Hello, Adventurers!
Seeing as how I have now been to Ireland 4 times and spent about 6 months of my life there I’ve cultivated some pretty great restaurant recommendations. Please note that almost all of my recommendations are going to be based in City Centre since that is where I spent the majority of my time.
Indian:
My favorite of all time, Diwali. It’s an Indian-Nepales crossover. Super delicious. Not super expensive, but nicer than fast-casual. I suggest the Chicken Tikka Masala (obviously), the Lamb Saag (I also add Paneer!), the lamb chop starter, and the coconut ice cream for dessert. Pull a pro move and get both rice AND cheese naan 😀 Worth every penny
Persian:
- Zaytoon – doner kebabs, chicken schwarma, rice, wraps, all of it is amazing.
- Passion 4 Food – created by a former employee at Zaytoon. It’s very similar and very tasty.
Fancy:
- One Pico – ultra fancy. make a reservation. veryyyy good
- Fallon & Byrne – less fancy than One Pico. It’s still very good
Irish:
- Boxty in Temple Bar – very unique food, but still classic Irish flavors. Totally get the Gaelic Boxty and Boxty fries. You’ll thank me later. Also: you can buy the Boxty mix to bring back home to make!
- Gallaher and Co – traditional Irish food, but elevated. The mustard sauce for the steak is the bomb.
- The Brazen Head (also the oldest Pub in Dublin) – gotta make a trek out here. The drinks and food are well priced and tasty.
Sushi:
- Yamamori Izakaya – Sushi is still becoming more mainstream in Dublin so it pays to be picky. This place is pretty good for sushi and regular Japanese food too.
Mexican:
- Unless it’s Boojam, just avoid eating Mexican outside of Texas and California. Boojam is Ireland’s answer to Chipotle. Very similar and actually pretty good.
Tips for Dining Out in Ireland:
- No Tipping – Waiters are paid an actual living wage so you don’t need to tip. However please do if you feel so inclined
- Ask for the bill – they will not just bring it to you. They don’t want to rush you.
- Carry cash, but most places will also take cards
- Manually split your own bill
- Tap water is just as good as bottled – save yourself some money!
Let me know if you end up eating at one of these places or use the tips!
Happy Reading!
-Savvy