America’s 19 Top Lobster Rolls
Lobster rolls aren’t just sandwiches, they’re seaside treasures wrapped in buttery goodness! These handheld delights combine sweet, tender lobster meat with just enough extras to make your taste buds dance.
From Maine’s rugged coastline to California’s sunny shores, here’s the ultimate cross-country hunt for the most mouthwatering lobster rolls in America.
19. Red’s Eats – Wiscasset, Maine
Legendary roadside stand causing traffic jams since 1938! Their monster-sized roll overflows with more than a whole lobster’s worth of meat, barely dressed with mayo or butter, your choice.
Why the lines? Pure, unadulterated lobster perfection that keeps celebrities and everyday folks waiting hours. Worth every minute of the wait!
18. The Highroller Lobster Co. – Portland, Maine
Hipster heaven meets lobster love! Started as a food cart, this brick-and-mortar hotspot serves rolls on custom brioche buns baked locally.
What’s their hidden weapon? The saucy twist: for your roll, pick from charred pineapple mayo, lobster ghee, or garlic mayo. Are you feeling daring? For a crazy taste adventure, try their lobster taco or lobster cheese crisp!
17. Bagaduce Lunch – Penobscot, Maine
Family-owned since 1946, this waterfront gem serves unpretentious lobster perfection. Their classic roll comes on a toasted hot dog bun with meat so fresh it was swimming hours earlier.
While waiting, watch osprey dive for fish from the deck overlooking the reversing falls. James Beard Foundation named it an “American Classic” – and one bite explains why!
16. The Clam Shack – Kennebunkport, Maine
Rebels of the lobster world! Instead of hot dog buns, they serve their award-winning rolls on round, locally-baked buns that somehow make perfect sense.
Fresh-picked daily and served with both mayo AND butter (why choose?), these beauties feature claw, knuckle, and tail meat. Tourists and locals battle for parking spots just to get their hands on one!
15. Lobster Landing – Clinton, Connecticut
Hidden in a weathered shack from 1910, Lobster Landing might look ready to collapse, but their hot buttered rolls stand mighty! Quarter-pound of meat gets a quick butter bath before nestling into a toasted sub roll.
What makes it special? Simplicity, just lobster, butter, and a squeeze of lemon. Enjoy yours on the deck watching boats while seagulls plot their snack heist!
14. Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough – Noank, Connecticut
Since 1947, Abbott’s has perfected Connecticut-style hot buttered rolls.
A full pound of beef is packed into their famous “OMG” version!
You’ll see why people travel hours for these butter-soaked gems as you sit at picnic tables with views of boats bobbling in the port. Hot take: they may have the greatest seafood soup in America with their clear-broth lobster bisque!
13. Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock – New London, Connecticut
Tucked under a railroad bridge by the Thames River, this dockside delight serves two perfect variations. While the cold traditional receives just enough mayo to be noticeable, their hot counterpart is drenched with drawn butter.
At picnic tables, these beauties are devoured by both landlubbers and hungry sailors. Pro tip: for the ultimate New England power lunch, get a roll with their renowned clear-broth chowder!
12. Liv’s Shack – Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Beach vibes meet gourmet technique at this seasonal shoreline shack! Their signature roll features knuckle and claw meat tossed in brown butter aioli on a toasted brioche bun.
Sand between your toes? No problem! Grab your roll and stroll to the beach for the ultimate Connecticut summer moment. Foodie secret: their lobster grilled cheese might change your life forever.
11. Captain’s Cove Seaport – Bridgeport, Connecticut
Carnival meets seafood haven! This colorful marina complex serves hefty rolls with harbor views and tiki bar vibes. Their hot buttered version comes on a grilled New England roll that soaks up all that golden goodness.
Live bands provide the soundtrack while you feast. Bonus adventure: wander the boardwalk shops after your meal or watch fishing boats unload their daily catch!
10. SoNo Seaport Seafood – Norwalk, Connecticut
Waterfront views and no-nonsense seafood make this dockside eatery a local legend.
On a split-top bun that has been perfectly toasted, their Connecticut-style roll arrives hot and buttery.
As boats pass your table, seagulls delight you. The key? Nothing frozen or pre-processed comes in contact with these rolls—they boil their own lobsters every day and choose the flesh by hand!
9. DiMillo’s On The Water – Portland, Maine
Alert: floating eatery! With every dish, this renovated auto ferry offers marine elegance. Huge pieces of tail and claw flesh are combined with a hint of mayo over a butter-grilled bun to create their trademark roll.
Would you want a beverage to go with your crustacean?
The experience is enhanced by their extensive wine list and bar. Unlike many seasonal shacks, they offer these beauties till late evening, so night owls rejoice!
8. McLoons Lobster Shack – South Thomaston, Maine
Perched on a working lobster wharf, McLoons serves rolls so fresh they were swimming hours earlier!
On a toasted split-top bun, their traditional Maine-style is served warm with butter or cold with light mayo.
As you eat, observe lobstermen unloading their catch. The icing on the cake? Your salty seafood adventure would be complete with their homemade blueberry cake!
7. The Lobster Shack At Two Lights – Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Dramatic ocean views meet legendary lobster at this cliff-perched eatery! Their mayo-dressed roll comes with chips and pickle on a paper plate, perfect for enjoying on rocky outcroppings as waves crash below.
Two lighthouse beacons frame your meal with postcard-worthy backdrops. Weather warning: fog rolls in quickly, but somehow makes your lobster feast even more authentically Maine!
6. Quoddy Bay Lobster – Eastport, Maine
USA lobster roll from the east! Across the water, this family-run market offers rolls with views of Canada. This quarter-pound gem is served with warm butter or mayo on a buttered, grilled New England split-top bun.
What makes it so unique? Every day, the proprietors’ own boats harvest fresh lobsters for the flesh! This is as boat-to-plate as it gets!
5. Luke’s Lobster – Portland, Maine
From humble Portland beginnings to international chain status, without losing quality! Founded by a Maine lobsterman’s son, Luke’s serves quarter-pound rolls with their signature lemon butter and secret seasoning.
Sustainability champions alert! They work directly with fishermen and were the first seafood company certified as B Corp. Their waterfront shack location offers the full Maine experience with harbor views!
4. Bite Into Maine – Cape Elizabeth And Portland, Maine
Food truck revolutionaries bringing bold flavor to classic lobster rolls with six standout styles, including wasabi mayo, curry mayo, and chipotle mayo.
Set against Fort Williams Park’s scenic backdrop, their location offers lighthouse views as unforgettable as the food. Can’t pick just one? Go for the picnic-style trio of mini rolls and taste your way to lobster enlightenment.
3. Cousins Maine Lobster – Portland, Maine
Shark Tank success story launched by real-life cousins turned food truck fame into a must-visit Portland spot. Serving both Maine-style (cold with mayo) and Connecticut-style (warm with butter) rolls, they’ve mastered coastal classics.
The secret lies in flash-frozen lobster that locks in sweetness and texture. For something extra indulgent, don’t skip the lobster tater tots, a crispy, buttery bite that’s reached cult favorite status.
2. Portland Lobster Company – Portland, Maine
Prime waterfront real estate meets lobster roll royalty! Their award-winning creation comes heaped with claw and knuckle meat on a buttery grilled bun with mayo served on the side – choose your own adventure!
Live music on the deck makes for perfect summer vibes.
Pro tip: their lobster dinner with corn, potatoes, and steamers makes a feast if you’re sharing with friends!
1. Sam’s Chowder House – Half Moon Bay, California
West Coast wonder bringing East Coast tradition straight to California’s shores. Famous roll, named one of America’s top five sandwiches by NBC’s Today Show, features generous chunks of Maine lobster soaked in warm butter and nestled in a perfectly toasted split-top bun.
With ocean views from the deck, every bite feels like a mini getaway. Who says you need a plane ticket to find true lobster roll bliss?