United States

19 Best Restaurants in Nashua, NH

Ciara Francisco

Nov 3, 2022 • 11 min read

Wangkun Jia / shutterstock.com

Nashua is a historic city in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Known as New Hampshire’s “Gate City,” Nashua is the second-largest city in the state.

The city is situated along the rivers of Merrimack and Nashua, offering plenty of outdoor recreation and exploration opportunities.

Its rich heritage is also home to historic landmarks and a vibrant downtown.

Of course, a visit to the city wouldn’t be complete without checking out its diverse dining scene, from classic American cuisine to local takes on international flavors such as Asian, Greek, and Mexican.

Here are some of the best restaurants in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Surf Seafood Restaurant

Take the family for a seafood feast at Surf Seafood Restaurant.

This restaurant features an extensive menu of seafood dishes, from classic clam chowder to sushi and international flavors.

Enjoy the baked New England seafood trio of scallops, haddock, and shrimp in white wine.

Have their colorful and equally delicious rainbow roll, made of snow crab, tuna, salmon, yellow tail, and wasabi mayo.

Try their Korean barbecue scallops if you’re in for some Korean flavor.

The chefs work with seafood buyers, so their daily selection is made fresh and of high-quality ingredients.

Surf Seafood Restaurant is located along Main St.

Cucina Toscana

Get a taste of Nashua’s take on Italian cuisine at Cucina Toscana

Opened in 2005, this Italian restaurant and bar offers a cozy atmosphere to enjoy authentic Italian dishes with your family.

Start with some Tuscan antipasto and their Caesar salad, freshly prepared on your table.

Enjoy the risotto with shrimps, clams, lobster, and other seafood.

If you’re not much of a seafood fan, they have delicious steak and chicken dishes.

They also have an extensive pasta menu.

Remember to try their famous meatballs side.

You can find Cucina Toscana along Amherst St.

California Burritos

Have some great-tasting Mexican food at California Burritos.

This Mexican grill in downtown Nashua lets you build your burrito, taco, salad, or quesadilla to satisfy your cravings.

Choose your fillings from cilantro or Spanish rice, beans, choice of protein, and complete with various toppings.

Alternatively, try the house specialties, such as carne asada fries and pupusa, a traditional Salvadorian meal.

California Burritos is located along Factory St.

MT's Local Kitchen & Wine Bar

Head to MT's Local Kitchen & Wine Bar downtown for a night of great food and a lively atmosphere.

This beautiful casual fine-dining restaurant serves New American dishes such as grilled pizza, meat and fish entrees, and sandwiches.

The entrée selection includes brined bone-in pork chop, baked haddock, and meatloaf.

You could also try the mushroom & Swiss burger or the buffalo shrimp tacos; both served with fries or salad.

If you have dietary restrictions, some of their dishes can be made gluten friendly, including the almond-encrusted salmon and the sirloin steak frites.

The wine bar’s selection includes regional and international varietals, which you can order in a flight or by bottle or glass.

Finish your meal with a slice of delectable cake and sweet treats from their dessert menu.

You can find MT's Local Kitchen & Wine Bar along Main St.

Main Street Gyro

Try some Greek fare at Main Street Gyro.

This restaurant serves other flavorful classic Greek dishes such as salads, soups, and spreads—not just gyro.

But for gyros, the selection expands from the traditional pork, falafel, lamb, and oven-baked corned beef.

Have melitzanosalata, a Greek eggplant spread best enjoyed in a slice of warm pita bread or crisp.

You could also order from their dinner plate selection for a full meal featuring gyro meat, salad, rice pilaf, and pita bread.

For dessert, don’t miss out on the delicious fried dough balls called loukoumades.

Main Street Gyro is located along Main Street.

Sakura Asian Bistro

Enjoy a variety of Asian dishes at Sakura Asian Bistro.

Whether you’re craving flavorful Japanese fare or spicy Thai dishes, this restaurant’s menu offers a lot of Asian classics.

Start your meal with some traditional Japanese appetizers such as edamame, egg rolls, and gyoza.

The extensive sushi menu offers salmon, lobster, and tuna and a vegetarian roll option.

Try some Chinese beef dishes such as beef with broccoli or kung pao beef if you’d like some spice.

The rice menu also features tasty options, such as Thai basil fried rice and kimchi fried rice.

Sakura Asian Bistro is located along Daniel Webster Highway.

CodeX B.A.R.

Spend an evening of great food, handcrafted cocktails, and some entertainment at CodeX B.A.R.

This unique 1920s-inspired speakeasy bar restaurant is a superb spot to visit after a long day of touring the city.

Get an old-fashioned or signature cocktail and enjoy the lovely atmosphere.

You can also try their food menu, featuring appetizers such as dry-rubbed ribs and truffle frites.

Grab some burgers, craft mac and cheese, or shepherd’s pie.

The bar hosts events some nights of the week to complement your dining experience.

Look for that bookstore storefront along Elm Street to find the CodeX B.A.R.

Roland's Restaurant

Stop by Roland's Restaurant for a hearty breakfast.

This local family restaurant serves American dishes from breakfast to dinner.

Start your day with omelets, French toast, sausages and bacon, and classic pancakes.

You can also check out their daily specials.

They also have some mimosas to cheer up your day ahead if you're in the mood.

Roland's Restaurant is located along Kinsley St.

Stella Blu

Head to Stella Blu for a lovely dinner with friends.

This upscale yet casual restaurant features a martini bar and serves delectable American dishes in a beautiful setting.

Take a sip of classic cosmopolitan from the bar, or taste one of their signature and creative concoctions such as S’mores old fashioned.

Dishes from the food menu are served in small, manageable plates like tapas style, so you can try a variety of dishes.

Indulge in Southern-style shrimp and grits, pizza, fried risotto balls, duck confit, and lamb meatballs.

There’s live music on some nights, perfect for enjoying your great dining experience.

You can find Stella Blu along East Pearl St.

Giant of Siam

Experience Thai cuisine at the Giant of Siam.

This beautiful Thai restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes in a homecooked style.

Feast on pad thai, crab rangoon, curry, dumplings, and other noodle dishes.

If you’re visiting in the fall, try an authentic Thai soup to warm you up.

Of course, your dining experience wouldn’t be complete without sampling the Thai mango sticky rice for dessert.

Giant of Siam is located along Main St.

Odd Fellows Brewing Co

Have a pint and dine at Odd Fellows Brewing Co.

This local brewery bar offers over a dozen kinds of craft beers and serves excellent food for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

If you’re visiting early in the day, check out their brunch specials, such as Angus burger, steak and eggs, and southern waffle biscuits.

The lunch and dinner menus are extensive, offering a variety of pork, poultry, beef, and seafood dishes.

Dig into the grilled steak tips or the jambalaya.

You can also sample their beer in a flight paired with light starters or sliders.

Odd Fellows Brewing Co is located along Main St.

Tostao's Tapas Bar

Have a taste of Latin American cuisine at Tostao's Tapas Bar.

This trendy corner bar downtown serves seafood, wings, salads and wraps, and other Latin American fare.

Share and enjoy plates of stuffed peppers, bruschetta, jamon serrano, and other tasty dishes from the tapas menu.

Check out the seafood menu offering paella, gambas, and coconut shrimp.

Wash down these delightful treats with cocktails from the drink menu.

You can find Tostao's Tapas Bar along Main St.

Riviera Nayarit

Come in for seafood the Mexican way at Riviera Nayarit.

This Mexican restaurant specializes in seafood dishes, from appetizers, salads, soups, down to tostadas and tacos.

Indulge in fish and shrimp ceviche and octopus cocktail.

For some spice, check out the menu of agua chiles.

Many of the restaurant’s dishes can be ordered gluten-free if you have gluten preferences.

The menu also offers a few Mexican meats and chicken items such as fajitas, arroz con pollo, and carne asada.

You can find Riviera Nayarit along West Pearl St.

The Peddler's Daughter

Dine and unwind at The Peddler's Daughter.

This lovely Irish restaurant by the riverside serves classic pub fare, great for enjoying a night out with friends.

Have a pint or two while catching up with friends and enjoying the live music.

Dig into fish and chips, braised short ribs, and cottage pie.

It also has sandwiches and smash burgers served with delicious house-cut fries.

Finish off your meal with dessert drinks to enjoy the rest of the night.

The Peddler's Daughter is located along Main St.

YouYou Japanese Bistro

Indulge in Asian seafood dishes at YouYou Japanese Bistro.

Set in a casual and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant features not only Japanese specialties but also other Asian and Euro-Asian flavors.

Their Japanese starters include tuna tataki, shrimp and vegetable tempura, and grilled cuttlefish.

Savor the flavors from seafood nabe, a hotpot dish with glass noodles and fresh vegetables.

Check out their extensive sushi menu for tuna, uni (sea urchin), and sea bass.

In addition to seafood dishes, also try some of their meat offerings, such as the grilled Korean-style beef called kalbi or a bowl of roast pork ramen.

YouYou Japanese Bistro is located along Broad Street.

Enjoy a night out of great food, drinks, and company at Stones #1 Social.

This hip dining spot offers a drink menu, snacks, salads, some main dishes, and a great atmosphere.

Catch happy hour with friends and taste their delicious cocktails.

It also serves draft beer and a variety of packaged beer.

Try the #1 burger, tavern steak-n’-cheese, or New Hampshire fried chicken for dinner.

If you have dietary restrictions, don’t worry; you can find vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options on the menu.

You can find Stones #1 Social along Amherst St.

Pho Tai Loc

Taste the comforting flavors of Vietnamese noodle soup at Pho Tai Loc.

This modern restaurant serves delicious pho and other classic Vietnamese dishes.

Enjoy a warm bowl of pho with your choice of beef slices, flank, or round.

Don’t miss out on sampling fresh spring rolls with delicious peanut sauce.

It also has a rice plate menu and vermicelli bowls with grilled pork and chicken if you're looking for grilled entrees.

After your meal, complete the experience with Vietnamese iced coffee served with condensed milk.

Pho Tai Loc is located at Railroad Square.

Yoshimama

Check out Japanese fusion cuisine at Yoshimama.

This modern casual Japanese restaurant features a sushi bar and traditional Japanese dishes such as teriyaki, noodle soups, and bentos.

You can start with appetizers from its kitchen, such as shumai and tofu, or the assorted sushi appetizers.

The main sushi entrée menu features deluxe rolls of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and sashimi.

If you’re not a fan of seafood, you can warm up with a flavourful bowl of ramen noodles or udon.

You can find Yoshimama along Amherst St.

Temptations Mexican Restaurant & Lounge

Stop by Temptations Mexican Restaurant & Lounge for some Mexican food.

This small family-owned restaurant serves fresh and authentic Mexican dishes.

Go for an al pastor taco with marinated pork or a chef’s special plate of carne asada.

You can also order delicious and filling burritos and fajitas.

You can find Temptations Mexican Restaurant & Lounge along West Hollis St.

Final Thoughts

Nashua is a destination city rich not only in historic spots, picturesque parks, and exciting outdoor recreation but also in an incredible array of restaurants and other food spots.

From sumptuous American dishes, flavorful seafood, craft cocktails, Greek and Italian dishes, to Japanese and other Asian flavors, the city’s diverse and vibrant dining scene offers plenty of options to try local takes on various cuisines while on your vacation.

Your Gate City experience won’t be complete without trying some of the best restaurants in Nashua, New Hampshire.

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