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    Clam Shack

    4.5 (304 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Clam Shack Photos

    CLAM SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Clam Shack

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    Reviews With Photos

    The clam bake
    Jenny-Rose K.

    We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon in August and this place was busy as could be! We were initially excited because of the reviews but this will be our only visit to the Clam Shack. We ordered the Clam Bake and a large Onion Rings. The Clam Bake comes with a small lobster, 1/2 pound of steamers, corn on the cob, clam chowder, clam broth and drawn butter. We were going to get a lobster roll as well, but we saw others who had this and none of the rolls were actually filled with lobster meat (~80%). It took roughly 15 minutes for the order to come out and I could understand since they were busy but we were told it's because the steamers take a while to cook. The only problem was the only part of our meal that was cold was the steamers. The clambake lobster and corn was actually fantastic. But the steamers were cold when we got them, the onion rings didn't have any real crunch or flavor and the clam chowder was just ok. All in all, this place is located in a great spot and is convenient, but not worth the hype.

    salem harbor
    Sarah P.

    My husband and I shared a box of fried calamari, and the batter was very light, fluffy, and fresh tasting. The size was ample, and the young adult who took our order was kind and efficient. The picnic tables all had umbrellas and were clean, the view of the harbor was very nice, and they had classic pop music playing from their outdoor speakers, which was fun to listen to. We will be back to try more of the large menu they offer.

    Dylan H.

    The Clam Shack in Salem serves up some seriously tasty fried seafood! I ordered the fried clam strips and fried shrimp plate, and everything was hot, crispy, and full of flavor. The line was absolutely insane, which is the only reason this isn't a 5-star review. Luckily, I discovered a life hack--placing an order online to skip the wait. At $30, it's not cheap, but the quality and portion size made it worth it.

    The view
    Jake A.

    This place is a must for anyone who enjoys seafood. I came here on a Monday night after a day of work. Clam shack is just as advertised in the name: a small building dedicated to serving seafood and other fried goodies from the take out window. The staff were very helpful l. they took my order, gave me my ticket, and I sat and waited. And only for a few minutes. I ordered a lobster roll on a buttered brioche roll. The lobster was tender and juicy, and the buttery roll complemented it perfectly. The portion of fries that came with it was generous. And even better, it was a $23 lobster roll instead of the stupidly expensive $50 ones you'll get if you grab one in Boston. Well worth the price. And to top it all off, there's a gorgeous view of the harbor. Whether visiting this area or a Boston native, definitely make your way up here.

    Plate and lobster roll
    Morah M.

    SOOOOO GOOD!!! even the coleslaw best i ever had and it's right by the water so cute and quaint cant wait to come back

    Seating
    Alan B.

    Let's face it, fried seafood can taste amazing if done reasonably well. And the Clam Shack executed my Scallop Plate very nicely. Our party of four grabbed a picnic table with a nice ocean view. About 10 minutes after our order, I was enjoying hot and crispy, fresh tasting scallops. They were nicely cooked, and didn't have too much batter, so they weren't overly heavy. Their fries were also excellent, hot, crispy, delicious. The lobster rolls were given positive reviews from my co-diners. The casual Salem Willows environment was perfect, on this warm summer day. The Clam Shack is located in Salem Willows Park, a 35 acre park located on the ocean with picnic areas, a beach, walking paths, fishing, tennis, basketball courts, arcade games, and restaurants. It's a great place to visit, if you not afraid of the Salem witches!

    While belly clams upper left- fries under the clams. Scallops bottom left, hot buttered crab roll on the right. Great portions!
    Annette A.

    Scoped this out as we were planning our week in Boston and Salem. It was totally worth it! The clams were amazing- get whole belly and you want be disappointed. My son got a hot buttered crab roll because he likes crab more than lobster. It was fresh and the meat was perfect. We also got a basket of scallops and they were super tender. Everything was light and crispy. While it's all fried none of it was greasy. The view as we sat at our picnic table was spectacular. I will definitely go again when I am in the area.

    Lobster Roll in brioche bun
    Danica V.

    I'm a Midwest girl who was visiting the area for a wedding, and I am still thinking about this gourmet lobster roll. I made sure to have my fill of as many lobster rolls as I could while I was in Massachusetts- I went to 1606 in Gloucester and another restaurant spot in downtown Boston- and personally the gourmet lobster roll at the Clam Shack was by far my favorite. It not only was the least expensive (~$20?!!! A dream), but the butter was decadent, fries were crisp, and everything was just perfect. 10/10 recommend!

    Exterior
    Julian J.

    Bonjour, hi! Visiting from California we stopped by this hidden lil "hole in the wall". The establishment was clean, which I feel could easily be hard to find. The food itself was stellar! Ordered a bunch of seafood that all was so fresh and tasty. The views were just as good as the food! No complaints whatsoever. EXPERT TIP: ask for an extra tray to swat away the VERY aggressive seagulls that WILL take your food if your guard is down.

    Seating area
    Katarina G.

    This spot was absolutely beautiful. There is no indoor seating but there are plenty of picnic tables available or benches along the "boardwalk". The staff all seemed to be younger but polite and respectful nonetheless. The clam strips themselves were pretty good! I wished they were cooked just a bit longer, to let the batter crisp a little more. The tartar sauce was great and added an extra level of flavor to the clam. Cute place to stop by and enjoy the scenery, as it is just a short walk from dead horse beach.

    Lobster Roll

    Best onion rings ever! Hot, lightly battered thick cut onions were so good. Loved the lobster roll too - just lobster in mayo. Skip the brioche bun and stick with the traditional hot dog bun.

    Jeannette M.

    If you're looking for simple, but delicious seafood and great people watching, visit the Clam Shack in season. The lobster roll (hot and buttered) on a brioche roll was delicious and the clam chowder may have been the best I've ever had.

    Erin O.

    Where has this place been all my life??? I don't think I will ever have a lobster roll that tops the one I had from Clam Shack. I've heard good things but I was really impressed with the overall experience here. This little shack is quintessential coastal New England at its finest and has such an old school, mom & pop vibe to it. You order at the counter and they'll call your number at the pickup station once it's ready. We ordered a lobster roll with butter served on their special bun and an order of fried calamari which came with fries. The portions for everything were great, especially considering the prices. The calamari plate was almost overflowing and I loved how the lobster roll also came with a side of fries. The lobster was super fresh and melted in your mouth, and the soft, buttery bun was the perfect vehicle for it all. The calamari was also fresh and not too rubbery. We got some tartar sauce on the side which paired really nicely too. We really loved our experience here and I can't wait to visit again sometime!

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    10 months ago

    My clam and scallops plate was amazing and a good value. I will definitely come here again.

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    2 years ago

    Lobster roll was not fresh lobster. It was chewy and plain. The hype in social media did not make the trip worth it.

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    Clam Shack - seafood - Updated May 2026

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