Updated on August 24, 2024 by Julie McCool
Here are 6 places to get delicious lobster rolls in Northern Virginia, from casual food trucks to table-service restaurants. Whether you prefer a cold lobster salad with mayo or a warm Connecticut-style roll with butter (my favorite), these spots are guaranteed to satisfy your lobster roll cravings.
As a native New Englander, I grew up eating classic cold lobster rolls tossed with a little mayo and served in a buttered, grilled hot dog bun. Now I prefer them warm with butter (aka Connecticut style). Whatever your preference, these are my go-to spots when I'm looking for lobster rolls near me in Northern VA.
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something, at no additional cost to you.
Ned’s New England Deck, Fairfax
The vibe is casual and the seafood is delicious at Ned's New England Deck in Fairfax VA. I was so tempted by the whole-bellied fried clams (next time), but research required we order the lobster rolls.
Fortunately, Ned's lobster rolls are an excellent choice. The Down East roll is served cold with a traditional sauce but we ordered ours Connecticut style. The grilled buttery roll, a bib or crisp lettuce, and a nice helping of buttery lobster claw meat hit the spot. A side of onion strings is a tasty addition.
Other menu options at Ned's, like fried scallops, fish and chips, and a shaved roast beef sandwich continue the New England tradition. There are three seating options so they can handle a group. Grab an indoor table, a spot on the porch, or a picnic table on the patio, or order to go.
Ned's New England Deck is located at 10655 Fairfax Boulevard in the City of Fairfax.
Lobster Maine-ia, Chantilly
With a seafood market and popular food truck, Lobster Maine-ia offers convenient and tasty lobster rolls to go. The truck is a regular at two Northern Virginia Farmer's Markets, in Ashburn (formerly One Loudoun) and Old Town Alexandria. If those markets are not on your schedule, head to the seafood market in Chantilly.
The Lobster Maine-ia market is a great place to shop for all your seafood cravings. Everything is super fresh, so offerings will vary. On our last visit, fresh salmon, halibut, tuna, and cod filled the seafood case while the board offered crabmeat, oysters, clams, live lobsters from chix to jumbos, and more.
We asked for our lobster rolls disassembled to heat with butter at home. When we visited, rolls were $20 each for 1/4 pound of claw meat. That's a good price, so we ordered three to create two over-stuffed rolls.
The Lobster Maine-ia seafood store is located at 2480 Henninger Court in Chantilly.
Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, Reston, Arlington, Falls Church
Lobster rolls are a favorite treat for a warm summer day or a casual celebration. Fortunately, tasty rolls are always available at Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls.
The national chain has multiple locations in Northern Virginia but we frequent the shop in Reston Town Center. There is minimal seating at the Reston site, so we order to go and eat at home or one of the many great local picnic spots.
Order your roll warm with melted butter, or mayo and lemon butter. Or choose a cold Lobster Salad Roll with celery, mayo, and lemon. We usually opt for the Connecticut-style Bar Harbour, which adds a whole lobster tail to your roll.
Mason's Famous Lobster Roll has multiple locations including the Reston restaurant at 11939 Democracy Drive in Reston Town Center.
Fords Fish Shack, Ashburn and Lansdowne
When you'd prefer a table-service experience with a fun New England vibe, Ford's Fish Shack is the place to go. Ask for an inside booth or table near the big mural, grab a spot at the bar, or head to the outside patio. Our family celebrated many birthdays at Ford's over the years and always came away happy.
Ford's lobster rolls come in the traditional options with grilled corn on the cob and fries on the side. For a different treat, order the Grand Mainer which combines fried clams and lobster in a roll. Or go all in and treat yourself to a foot-long lobster roll. The foot-long is big enough to share, but fun to polish off on your own.
Ford's Fish Shack is located at 44260 Ice Rink Plaza in Ashburn and also has NoVA locations in Lansdowne and Chantilly (coming soon).
Great Maine Lobster Company, Gilberts Corner
As the sign says, the Great Maine Lobster Company food truck at Gilbert's Corner serves “wicked good lobster rolls.” Since we stopped on a scenic drive through Hunt Country, we asked for our rolls disassembled, with the meat, rolls, and butter packaged separately (pro tip: always bring a cooler on scenic drives). Of course, you can also order your roll assembled and eat on site.
At $20, the Great Maine Lobster Company roll was one of the least expensive in the area. Fortunately, cheaper does not mean less. The lobster was fresh and as generous as other rolls we've sampled.
Look for the Great Maine Lobster Company stand at the Gilbert's Corner Farmers Market, at the intersection of Routes 15 and 50 in Leesburg.
Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck
You may have seen Cousins Maine Lobster on Shark Tank where they scored a deal with Barbara Corcoran that spawned the thriving franchise. Today, you can sample their lobster rolls at changing locations around the area. We stopped by the truck in Vienna to try the Connecticut Roll.
Our $24 Connecticut Roll was nice and buttery and the all claw lobster meat tasted fresh. The roll is a little smaller than others we've tried, but the ratio of filling to breading is good. Cousins offers a take home Lobster Roll Kit with 1 pound of meat and 6 rolls for $120, which allows for less than the 1/4 of meat we'd expect in a roll.
Cousins Maine Lobster Food Trucks appear at locations across the country. Check the truck schedule in Virginia to find upcoming stops in Northern VA.
More Restaurants Serving Lobster Rolls in Northern Virginia
Here are more table-service restaurants in Northern VA where lobster rolls are consistently on the menu. While we have eaten at most of these spots, we plan to return for more lobster roll research.
- King Street Oyster Bar in Leesburg and Middleburg
- Hank's Oyster Bar and Vola's Dockside Grill in Alexandria
- PassionFish and Jackson's in Reston Town Center
- Coastal Flats and Patsy's American in Tysons/Vienna
Happy dining and may all of your lobster rolls be delicious! Looking for more great NoVA restaurants? Check out our guides to favorite cozy pubs, taco restaurants, Thai restaurants, and romantic restaurants in Northern VA
Follow Fun in Fairfax VA on Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Threads