Maine Eats · South Portland, Maine
South Portland restaurants: lobster shacks & dairy bars
8 lobster shacks and roll stops, 5 clam shacks, 6 red snapper and Italian stops, 5 whoopie pie and donut stops, 4 diners, 3 oyster bars and 7 dairy bars in and around South Portland, each checked in business in October 2026. The Maine Eats app's directory has 115 restaurants, cafés, bars and bakeries in South Portland and sorts them by distance from you.
An iPhone and iPad app, free. Not in the App Store yet.
South Portland at a glance
The app's directory has 115 places to eat and drink in South Portland. The most common kinds are Bar & Pub (16), Coffee & Café (13) and Sandwiches & Deli (11). 50 are matched to a Maine liquor license on the state's list. 27 are locations of a chain with five or more in Maine. 6 are on our hand-checked lists. South Portland is in Cumberland County, in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region.
On our lists in South Portland
The places in South Portland on our hand-checked lists, most featured first: James Beard honorees and long-running places lead. That order isn't a rating.
Cape Whoopies
185 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Whoopie pies Known for: gourmet whoopie pies made with butter; seasonal whoopie pie assortments
South Portland whoopie pie bakery, launched through the Fork Food Lab incubator, making butter-based gourmet whoopie pies in rotating flavors; it invites visitors to the bakery and ships nationwide.
DiPietro's Market
385 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich; pizza
Family Italian market and deli on Cottage Road that makes Maine Italians and ready-to-go meals.
Q Street Diner
9 Q St, South Portland
Diner Known for: eggs; pancakes
Neighborhood breakfast-and-lunch diner in South Portland, open Wednesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Red's Dairy Freeze
167 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: soft serve; Boston sundae; Nor'easter · Season: early March to the end of the season
Seasonal soft-serve stand in South Portland's east end whose March opening is a local sign of spring.
SoPo Seafood
171 Ocean St, South Portland
Lobster rollOyster bar Known for: raw bar; lobster roll; lobster bisque
South Portland seafood market and raw bar with a full lunch and dinner menu built on Gulf of Maine catches; Maine lobster is always on the menu.
Willard Scoops
429 Preble St, South Portland
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream
South Portland ice cream shop with about 20 gourmet flavors.
Lobster shacks and rolls in and near South Portland
In South Portland: SoPo Seafood, listed above. The 5 nearest of the 7 others within 15 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 37.
The Highroller Lobster Co.
104 Exchange St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Lobster rollRed snappers Known for: lobster roll; lobster roll with butter or flavored mayo; 'The Red Snappah' foot-long red hot dog; corn-dog-battered red snapper
Old Port lobster roll restaurant that grew out of a 2015 food cart; rolls come with mayo variations or butter.
Portland Lobster Co.
180 Commercial St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Lobster shackLobster rollSeasonal Known for: lobster roll; steamed lobster dinner; clam chowder; steamers; fried clams; crab roll · Season: seasonal; check before you go
Seasonal waterfront deck on Commercial Street with steamed lobster dinners, lobster and crab rolls, fried clams and live music.
Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
60 Portland Pier, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Lobster roll Known for: lobster roll; crab roll; steamed clams
Luke's Lobster's flagship restaurant on a working pier, serving its split-top lobster rolls with views of the lobster boats.
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
James Beard winnerLobster rollOyster bar Known for: oysters; brown butter lobster roll · At this address since 2012
Big Tree Hospitality's oyster bar in the Old Port, known for its raw bar and a brown-butter lobster roll.
James Beard: Best Chef: Northeast 2017 (winner): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.; Best Chef: Northeast 2015 (nominee): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.; Best Chef: Northeast 2016 (nominee): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.
Bite Into Maine
1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth · 5 mi from South Portland
Lobster rollSeasonal Known for: lobster roll · Season: April to early November · At this address since 2011
Lobster roll food truck in Fort Williams Park by Portland Head Light, window service only; the business also runs shops in Portland and Scarborough.
Clam shacks in and near South Portland
Those within 15 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 11.
Clam Bar
199 West Commercial St, Portland · 2 mi from South Portland
Clam shackSeasonal Known for: clams · Season: seasonal; check before you go · At this address since 2023
Seasonal clam shack at the west end of Commercial Street, open Thursday to Monday.
Gilbert's Chowder House
92 Commercial St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Clam shack Known for: clam chowder; clam cakes; fried haddock sandwich
Casual waterfront chowder house on Commercial Street that specializes in clam chowder, with clam cakes and fried seafood.
Ken's Place
207 Pine Point Rd, Scarborough · 6 mi from South Portland
Clam shackSeasonal Known for: fried clams; clam strips; clam roll; clam chowder; lobster roll; fried oysters · Season: about late March to late October (2026: opened around March 20, last day October 25)
Seasonal seafood stand on the road to Pine Point Beach, serving fried clams (batter or crumbs), clam rolls and chowder since its roadside-stand start in 1927.
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights Rd, Cape Elizabeth · 7 mi from South Portland
Lobster shackLobster rollClam shackSeasonal Known for: lobster dinner; lobster roll; fried clams; clam cakes; clam chowder; lobster stew · Season: April 4 to October 25 (2026 season)
Seasonal lobster shack at the end of Two Lights Road with picnic tables on the rocks below the lighthouse; lobster dinners, rolls, fried clams and clam cakes.
Huot's Seafood Restaurant
29 Eastern Ave, Camp Ellis (Saco) · 12 mi from South Portland
Clam shack Known for: clam cakes; onion rings; fried seafood
Camp Ellis seafood restaurant still using Doris Huot's recipes for clam cakes, onion rings and seafood batter; after three generations of the Huot family, a new team now runs it and says it is keeping the recipes.
Red snappers and Italians in and near South Portland
In South Portland: DiPietro's Market, listed above. The others within 10 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 11.
Room for Improvement
41 Wharf St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Red snappers Known for: red snapper hot dogs
Old Port bar whose 'Snappy Hour' puts its red snapper dogs (classic, kraut and cheese) at half price Sunday to Thursday evenings.
The Highroller Lobster Co.
104 Exchange St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland; listed above
The Thirsty Pig
37 Exchange St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Red snappers Known for: red snapper hot dog; build-your-own hot dogs
Old Port hot dog bar where you pick a dog, including a 9-inch red snapper, and a topping style.
Amato's
71 India St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich
The India Street shop of the chain that claims to have originated the Maine Italian sandwich.
Anania's
606 Washington Ave, Portland · 4 mi from South Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich
Washington Avenue variety store known for Maine Italians, the last Anania's still open; its former manager bought it in 2025 and kept making Italians.
Whoopie pies and donuts in and near South Portland
In South Portland: Cape Whoopies, listed above. The others within 10 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 16.
The Holy Donut
194 Park Ave, Portland · 2 mi from South Portland
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts; maple bacon doughnut
Park Avenue shop of the Portland bakery that makes its doughnuts with Maine potatoes.
Two Fat Cats Bakery
195 Lancaster St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Whoopie pies Known for: whoopie pies; pies
Portland bakery known for whoopie pies (it runs a whoopie-pie-of-the-month club) and fruit pies.
The Holy Donut
177 Commercial St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts · A branch of The Holy Donut, Portland (194 Park Ave)
Old Port waterfront shop of the Maine potato doughnut bakery.
The Holy Donut
398 Route 1, Scarborough · 4 mi from South Portland
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts · A branch of The Holy Donut, Portland (194 Park Ave)
Route 1 shop of the Portland potato doughnut bakery.
Diners in and near South Portland
In South Portland: Q Street Diner, listed above. The others within 10 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 13.
Becky's Diner
390 Commercial St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Diner Known for: blueberry pancakes; corned beef hash; fried clams; lobster roll · At this address since 1991
Working-waterfront diner on Commercial Street open from 5 a.m., with all-day breakfast and seafood plates.
Miss Portland Diner
140 Marginal Way, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Diner Known for: blueberry pancakes; sausage gravy biscuits; omelets · At this address since 2008
Restored 1949 Worcester lunch car with a dining room annex, serving breakfast and lunch.
The Porthole
20 Custom House Wharf, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Diner Known for: Twin Lobster Dinner; breakfast
Diner-style restaurant on Custom House Wharf, serving breakfast and Casco Bay seafood; it came through the December 2025 wharf fire across the way.
Oyster bars in and near South Portland
In South Portland: SoPo Seafood, listed above. The others within 15 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 10.
J's Oyster
5 Portland Pier, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland
Oyster bar Known for: oysters; lobster roll
Long-running waterfront raw bar on Portland Pier, first come first served, known for oysters and lobster rolls.
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle St, Portland · 3 mi from South Portland; listed above
Dairy bars in and near South Portland
In South Portland: Red's Dairy Freeze and Willard Scoops, listed above. The others within 10 miles, closest first. The statewide guide has 54.
Lib's Dairy Treats
32 Auburn St, Portland · 5 mi from South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: soft serve; Gifford's hard ice cream; sundaes; shakes · Season: early March into the fall (opened March 7 in 2026)
North Deering soft-serve and Gifford's ice cream stand that opens each March.
Beals Old Fashioned Ice Cream
585 Main St, Gorham · 6 mi from South Portland
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream; teaberry ice cream
Original Gorham store of Beals, making about 100 old-fashioned ice cream recipes in small batches; also scoops in Portland.
Kettle Cove Creamery & Shack
2 Bowery Beach Rd, Cape Elizabeth · 6 mi from South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: homemade hard ice cream; soft serve · Season: from about May
Seasonal Cape Elizabeth ice cream stand with more than 30 homemade hard-serve flavors plus soft serve.
Big Licks
8 West Grand Ave, Old Orchard Beach · 9 mi from South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: Salted Caramel Cashew ice cream · Season: seasonal; check before you go
Old Orchard Beach ice cream shop with classic-style ice cream in inventive flavors; opens Memorial Day weekend.
Martel's Ice Cream
757 Portland Rd, Saco · 10 mi from South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: homemade ice cream; Maine Mud ice cream; waffle cones · Season: seasonal; check before you go · At this address since 1986
Route 1 ice cream shop across from Funtown Splashtown with 40-plus homemade flavors and two mini golf courses.
What South Portland eats
The most common kinds of place among the 115 in South Portland, from open map data and the state's liquor license list. Each opens the web search, filtered to South Portland.
More Maine towns
- Portland
- Bangor
- South Portland
- Bar Harbor
- Lewiston
- Biddeford
- Brunswick
- Augusta
- Auburn
- Scarborough
- York
- Old Orchard Beach
- Ogunquit
- Waterville
- Kennebunk
- Kittery
- Wells
- Westbrook
- Ellsworth
- Saco
- Kennebunkport
- Wiscasset
- Damariscotta
- Cape Elizabeth
- Mount Desert
- Rockland
- Camden
- Freeport
- Boothbay Harbor
Or by region: