The Clam Shack, which serves one of Maine’s best lobster rolls.

What are the most authentic Maine lobster shacks? Where are the best places to get a legit lobster roll? There are a variety of judging criteria that go into any descent list of top Maine lobster eateries. How good is their lobster roll? Does the lobster shack come with a side of ambiance – aka an ocean view? Does the menu offer a variety of lobster items beyond the basic (but oh so delicious) lobster roll, like lobster stew and shore dinners? Do they offer dessert, especially whoopie pies?

The below list of best Maine lobster shacks and lobster rolls is based on extensive research along with my insider’s knowledge of what makes for a good lobster experience (if you’ve read more of my blog you’ll know that my father and brother are lobster fishermen and I have worked with lobster most of my life). These 20 lobster shacks and eateries are all places where you can roll up your sleeves and enjoy a proper lobster dinner or savor the buttery goodness of an authentic Maine lobster roll. Enjoy!

The Best Maine Lobster Shacks and Lobster Rolls

1. The Clam Shack, Kennebunkport, Maine. This classic lobster shack is most famous for its amazing lobster roll which consistently gets voted as one of the best in Maine. Perched on the side of a busy road, with limited outside seating, The Clam Shack isn’t big on ambiance but they more than make up for it with the quality of their lobster and their award-winning lobster roll. To read more about The Clam Shack, click here.

2. Red’s Eats, Wiscasset, Maine. Reds is a more of a roadside hut than a shack. As with The Clam Shack, it doesn’t offer ocean views but it does deliver one of the most famous lobster rolls on the coast of Maine. To read more about Red’s Eats, click here.

3. Waterman’s Beach Lobster, South Thomaston, Maine. This lobster shack offers ambiance along with its lobster dinners and lobster rolls. Nestled between a meadow and a rocky beach, it offers tranquil ocean views. It also serves a variety of lobster entrees. To read more about Waterman’s Beach Lobster, click here.

4. Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, Kittery Point, Maine. Chauncey Creek is another Maine lobster shack that offers ambiance along with its lobster dinners and lobster rolls. As the name suggests, the lobster shack is perched on a lobster pier overlooking the water. Chauncey Creek serve a variety of lobster entrees, from boiled lobsters and lobster rolls to oysters in the half shell and cherry stone clams. To read more about Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, click here.

5. Five Islands Lobster Co., Georgetown, Maine. This lobster shack is possibly the most picturesque place to enjoy a lobster dinner in Maine. Five Islands is located on a wharf in the fishing village of Georgetown Island, and offers dinners 360-degree views of the ocean and the five islands of Sheepscot Bay. Lobsters are pulled fresh from the ocean and transformed into boiled lobster dinners or lobster rolls for you to enjoy alfresco on picnic tables lining the pier. To read more about Five Island’s Lobster Co., click here.

6. Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf, New Harbor, Maine. Shaw’s is another proper lobster shack, perched on a working lobster wharf with views of the ocean and the fishermen who bring in your catch. Shaw’s offer a good variety of lobster entrees, from lobster rolls and shore dinners to lobster stew and a raw bar. They also serve wine and beer. To read more about Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf, click here.

7. Estes Lobster House, Harpswell Neck, Maine. Estes offer excellent ambiance and a wide variety of lobster dishes, from the basics to more adventurous options like lobster pie, lobster dip and lobster mac and cheese. They also serve wine and beer. To read more about Estes Lobster House, click here.

8. Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, South Freeport, Maine. This is less of a rustic lobster shack and more of a lobster-themed eatery but it offers ocean views, alfresco dining and serves lobster which has been freshly delivered from lobstermen that day. Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster offer a variety of lobster dishes, including lobster rolls and lobster dinners, along with homemade desserts, including whoopie pies. To read more about Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, click here.

9. Barnacle Billy’s, Ogunquit, Maine. Barnacle Billy’s is a few steps up from a rustic lobster shack but it offers great views of Perkins Cove and its wooden drawbridge along with a good selection of lobster entrees, from lobster rolls and boiled lobster to lobster sauté, lobster stew and baked stuffed lobster. They also make a mean rum punch. To read more about Barnacle Billy’s, click here.

10. The Galley Restaurant, Naples, Maine. The Galley is not an authentic lobster shack and it doesn’t offer ocean views but if you are looking to experience a variety of lobster rolls, this is the place to go. The Galley’s lemon zesty lobster roll has even been voted as one of the best sandwiches in America by Adam Richman of theTravel Channel. To read more about The Galley Restaurant, click here.

11. The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. This is a classic lobster shack offering alfresco dining and ambiance overload. The Lobster Shack is perched at the edge of a rocky shore and, as the name suggests, provides views of two lighthouses. They also offer all the classics you would expect at an authentic lobster shack, from lobster rolls and lobster stew to lobster dinners. To read more about The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, click here.

12. Bob’s Clam Hut, Kittery, Maine. This lobster shack doesn’t offer ocean views or a wide variety of lobster entrees but you can get a good lobster roll or lobster stew and some of the best fried clams in Maine. To read more about Bob’s Clam Hut, click here.

13. Cook’s Lobster House, Bailey Island, Maine. Cook’s Lobster House offers amazing ambiance (you can dine alfresco on their ocean-side deck overlooking Casco Bay) as well as an excellent variety of lobster dishes. Cooks is as classic as it comes – they have even been featured in a Visa commercial about lobster. To read more about Cook’s Lobster House, click here.

14. Abel’s Lobster Pound, MDI, Maine. Abel’s offers a delicious variety of lobster dishes, from lobster rolls to lobster Caesar salad which can be consumed in a quiet alfresco setting overlooking the only natural fjord in America. To read more about Abel’s Lobster Pound, click here.

15. Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bernard, Maine. Like Chauncey Creek, Five Islands and Shaws, Thurston’s is perched on a pier overlooking the ocean and the lobster boats that bring in the catch. The menu at this classic lobster shack offers a good variety of lobster entrees, from lobster rolls and shore dinners to lobster dip, lobster stew and lobster BLTs. To read more about Thurston’s Lobster Pound, click here.

16. Bagaduce Lunch, Brooksville, Maine. Bagaduce is a no-frills take out offering lobster rolls and a variety of fried seafood baskets, including an amazing haddock burger. All their seafood is locally sourced and delicious. They don’t offer inside seating but their picnic tables provide beautiful views of the tidal river in Brooksville. To read more about Bagaduce Lunch, click here.

17. Quoddy Bay Lobster, Eastport, Maine. Quoddy Bay Lobster is a fantastic lobster shack to visit if you are traveling to the depths of Downeast Maine. Eastport, is a charming fishing village and Quoddy Bay Lobster is a classic lobster shack, offering ocean views, rustic dining and a wide variety of lobster dishes including delicious, authentic Maine lobster rolls.

“Brought to you” Maine lobster roll experiences.

18. Luke’s Lobster, New York, DC and beyond

19. Red Hook Lobster Pound, Brooklyn, New York

20. Cousins Maine Lobster Truck, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and beyond

The Best Lobster Shacks and Lobster Rolls in Maine

The Best Maine Lobster Shacks and Lobster Rolls

“Brought to you” Maine lobster roll experiences.

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