New England fried clams were likely invented about one hundred years ago in Essex, Massachusetts, by Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman. Ever since then, thousands of New England eateries (especially the best clam shacks) have played with recipes and cooking methods in an attempt to come up with the best. Yankee contributor Mike Urban, author of Clam Shacks (Cider Mill Press, 2011), has sampled these tasty fried morsels at dozens of New England establishments. Here are his top ten places to get the best fried clams in New England!

10 Best Fried Clams in New England

Bagaduce Lunch | Brookville, ME

This understated food stand on Maine’s Blue Hill peninsula has been frying up seafood since the 1940s, and it shows in its perfectly cooked, locally sourced, fried whole-belly clams. The key to its success seems to lie in the simplicity and honesty of the cooking, with recipes dating back several decades. Seven years ago, the shack earned a James Beard Foundation America’s Classics award, a testament to the sincerity of its offerings — especially its fried clams.

The clam platters frequently overfloweth at the Clam Box. | 10 Best Fried Clams in New England

The Clam Box | Ipswich, MA

This place still holds the crown for best fried clams in New England. Each hand-picked batch of clams initially goes through an evaporated-milk wash, followed by a coating of corn flour and white pastry flour, then is fried briefly once, then again until crisp and crunchy outside, firm and chewy inside. Add to this the twice-daily changing of the cooking oil, and you have a seemingly unbeatable formula for fried clams cooked up the way they should be.

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J .T. Farnham’s Seafood and Grill | Essex, MA

The secret to Farnham’s enduring popularity among fried clam aficionados is its careful selection of fresh whole-belly clams and its combination of vegetable oi

10 Best Fried Clams in New England

Bagaduce Lunch | Brookville, ME

The Clam Box | Ipswich, MA

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J.T. Farnham’s Seafood and Grill | Essex, MA

J .T. Farnham’s Seafood and Grill | Essex, MA

new england fried clams

10 Best Fried Clam Strips in New England

10 Best Fried Clams in New England