Boston is once again proving that there is more the city’s culinary scene than clam chowder and cannolis.
The New York Times updated its “Where to Eat Right Now” guide to Boston on Tuesday for the first time since 2024.
The updated list increased the number of restaurants from 25 to 27. In addition, seven new restaurants were included on the list for the 2026 edition.
They are Baleia and Kaia in the South End, Dalia in South Boston, La Padrona in Back Bay, Lê Madeline in Quincy, McGonagle’s in Dorchester and Somaek in downtown Boston.
Dalia, which opened in April, is the latest venture from Broadway Restaurant Group, which operates several Southie staples such as Capo Restaurant & Supper Club, Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant and Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar. The Spanish-style eatery was recently included on The New York Times’ 2026 restaurant list that featured the top 50 establishments in the country.
McGonagle’s, an Irish pub owned by the same team as The Dubliner, was mentioned on The New York Times’ 2025 best restaurants list along with La Padrona. Located in the Raffles Hotel La Padrona is an upscale Italian eatery led by two-time James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams.
La Padrona’s Executive Chef Amarilys Colón was named a James Beard Award Best Chef Northeast semifinalist in 2026. Colón was joined by Peter Nguyen of Lê Madeline. The Quincy restaurant is rooted in Vietnamese tradition, but features an American twist inspired by Nguyen’s upbringing.
Somaek was named a James Beard semifinalists for “Best New Restaurant” in 2025 and was also named one of the New York Times’ 50 best restaurants in the United States in 2024. The Korean restaurant was included on Boston’s inaugural Michelin Guide last year, along with La Padrona.
Kaia was included on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Hot List. The Greek restaurant is under Xenia Greek Hospitality, which owns other renowned concepts Bar Vlaha, Krasi, Hecate and Greco.
Baleia serves Portuguese dishes like salt cod fritters and piri piri chicken. The Times praised the eatery for its “abundance of seafood” and “attractive menu of Portugal’s greatest gastronomic hits.”
NYT 27 Best Boston Restaurants in 2026
Baleia: 264 East Berkeley St., South End
Cutty’s: 284 Washington St., Brookline
Dalia: 629 West Broadway, South Boston
Giulia: 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Kaia: 370 Harrison Ave., South End
La Padrona: 38 Trinity Place (inside Raffles Hotel), Back Bay
O Ya: 9 East St., Downtown Boston
Pammy’s: 928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Row 34: 383 Congress St., Seaport; multiple locations
Sarma: 249 Pearl St., Somerville
Somaek: 11 Temple Place, Downtown Boston
Tonino: 669A Centre St., Jamaica Plain
Toro: 1704 Washington St., South End
Yume Ga Arukara: 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; 70 Pier 4 Boulevard, Ste. 260, Seaport
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Dining and Cooking