Clam Box of Ipswich

Where to Eat Fried Clams Around Boston

"The Clam Box is in Ipswich, which is also the name of arguably the best soft shell clams. Many of the North Shore residents will cite the Clam Box as their favorite (and therefore the best) spot for fried clams, and they’re not wrong. The restaurant’s compulsive commitment to clean frying oil — it ceases service at 2:30 p.m. each day to filter and change its frying oil — plays a big part. Keep in mind: the Clam Box is seasonal, opening the second or third week each February and closing the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Don’t ignore it after summer ends — Rte. 133 in autumn is a leaf peeper’s fantasyland, and it’s made better with a box full of fried Ipswich clams." - Tanya Edwards, Terrence Doyle

The Clam Box - Review - Boston - The Infatuation

"Operating Hours: 11am-7:30pm Monday - Wednesday, 11am-8pm Thursday & Sunday, 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday While Island Creek Oyster Bar, filled with newer filament bulbs and Ryan Gosling look-alikes, is a bit like Blade Runner 2049, the Clam Box in Ipswich is more akin to the original film. It’s a classic spot that’s been serving fried clams to die-hard fans since 1935, and the rest of the menu is filled with even more heavily-battered sea creatures - the true spirit animal of Boston summers. The only downside is there’s no patio here, but Crane Beach is only a short drive away, so head over once you’ve obtained your platter. Clams always taste better while you’re sitting in the sand anyway. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation

7 Restaurants Perfect For A Day Trip Outside Boston

"Drive Time: 1 hour Operating Hours: 11am-7:30pm Monday - Wednesday, 11am-8pm Thursday & Sunday, 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday While Island Creek Oyster Bar, filled with newer filament bulbs and Ryan Gosling look-alikes, is a bit like Blade Runner 2049, the Clam Box in Ipswich is more akin to the original film. It’s a classic spot that’s been serving fried clams to die-hard fans since 1935, and the rest of the menu is filled with even more heavily-battered sea creatures - the true spirit animal of Boston summers. The only downside is there’s no patio here, but Crane Beach is only a short drive away, so head over once you’ve obtained your platter. Clams always taste better while you’re sitting in the sand anyway." - joel ang

Massachusetts’ Best Fried Fish Sandwiches - Eater Boston

"The Clam Box is renowned for its fried Ipswich clams (the restaurant changes the oil daily, so there are never any off flavors.) But the Clam Box does everything well, including fried fish sandwiches. The line will be long at peak times (like, up to an hour long), but it’s worth it. Get a box of clams and a fried fish sandwich, and eat it all outside in the backyard. The Clam Box is currently open for takeout and outdoor dining; it typically closes for the season on the weekend after Thanksgiving." - Terrence Doyle

This New England Road Trip Itinerary Is Just an Excuse to Snack | Bon Appétit

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"Pump your brakes here for fat crispy-fried clams, a.k.a. the Platonic ideal of a beachside snack. Piled unfussily on to-go paper plates, they’re briny, sweet, and crunchy all at the same time." - ByAmanda Shapiro

Sachin Sawant

Google

The line may be long, and so might the wait—but one bite and you’ll know it was absolutely worth it. Everything on the plate arrives golden and glorious, thanks to their masterful frying. We tried the haddock, calamari, and chicken—each one unbelievably fresh, perfectly crispy, and bursting with flavor. The onion rings? A crispy triumph. And don’t skip the tartar sauce—it takes everything up a notch. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and loads of parking make it easy to stay awhile and savor every bite.

Brian “Bmanpitt” Pitcher

Google

Absolutely stunned the clams set a new bar in my book...The freshness, taste, and perfection of the new England summer meal. I tried a few different dishes and they just got better...I would drive another 4 hours round trip in Boston traffic to live this meal again...Not good this place sets the bar in New England as unforgettable food...Amazing!!!!!!

Paola Gutierrez

Google

Not sure if they were understaffed when I went because I’ve come here a few times and never have I waited this long (in the hot sun) for food - 1 hour 15 minutes between waiting in line to order and then waiting for my food. Granted, they are known for their fried clams (not my favorite) but today I got the fried shrimp plate…way too much breading and rather bland tasting. Could use more seasoning. It would also help to have printed menus handed out to those in line so people could decide what to eat/drink before going up to order…can’t tell you how many people didn’t know their order even after waiting over 45 min in line 🤷‍♀️ by the time I left the line was much shorter so maybe I came at a bad time but I probably won’t come here as frequently as I used to.

Palm Doggy

Google

Overall good food. The platter we got was huge. Most all of the fried food tasted the same. Overall, great food and nice outdoor seating!

T B

Google

I drove 503 miles to come here. Worth it. Best fried clams!

Cathy Kramer

Google

The staff was friendly and helpful. The prices were reasonable and portions were great. I was not ready to eat outside yet but, the outside eating area appeared to be a decent size. I had the shrimp dinner with onion rings and coleslaw. The shrimp had a nice breading and were a nice size. Coleslaw and onion rings were also good but, would suggest a little more seasoning. Overall I had a great experience and look forward to visiting again.

Maria Angelakis

Google

As a former Ipswich resident, I have frequented the Clam Box down through the years. This is absolutely my go-to place for the fried whole belly clams. The fried Haddock is also off the charts delicious and moist. I have tried fried clams at a number of other places and states, but nothing compares to the Clam Box. I love the outside tent and seating. Sometimes, the lines are very long, but you can always call ahead. They will have it hot and ready at the order window. They don't cook it ahead of time, so I'm not quite sure how they manage that! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Samuel Schneider

Google

Giant lobster rolls! Huge meaty pieces of lobster and great portions. Super nice time ordering and getting my food very quickly. Onion rings were very nice and well cooked. Everything was served up quickly and nicely. Priced very reasonably. Sat outside under the tent and it was greats definitely the best seafood in Ipswich. Tough to beat their prices and they even take cards! Wow! Definitely stop here for some famous seafood!

Victor M.

Yelp

A trip to Boston is not complete without a visit to the Clam Box. Voted the best clams in New England, I ordered the 2 way option to sample both the native clams and strip clams. The local freshness and perfectly fried clams in their special flour batter were undeniable. The clams were not greasy and had a nice crunch. These were definitely the best fried clams that I have ever had! Their side cole slaw and fries were also very tasty to give you a complete and delightful platter and meal. This typical and popular roadside counter serve seafood shack is not to be missed and definitely well worth a destination stop whenever in the Boston/Ipswich area.

Ron W.

Yelp

As an ex-New Englander, I always try to load up on local treats when visiting so of course during my current visit to MA/ME, I had to stop in at the Clam Box. This seafood joint has been a classic for decades and offers up perfectly fried and crunchy clams without any grease,delicious.The onion rings are also quite good and feature a nice, light crunchy batter. Service at the Clam Box is polite and efficient, expect to wait 10 minutes or more as your food is cooked to order. Grab a seat in the dining room or outside at a covered picnic table. You can't get any better than this for New England seafood!

Craig D.

Yelp

Plentiful, delicious fried clams! Amazing at this classic roadside clam shack. Picnic tables outside and a very clean, nicely air conditioned inside eating area. Friendly service at the order window or by phone. The lobster role was perfectly browned with generous snout of lobster as lettuce. Not any mayo that I could tell. It was tasty but not top tier. Chicken sandwich...I know at a seafood place... for someone whose stomach was off. A piece of chicken on a bun.. that's all. Supposedly grilled, but the whitest piece of chicken ever. We threw it out. Love the vibe and fried clams with friendly service. Great fried seafood.

Victoria P.

Yelp

Ordered the Clam, scallop and shrimp platter Light crunchy breading on the seafood. Fresh and delicious. Onion rings and Cole slaw also came with the platter. Very delicious, I'll have a healthy leftover dinner tonight

Adina S.

Yelp

What a great spot! Clam Box is one of those typical New England seafood shacks, so you can't go wrong. It's pretty popular, as there were people lined up before it even opened! They have plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. The vibes are very classic and nostalgic. If you're going to make the trip, you've got to try one of the combo plates, which you can definitely share. We went with the 2 Way Combo, which came with Natives Clams (bellies) and Scallops. Instead of fries, we opted for the onion rings, which were top notch. Great spot!

John M.

Yelp

Tried quite a few options here Lobster roll was bland and flavorless, lacked any semblance of seasoning. Seafood salad roll was a blob of unseasoned imitation crab and mayo. Clam frites were solid but small. Clam chowder was thick, starchy and under seasoned Disappointing

DeeDee H.

Yelp

The native clams and scallops were better than I remembered. More surprising were the onion rings. They stayed together and remained crispy through the whole lazy meal. They serve beer and wine now. We arrived just after they changed the oil, and the flavors came out clean to the palate.

Matt K.

Yelp

OMG! Finally getting here for fried clams was worth the hour drive! Counter service was great and they had indoor and outdoor seating. The battered fried clam bellies were fried in light clean oil to perfection! And coupled with an Ipswich IPA it was perfect. Will have to go there again!

Vincent F.

Yelp

We came for dinner and waited about 45 min in line to order. It was definitely worth the wait. We ordered the 2 way combo(Native Clam and scallop) and the Calamari plate. The portion sizes were huge. The clams were crispy and scallops were perfectly cooked (not overcooked at all). The only complaint would be that everything was served unsalted. However, they have lemons/tartar sauce and salt on the side if you need it. Onion rings were kind of hard to eat unsalted so definitely need to season them. Calamari was very good to share. We ordered onion rings and coleslaw as the sides. Coleslaw was refreshing to have from all the fried foods. Overall: I am definitely coming back here with family.

Kimberly A.

Yelp

This place has delicious seafood. Here you order your meal at a window inside of the restaurant and then wait in the dining area until you are called to return to the window and pick up your food. There is plenty of seating in the dining room and I found it to be very clean. The order taker at the window seemed pleasant and helpful. You can order a mini meal that comes with one side dish or you can order a larger plate that is served with two side dishes. I opted for the mini meal and I got the fried scallops with french fries as my side dish. The scallops were delicious and the fries were very good as well. If you come here but want something other than seafood they do offer other items such as chicken sandwiches, hamburgers and chicken fingers. If you are a seafood lover though, I would definitely order some seafood here. You won't be disappointed. This is an excellent dining destination and I would certainly like to go back.

Jamie T.

Yelp

For over 60 years I've been faithful to the fried clams at Kelly's on Revere Beach claiming they were THE BEST. Always disappointed when people told me about other places they liked better. Well today Kelly's met their match! Although a longer drive to the Clam Box in Ipswich, they were worth every bite!! Pricey but yummy. $75 for 1 small clam box, 1 lobster roll and a beer. The place is very cute with indoor and outdoor seating. Yep, we'll be back!!

Jerry C.

Yelp

This place has a stellar reputation for a good reason. Their fried seafood is exceptional. Tonight we shared the clam dinner plate. The clams were perfect. A mix of medium and large belly clams lightly fried. They change their frying oil daily and you can really tell. I observed many enjoying the haddock sandwiches. With the meals you get a choice of fried, onion rings and cole slaw. The portions are generous. There's a large parking lot but this place can get very busy.

Beth K.

Yelp

Clams are the specialty on the North Shore so if you're in Ipswich this is the place to go. We ordered the 2-way combo of clam strips and haddock, with coleslaw and onion rings. The 2-way combo was more than enough for two of us. Clam box offers generous portions. The clam strips and haddock were fresh, and the fish batter is crispy and not greasy. They change the oil every day at 2:30 p.m. I suppose that's what's making this fried food so damn delicious. Just go you won't be disappointed.

Lauren P.

Yelp

Fresh and fast food. Hefty portions. Excellent service. Easy parking and lots of seating indoor and outdoor. 5stars

S T.

Yelp

Loyal long time customer returns to see if things have gotten better. My family and I were regulars often going to the Clam Box when our kids were young. Sometimes back then we even went once a week. I am talking twenty something years ago so we had been going there for many years. When Chickie was running the place and her mom was cleaning tables it was the best. Those were the days when the food never disappointed because Chickie was a perfectionist when it came to her quality of fried clams. Always the perfect amount of crispness and no signs of grease to them. Her clam chowder was always the best in town, NO the best anywhere in my opinion! Creamy and thick with the perfect amount of clams and potatoes. The lobster roll was always stuffed and I do not ever remember thinking it was dry or having to ask for mayo. When she passed and her son was running the place for a short time the tradition of quality stayed the same and you could still feel Chickie's presence at work in the quality of the food being served. When her son passed the place got a refreshing face lift and it was nice to see some positive changes to the dining area. Recently my husband and I returned after not being there for a couple years because we had a couple negative experiences the last two times we were there. We thought we would check in on our old favorite place hoping it would not disappoint us again. Sadly they are still not putting out the same quality as Chickie once did. Here are the key points you should know. 1. Clams are not crisp! Again our clams were undercooked and limb! Ask them to cook longer! 2. Lobster roll was good and full but you have to ask for extra mayo just to get a normal amount of mayo! If you do not ask for mayo it will be dry! 3. You will have to add salt if you want seasoning they do not season but I guess that is better than them adding too much salt! 4. Get the large chowder! The small seems like it got smaller and it is the best around you will want more! 5. The portions seem smaller for those who are use to the clam box sizes. 6.Hope you like oldies music there is lots of it playing! Personally not for me. 7. The once emergency exit door now the door to the tent slams shut non stop in the dining room! A slow door closure would be nice for those dining in the dining room. 8. No more ketchup bottles ok get it forget packets they are awful to open if you have arthritis put out a ketchup pump instead.

Sage R.

Yelp

We tried the lobster roll and french fries after a gorgeous beach day and they did not disappoint!!! $30 for the roll and chips which was a fair price.

Bill M.

Yelp

My only complaint is why is Ipswich so far from Worcester? Never a bad meal here! Here's to another 89 years!

Paul C.

Yelp

Honestly I want to love this place and give it a four or five star rating. I mean they have been around since 1935! Everything is fried, and the stacks of fried seafood are impressive. A box is plenty of food to share with two or three people. We ordered the scallops and native clams. The scallops were big. Native clams are the full body of the clam as opposed to strips that are just the long part of clam body. The batter was light and crispy, but I was disappointed because the batter didn't have any flavor. I was expecting Old Bay or some kind of regional seasoning in the fry. Even with dipping the seafood in cocktail or tarter sauces, I was underwhelmed.

John ..

Yelp

Great as always- huge portions cooked perfectly - onion rings were excellent. Clams lightly breaded to perfection

Scott A.

Yelp

Delicious fried clams and oysters! We also had the clam chowder. Yummy! And a clam fritter! Delicious! Order at the window, get called, plenty of parking and seating inside and out.

Diane D.

Yelp

Fabulous Delicious fried seafood . Onion rings were perfection. So hard to find fish chowder so I was thrilled to see it on the menu. Thin broth was flavorful with large pieces of fish and potatoes. Wouldn't change a thing

Susan S.

Yelp

I never write reviews but I am going to for this meal. We waited a long time for our order and it arrived with MANY missing items. We had to go back and reorder these things. The chicken sandwich was very undercooked, slightly on the raw side and the onion rings, fries and chicken fingers were completely unseasoned, greasy and tasteless. Perhaps they were having a bad night.

Shaun L.

Yelp

I haven't been here in at least 10 years so it was nostalgic. Maybe I've just gotten pampered by Tony's and the clam box in Quincy but it wasn't as amazing as I remembered. It's still good if your in the area but I think it's not a place to travel to specifically for fried clams. Ordering was a little slow, it was as if they wanted to pace the kitchen because it is outside of summer hours. I did appreciate it in some ways because the food was perfectly fried. It wasn't oily like other places that just churn but lacked seasoning. If you are going to make us wait, please season! The lobster roll was very basic, it had a good amount of lobster and the roll was buttered and nicely toasted but I felt like it was a generic New England lobster roll. Save your money for something with more piz zaz. If you're in Boston and aren't going to the beaches or visiting Maine, it's not worth the drive just go to Tony's clam shop. If you are in the area, this is better than woodmans fried clams for sure. They change their oil at 230 so if you get in line around then be prepared to wait 20-30 mins extra

Holly N.

Yelp

I drove 681 miles from Virginia just to eat these clams. Not really. But it would've been worth it! I came back to town after 3 years down south for a family visit and hit up my favorite place! Food was piping hot and delicious, customer service was top knotch, and I'm already questioning how many times I can eat here before we leave

L T.

Yelp

We like this place and usually stop in for clams when in the area. There's usually a line so getting your food takes time, but it's worth the wait. There's indoor and outdoor seating, we opted for inside since it was blazing hot the day we were there. You just need to accept the noise level when eating inside. Two of us ordered big belly clams and two ordered combo plates one with scallops and one with shrimp. We also had fries and onion rings. All was delicious. There was so much food, none of us could finish it so a healthy portion went with us in a to go bag.

Tricia S.

Yelp

We have been going to the Clam Box for years. We now live almost 90 miles away. It doesn't matter, it's worth the trip. We always get the two way combo and share between the two of us. The staff is friendly and efficient, the place is so clean. The food is top notch. Highly recommended.

Ernest S.

Yelp

What is the best the coding was excellent also there was scallops with the belly onion rings, french fries coleslaw and a root beer who could ask for more?

Sina T.

Yelp

Delicious! I had the 2 way combo and it was more than enough for leftovers to take home. My little sisters had the chicken tenders and they were a little on the salty side.

Gloria L.

Yelp

The clams here are some of the best around! The batter is very light so you don't feel gross after eating and the clams are huge! The clam chowder was one of my favorites. It had the perfect ratio of ingredients with a hefty amount of clams. The fries were very crispy, but the coleslaw was pretty watery and not too flavorful. They also sell beer outside in the tents from Ipswich Ale Brewery, but will be getting their liquor license soon. It's always super busy here and they change out their oil every afternoon (2:30 PM) so make sure you plan accordingly. But even with the wait, this place is definitely worth trying out.

Taryn B.

Yelp

Amazing fried seafood. Wish i would have eaten even more. Service was good they were training but everyone was so polite and helpful, not flustered. Loved it. Very NE summer.

Matt L.

Yelp

Best seafood in the area... and that's saying something. Always nail it. Everything is delicious. I'm partial to the fried scallops or haddock and onion rings. Plenty of tartar sauce. Yum.

Mel H.

Yelp

Not a cheap fried food meal, but sooo good. Cute but simple dining room, or eat out back under the tents.

Nancy J.

Yelp

Very good fried fish and scallops. Just make sure you want fried. Drinks are separate counter. The line moves quickly.

Ray V.

Yelp

Usually "The Box" has flawless fried food offsetting the minimal ambiance, but todays scollops were a bit greasy, the fries were not authentic and the coleslaw was underwhelming... I can only say the tarter sauce didn't disappoint. Sad to have to tell it like it was today

Katherine W.

Yelp

Very good hotdogs! Weird buns tho! Service was a little slow but they were quite busy! Very good vibes and we sat outside so mood was good

Gary M.

Yelp

Super! The best seafood in NE! My Wife and I make frequent trips down from the Worcester area during the season to split a Fisherman's platter!! We have enjoyed it for years. Thanks again, be back soon.

Tuli S.

Yelp

Wow what a pile of seafood! We stopped here after apple picking for lunch. We ordered the fried clams and upgraded to "bigger" bellies so it was roughly $50 for 2 with clam chowder. The food came out fast and was perfectly fried. I didn't get a spec of sand! No frills place. Grab your food and sit outside! There was no difference in the size of clams so I wouldn't bother paying more to upgrade. We had a large group so everyone else ordered the regular size.

Heather M.

Yelp

The food was amazing!! And the people are amazing as well !! I highly recommend this place if you're in the area! You won't be let down !..there's also a beautiful sitting area outside looking over the water ! Il

J L.

Yelp

Drove an hour arriving right at opening time to only get gypped on the portions. The fried clams were good and the scallops were juicy but the portions way out of line for the $40 they charged me. Bit disappointed and will have to look south for my summer fried seafood fix going forward. See picture for actual portion size.

Stacey H.

Yelp

My favorite place to get clams. Always fresh, great breading, not over cooked. The clams and lobster roll were both excellent. Service was relatively fast once we braved the line. Inside and outside seating is a nice plus.

Dulcie F.

Yelp

We stopped by on a very rainy day so there was no line and tons of seating. Lucky for us! Everything was delicious.

Sy Y.

Yelp

Oh the happy memories this place brings back... :) This is one of those discoveries that you want to scream in joy about. I am so thankful for the stanger who couldn't hold in the best secret in town for fried seafood. We pulled into the parking space and saw a long line building outside the establishment. It's always a good sign when you see a line building at a place where they sell food. So we ordered the two way (scallops & clams) with a chowder & coleslaw. Also some good old calamaries. Seatings are available in both indoor or outdoors. We sat outside on one of the benches /eating area under a tent. Wow!! Normally, I am not a big fan of fried seafood but, it was delicious. Scallops were sweet and fresh, yum. Everything else we ordered was delightful. Will definitely be returning here again soon.

Katey P.

Yelp

The best fried clams EVER! Hands down Go there! I came all the way from SC and was so excited I left the car engine going!!!!! No one stole my car!

Brad C.

Yelp

the service at the take-out window was great. The fried clams and onion rings wre good, but I have had better. The tartar sauce is terrible - way too sweet. We will mot be going back.

John F.

Yelp

I'm not much of a reviewer on Yelp, but my daughter and I split a 2-way combo plate with onion rings and coleslaw, and my wife got the gluten-free batter on some clams, and MAN, everything was really the ideal New England seafood experience. The scallops in particular were exquisite - so crunchy on the outside and perfectly juicy inside. The "kids with a summer job" vibe isn't always great at these kinds of places, but I thought the staff were super well trained. We will be back.

Rachelle R.

Yelp

Love this place. Been coming here for years. Every time there's a line. It doesn't matter bc the food is worth airing for. Always fresh, always delicious.

Brenna R.

Yelp

I never write bad reviews, I never write reviews even but I had to chime in. We got here at 2:30 when they changed the oil, so I understand thered be a ~20 ish minute delay. Nope, waited a full hour in a line of maybe 15 people just to order, once we ordered it took another 30 minutes to get the food, which was fine. not worth the wait and everything was way overpriced. Will never be coming here again what a waste of time.

Sean F.

Yelp

The clams and onion rings were delicious - first visit and had a great experience definitely a must stop on your way out of Cranes Beach

Aisha T.

Yelp

This place used to be good, I've been going since I was a child. I will not go anymore. It does not taste fresh. It was also dry and over cooked with no seasoning. My family member had food poisoning with vomiting after eating here.

Where to Eat Fried Clams Around Boston

The Clam Box - Review - Boston - The Infatuation

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This New England Road Trip Itinerary Is Just an Excuse to Snack | Bon Appétit

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