Some of the best meals in Massachusetts hide in plain sight, sitting quietly on old side streets where you might drive right past without a second glance. The seaside city on the state’s south coast holds one of the deepest Portuguese food traditions in the country, and the kitchens here take it seriously.
Think grilled octopus, shrimp Mozambique, hearty steaks topped with a fried egg, and soups that taste like someone’s grandmother made them. If you love food that feels honest, generous, and full of heart, this is your kind of road trip.
Here are nine spots that make the miles feel like nothing at all.
1. Antonio’s Restaurant, New Bedford, MA
Big portions are practically the house signature here, and the menu runs deep enough to keep you coming back for months without repeating an order.
Sitting on Coggeshall Street, this family-run spot leans into old-world seafood done the New England Portuguese way, from a fried seafood platter to coconut shrimp. The Junior Steak Antonio’s Bitoque is a favorite, and the flan and tiramisu give you a sweet reason to linger.
Prices land in the reasonable $20 to $30 range, and daily specials keep regulars guessing. Service moves fast, tables are casual, and kids are genuinely welcome with high chairs and a kids’ menu.
Open every day from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, it makes a dependable stop whether you want lunch or a full dinner. Reservations are accepted, and parking is usually easy to find.
2. Nuno’s Restaurant & Lounge, New Bedford, MA
Date night regulars have a soft spot for this Belleville Avenue kitchen, where Portuguese music often plays in the background and the staff pay close attention to every table.
The menu carries traditional favorites alongside a few dishes with a modern twist. Order the Bitoque Jr with its fried egg, rice and fries, or go classic with Ameijoas a Bulhao Pato and Chourico a Bombeiro.
Everything sits comfortably in the $20 to $30 range, and the space works for groups as easily as a quiet two-top. There is a private dining room, plus screens for watching a game.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, so plan around the Monday and Sunday closures. Parking can get tight, and dinner reservations are recommended when the weekend crowd rolls in.
3. Alianca Restaurant, New Bedford, MA
Steak lovers should point the car toward Cove Street, because the Portuguese-style steak here has earned a loyal following among people who have tried plenty of them.
The dining room is small and cozy, the kind of place where the service feels personal and the plates arrive full. Beyond the steaks, the baked stuffed jumbo shrimp and calamari Portuguese style are standouts, and the shrimp Mozambique brings the heat you want.
Comfort dishes like clam chowder and Portuguese soup round things out, all priced in that friendly $20 to $30 window. A New York sirloin and littlenecks Spanish style give the menu even more range.
Hours stretch late on Friday and Saturday until 9:30 PM, with a Sunday lunch run and a Tuesday closure. Reservations are accepted, and takeout is available.
4. Restaurante Algarve, New Bedford, MA
Weekend brunch is a bit of a rarity in this food scene, which makes this bright County Street cafe stand out before the sun is even fully up.
The setting is homey and relaxed, and the menu leans into traditional Portuguese recipes with seafood and steak at the center. The Portuguese soup gets a lot of love, and the Portuguese steak comes out generously sized.
Prices stay in the $20 to $30 range, and live music sometimes fills out the room. Under recent ownership, the staff keep service warm and attentive.
Hours run Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM, with weekend mornings starting at 9 AM and stretching to 10 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed.
Reservations are accepted, though parking can take a little patience.
5. Inner Bay Café, New Bedford, MA
Grilled octopus is the dish that keeps people talking here, and the Polvo a Lagareiro has a real shot at becoming your new benchmark for the classic.
Set in an unpretentious brick-walled room on Cove Road, this Cove neighborhood spot pairs a full bar with a patio for warmer nights. The Mozambique sauce gets praised for hitting the perfect level of spice, whether you take it with shrimp or chicken.
Other favorites include Carne de Porco a Alentejana, steamed littlenecks, and the house Sopa de Cove. Portions run large and prices stay modest.
Open most days from 11:30 AM, with Friday and Saturday running until 10 PM and a Wednesday closure. Outdoor seating, catering, and live music add to the appeal, and parking is usually easy.
6. Mimo Restaurant, New Bedford, MA
Two moods live under one roof at this Acushnet Avenue favorite: a bar side with soccer on the screens and a quieter dining room with soft Portuguese music setting the tone.
Home-cooked is the operative word here, with generous portions and prices that stay fair. The Cacoila with rice, Bacalhau Braz, and grilled octopus all show off the kitchen’s range.
Traditional soup, chicken Mozambique, and mixed skewered sirloin tips give you plenty to work through. Comfort food and warm service anchor the whole experience.
The restaurant runs Tuesday through Sunday, with Friday and Saturday open until 10 PM and Mondays closed. Reservations are accepted, and there is a private dining room for gatherings.
Parking is mostly street-side, so leave a little extra time.
7. The Roasted Pig, New Bedford, MA
Live music and an open, airy layout give this Nash Road kitchen a lighter, more social feel than most of the traditional rooms nearby.
The setting is bright and clean, and the menu delivers the classics with care. Carne Porco a Alentejana, Espetada a Madeirense, mussels, and calamari all headline, with baked haddock for the seafood crowd.
A daily Portuguese soup and a proper tiramisu bookend the meal nicely. Happy hour food and drinks add another reason to swing by, and prices land in the everyday $20 to $30 range.
Open Tuesday through Saturday until 9 PM, with a shorter Sunday run to 4 PM and Mondays closed. The room is family-friendly, welcoming, and set up for groups.
Reservations are accepted and catering is available.
8. Royal Restaurant Cafe, New Bedford, MA
Late-night cravings have a home on North Front Street, where the kitchen stays open until midnight several nights a week and the ribs are the talk of the block.
The Portuguese-style dry rub ribs are a genuine draw, and the menu even reaches into Brazilian-style dishes for extra variety. Hearty portions of traditional fare and steak fill out the rest.
Prices are affordable, service is friendly, and the space splits into a bar and a warm dining room. Screens for the game make it easy to settle in.
Hours run long, with Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday going to midnight, a 9:30 PM close on Sunday and Monday, and a Wednesday closure. Reservations are accepted, parking is easy, and it works well for groups.
9. Cotali Mar Restaurante, New Bedford, MA
When you want the Portuguese classics dressed up a little, this Acushnet Avenue restaurant brings a classier setting complete with a fireplace and a seasonal terrace.
The room feels spacious and polished, with a romantic, upscale edge that still keeps prices in the $20 to $30 range. Bife na Pedra arrives sizzling on hot stone, and Carne a Alentejana, Clams Casino, and Chourico a Bombeiro round out the highlights.
An extensive seafood menu gives you plenty to explore, and the service earns steady praise. There is even an Adega space that has hosted private events like wedding receptions.
Hours are limited to Tuesday plus Friday through Sunday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, so plan ahead. Dinner reservations are recommended, outdoor seating is available, and parking is street-side.
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