A meals author’s predictions for Boston eating places in 2026

It was one other rocky 12 months for Boston eating places in 2025, however there’s a lot to sit up for subsequent 12 months.

Among the many Boston restaurant predictions meals author Katelyn Umholtz provides for 2026 is that there can be much more area of interest bakeries, like this Portuguese bakery known as Flake that solely makes pastéis de nata. Tyler Santos/Boston Globe

The 12 months 2025 was stuffed with highs and lows for Better Boston eating places. Extra eating places had been capable of get liquor licenses (yay!), tariffs and rising prices had been actual plights for small companies (boo!), and the Michelin Information got here to Boston (time will inform on that one).

Then the standard occurred: Eating places opened and closed.

Heading into one other new 12 months after a handful of years of chaos, I think about many within the business are holding their breath. There may be loads to sit up for in Boston, however a lot may go fallacious.

My predictions for what to anticipate subsequent 12 months lean extra optimistic than how I and plenty of others really really feel most days, however in terms of my high pleasure in life, eating out, I’ll select to be hopeful.

Ashley Lujares operates Filipino-American pop-up Mango Tao.

Extra international flavors and heritage cooking

This specific prediction is one that everybody — from diners lacking their mom’s cooking to cooks desirous to showcase their heritage — will profit from in Boston’s eating scene.

We’ve already seen indicators of a willingness from diners to strive new meals, and on the similar time, cooks of various backgrounds are taking dangers and opening up ideas that transcend Boston’s repute as a steakhouse city.

I wrote about this very thought in terms of the rising Asian culinary scene in Boston, however we’re already conscious of extra international delicacies to return within the close to 12 months, like Ama (from the Consolation Kitchen crew) and George Mendes’ two Portuguese-inspired ideas.

A citrus sticky bun and an Inyeon drink at 9 Winters, a bakery in Cambridge. (Jonathan Wiggs/Globe employees)

Tremendous area of interest bakeries

One other development I wrote about in 2025 was the rise of area of interest bakeries. Properly, what in the event that they received much more specialised?

I’m not simply speaking about cookie or croissant retailers — now we have loads of these. I’ve begun to note it with some ideas which have opened, like one bakery that cooks just one merchandise, the pastel de nata. After I spoke to the proprietor of Flake Bakery, Cristina Quintino mentioned she solely intends on making this one merchandise, the Portuguese egg tart.

A brand new addition to Bow Market, Bakery Oma, has cookies and desserts on its menu, however the bakery’s important merchandise is the queen puff, supplied in rotating flavors. And bakeries aren’t simply specializing in baked items, but additionally flavors, like Korean-influenced candy treats at 9 Winters Bakery.

There are such a lot of extra examples, and it reveals that Boston is in for a candy 12 months. Additionally, I’d like to manifest into existence a cinnamon roll specialty bakery. This might make 8-year-old Katelyn very glad.

The new canine from Merai. *(Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Workers)*

Extra indulgent consolation

Are we headed towards a recession? Are we already in a single? I can’t reply that, I’m a meals reporter, not an economist!

However what I can say is that when individuals are not sure concerning the economic system, they spend much less on large meals and put their cash as a substitute towards these smaller meals purchases — in spite of everything, a matcha latte float with ube soft-serve and chocolate drizzle for $10 feels, within the second, like a greater spend than a $60 steak.

Pricing apart, folks simply wish to have enjoyable. Individuals need a chef’s artistic tackle a scorching canine (like at Merai) or pizza (too many choices to call). Later within the 12 months, neighborhood spot The Hollows opened with a menu of zany twists on consolation meals, like chop suey topped with bone marrow. I believe we may see extra current eating places luring in prospects with little treats or elevated consolation meals, and new eating places will open with a menu of indulgent snacks as nicely.

Empanadas from Buenas in Somerville. Adam DeTour/Boston Globe

Extra conversations about prices

Diners complain about restaurant costs whereas restaurant house owners face the identical steep meals prices that buyers do. Restaurant house owners complain that diners don’t perceive, all of the whereas meals insecurity is an actual subject that’s worsening in our nation. Personally, it feels trivial to complain about $30 meals at mid-tier eating places when an rising quantity of individuals can’t afford to dine out within the first place, together with the individuals who make our meals.

However eating out probably received’t get any cheaper, which suggests either side of the aisle — diners and restaurant administration — must make selections.

I’ve been noticing some eating places promote extra economically-feasible applications, like Buenas providing reductions if prospects pay in money, or $25 meal offers at FiDo Pizza.

Others within the business are additionally getting fairly candid or clear about what they’re up in opposition to in terms of their meals prices and different bills, and hoping that resonates with prospects. Nightshade Noodle Bar administration has made bulletins about modifications a few occasions this 12 months, placing cheaper tasting programs on the menu however chopping the most costly choices.

We must always completely be having extra trustworthy discussions about the price of meals, labor, doing enterprise in Better Boston, and the way that impacts our independently-operating eating places.

The Chipotle Mexican Grill emblem hangs outdoors a restaurant location, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Picture/Steven Senne, File)

Fewer slop bowls

Chain eating places like Chipotle and Sweetgreen — identified for his or her bowl dishes that mix protein, greens, and grains — are seeing declining visitors and fewer transactions, particularly from younger shoppers who complain that they’re paying an excessive amount of for “slop” bowls.

Does this imply the top of flavorless lunch? Most likely not, however I say good riddance anyway. Our lunch time is among the solely occasions we get to depart the workplace, so it needs to be spent taking a break with scrumptious meals made by our neighbors and placing our cash right into a enterprise that offers again to our neighborhood, to not large traders. Plus, it isn’t good meals.

A favourite non-chain-bowl lunch of mine currently has been tacos from Villa Mexico Cafe, or once I’m working from residence, Sugidama Soba & Izakaya for sushi.

Sushi at 311 Boston within the South Finish ready by chef Weifa Chen. *John Tlumacki/Globe Workers*

Boston is a eating vacation spot

We might have identified all alongside that Boston’s eating places are price celebrating, however now others are speaking about us, and that may solely considered as a win for our new 12 months.

Our metropolis has been written about in a number of publications as a high place to go to within the new 12 months, together with nods from U.S. Information & World Report and Condé Nast Traveler. However Boston’s eating scene received a shout out from the London-based Condé Nast Traveller as one restaurant scene worthy of visiting, and 2025 additionally introduced Boston its inaugural placement on the Michelin Information.

With main occasions just like the FIFA World Cup coming to Boston, it’s clear that Boston ought to count on a rise in guests, and people guests will want a spot or two to eat. And although not all cooks are going to (or ought to) cook dinner with simply Michelin inspectors in thoughts, the strain of the Information now being right here means we’re probably in for some thrilling menu modifications and even new ideas from bold cooks.