Giants like New York and Chicago are running up against a top food destination so small you might not have thought to give it a second glance. The small coastal town of Portland, Maine is home to more than just Instagram worthy lobster rolls and fresh local oysters.
Portland is the most populous city in the state of Maine with about 67,000 inhabitants. Totaling an area of 69.44 square miles, the town relies on tourism and the Old Port district, but that’s what makes it feel homey and a great place to take a food tour and treat your taste buds.
Declared the “2018 Restaurant City of the Year” by Bon Appétit’s deputy editor Andrew Knowlton, Portland is called “one of the more vibrant, compelling food scenes, thanks in no small part to all that pristine seafood and craft beer.”
But there’s more to Portland, Maine than just seafood. Food enthusiasts can enjoy an array of local favorites they never thought they could get. Bakeries like Tandem Bakery offer all sorts of yummy favorites like sticky buns and biscuits slathered with butter and blueberry jam.
Locals and visitors can also slurp up hot pho or any kind of noodle dish at Cong Tu Bot, a Vietnamese street food restaurant offering fresh herbs and lots of heat. There’s also a Jewish deli called Rose Foods where the bagels are worth the wait as well as breweries scattered throughout the city offering up some local craft beer.
Portland, Maine is any foodie’s dream with its abundance of authentic food options and soul. No wonder it’s 2018’s food destination of the year!
By: Maytinee Kramer
