By Soren Rivero
Behold: Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland. It only takes a few moments to be captivated by the lush green landscapes and the gentle flow of its rolling rivers. This charming city effortlessly combines natural beauty with rich culture, making it a place you’ll want to explore from every angle.
Grabbing a pint of world-famous Guinness beer is probably at the top of your list, and you’ll be pleased to know that Dublin has quickly become a vibrant hub of culture and cuisine. Whether you’re after a quick bite or in the mood to indulge in a lavish feast, Dublin has all the deliciousness you need to tempt your taste buds!
Irish Stew
Fade Street Social
4 Fade St, Dublin 2, D02 NF77 | Fade Street Social website
With a lively tapas bar and a cosy cocktail/winter garden, Fade Street Social is the place to be for fantastic food and a great atmosphere. This gem of a restaurant takes pride in serving up farm-fresh, locally sourced ingredients, bringing the true flavours of Dublin straight from the garden to your plate.
One dish you can't miss? The classic Irish stew—this comforting, one-pot wonder has been a staple of Irish kitchens for generations, perfect for feeding large families on a budget. Fade Street Social gives this beloved dish a modern twist: it’s made with spiced cream, topped with a dollop of silky potato mousse and crispy balsamic fillet, then scented with fresh lovage and celery leaves. And, of course, it’s served with a generous helping of creamy mashed potatoes. A true taste of Irish tradition, reimagined!
Bacon and Cabbage
The Stag's Head
1 Dame Ct D02 TW84 | The Stags Head website
The Stag’s Head is a classic Irish pub that’s been serving up hearty, authentic dishes since 1770—talk about a slice of history! Known for its welcoming atmosphere and unbeatable prices, it’s a favourite among foodies seeking traditional Irish fare. One standout dish you’ve got to try is The timeless bacon and cabbage, served with a fresh parsley sauce and creamy mashed potatoes.
Back in the day, beef was a luxury reserved for the wealthy, while pork was more affordable for everyday folk. To make the most of this, the Irish would brine and salt the pork to create bacon, which was then paired with the humble yet hearty cabbage—simple, tasty, and deeply rooted in Irish tradition.
Boxty
Gallagher's Boxty House
20-21 Temple Bar Dublin 2 | Gallagher's Boxty House
Gallagher’s is a must-visit for food lovers, with its rave reviews for serving up the traditional dish of boxty—a delicious potato pancake at its heart. The star of the show is their famous Leitrim Pan Boxty, a light and fluffy pancake stuffed with a variety of tasty fillings. One of the top picks is the Gaelic Boxty, featuring tender beef fillet medallions drizzled with whiskey and black pepper, served in a rich mushroom cream sauce—all wrapped up in that iconic boxty pancake.
Boxty has a fascinating history in Dublin. With potatoes thriving in any soil, the Irish were able to grow them in all conditions, making them a staple food. The name "boxty" itself comes from the Irish phrase "arán bocht tí," which means "poor-house bread," reflecting its humble origins as a hearty dish for everyday folk.
Coddle
The Hairy Lemon
Stephen Street Lower Dublin 2 | The Hairy Lemon website
The Hairy Lemon is a quirky 19th-century tavern that’s proud to serve up traditional Irish fare with a twist. One of its most beloved dishes is the "Famous Dublin Coddle," a hearty stew that draws both locals and tourists to its doors. Picture this: bacon, sausages, root vegetables, potatoes, and herbs all simmering in a savoury broth, served with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and freshly baked brown bread.
Coddle has a rich history, dating back to the 1700s, and was especially popular because it was a dish that could simmer away while the Irish wife took a rest—ready and waiting for her husband when he returned from the pub. It was a clever, easy dish, particularly on Thursdays, when leftovers from bacon and sausages were used up before the meatless Fridays of Irish Catholic tradition.
Colcannon
Oliver St. John Gogarty
18-21 Anglesea St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 RX38 | Oliver St. John Gogarty website
Oliver St. John Gogarty’s is a true haven for lovers of traditional Irish fare, and one dish you'll find gracing nearly every plate is colcannon. Not only do they serve this beloved dish, but it’s also a side for every meal! Colcannon is a comforting blend of mashed potatoes, kale, and cabbage, served warm and full of flavour. While it can certainly be enjoyed on its own, Gogarty’s pairs it with Irish classics like poached seafood and Gaelic steak for a satisfying feast.
At Gogarty’s, almost everything is sautéed, poached, or fried with a splash of good ol’ Irish whiskey, seasoned with fresh herbs, and served alongside a medley of crisp, fresh vegetables. Colcannon itself has humble roots: in the 1600s and 1700s, potatoes, cabbage, and leeks were affordable staples for common folk, so they combined all these ingredients into one hearty dish. The name "colcannon" comes from the Gaelic “cal ceannann,” meaning "white-headed cabbage," a nod to its simple yet satisfying origins.
Black and White Pudding
Kingfisher Dublin
166 Parnell Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1 | Kingfisher Dublin website
If you're visiting Dublin, you absolutely must try Black and White Pudding! This traditional Irish dish is a rich mix of pork fat, meat, and blood combined with barley, suet, and oatmeal, all wrapped up in a sausage casing. White pudding is the same, but without the blood—giving it a lighter colour and a slightly milder flavour.
One of the best places to sample this Irish delicacy is Kingfisher, one of Dublin’s few remaining family-run establishments. Here, they serve Kelly’s Black and White Pudding as part of the iconic "Full Irish" breakfast. This hearty meal includes two juicy pork sausages, crispy bacon, eggs cooked to your liking, grilled mushrooms, baked beans, rosemary-diced potatoes, and, of course, Black and White Pudding.
The roots of Black and White Pudding go back thousands of years, with references found in Homer’s Odyssey as far back as 1000 BC. It also made an appearance in Apicius, the only surviving cookbook from the Roman Empire, showing just how deeply ingrained this dish is in culinary history.
Irish Brown Bread
Bread Nation
41 Pearse Street Dublin, D02 H308 | Bread Nation website
Irish Brown Bread is a close cousin to soda bread, but made with hearty wholemeal flour. It’s a staple in Ireland, often served alongside almost every meal. The tradition is to slather it with Irish butter made from rich, grass-fed cow’s milk, adding a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth finish. And did you know? Irish Brown Bread is traditionally baked with a cross on top. This symbol was believed to ward off evil spirits, ensuring the bread was safe to eat!
One of Dublin’s best spots to try authentic Irish Brown Bread is Bread Nation. This charming bakery is committed to using local, seasonal, and organic ingredients, with flour delivered from a nearby stone mill, ensuring that every loaf is as fresh and flavourful as possible.
