Popular Portland, Maine, Sushi Joint Named One of The Best 15 Restaurants in America by Food & Wine Magazine

There’s been a monumental shift in Portland, Maine, since the turn of the century.

The city has transformed into an East Coast tourism hotspot, featuring swanky hotels, a popular shopping district, fun activities, and vibrant culture.

However, what truly makes Portland stand out is its incredible food scene, which seems to improve with each passing day.

Portland, Maine, is one of America's Best Culinary Cities

The city has embraced this foodie culture and done a wonderful job of promoting it to Mainers and tourists alike. As they should—it’s legit.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Portland sits adjacent to a major food source- one that has helped transform the city to a culinary giant. That would be the ocean.

With so much fresh product right at chef's fingertips, it's no wonder there are so many restaurants that continue to receive national acclaim This includes one that was just named of the best eateries in the world.

One of America's Best Restaurants to Visit in 2025 is Located in Portland, Maine

The iconic culinary magazine Food & Wine recently released a list of what it calls the best restaurants in America. It includes 15 delicious spots that were selected by industry experts. Food & Wine spoke to over 400 culinary professionals to carefully curate this list, which features Portland's very popular sushi joint, Mr. Tuna.

Originally founded in 2017 as a single sushi cart, Mr. Tuna has become a Maine phenomenon.

I remember seeing the cart at breweries and events and thinking what a genius idea it was. At that time, you just didn’t see a lot of sushi outside of a standard restaurant or grocery store. So, having this fresh and delicious option at events like concerts or food truck festivals was very cool.

Mr. Tuna's popularity grew so much that, just a few years later, they opened their first brick-and-mortar location on Congress Street in Portland, before moving to a bigger, more beautiful space on Middle Street, where you can find them currently.

This is where you’ll find chef/owner Jordan Rubin's incredible sashimi, maki rolls, toro, and other raw delights, most of which are centered around, you know, tuna.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna truly is the star, and Rubin lets the diner enjoy it in a number of preparations.

But don’t just take my word for it—here’s why Food & Wine included Mr. Tuna as one of America’s best restaurants to visit this year

Sushi fans come to Mr. Tuna for the hand rolls and espresso Martinis, but our restaurant editor recommends the tuna sashimi tasting as one of the best dishes he ate all year. Even in this weathered fishing town, it���s a true education in cuts and marbling, from lean akami to fatty toro.

I wouldn't exactly call Portland a weathered fishing town anymore, but other than that, it’s quite the write-up.

Portland, Maine's Mr. Tuna is Already an Award-Winning Restaurant

Being named by Food & Wine as one of the best restaurants to visit is an amazing accomplishment for Mr. Tuna, an establishment that is no stranger to culinary success. Just this year, Rubin became a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, one of the highest achievements a chef can earn. If you’ve eaten at Mr. Tuna, you’ll certainly see why Rubin has received this honor.

While the brick-and-mortar continues to thrive, it hasn’t stopped Mr. Tuna from hitting events during the warmer months with their food cart. Don’t be surprised if, when you see it, the line is massively long. Believe me when I say people around here know what’s good.

READ MORE: Maine's Best Burger? It’s at Palace Diner in Biddeford

Congrats to Rubin and his crew for making this list. It’s always wonderful to see a Maine small business get national recognition, especially when it’s well-deserved.

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