How many restaurants are there in Boston's busiest areas?
We counted 1,098 restaurants within 1 km of the centres of 10 Boston areas. North End is the most crowded at 63.7 per km²; Charlestown is the least, at 5.7.
Mapped
1,098
in 10 areas
Busiest area
63.7/km²
North End
Average rating
4.3★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Restaurants by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North End4.3★ average | 20063.7/km² | 63.7 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Beacon Hill4.3★ average | 17656.0/km² | 56.0 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Back Bay4.3★ average | 15549.3/km² | 49.3 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| South End4.3★ average | 14847.1/km² | 47.1 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Seaport4.3★ average | 12840.7/km² | 40.7 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Fenway4.3★ average | 9831.2/km² | 31.2 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Allston4.3★ average | 9129.0/km² | 29.0 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Harvard Square4.4★ average | 5617.8/km² | 17.8 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Jamaica Plain4.4★ average | 288.9/km² | 8.9 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Charlestown4.4★ average | 185.7/km² | 5.7 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
Where is it least crowded?
- CharlestownMODERATE
18 restaurants within 1 km (5.7 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- Jamaica PlainMODERATE
28 restaurants within 1 km (8.9 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- Harvard SquareHIGH
56 restaurants within 1 km (17.8 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
Fewer restaurants is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 1,098 restaurants in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up370 (34%)
- 4.0 to 4.4551 (50%)
- 3.5 to 3.991 (8%)
- Below 3.525 (2%)
- Under 10 reviews61 (6%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Legal Sea Foods6 outlets · 3 areas
- Farmer's Fridge5 outlets · 2 areas
- McDonald's4 outlets · 2 areas
- Chipotle Mexican Grill3 outlets · 1 area
- Regina Pizzeria2 outlets · 1 area
- GRECO2 outlets · 1 area
- SABROSO TAQUERIA2 outlets · 1 area
- Food Cart Boston Father & Son2 outlets · 1 area
- Dig Inn2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
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Questions
Is Boston saturated with restaurants?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 5.7 per km² in Charlestown to 63.7 per km² in North End. 8 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Boston area has the most restaurants?
North End, with 200 within 1 km of its centre (63.7 per km²). Next come Beacon Hill (176) and Back Bay (155).
What is the average rating of restaurants in Boston?
4.3 out of 5, across the 1,037 restaurants with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Jamaica Plain (4.4), the lowest Fenway (4.3).
Which restaurant chains are most common in Boston?
In the areas we mapped: Legal Sea Foods (6 outlets in 3 areas), Farmer's Fridge (5 outlets in 2 areas), McDonald's (4 outlets in 2 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every restaurant on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Boston.