7 Irish Dishes You Need To Try in Dublin

Are you planning a visit to Dublin soon? No trip to the capital would be complete without sampling the most essential Irish dishes in Dublin. From traditional stew and boxty pancakes to newer specialities like the famous spice bag, there is something for everyone in our list of the 7 best foods you need to try in Dublin.

1) Full Irish Breakfast

If you’ve ever tried a Full English breakfast, then this will feel very familiar. Both share some staple ingredients, including sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, and mushrooms/tomatoes, but there are some key differences. Irish breakfasts also serve up black and white pudding. White pudding is a mix of oats, pork fat, and meat, while black pudding has a special addition: pork blood. This might sound strange, but the pork blood adds a rich, earthy flavour to the sausage and is a great accompaniment to blander parts of the dish, like eggs and hash browns. We recommend not thinking about it too much!

Where to try: Keogh’s Cafe near Temple Bar. If you're looking for something a bit more upscale, try Wuff, in Smithfield.

2) Spice Bag

A mix of fried chicken and chips coated in spices and tossed with onion, peppers, and chillis, it’s no surprise that this indulgent takeaway is popular with the post-pub crowds. You’ll find this unlikely Irish delicacy in almost every Chinese restaurant across the city, and some even add their own special twist. Duck, for example, serves up fried duck in their spice bags, and lots of restaurants now offer vegan alternatives with tofu instead of chicken.

Where to try: Xian Street Food. Xian street food are well known for their generous spice bags with curry sauce.

3) Boxty Pancakes

Boxty pancakes are a moreish mix of creamy mashed potato, shredded potatoes, flour, and buttermilk. Caught between a hash brown and a pancake, boxty is a side dish served with a variety of meals, including Irish breakfast, smoked salmon, sausages, and Irish stew. It can also be a meal in itself, with chopped spring onions and a dollop of sour cream.

Where to try: Gallagher’s Boxty House in Temple Bar are famous for their selection of traditional Irish dishes. You’ll find Boxty all over the menu, including their delicious ‘boxty fries’ with garlic and rocket aioli. We recommend getting there before 6 pm to get a starter and main for just €26.

4) Soda Bread

Soda bread has been a staple Irish dish since the 1830s when it was discovered that mixing baking soda and sour milk could replace yeast to make the bread rise. Nowadays, yeast is easier to find and buttermilk is used instead of sour milk, but the popularity of soda bread is just as strong. As a result of the buttermilk and baking soda, the bread has a slightly sour taste, a bit like sourdough, with a dense texture and an extra crunchy crust.

Where to try: The Bakery in Temple Bar is a laid-back cafe serving affordable sandwiches and baked goods. Take out one of their soda loaves or order a slice with smoked salmon to eat in.

5) Irish Stew

This traditional Irish dish is enjoyed all over the country, traditionally consisting of lamb or mutton. The meat is cooked very slowly with potatoes, vegetables, onions, and parsley, creating a broth or ‘gravy’ soaked up with a few slices of bread. It’s a very warming, hearty meal, best enjoyed in Winter with a side of Guinness.

Where to try: The Brazen Head or O’Neill’s Pub & Kitchen. Both serve traditional Irish food with live music every day of the week.

6) Seafood Chowder

Irish Seafood Chowder is a soup of fresh and smoked seafood in a creamy herb sauce. Smoked salmon, fresh cod, prawns, and crab are common ingredients. Like stew, chowder is normally served with a side of brown bread to soak up the sauce.

Where to Try: For the best seafood, head to Crabby Jo’s on Howth Pier, just 25 minutes away from the city centre by train. If you can’t fit in a trip to the beach, then Beshoff Bros serves cups of chowder from their branches on Dame Street and O’Connell Street.

7) Apple Cake

Time for something sweet! Irish apple cake is a traditional family bake loved for its simplicity. Recipes vary, but apple cake tends to have a slightly denser, more buttery texture than a normal sponge. This is because, like pastry, the cake is made by rubbing butter into flour, before mixing it with other ingredients. The cake is filled with layers of sour apple slices with a sugar or streusel crust. It might also be served with custard, a thick dessert sauce made from eggs, sugar, and cream.

Where to try: Bakes are made fresh daily, so stock varies, but try Hansel and Gretel Bakery and Patisserie.

If you're tempted by one of the dishes on this list, why not apply for an English course at our Dublin Centre? Combining an English language course with real-life cultural immersion has been proven to result in quicker progress, more enriching experiences, and maybe even a slice of apple cake!