Highest-rated restaurants in Portland, Maine by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Portland, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Falafel Mafia
- Rating: 4.6/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: Portland, Maine
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mediterranean
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#29. Maiz Colombian Street Food - Forest Ave
- Rating: 4.6/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 621 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Colombian
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#28. Bread & Friends
- Rating: 4.6/5 (111 reviews)
- Address: 505 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, New American
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#27. Nura Hummus and Falafel
- Rating: 4.6/5 (85 reviews)
- Address: 1 Monument Way Portland, Maine
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Salad, Sandwiches
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#26. kuno
- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 166 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Food Trucks, Thai, Sandwiches
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#25. Belleville
- Rating: 4.6/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 North St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bakeries, Pizza
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#24. Twelve
- Rating: 4.6/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 115 Thames St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
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#23. Mazzat Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 11 Bishop St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mediterranean
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#22. Micucci Grocery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 45 India St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Grocery, Beer, Wine & Spirits
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#21. Thai Tree
- Rating: 4.7/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 571 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Thai, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
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#20. Market Street Eats
- Rating: 4.7/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 36 Market St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#19. Quiero Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- Address: 3 Deering Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Latin American, Empanadas
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#18. Nom Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 23 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Modern European, Breakfast & Brunch
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#17. The Local Press
- Rating: 4.7/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 276 Woodford St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Soup, Sandwiches
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#16. Mitr Ping Yang Thai Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 1281 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Thai
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#15. Isa Bistro
- Rating: 4.7/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 79 Portland St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, New Mexican Cuisine
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#14. Great Wave Sushi
- Rating: 4.7/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 115 Fox St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Food Trucks
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#13. Coffee ME Up
- Rating: 4.7/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 221 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#12. Jefe Juan's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 29 Wharf St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican
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#11. Banh Appetit
- Rating: 4.7/5 (114 reviews)
- Address: 171 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Vietnamese, Sandwiches
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#10. Bite Into Maine
- Rating: 4.8/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 31 Diamond St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, Sandwiches
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#9. Maine Oyster Company
- Rating: 4.8/5 (136 reviews)
- Address: 38 Portland St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
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#8. Wayside Tavern
- Rating: 4.8/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 747 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
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#7. Sissle & Daughters
- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 107 Washington Ave. Unit 1 Portland, Maine
- Categories: Cheese Shops, Sandwiches, Beer, Wine & Spirits
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#6. CERA
- Rating: 4.8/5 (69 reviews)
- Address: 1 Monument Square Portland, Maine
- Categories: Salad, Sandwiches
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#5. Eighty 8 Donuts Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 225 Federal St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Donuts, Cafes
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#4. Crunchy Poké
- Rating: 4.8/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 426 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen, Poke
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#3. Lil Chippy
- Rating: 4.8/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 52 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Fish & Chips
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#2. Paella seafood
- Rating: 4.8/5 (81 reviews)
- Address: 865 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
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#1. Tacos Del Seoul
- Rating: 4.9/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Portland, Maine
- Categories: Food Trucks, Korean, Mexican
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
