12 Restaurants In Maine To Get Ethnic Food That'll Culture Your Taste Buds
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Michelle
Author
First, here’s the bad news: Maine is arguably the least diverse state in the nation, a status that doesn’t seem like it would be too conducive to quality ethnic food. Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the good news: We’re still Maine! That means we have high standards for our food, and ethnic food doesn’t get a pass just because it’s not the typical fare. At these restaurants expert chefs will take you on a trip around the world, all while you stay within the state line. Maybe Maine is more diverse than everybody thought.
This Vietnamese restaurant notoriously isn't much to look at, but you won't care once you're tucking into a bowl of fragrant, flavorful pho. (782 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103 / (207) 828-1114)
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Probably Maine's most-respected Thai restaurant, the James Beard Award-nominated Long Grain serves food that extends beyond traditional Thai into the cuisines of Singapore, Indonesia and Japan. (31 Elm St, Camden, ME 04843 / (207) 236-9001)
If you've never had Eritrean food, you need to head to Asmara, where all the dishes are served on a huge piece of sour injera bread and eaten by hand. (51 Oak St, Portland, ME 04101 / (207) 253-5122)
Fresh & Co. is a little different from most of the restaurants on this list in that it doesn't focus on a single cuisine. But with influences ranging from Brazilian to Greek to Indian to just about everything in between, it's a unique one-stop shop for ethnic food in the Mid-Coast. (1 Bay View St, Camden, ME 04843 / (207) 236-7005)
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Once an exotic cuisine in this part of the world, Indian restaurants are fairly common these days -- but nobody does it better than Taj, whose commitment to featuring dishes found throughout the vast subcontinent means you can enjoy food that's still tough to find elsewhere. (200 Gorham Rd #8, South Portland, ME 04106 / (207) 828-6677)
Pakistani food can be very spicy -- maybe a little too spicy for Maine tastes. Bahaar understands that and lets diners order their food on a heat scale from one to 10, so you can be just as adventurous as you want. (23 Hammond St, Bangor, ME 04401 / (207) 945-5979)
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If you're short on cash, Middle Eastern food is usually a good bet, and at this Iraqi spot, you don't have to sacrifice flavor for value. Babylon's masterful use of traditional spices guarantees that every meal will be as authentic as it is delicious. (1192 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103 / (207) 797-2740)
Serendib distinguishes itself on the busy Indian scene by extending its reach to Sri Lanka, where the food tends to be more strongly flavored and influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and British cuisines introduced during colonial times. (2 State St, Ellsworth, ME 04605 / (207) 664-1030)
Why does the best food often come from places that look like JJC? At this roadside shack, you might be able to imagine you're in Jamaica if you squint hard enough -- especially if you're chewing on the perfectly smoked chicken, pork or goat. (1400 US-1, Cape Neddick, ME 03902 / (207) 351-3033)
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Omakase? Oh my, yes! At Suzuki's you can order a wide variety of fresh local seafood off the menu, but savvy diners ask the chef to bring them whatever's best that day. (419 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841 / (207) 596-7447)
Most cultures have some variant on the sandwich, and Venezuela's contribution, the arepa, is one of the best. Luis's arepas are very nearly perfect, the fried cornmeal stuffed with delectable fillings such as braised beef. (948 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103 / (207) 286-8646)
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Ramen is sweeping the nation, and in Maine, the place to get it is Anju Noodle Bar. They understand that the secret is the chicken-and-pork broth, which takes about a day to make before it's poured over wonderfully chewy noodles and accompaniments such as pickled ginger and poached eggs. (7 Wallingford Square #102, Kittery, ME 03904 / (207) 703-4298)
For more great food that you wouldn’t necessarily associate with Maine, try these 8 amazing Mexican restaurants.
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