Hole-In-The-Wall Spots – Portland

After filling your stomach with all of the glorious beer that Portland has to offer (see our Brewery Guide for Portland) you are going to need some food to soak it all up. Luckily for you, just like Portland’s robust beer scene, their food scene also has a lot to offer. Today we are going to take a dive into some of the hole-in-the-wall “hidden gems” of Portland, ME.

Duckfat

Duckfat may not exactly be a hidden gem (Expect and hour plus wait on weekends). Nonetheless, it is an absolutely can’t miss spot. Inspired by a trip to Amsterdam, the owners wanted to bring the cone fry experience to the States– and add their own twist to it. Everything fried here uses duck fat oil, but this is so much more than a French fry joint.

The signature dish is poutine topped with mounds of slow cooked duck confit. This dish combines perfectly crispy fries, rich gravy, melty cheese curds, and ridiculously decadent duck confit to create an explosion of flavors in your mouth.

If you are on the more adventurous side, the Sea Salted Duckfat milkshake is a must. Yup, duck fat in a milkshake.

Of course you will be in Maine, so Duckfat also has more traditional flavors such as the famous Maine Blueberry milkshake. Not feeling fries? Any of their paninis are top-class and will surely have you coming back for more.

Locally Sauced

This Mexican hole-in-the-wall joint started off as a food cart that would sit outside of Allagash. When you use locally-sourced ingredients to create your salsa, people catch on. Eventually that cart became it’s own brick and mortar restaurant. Located next to the famous Bissel Brothers brewery, this is the perfect place to grab a burrito or nachos with your beer. Here, the salsas are the stars of the show. But be warned– the Mango Habanero will have you chugging your beer as you try to put out the fire in your mouth.

Also be warned– their nachos are big enough to feed a small village.

Mash Tun

Burgers and beer. A combination as iconic as peanut butter and jelly.

Mash Tun has one of the most robust beer selections in Portland, so if you don’t have time to check out all the local breweries, you can usually find them on tap here. Their $6 grass-fed burger & fries is a screaming deal, and it pairs perfectly with any of the beers on tap. The Brussel Sprout Sweet Potato Hash and the Parmesan Truffle Fries are also cannot miss menu items. A true hole-in-the-wall spot, Mash Tun has the basics perfected.