Lowell’s immigrant history, mill-town grit, and creative resurgence make it a city where food tells a complex, flavorful story—from Cambodian landmarks to Greek delis and fresh takes on American classics.
Simply Khmer
The pride of Lowell’s Cambodian community, Simply Khmer serves up dishes packed with lemongrass, galangal, and chili.
Signature plates include beef loc lac, Khmer-style grilled chicken, and rich, fragrant noodle soups.
Adventurous eaters go for grilled frog legs or spicy green mango salad, while families gather for large-format hot pots.
The cheerful, mural-filled dining room buzzes at all hours.
Blue Taleh
Blue Taleh manages a rare feat: it’s both a top-tier sushi bar and a destination for inventive Thai cuisine.
The sushi boats are spectacular, filled with pristine tuna, salmon, and eel; the drunken noodles and massaman curry are rich and nuanced.
Art-filled walls and softly lit tables create a stylish setting, and service is friendly without being overbearing.
The Worthen House Café
As the oldest bar in Lowell, the Worthen is full of lore: Edgar Allan Poe once drank here, and the bar’s pulley-driven fan system is a marvel.
Beyond the history, though, you’ll find a classic New England pub menu—clam chowder, roast beef sandwiches, burgers, and fried seafood platters—served in a wood-paneled saloon that feels authentically vintage.
Cote’s Market
This butcher and deli has fed Lowell for more than a century.
The Italian subs, meat pies, and roast pork sandwiches are the stuff of local legend.
At lunchtime, lines stretch out the door for hearty grinders and sides—macaroni salad, hand-cut fries, homemade pickles—all packed to-go for construction crews, downtown workers, and hungry high schoolers.
El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill
A local chain with deep roots in New England’s Latinx community, El Potro’s Lowell spot stands tall for its sizzling fajitas, mariachi-filled evenings, carnitas tacos, and fresh guacamole whipped up tableside.
The margaritas flow, the décor is colorful and festive, and families fill the tables for everything from birthdays to Tuesday taco deals.
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