or compare fish and chips as you make your way along the coast.
Because many waterfront restaurants operate seasonally, check current hours and menus before you go. Then bring an appetite, grab extra napkins, and save room for something sweet with our guide to the best ice cream shops on Cape Cod, the South Coast, and Greater Boston.