Best Clam Chowder in Massachusetts (2018)

The thick and creamy clam chowder coming out of the kitchen at Captain Parker's Pub is teeming with sweet, tender clams and diced potatoes. This variation on the seafood soup has won numerous awards throughout Cape Cod, Rhode Island and Boston.
Photo courtesy of Captain Parker's Pub

Cape Cod’s Skipper Chowder House has been serving the famous seafood soup since 1936. The award-winning chowder features great American surf clams, bacon, butter, onion, celery and a signature blend of seasonings. You can even get it deep-fried in the form of two panko-crusted chowder cakes with a side of hot sauce.
Photo courtesy of Skipper Chowder House

Based on his wife’s grandmother’s original Nantucket recipe, Brian Cullen has been making his famous beach clam chowder for over a decade. Unlike other chowders on our list, this version is made entirely on the beach, from digging up quahog clams to setting up the seaside cooker, shucking and chopping the bivalves, frying the bacon and onions, chopping the potatoes and finishing with cream and a secret herb mixture.
Photo courtesy of The Raw Bar Yoho

The recipe for clam chowder at the Union Oyster House in Boston hasn’t changed much since they first began serving it in the mid 19th century. They still use fresh clams, cream, butter, potatoes, salt pork, celery, onions, flour and seasoning to create a rich and creamy variation of this New England classic.
Photo courtesy of Union Oyster House

Those who order the New England clam chowder from Legal Sea Foods in Boston are treated to a rich, thick and hearty soup made with fresh Cape Cod clams. The signature menu item has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981.
Photo courtesy of Legal Sea Foods

The award-winning creamy clam chowder from Atlantic Fish Co. in Boston’s historic Back Bay neighborhood starts with clams sourced fresh daily from New England waters. Get it in a cup or bread bowl.
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Fish Company

The New England chowder recipe served at the Lobster Pot in Provincetown has won numerous awards across the state, including Grand Prize at the Cape Cod Chowder Festival four times. Get it by the mug or bowl.
Photo courtesy of Ptown Lobster Pot/Mike Potenza

Made fresh daily, the clam chowder at The Causeway Restaurant in Gloucester isn’t as thick as some other variations, made instead with a flavorful clam broth loaded with tender clam meat. A bowl is a meal on its own.
Photo courtesy of The Causeway Restaurant

Summer Shack serves up a classic New England clam chowder made with fresh clams, salt pork, butter, onions, celery, Yukon gold potatoes, fresh thyme and heavy cream.
Photo courtesy of Summer Shack

The clam chowder on the menu at Turk’s Seafood is made from scratch each day using fresh New England clams and house-smoked bacon to lend it a distinctive smokey flavor.
Photo courtesy of Turk's Seafood