I'm almost certain that if you were to ask an experienced world traveler to share their personal top ten list of countries with the best cuisine, Ireland would not be on it. But why? My only guess is that they didn't eat what I ate when I meandered around this luscious (and delicious) island. Here are some of my recommendations for Irish cuisine (and places to get it) when you finally get "lucky" enough to travel to Ireland:
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| Kealy's (Next to Dublin's airport) They told me that a Guinness a day keeps the doctor away. Since I didn't want to risk having to go to the doctor on my trip, I felt it was necessary to follow this rule. I also may have made up this rule. Oh well. Don't judge me. |
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| Kealy's (Literally right next to Dublin's airport) Irish breakfast: baked beans, fried eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, hash browns, black and white pudding, bangers (sausage), rashers (sliced bacon), sometimes smoked salmon, toast, porridge, orange juice, tea, and Guinness (I said don't judge me--it was 11pm back at home. Oh, and I was vacation, so back off). The Irish breakfast is a good choice if you have a heavy day of sight-seeing and travel plans. Not only is it perfectly delicious, but it will most certainly keep you full and satisfied for hours on end. You may even save a bit of money on snacks and lunch since you won't be hungry until dinner! |
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| Tyrellspass Castle (Tyrellspass, County Meath) Irish Lunch Option: If you don't have a big breakfast, don't worry. There are definitely options for big lunches in Ireland. Mashed potatoes, roast beef with mushrooms in a Gaelic sauce, wild rice, rolls, chips (potato wedges), veggies in a white sauce, and coffee (to help aid your jet lag). This typical Irish lunch will keep you full until the next day...or maybe until late at night when you can finally dive into those crisps you've been saving for later. |
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| Lohan's (Galway) When you've had a bigger breakfast or lunch, you may only need a lighter dinner. Seafood such as mussels in a onion and butter broth (with a Guinness) are the way to go. |
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| Local Supermarket (Galway) If you have access to a kitchen: Save money on food by buying seafood at a local market and preparing it on your own instead of going out to dinner. There is always fresh seafood in most markets. Take advantage of what you can't get for a good price back at home. |
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| Local Supermarket (Galway) to Connemara/Clifden/Sky Road Have a picnic while on the road: Have lunch or dinner while enjoying Ireland's incredible scenery (I highly recommend Sky Road). Go to a local market and buy fresh 50 cent soda bread from their bakery, pickled herring and anchovies and local smoked mackerel from their deli, and locally made Irish garlic and herb cheese from their produce to make a delicious, filling, and cheap meal. |
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| McDermott's Pub (Doolin) Going to a few soccer pubs and cheering on Ireland during the World Cup was one of the most incredible experiences I've had while traveling. Adding seafood chowder, a tuna melt sandwich, soda bread, coleslaw, chips (potato wedges), and a cold, thick and creamy Guinness was the cherry on top of an incredible experience. A bigger lunch calls for a small (and cheaper) dinner: salami, Irish brie cheese, cream crackers, soda bread and another type of Irish Stout beer (all for under 7 Euros). |
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| The Fish Wife (Cork) Always take advice for best restaurants from a local. Our favorite Airbnb hostess highly recommended this delicious, yet affordable and fast stand-up restaurant where you will experience some of the best fish and chips you've ever had. Grilled swordfish with a sweet sauce, chips, and a fresh salad will be the highlight of your visit to Cork. |
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| Rising Sons Brewery (Cork) A day of travel makes you hungry. Breweries are always on the top of the list to try new brews...plus they always have amazing and unique food. This brewery had many options for beers and personal-sized pizza. We had to go for "The DayCent": pizza with quail eggs, black pudding, and rashers (sliced bacon), along with a Rising Son's Stout to wash it down. Mouthwatering...it literally is right now. |
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| Rising Sons Brewery (Cork) A MASSIVE screen to watch the World Cup in the huge brewery hall was the perfect touch to an amazing and filling meal under 15 Euros. |
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| Airbnb (Cork) Take advantage of the continental breakfasts that come with your Airbnb room. Not only are the breakfasts delightful, but they will keep you full, happy, and energized all day on your travels. Time and money saved on stopping to get snacks and/or lunch. Done! |
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| Bachelor Inn (Dublin) The search for coddle in Dublin felt never-ending (Anthony Bourdain raved about it in "The Layover" when he visited Dublin, so I knew it was worth the hunt), but we found a spot that still made and served this so-call "poor man's" food. I never would have guessed that this delish soup is made from scraps: potatoes, bangers (sausages), rashers (sliced bacon), carrots, and anything else that's leftover. Honestly, I wouldn't mind being poor in Ireland if I got to eat this everyday. Sign me up. |
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| Catch-22 (Dublin) Anthony Bourdain said that the best hangover cure are oysters and Guinness. He's always right in my book. Oysters and Guinness under 10 Euros. Perfect. Here is also the place where I decided that Irish people are my favorite. They gave us champagne for free. Don't know why they did, but I didn't argue it. I love those guys. |
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| Bear (Dublin) Is it weird that I followed Anthony Bourdain's footsteps to restaurants, pubs, bars, etc. while in Dublin?...And also tried to sit where he sat?....It is weird, eh? Oh. Well, I'm weird. Not a surprise to anyone I know. "Bear" is a modern restaurant where they serve courses like sweet potato with butter, slabs of beef, chips, and beer (all amazing). It has delicious and reasonably priced food with a hip atmosphere. And guess who I saw here! Anthony Bourdain! Well, ok...maybe it was just the owner of "Bear" who hung out with Anthony Bourdain and introduced him to his restaurant. I still felt pretty cool, though. |
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| Bruxelle's (Dublin) By far my favorite meal in Ireland. I feel like I already said that earlier. Plate #1: Rashers, mash (mashed potatoes), and cabbage. Plate #2: Bangers and mash with onions in a gravy sauce. To....die...for. Each plate under 10 Euros. |
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| Restaurant Unknown (Dublin) More coddle. This time, the recipe consists of potatoes, rashers, and black and white pudding. A side of soda bread with butter and a Guinness is always the perfect touch. |
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| Aleena Indian Restaurant (Dublin) I learned on "Travel Channel" that Indian cuisine has been popular for quite some time. Warm and spicy Indian food such as curry make for a great meal during the cold and harsh Irish winters. We "stumbled" into this Indian restaurant on our way back to our Airbnb after a night of celebrating Ireland's 1-0 defeat against Italy in a World Cup game. Sometimes cheese, soda bread, and crackers can only hold you over for so long. Get a taste of the newer Ireland and dive into some of the local Indian cuisine. Spicy Indian rice with curry chicken and a side of creamy white yoghurt. There's nothing like sobering up by eating spicy Indian food and sweating profusely while watching music videos after a fun and adventurous night of soccer games, bar hopping, and meeting new people. |
Ireland is more than just "meat and potatoes". It is familiar comfort food such as seafood, bangers, rashers, mash, chips, black and white pudding, soda bread, Irish cheese, coddle, Guinness and more Guinness. It's also modern, up and coming, and inventive food like pizza with quail eggs and Indian food. Experience and taste the old and new Ireland. It's delicious, underrated, filling, and affordable cuisine that will make you say "Oh my Gui-nness". You will surely want to go back again to devour more of this top-rated cuisine of the world.
Safe Travels,
Veronica
