Rhode Island takes clam cakes seriously. These golden, doughy balls of fried perfection are packed with bits of briny clam and served piping hot at seaside shacks, drive-ins, and dockside spots all over the state. Forget fancy restaurants or trendy food halls; the best clam cakes come from places where you order at a window, eat with your hands, and don’t mind a little grease on your fingers. Here are 15 no-frills Rhode Island institutions where clam cakes are the star of the show.
1. Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House (Warwick + Narragansett)
When Rhode Islanders think of clam cakes, Iggy’s is often the first name that comes to mind. With two locations in Warwick and Narragansett, this place has built a reputation on serving up crispy, doughy clam cakes alongside bowls of creamy chowder. The atmosphere is loud, busy, and filled with families fresh from the beach.
Iggy’s keeps things simple. You order at the counter, grab your basket, and settle in at a picnic table. The clam cakes here are dense and flavorful, with plenty of clam chunks in every bite…