the best clam chowdah in Boston
 

Where is the best Clam Chowder...in your opinion in Boston?

White or Red?

In Boston there's only white. Legal and Kelly's Roast Beef both make good chowder.

RED????? Do you mean Manhattan-style clam chowder? I think it's against the law to eat that in New England. I like the clam chowder at Legal Seafoods and at East Coast Grill in Cambridge.

bennnie, you beat me to the punch!

"Red" is supposedly a Rhode Island invention, supposedly Portuguese in origin. I happen to love them both, but in Boston you'd best be talking about the "white" kind.

I had a great bowl at Skipjack, a surprisingly yummy one at Stephanie's, and my sentimental favorite at Vel's in Wareham.

white of course. Red should be outlawed...

Of course white. And of course Legals.

Interesting - here on the RI/CT border we identify three kinds - red (Manhattan), white (Rhode Island - broth-based, often with a touch of cream), and creamy ("New England"). Red isn't found much at all here, and most of the road races, bike races, town fairs, etc. have a booth set up with Rhode Island chowdah.

Anyways, I vote Legal or Stephanies. Yum! Have fun Tina, and don't forget some famous Boston ice cream!

AH: Out here on the Left Coast, we identify the red type as Manhattan-- and our white is the creamy, thick New England type. Your white Rhode Island type isn't found here in the places I go for good chowder (only my Massachusetts-born in-laws will call it "chowdah")-- red or thick white. But someone on the Food Network clarified the origins and noted that the red is from Rhode Island too.

Or something. All I know is-- when it's good, it's SO-O-O-O-O good!!

Quick shout out to the best two Southern California New England clam chowder purveyors: Original Fish Company, Los Alamitos and Lashers, Long Beach!

The clear version at Legal's is mighty good and I'm a self-proclaimed food snob. Can't stand Legal's but for their clear chowder. But, as I'm sure you've seen with the thorough research you've conducted on this forum regarding Boston and its surroundings, you'll know by now that you won't find fresh, local clams anywhere. Chowders will most likely be made from imported or canned (ick.)clams.

Turner's Fisheries has by far the best clam chowder in Boston. Better yet, try them all.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Union Oyster House, America's Oldest Restaurant. Worth a stop if you are visiting Boston -- Oysters & chowdah at the bar. ((y)) ((b))

We usually bike over to the Union Oyster house and sit at the oyster bar. We love oysters so never tried the chowder but will one day.

There are many restaurants that could qualify for best Clam Chowder in Boston but the best Clam Chowder in the World is at Captain Parker's on Cape Cod.

Last year Captain Parker's won at Newport RI's International Chowder Fest.

They have won several years in a row at Boston's Clam Chowder Fest.

They won so many times at WCOD's Chowder Fest at the Cape Cod Melody Tent they were inducted into a Hall of Fame & can no longer compete.