Maine Eats guide · checked October 2026
Maine red snappers & Italian sandwiches
6 places for red snapper hot dogs and 5 for the Maine Italian sandwich, each checked in business in October 2026 going by its own site or menu, Maine news, or a town or chamber listing. 1 of them is seasonal, so check the season listed with each before you drive.
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The red hot dog and the Italian
A red snapper is a natural-casing hot dog dyed bright red, named for the snap of the casing when you bite in; the places here name W.A. Bean and Jordan's red snappers. A Maine Italian is a sandwich on a soft sub roll with ham, American cheese, tomato, onion, green pepper, sour pickles and olives, dressed with oil, salt and pepper. Amato's says it originated the sandwich.
The 11 on this list
6 serve red snappers and 5 make Maine Italians. Maine's oldest restaurants has the 22 places with 40 or more years at the same address.
How we made the list: we looked up each place in October 2026 and kept it only when a 2025 or 2026 source showed it in business at that address: its own site or menu, a dated post, Maine news reporting, or a town or chamber of commerce listing. A shack or stand that posts its opening and closing dates has them printed beside it; one we couldn't source this year was dropped. No review site fed into it, the order is by region and town, and no rating decides anything. Call ahead, since hours and menus shift. Our sources are on the about page.
In the Maine Eats app the same places come nearest-first from wherever your phone is, and each opens Apple's own map card for opening times, pictures and the route.
Jump to a region
The list is grouped by the Maine Office of Tourism's 8 regions, which we draw on county lines.
Town pages: 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. Region pages: Maine Beaches, Greater Portland & Casco Bay, Midcoast & Islands, Downeast & Acadia, Lakes & Mountains, Kennebec Valley, Maine Highlands, Aroostook County.
Red snappers & Italians: questions
What is a red snapper hot dog?
A natural-casing hot dog dyed bright red. The casing snaps when you bite it, which gives it its name, and it's usually served on a toasted or steamed New England-style split-top bun; the places here name W.A. Bean and Jordan's red snappers.
What goes on a Maine Italian?
Ham, American cheese, tomato, onion, green pepper, sour pickles and olives on a long, soft roll, with oil, salt and pepper. Elsewhere it would be a sub; in Maine it's an Italian. Amato's says it originated the sandwich.
Are these places open all year?
Not all of them. 1 of the 11 here is seasonal and 10 aren't marked seasonal. A place that's closed for the winter hasn't closed for good, so check its season before you drive.
Maine Beaches
1 place, by town. The region around Biddeford, York and Old Orchard Beach; the Maine Beaches page has its other guides too.
George's Sandwich Shop
37 Franklin St, Biddeford
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich
Downtown Biddeford sandwich shop making Maine Italians since 1948; the owner calls the Italian his biggest seller and keeps it the way it has always been made.
Greater Portland & Casco Bay
6 places, by town. The region around Portland, South Portland and Brunswick; the Greater Portland & Casco Bay page has its other guides too.
Amato's
71 India St, 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
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.
Room for Improvement
41 Wharf St, 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
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.
The Thirsty Pig
37 Exchange St, 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.
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.
Midcoast & Islands
2 places, by town. The region around Rockland, Camden and Boothbay Harbor; the Midcoast & Islands page has its other guides too.
Dunton's Doghouse
40 Sea St, Boothbay Harbor
Red snappers Known for: red hot dogs (W.A. Bean); Riley Dog with cheese and bacon; hot dog with coleslaw
Small hot dog stand at the edge of downtown Boothbay Harbor serving natural-casing dogs and W.A. Bean red hot dogs on griddled, buttered New England-style buns.
Harbor Dogs
1 Public Landing, Camden
Red snappersSeasonal Known for: Jordan's red snappers; Harbor Dog with apple chutney; Chilean Completo · Season: seasonal; check before you go
Seasonal hot dog stand in a parking lot at the edge of Camden Harbor, using Jordan's red snappers on toasted New England-style buns.
Lakes & Mountains
2 places, by town. The region around Lewiston, Auburn and Farmington; the Lakes & Mountains page has its other guides too.
Sam's Italian Foods
40 Millett Dr, Auburn
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich; pizza
Lewiston-Auburn's own Maine Italian sandwich chain (since 1939, now employee-owned), with shops in Auburn, Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, Augusta, Dixfield and Brunswick.
Simones' Hot Dog Stand
99 Chestnut St, Lewiston
Red snappers Known for: red snapper hot dogs on steamed buns; chili dogs
Downtown Lewiston hot dog stand run by the Simones family for four generations, known for red snappers ('Lewiston lobsters') on steamed buns; open weekdays.