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Boston's Best Onion Rings

onion rings
(Image: iStockphoto)

Onion rings are a classic side dish that no modern American restaurant is complete without. They come in various shapes and sizes. They can be pale and soft in the center, dark and crispy, or anything in-between. Everyone has a preference, and Boston has something for every taste. Get a towering mass or a chili-seasoned pile to satisfy that craving for fried onions.

Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
Harvard University
1246 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 354-6559
www.mrbartley.com

Forget about just Boston, Mr. Bartley's is one of the most iconic burger joints in the country. It's a culture-rich hotspot packed with burgers like "Gay Marriage," "Cuba," "Hashtag," "Gronk" and many more. Customers can grab the onion rings with one of these provocative burgers, by themselves or in the 1/2 & 1/2 basket with french fries. Thin and crispy, these decadent circles of batter and onion are homemade, so they can't be found anywhere else.

Related: Best French Fries In Boston

Masa
439 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 338-8884
www.masarestaurant.com

Masa serves up southwestern-style food with American appeal. Masa's onion rings are true to the essence of the restaurant. Diners who like a little kick with their onion will love these red chili-seasoned o-rings. They are topped off with an ancho aioli sauce for an extra dose of chili pepper. Order them on the side with any dish on the dinner menu or as an appetizer to start off your Masa experience with a bang.

Stephanie's On Newbury
190 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-0990
www.stephaniesrestaurantgroup.com

At Stephanie's On Newbury, diners can expect traditional comfort foods with an upscale twist. Not quite fine dining and not quite casual, it's a good fit for the neighborhood. Stephanie's onion rings are served up in an impressive stack that's impossible to miss as it weaves its way to a table. Made with buttermilk, these are big, fluffy o-rings with tender onion in the middle. They are served with a spicy mayonnaise with just a little kick, but are just as good without any sauce.

UBurger
636 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 536-0448
www.uburger.com

UBurger embodies the fast food ideal. Diners can come and grab a quick burger and fries without wasting any time. What's unusual about UBurger is that a lot of its food is handmade on site, down to the ground beef. Check out the sidekicks menu at UBurger to discover its delicious hand-cut onion rings. These crispy delights come in small and large portions. Large offers enough to share with friends.

Parish Cafe & Bar
361 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 247-4777
www.parishcafe.com

People watch out on the Boylston Street patio, or head inside the cozy Parish Cafe & Bar for a heaping bowl of onion rings. This pile of fried goodness is best for a bunch, but there is also half an order available for those who can't finish up a whole mound of onion rings. Parish Cafe serves chipotle aioli with its beer-battered rings to spice them up a bit. Without or without, they have plenty of flavor and are certainly worth a visit. Those who are closer to Mass Ave. can check out the same rings at Parish II.

Related: Boston Area's Best Nachos

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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