Find Thai restaurant Dakzen, an Eater Boston Fast-Casual Restaurant of the Year, in Somerville’s Davis Square. The busy, well-lit restaurant has an aura of happy chaos, with a service model that falls somewhere between counter-service and full-service and a menu that doesn’t shy away from heat and funk. Those already familiar with Thai flavors — beyond Thai-American takeout staples — will be delighted to find them here, and newbies will quickly learn what they’ve been missing. Highlights include the khao soi, the tom yum noodle soup, and the ba mee moo dang.

This tiny Porter Square ramen destination isn't just a restaurant — it's a place where founder Tsuyoshi Nishioka wants to make everyone's dreams come true, starting by encouraging diners to literally stand up and share those dreams out loud (after successfully finishing a giant bowl of ramen, of course). Aside from occasional seasonal specials, the simple menu only includes one type of ramen — “Jiro-style,” heavy on pork and garlic — with a choice of adding extra noodles and/or extra pork to an already hearty portion. As of July 2021, Yume Wo Katare hasn’t restarted dine-in service; order takeout online and watch Instagram for updates.

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Giulia is an especially beloved destination near Cambridge’s Porter and Harvard squares thanks to its impressive pasta and warm staff. The pappardelle with wild boar is a favorite choice that doesn’t budge from the otherwise changing menu, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia. Chef and owner Michael Pagliarini previously worked as executive chef at the now-defunct Via Matta, an Italian mainstay in Back Bay, and has also worked under renowned Chicago chef Grant Achatz. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough. 

Celeste, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year, is a dreamy little spot in Somerville’s Union Square, serving flavorful Peruvian in a neighborhood that — to be fair — already has its fair share of Peruvian options. All are worthy destinations, but Celeste is the spot for bright ceviche, fragrant lomo saltado, and the feeling of sipping pisco as the honored guest at the joyfully crowded dinner party of co-founders JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau.

Tanám is a tiny, worker-owned, Filipinx American restaurant located in a hip food and retail development in Somerville (and an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year). Its story is told through multi-course meals and hands-on, kamayan-style feasts, depending on the night. (Kamayan meals are currently available only for full buyouts, which can accommodate groups up to 10.) Smaller meals and snacks are currently available for takeout and delivery.

Since opening in early 2015 in a section of Charlestown mostly devoid of restaurants, Brewer’s Fork has brought a bustling, pizza-loving crowd to the quiet block. The specialty is wood-fired pizza (the “killer B” pizza is a must-try), but there are also hearty brunch sandwiches, oysters, and one of the best beer lists around. The patio is the place to be.

An homage to New England, Inman Square’s Puritan & Co. dresses up local classics beautifully — this isn’t your grandmother’s baked cod, unless she serves it with lobster stew, salt cod fritters, and wax beans. It’s the place to go for spot-on scallops or roast chicken, but it’s also the place one might find a kimchi hotdog, bar burger, or wings.

Cafe Sushi has been serving up amazing and affordable sushi for more than 30 years, a favorite of industry folks and general sushi lovers alike. The real treat is chef Seizi Imura’s omakase, a selection of seemingly endless courses that bounce joyfully between traditional preparations and funkier combinations. The omakase price varies and has crept up over the last few years, but it is generally around $110 per person. As of July 2021, Cafe Sushi hasn’t restarted indoor dining and is currently offering takeout and delivery only.

Chris and Pam Willis call their hospitable Cambridge restaurant Pammy’s a “new American trattoria,” but the Italian influences are strong, from the not-to-be-missed pasta dishes made with flour milled in the restaurant to the aperitivi. The space is charming, as is the staff, and the lumache with a gochujang-spiked Bolognese sauce belongs in every pasta enthusiast’s regular rotation.

Tawakal Halal Cafe is a story of rebirth: The Somali restaurant used to operate in a different part of East Boston, with a slightly different name, and had quite a popular following before closing in 2011. After a seven-year hiatus, it made a comeback at a new address, and it’s better than ever. Tawakal’s ambiance is casual and homey, and its menu highlights not just Somali cuisine but draws influence from elsewhere around East Africa and the Middle East as well. The sambusas — embellished with the house-made, mango-based hot sauce — are a must, as is the beef hilib tawakal plate, in which chapati strips cooked in a spiced tomato sauce take on a satisfying texture similar to Thai drunken noodles.

This North End mainstay has been in operation since 1926; it’s one of the city’s best pizzerias. (Go to this particular location — the original — rather than one of many offshoots.) The secret to Regina’s success is a combination between the oven — it was built in 1888, and its cooking surface remains intact to this day — and the dough, which is left to proof for up to six days. The crust on a pizza from Regina is simultaneously chewy and crispy, and there are ample bubbles on the exterior ring. There will most likely be a wait outside, but it will be worth it. Sit at the bar if you can, order a pepperoni and mushroom, and drink a pitcher of Peroni. It’s the most North End of North End experiences.

Yes, Craigie on Main makes a downright iconic burger. It’s everything everyone says it is, and you should order it if you haven’t. But it’s definitely not all about burgers at Tony Maws’ upscale Cambridge stalwart, which is also known for its seasonal, local tasting menu. (Note that as of July 2021, Craigie hasn’t reopened for indoor dining; it’s currently exclusively offering family-style tasting menus on the patio.)

One of the few non-Italian restaurants in the North End, this busy, noisy seafood spot consistently generates long lines at all hours, but the wait is worth it for one of the best lobster rolls in town. Also necessary: oysters and fried clams. Even the burger (topped with fried clams, of course) is great.

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat Portuguese tinned smoked eels, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as brisket sliders; “bone thugs & charcuterie,” such as lamb tartare; and more.

Gene's offers Xi'an-style Chinese cuisine, a little bit difficult to find elsewhere in Boston, and while the restaurant's name refers to the flatbread sandwiches stuffed with beef or pork, the real highlight of the menu is the chewy, garlicky hand-pulled noodles. Add a skewer of cumin lamb and a tea egg or two on the side. Counter-service, no-frills, and only open for lunch and early dinner.

Sushi lovers who have not yet embarked on O Ya's iconic 20-course grand omakase have not yet lived. And it's not just the seafood — the tender wagyu beef strip loin is stunning (with a price tag to match). Hidden in the Leather District, this tiny spot has accumulated numerous awards, including a James Beard for chef and co-owner Tim Cushman.

Saltie Girl may be small, but it boasts a large selection of seafood dishes that touch on so many different genres. A table might have everything from a raw bar tower to uni Benedict toast to fried lobster and waffles, and there are plenty of imported tins of seafood as well. This Back Bay restaurant is a seafood lover’s paradise. (By the way, there’s the option to add lobster and/or caviar by the ounce to anything on the menu.)

The loud, energy-packed Shōjō brings a new spin to Asian fusion, upping the ante with dishes like the “Shojonator” burger (complete with kimchi velveeta), bulgogi beef bao, and a killer cocktail list. It’s a bit of modern flashiness in a neighborhood of old-school classics, and it somehow simultaneously stands out and fits right into Boston’s Chinatown.

Of all the Barbara Lynch restaurants, Sportello, located in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, is perhaps the most approachable in terms of prices and vibe while still showing off that Lynch magic. Minimalist diner meets trattoria with a small open kitchen, counter seating, and a menu of pleasing pastas and more. And oh, that spicy tomato soup.

Chickadee resides in the intersection between seasonal New England ingredients and Mediterranean influences, with a touch of Portugal, too. Highlights include the squid ink fusilli, the sea scallops, and the roasted porchetta. Worth the trek to the far end of the fast-developing Seaport District, Chickadee already feels like it’s been running smoothly for years, an impressive feat for first-time owners John daSilva and his fellow No. 9 Park alum Ted Kilpatrick, who opened the restaurant in 2018.

The first of chef and restaurateur Tiffani Faison’s Fenway businesses, Sweet Cheeks has been a reliable barbecue destination for the better part of a decade, serving high-quality meats and can’t-miss biscuits. Now part of Faison’s growing Big Heart Hospitality empire, Sweet Cheeks has several siblings (and Fenway neighbors): Tiger Mama (Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine), Fool’s Errand (snacks and cocktails in a standing-room-only space), and Orfano (Italian-American), with more spots to come at a forthcoming downtown Boston food hall.

The first solo restaurant from James Beard award winner chef Karen Akunowicz, Fox & the Knife was named one of the best new restaurants in the country when it opened in 2019, and it’s Akunowicz’s love letter to Italian cooking, particularly the Emilia-Romagna region. Her stacked team consists of master bakers, pasta makers, and chefs who turn out beautiful dishes, cocktails, and desserts. Stop in on the early side of dinner for aperitivo hour (snacks and cocktails) and stay for curly pasta, cheesy focaccia, and braised lamb.

Chefs and owners Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette team up for one of the city's most popular restaurants. Toro, open for over a decade in the South End, serves modern and traditional tapas ranging from simple grilled corn to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up at the energetic spot.

If it’s jerk chicken and beef patties you’re after, look no further than Jamaica Mi Hungry, which is situated adjacent to the Jackson Square T stop in Jamaica Plain. Jamaica Mi Hungry, which began life as a food truck before opening its permanent location, is also currently popping up on Western Avenue in Allston in the space formerly occupied by Rabottini’s Pizza and Café Beatrice. Oxtail, curry goat, beans and rice, and mac and cheese are all must-tries. 

Boston's "Scottish headquarters" features great beer, a cheerful ambiance, and the hospitality of owner Jason Waddleton. The Haven offers up a solid menu of Scottish foods and beers, as well as a packed events calendar (in non-COVID times). Also, it's probably the only place where one can eat haggis in the Boston area. The burger is also exceptional.

Dorchester and Roxbury are where Bostonians go to eat roti, a dish that originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad). This curried stew is served with or wrapped by a flatbread that is similar in constitution and taste to the kind you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. (There is a long and complicated history of Indian immigration to Trinidad and Tobago, as well as to the greater Caribbean.) While there are several fine roti shops in Boston, the house-made hot sauce at Singh’s pushes this Dorchester Avenue spot ahead of the competition. Order the goat roti, and get doubles, too, a dish that consists of two delicately fried pieces of dough packed with sweet and spicy chickpeas. Singh’s is primarily a takeout spot, but you’ll find a few counter seats within.

This restaurant has been dishing out Dominican food on Blue Hill Avenue for a quarter of a century. Merengue’s excellent cocktail list includes a number of frozen daiquiris (get the passionfruit), as well as a variety of margaritas and mojitos. The grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce and the stuffed shrimp tostones are must-orders, as are the fried pork chops and grilled steak with peppers and onions. Oh, and the mofongo is among the best in the city.

This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats in non-COVID times, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passion fruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market.