Just about every state on the East Coast has their own take of this seafood soup, but Massachusetts was where the New England variety (made with a thick, creamy broth) was popularized during the 1700 and 1800s. By 1836, the dish was on the menu at Ye Olde Union Oyster House, the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the nation. The version of clam chowder you’ll find on menus across the Bay State is typically made from clams, potatoes, onions and a base of milk or cream. Bacon or salt pork sometimes makes an appearance, and it’s often served with oyster crackers.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Clam Chowder in Massachusetts are as follows:
- Captain Parker's Pub - West Yarmouth
- Skipper Chowder House - South Yarmouth
- The Raw Bar Yoho - Nantucket
- Union Oyster House - Boston
- Legal Sea Foods - Boston
- Atlantic Fish Company - Boston
- Lobster Pot - Provincetown
- The Causeway Restaurant - Gloucester
- Summer Shack - Boston and Cambridge
- Turk's Seafood - Mattapoisett
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Taylor Hicks (State Plate) and Kim Foley MacKinnon (Association of Food Journalists) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the state food scene.
Congratulations to all these winning restaurants!
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The Experts
Taylor Hicks
Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is... Read More
Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is one of the most beloved American Idol winners of all time. More than 200 million viewers worldwide tuned in to see him crowned as the season five winner. Hicks’s career has included stints on Broadway, a national tour with a hit musical, as well as headlining Paris, Las Vegas and other Caesars Entertainment properties all over the United States. He is currently the host of the award-winning culinary travel series State Plate, which can be seen on the INSP television network, and his new album will be out this fall.
Taylor Hicks

Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is one of the most beloved American Idol winners of all time. More than 200 million viewers worldwide tuned in to see him crowned as the season five winner. Hicks’s career has included stints on Broadway, a national tour with a hit musical, as well as headlining Paris, Las Vegas and other Caesars Entertainment properties all over the United States. He is currently the host of the award-winning culinary travel series State Plate, which can be seen on the INSP television network, and his new album will be out this fall.
Kim Foley MacKinnon
Kim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based... Read More
Kim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based award-winning editor, journalist and travel writer. Her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, Food Network, Travel + Leisure and US News & World Report, among others. She writes monthly for Forbes Travel and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Association of Food Journalists. Follow Kim on Twitter and Instagram.
Kim Foley MacKinnon

Kim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based award-winning editor, journalist and travel writer. Her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, Food Network, Travel + Leisure and US News & World Report, among others. She writes monthly for Forbes Travel and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Association of Food Journalists. Follow Kim on Twitter and Instagram.
10Best Editors
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased... Read More
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.