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Pizza at Real Italian Gusto in Medford
Pizza at Real Italian Gusto in Medford
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Where to Eat in Medford

Medford is in the midst of a restaurant boom, but don’t ignore its older mainstays

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Pizza at Real Italian Gusto in Medford
| Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Medford is in the midst of a drinking and dining renaissance. Italian food is still king — and there’s plenty of it on this map — but it’s not the only show in town anymore. Sure, one can find chicken parmesan or lasagna, but one can also find good sushi and Thai food now.

Here are 20 places to experience the best of the old guard — and the best of the vanguard — in Medford’s dining scene.

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Nappi's Restaurant

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Nappi’s doesn’t have a menu in the strictest sense of the term, but rather a list of ingredients that diners can pair together a la carte. A good bet is any kind of pasta tossed with Nappi’s bolognese. The restaurant — which began as a butcher shop and Italian market before transforming into a sub shop and finally a full-service restaurant — accepts cash only, and it’s BYOB.

nappi’s mdford
Various meats at Nappi’s
Nappi’s Restaurant/Official Site

Bistro 5

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Go to Bistro 5 and try the chef’s tasting menu. A recent version included crispy tuna, escargot, and grilled rabbit loin. The wine list is impressive, and the beer list features drafts, bottles, and cans from many beloved local breweries. The intimate, upscale Italian restaurant has been around for about 20 years.

Fancy Italian dish on a white plate with walnuts, frisee, dollops of a white sauce, and other components
A salad at Bistro 5
Bistro 5/Official Site

Amici's

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Amici’s is a classic pizza parlor — formica table tops and hard, red booth seats included. It’s a great spot to grab a quick slice or a sub.

Salvatore's

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Salvatore’s Medford used to be part of a local restaurant chain of the same name, but original owner Sal Lupoli sold the restaurants to several different managers in 2015. This Medford Square eatery isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t have to — chicken parmesan is good, and Salvatore’s version is worth your time.

salvatore’s medford
Mussels at Salvatore’s
Salvatore’s/Official Site

Colleen's Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop

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Colleen’s has been operating in Medford Square in one form or another (it was originally a Brigham’s) since 1990. Colleen Hallisey bought the restaurant when she was 22 and began selling her ice cream out of the shop. It was a huge hit, and Colleen fast became a staple in Medford Square. Sadly, Colleen passed away in 2018. But new owner Kolin Burgoyne grew up working in the shop, and when he and his wife Vicki bought the restaurant in 2019, they vowed to run things the way Colleen did. Head there for some good diner food, and save room for a decadent ice cream sundae.

Colleen’s Medford
Ice cream at Colleen’s
Colleen’s/Official Site

Tom Yum Koong Restaurant

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This Thai food spot has great lunch options, including a panang curry, which packs a bit of heat. Enjoy other staples like basil fried rice and drunken noodles.

Tom Yum Koong Restaurant
Spring rolls from Tom Yum Koong
Tom Yum Koong/Official Site

Real Italian Gusto

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Hands down, Real Italian Gusto is making some of the best pizza in greater Boston. But it’s not only pizza that makes this Medford spot shine: The pasta dishes are all excellent, too, and the risotto ai frutti di mari (risotto with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams) is a must-try.

Overhead view of a quarter of a pizza with pepperoni and basil, served on a white plate
Calabria pizza at Real Italian Gusto
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Tenoch Mexican

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Tenoch Mexican — part of a small local chain — has an extensive menu of street food (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc.), but it’s the tortas that have made it one of the most beloved Mexican food restaurants in the area. Try the pastor, which comes with pork in achiote sauce, cilantro, and pineapple, served on traditional telera bread.

tenoch davis square somerville torta 2
A torta from Tenoch
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater

Zam Zam Restaurant

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Zam Zam, a fairly recent addition to Medford, is the place to go for halal Indian and Pakistani food. Try one of the many takes on biryani.

zam zam medford
Food at Zam Zam in Medford
Zam Zam/Official Site

Sura BBQ

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Open since 2016 but first established about 20 years earlier in Rhode Island, this Korean restaurant offers all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and shabu shabu (hot pot).

Pikaichi

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It was a sad day for Allstonians when Pikaichi left the neighborhood, but it was a very happy day when the beloved ramen joint found a new home in Medford. Order anything, because it’s all excellent. The Tokyo shoyu ramen might be the best, though.

A dark brown broth with three pieces of pork, chopped green onions, and noodles in a white bowl
Tokyo shoyu ramen at Pikaichi
Pikaichi/Official Site

Chilli Garden

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Order from Chilli Garden’s Sichuan menu, which includes classics such as dan dan noodles, ma po tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, and dry chicken with peppers. Also worth a try: the catfish and pig intestines with mixed vegetables in spicy sauce.

Moultons Restaurant

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Moultons began as a fish market in 1945, and it still mostly looks like a fish market from the outside. It’s got some of the best fried seafood in the area, not to mention a surf-and-turf plate that comes with filet mignon tips and a choice of lobster pie, scallops, or baked shrimp.

Picante Taqueria

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The folks behind East Somerville mainstay Taco Loco opened this Medford taqueria in 2018. Try the chicken and carnitas nachos, the steak and tongue tacos, and the fish tacos.

Tacos from Picante
Tacos from Picante
Picante Taqueria/Official Site

Raso's Bar and Grille

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Raso’s is the spot in South Medford for various Italian-American fare (think veal parmesan and spaghetti carbonara), but its menu also features baked haddock, lamb chops, and grilled sirloin tips.

Bob's Italian Foods

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Bob’s is mostly a market and caterer, but the deli sandwiches are a must. Bob’s version of an Italian sub is especially good: It comes with Prosciutto di Parma, sopressata, capicola, mortadella, and provolone, and it can be beefed up with various other toppings.

An Italian sub from Bob’s
An Italian sub from Bob’s
Bob’s Italian Foods/Official Site

Bocelli's

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Bocelli’s is yet another restaurant specializing in Italian-American cuisine, and it offers a variety of house-made pasta options. The menu includes all the usual suspects, like veal saltimbocca, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine alfredo.

Oasis Brazilian Restaurant

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Oasis is the destination for meat-lovers. Open since 1989, the Brazilian steakhouse serves a large, meat-heavy menu. For something lighter, check out the adjacent bakery and cafe.

Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse
Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse
Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse/Official Site

Semolina Kitchen + Bar

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Semolina — the full-service sibling to Somerville shop Dave’s Fresh Pasta — has a large menu that includes pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more, all good things. The beer list is also great and features a ton of local breweries.

semolina medford
Pizza from Semolina
Semolina/Official Site

Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Bar

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Get sushi, udon, various hibachi dishes, yakitori, gyoza, and more at this Japanese restaurant adjacent the Mystic River State Reservation. The restaurant also offers sushi classes for those who wish to learn the craft.

Sushi at Yoki
Sushi at Yoki
Yoki/Official Site

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Nappi's Restaurant

Nappi’s doesn’t have a menu in the strictest sense of the term, but rather a list of ingredients that diners can pair together a la carte. A good bet is any kind of pasta tossed with Nappi’s bolognese. The restaurant — which began as a butcher shop and Italian market before transforming into a sub shop and finally a full-service restaurant — accepts cash only, and it’s BYOB.

nappi’s mdford
Various meats at Nappi’s
Nappi’s Restaurant/Official Site

Bistro 5

Go to Bistro 5 and try the chef’s tasting menu. A recent version included crispy tuna, escargot, and grilled rabbit loin. The wine list is impressive, and the beer list features drafts, bottles, and cans from many beloved local breweries. The intimate, upscale Italian restaurant has been around for about 20 years.

Fancy Italian dish on a white plate with walnuts, frisee, dollops of a white sauce, and other components
A salad at Bistro 5
Bistro 5/Official Site

Amici's

Amici’s is a classic pizza parlor — formica table tops and hard, red booth seats included. It’s a great spot to grab a quick slice or a sub.

Salvatore's

Salvatore’s Medford used to be part of a local restaurant chain of the same name, but original owner Sal Lupoli sold the restaurants to several different managers in 2015. This Medford Square eatery isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t have to — chicken parmesan is good, and Salvatore’s version is worth your time.

salvatore’s medford
Mussels at Salvatore’s
Salvatore’s/Official Site

Colleen's Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop

Colleen’s has been operating in Medford Square in one form or another (it was originally a Brigham’s) since 1990. Colleen Hallisey bought the restaurant when she was 22 and began selling her ice cream out of the shop. It was a huge hit, and Colleen fast became a staple in Medford Square. Sadly, Colleen passed away in 2018. But new owner Kolin Burgoyne grew up working in the shop, and when he and his wife Vicki bought the restaurant in 2019, they vowed to run things the way Colleen did. Head there for some good diner food, and save room for a decadent ice cream sundae.

Colleen’s Medford
Ice cream at Colleen’s
Colleen’s/Official Site

Tom Yum Koong Restaurant

This Thai food spot has great lunch options, including a panang curry, which packs a bit of heat. Enjoy other staples like basil fried rice and drunken noodles.

Tom Yum Koong Restaurant
Spring rolls from Tom Yum Koong
Tom Yum Koong/Official Site

Real Italian Gusto

Hands down, Real Italian Gusto is making some of the best pizza in greater Boston. But it’s not only pizza that makes this Medford spot shine: The pasta dishes are all excellent, too, and the risotto ai frutti di mari (risotto with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams) is a must-try.

Overhead view of a quarter of a pizza with pepperoni and basil, served on a white plate
Calabria pizza at Real Italian Gusto
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Tenoch Mexican

Tenoch Mexican — part of a small local chain — has an extensive menu of street food (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc.), but it’s the tortas that have made it one of the most beloved Mexican food restaurants in the area. Try the pastor, which comes with pork in achiote sauce, cilantro, and pineapple, served on traditional telera bread.

tenoch davis square somerville torta 2
A torta from Tenoch
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater

Zam Zam Restaurant

Zam Zam, a fairly recent addition to Medford, is the place to go for halal Indian and Pakistani food. Try one of the many takes on biryani.

zam zam medford
Food at Zam Zam in Medford
Zam Zam/Official Site

Sura BBQ

Open since 2016 but first established about 20 years earlier in Rhode Island, this Korean restaurant offers all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and shabu shabu (hot pot).

Pikaichi

It was a sad day for Allstonians when Pikaichi left the neighborhood, but it was a very happy day when the beloved ramen joint found a new home in Medford. Order anything, because it’s all excellent. The Tokyo shoyu ramen might be the best, though.

A dark brown broth with three pieces of pork, chopped green onions, and noodles in a white bowl
Tokyo shoyu ramen at Pikaichi
Pikaichi/Official Site

Chilli Garden

Order from Chilli Garden’s Sichuan menu, which includes classics such as dan dan noodles, ma po tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, and dry chicken with peppers. Also worth a try: the catfish and pig intestines with mixed vegetables in spicy sauce.

Moultons Restaurant

Moultons began as a fish market in 1945, and it still mostly looks like a fish market from the outside. It’s got some of the best fried seafood in the area, not to mention a surf-and-turf plate that comes with filet mignon tips and a choice of lobster pie, scallops, or baked shrimp.

Picante Taqueria

The folks behind East Somerville mainstay Taco Loco opened this Medford taqueria in 2018. Try the chicken and carnitas nachos, the steak and tongue tacos, and the fish tacos.

Tacos from Picante
Tacos from Picante
Picante Taqueria/Official Site

Raso's Bar and Grille

Raso’s is the spot in South Medford for various Italian-American fare (think veal parmesan and spaghetti carbonara), but its menu also features baked haddock, lamb chops, and grilled sirloin tips.

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Bob's Italian Foods

Bob’s is mostly a market and caterer, but the deli sandwiches are a must. Bob’s version of an Italian sub is especially good: It comes with Prosciutto di Parma, sopressata, capicola, mortadella, and provolone, and it can be beefed up with various other toppings.

An Italian sub from Bob’s
An Italian sub from Bob’s
Bob’s Italian Foods/Official Site

Bocelli's

Bocelli’s is yet another restaurant specializing in Italian-American cuisine, and it offers a variety of house-made pasta options. The menu includes all the usual suspects, like veal saltimbocca, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine alfredo.

Oasis Brazilian Restaurant

Oasis is the destination for meat-lovers. Open since 1989, the Brazilian steakhouse serves a large, meat-heavy menu. For something lighter, check out the adjacent bakery and cafe.

Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse
Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse
Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse/Official Site

Semolina Kitchen + Bar

Semolina — the full-service sibling to Somerville shop Dave’s Fresh Pasta — has a large menu that includes pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more, all good things. The beer list is also great and features a ton of local breweries.

semolina medford
Pizza from Semolina
Semolina/Official Site

Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Bar

Get sushi, udon, various hibachi dishes, yakitori, gyoza, and more at this Japanese restaurant adjacent the Mystic River State Reservation. The restaurant also offers sushi classes for those who wish to learn the craft.

Sushi at Yoki
Sushi at Yoki
Yoki/Official Site

Related Maps