The food scene in Dublin has been exploding in diversity and quality in the last few years – to the point, in fact, where it can be hard to choose from all the wonderful options.
With that in mind, we assembled this ultimate foodie list for you to work your way through. You’ll struggle to do them all in a weekend if you’re only here on a visit – but then, you could always come move here for good.
Either way, you won’t regret a single thing.
So bookmark this page, put on a pair of loose pants and get eating. This is what life is all about…
1. Dumplings – Izakaya, George’s Street
Downstairs in the bar is the best place to eat these, with pumping tunes, great cocktails and all sorts of hand made dumplings.
2. Lobster – Deep, Howth
Splash out and eat the lobster on the terrace overlooking the fishing boats. About €35 a pop with chips but worth every penny.
3. Ice Cream – Murphy’s, Wicklow Street
Something about the milk and cream they use just makes it taste so bloody amazing. Go for the brown bread or sea salt flavours to experience something special.
4. Pizza – Di Mimmos, North Strand
They just keep getting better and better. Like being in an Italian family kitchen and the pizza is divine.
5. Afternoon Tea – House, Leeson Street
A modern take on an old tradition, and one that will leave you feeling completely spoilt and feeling good about yourself. Cakes, sandwiches and even cocktails thrown in.
6. Burrito – Boojum
This is lunch for so many people around the city centre every day of the week from their growing collection of restaurants. So simple but still so amazing.
7. Fish Burger – Fish Shop Smithfield
Started life as a pop up-up and their restaurants still have that amazing buzzy feeling. The fish burger is like something from another planet. In a good way.
8. ANY doughnut – Aungier Danger
Dubliner’s can’t get enough doughnuts at the moment and hard to argue that these are not the best in town. Bad for the heart, but good for the soul.
9. Avocado Eggs – The Fumbally
Perfect chilled out vibes, and how they make something so simple taste so good is beyond us.
10. Chicken Wings – Blue Bar Skerries
Plenty of places claim to have the best in town but our vote goes to Blue bar. Worth a special trip out here for the wings alone.
11. Supper Club selection – Brother Hubbard
A real treat for vegetarians with a huge selection of dips, sauces and veg to dip breads into. Perfectly good for meat lovers too in fact.
12. The Burger – Featerblade
Known for their amazing steaks, but their latest addition to the menu is a burger they’ve been working on for months, and which tastes suitably unbelievable considering all that effort.
13. Healthy Salad And Juice – Sprout And Co
Not everything on the list is healthy but this sure is. Amazing fresh produce and eating this will make you feel like a million dollars.
14. Chicken Shish – Zaytoon
Most people eat kebabs after they’ve had a few drinks but these are so good you could eat them at any time of the day – as many do.
Seriously tasty bread.
15. Nachos – Dillingers, Ranelagh
One of the great dishes in Dublin.
How they think this is a portion for one person I’ll never know, though, as you could easily feed about eight from that one plate.
Not that I’m sharing mine…
16. Roast Sandwich Of Day – Green Bench Cafe
The queues outside the place tell you everything you need to know. So much more than just a sandwich – and it says a lot that we’d recommend it on any given day without even knowing what you’re getting.
17. Croissants – Panem, North Quays
We called these as the very best in town last year. Homemade, fresh and absolutely delicious.
18. Meatball Pasta – Coppinger Row
One of their signature dishes over the years and an absolute treat. Either with a sandwich or on pasta the meatballs are off-the-charts good.
19. Curry – Kajjal
One of a group of 4 restaurants that do the most incredible Pakistani food. Huge flavours and wonderful side dishes.
20. The Meat Platter – My Meat Wagon, Smithfield
The one on the list for if you have a serious appetite. Slow-cooked and served with all the trimmings, this is an absolute feast.
21. Steak For Two – Lock’s, Portobello
I said it was the best thing I ate in 2015 and the more I think about it, the more I realise it’s one of the best things I’ve eaten ever.
22. Kimchi And Pork Soup – Hilan, Capel Street
Korean food is starting to get seriously popular and this is one of the best spots going. Spicy, sour, full of great ingredients and will fill you right up without the guilt.
23. Coffee And Scones – 3fe
Easily the best coffee in town – for me, anyway – and they do some pretty savage food too. The scones are as big as footballs and make a perfect breakfast or lunch.
24. The Fry-Up – Butcher’s Grill, Ranelagh
We’re a city that do great fried breakfasts but this one takes it to another level with the sheer quality of the ingredients and precise cooking.
25. Green Eggs – Meet Me In The Morning
A new cafe just off Camden Street that has hit the ground running. Such a simple dish, but so well executed you’ll be licking the plate.
26. Gambas – Tapas De Lola, Wexford Street
The best tapas in Dublin without any doubt, and the buzzing room and difficulty getting a table tell you all you need to know. So many great dishes in here – but you can’t beat the classic.
27. Spicy Tuna Roll – J2 Sushi, North Wall Quay
An unlikely spot for sushi on the Liffey in a quiet part of town at night – but don’t let that fool you, because the sushi here is about as good as it gets in town.
28. Burger – Bunsen Burger
What can you say that hasn’t already been said? Insane burger and simplicity at its best.
29. Truffle Pasta – Terre Madre, Bachelor’s Walk
An absolute incredible hidden gem that people walk past every day without knowing it is there. Sitting at a tiny table the pasta is like a taste of heaven.
30. Fish Finger Buttie – Super Miss Sue, Drury Street
They’ve managed to turn a simple sandwich – and one that we used to all eat at home – into a work of art and a taste sensation.
31. Scotch Egg – L Mulligan Grocers, Stoneybatter
A proper gastro pub that has great beers and wonderful food to match. Their signature dish just tastes incredible; it’s as simple at that.
32. Guinness And Oysters – The Old Spot, Bath Avenue
That most Irish of combinations, and although many places serve it this is the one place where it works the best. Perfection
33. Mexican Breakfast – Richmond, Richmond Street
The best brunch dish you could ever have in the capital in my opinion. Absolute perfection in terms of taste profile and the chilled-out setting.
34. Seafood Special – Caviston’s, Glasthule
For years this has been a food Mecca in Dublin and for seafood in particular. Come with an empty belly and choose what they tell you is good that day. Simple as that.
35. FroYo With All The Toppings – Yogism
We always tell ourselves that this is a super healthy option! Gorgeous yoghurts, a huge selection of toppings and a pay-by-weight system make this an absolute must visit on a regular basis.
36. Seafood Platter – Johnny Fox’s
One of the best-known pubs in Ireland but it is by no means just about the booze or the touristy ‘craic’ in here.
Great seafood in general but the platter is an absolute must.
37. Tea and Cake – Queen Of Tarts
A couple of locations in the Dame Street area. A huge selection of cakes – the tricky thing is choosing only one of them to eat.
38. The Breakfast Blaa – Hatch And Sons, St Stephen’s Green
A real taste of Ireland in a unique bread that comes from Waterford. Like sitting in your mammy’s kitchen (particularly if your mammy is from Waterford).
39. Tuna Tostados – 777, George’s Street
One of the most exciting and different restaurants in the capital. The music will be pumping, the booze flowing and this dish is like heaven.
40. Fillet Steak – Shanahans
You’ll certainly find cheaper restaurants in the capital, but the pomp and ceremony along with the amazing meat make this steak taste like something else – while you, yourself, just feel like damn royalty.
41. Glazed Ham And Salads – Avoca
You’ll want to arrive in one of their five locations with a huge appetite if you’re to finish this dish. Amazing fresh salads and beautifully glazed ham that nowhere else can beat.
42. Shaking Beef – Opium, Wexford Street
A restaurant with the atmosphere of a bar, and one that’s always buzzing. The beef comes big on taste with super tender meat.
43. Chicken Tacos – Taco Taco
Slow cooked, huge portions, big flavours and all washed down with amazing cocktails.
What more could you wish for in life?
44. Huevos Rancheros – Gourmet Food Parlour
They have locations all over town, which is a good thing given just how tasty this dish is. You’ll get hooked on it before you know it.
45. Chocolate Bomb – Chinese Sichuan, Sandyford
They do some of the most inventive Chinese cooking here but it is their chocolate bomb that we have focused on.
The king of desserts in the capital.
46. Margherita – Osteria Lucio
Bread, tomato sauce and really good mozzarella. So simple but taken to a completely new level in here.
47. Ribs And Rump – Whitefriar Grill, Aungier Street
When you think about this place you think about the big portions (and possibly the difficulty in getting a table for brunch!). They don’t do anything better than this dish, which is the best of both worlds.
48. Bucket Of Chicken – Crackbird
Nothing fancy (in case the name of the dish didn’t give it away) but the banging tunes, party atmosphere and chicken cooked perfectly is an absolute treat.
Big portions and big personality. Sensing a theme here?
49. Chorizo, Beans And Sourdough – Slice Cafe, Stoneybatter
One of those small rooms with no fuss that makes you feel happy to be alive.
This dish, for either breakfast or lunch, is an absolute delight.
50. Brunch Tasting Menu – Forrest Avenue
We’ll finish with a feast.
Easily the most precise and wonderful cooking in Dublin. Original, exciting and a joy to eat. Their brunch tasting menu ticks all the boxes and will blow you away.
Can you think of any local dishes that deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
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