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Where the River Liffey meets the Irish Sea, Ireland’s coastal is steeped in history. From its 13th century castle to the General Post Office, every building has a story to tell. They may not all be rosy, but they’re always captivating. If delving deep into the history of a divided island and unearthing heaps of Irish culture sounds like the perfect city break, Dublin should be high on your travel bucket list.
Spend your days hopping from museum to museum, gazing at O’Connell Street’s marvels and ambling through sprawling Phoenix Park. When darkness falls, Dublin comes (even more) to life. Once you’ve had the obligatory Guinness at The Temple Bar, enjoy an evening of folk music and craic in an off-the-beaten-path Irish pub. If ever you need to escape the city- and in reality, Dublin is not a city which needs to be escaped – head for lush green beauty of the Wicklow Mountains.
As we all know only too well, exploring is hungry work. The good news is, Irish cuisine is some of the most underrated in the world. Although I would love to debunk the stereotype, potatoes do feature heavily. But that’s no bad thing. If anyone knows how to create culinary masterpieces with one of the simplest, yet most versatile vegetables going, it’s the Irish.
Of course, the street food in Dublin scene is as diverse as any capital city, but these 8 Irish staples deserve a special mention.
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1. Dublin Coddle
No rundown of the best street food in Dublin worth its salt could possibly start with any other dish. Dublin Coddle (often simply called Coddle) is as Irish as a shamrock. Purportedly a favorite dish of Johnathan Swift, James Joyce’s Leopold Bloom is depicted eating a bowl for breakfast in his 1922 novel Ulysses.
Coddle is so named for its cooking method. The ingredients are coddled, meaning they’re cooked in water which isn’t quite boiling. As it is prepared using leftovers, a little like British bubble and squeak, there’s no set recipe for Coddle. The most common ingredients are pork sausages, rashers of back bacon, potatoes and onion with salt, pepper and herbs added for seasoning. For true Dublin Coddle, the sausages should never be browned before being added.
Where to Try Coddle in Dublin
As a staple of street food in Dublin, it’s never difficult to seek out a bowl of this Irish classic. Many Irish restaurants serve it, and several offer it to-go. Our go-to is Gallagher’s Boxty House in Temple Bar.
If you fancy trying Coddle as part of a more formal meal, head to the Nancy Hands, just south of Phoenix Park. They do all the Irish favorites and the service is exceptional; so good, I make a point of visiting on every trip to Dublin.
2. Seafood Chowder
The next on our list of the best street food in Dublin is a favorite no matter which side of the Atlantic you’re on. From Scottish Cullen Skink to New England chowder, every region has its own take on this simple, filling soup. Ireland is no exception.
Setting it apart from the competition, Irish chowder typically uses smoked fish. A centuries old tradition, originally to preserve the fish in the days before freezing food was commonplace, smoking adds a unique flavor. Irish chowder also contains leeks and tends to be lighter than New England chowder with a more milky texture.
Where to Find the Best Seafood Chowder in Dublin
Like Coddle, seafood chowder is a popular appetizer in many Dublin restaurants. To sample it at its freshest as part of the Dublin street food scene, head down to Souperman at Spencer Dock Food Market, held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
3. Smoked Salmon Bagels
Bagels may be one of the most popular street foods the world over, but Ireland does them differently. If you’ve tried smoked salmon bagels in New York, you need to get a taste of their Irish counterpart whilst exploring the best street food in Dublin.
Although commercial farming didn’t begin until the 1980s, salmon have long been a staple of Irish cuisine. Whereas seafood and shellfish were, historically, a food of the working class, salmon was reserved for the Irish elite.
Where to Get Smoked Salmon Bagels in Dublin
Tram Café on Jervis Street are our top choice for smoked salmon bagels. Don’t pass on a coffee whilst you’re there; their iced matcha lattes are out of this world. If you have room left over, the ice cream sundaes will give you the best brain freeze you’ve ever had.
4. Colcannon Fritters
They’re simple, they’re delicious and above all, they’re quintessentially Irish. Unlike the previous two dishes, you’ll struggle to find Colcannon Fritters outside Ireland, making them a must when working through the impressive selection of street food in Dublin.
Although deep fried food features more heavily in Northern Irish cuisine, Colcannon Fritters are Dublin’s offering to the collection. A blend of mashed potatoes, cabbage, onion and bacon, they’re a little like a fried version of Dublin Coddle.
Travel tip: If you’re not a fan of fried food, Colcannon potatoes are a great alternative and a great side dish. They include all the elements of a Colcannon Fritter, just without the oil.
Where to Find Colcannon Fritters in Dublin
Colcannon Fritters are most commonly served in fish and chip shops. Whilst we’re on the subject, fish and chips is almost as popular in Ireland as it is in the United Kingdom, making it another great street food in Dublin to sample if you have the chance. Leo Burdock by Christchurch College is our Dublin go-to.
5. Kerry Pie
As the name suggests, Kerry Pie may not be a Dublin original, but it is one of the most authentic Irish dishes available as street food in Dublin. Hailing from County Kerry on Ireland’s west coast, Kerry Pie is Ireland’s answer to a Cornish pasty.
A little like Cornish pasties have their roots in mining, Kerry Pie’s origins lay in the region’s sheep farming traditions. After a long day herding, shepherds would eat these filing mutton pies, the mutton having been slow cooked in a traditional bastible pot over an open fire.
The main ingredient is, of course, mutton. Having been cooked in a rich gravy, it is mixed with carrots and onions, seasoned with salt and pepper and encased in puff pastry before being cooked to perfection.
Where to Find the Best Kerry Pie in Dublin
Pies are a staple of Irish cuisine. Whether it be a Kerry Pie or the world-famous Shepherd’s Pie, you won’t have to look far to find one in Dublin. Our top recommendation is The Bakehouse on Bachelor’s Walk.
6. Guinness Stew
Sold in more than 100 countries, over 10 million pints of Guinness are poured everyday. Almost 60% of them are consumed in Ireland. Unsurprisingly, Guinness is far more than a drink. Guinness infused chocolates, biscuits, fudge and sauces can be found in stores all over the country.
If you’re a Guinness aficionado, you won’t want to miss a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Even if you don’t make it there, sampling this staple of street food in Dublin is a must. Guinness stew combines three Irish staples into a rich, delicious and warming meal. Beef, potatoes, carrots and a Guinness-infused gravy are required for the traditional version. More recently, vegan friendly alternatives have been hitting the streets of Dublin.
Where to Try Guinness Stew in Dublin
Of course, if you visit the Guinness Storehouse, you’ll want to sample the original Guinness stew. Their busy and, resoundingly reasonably-priced restaurant is only accessible to Storehouse ticketholders. Thankfully, almost every Irish restaurant in Dublin serves their take on this Irish classic. For the true street food in Dublin experience, grab your stew to-go from Boxty House.
7. Oat Cookies
As much as we think of potatoes as Ireland’s staple crop, that hasn’t always been the case. Back in the early Medieval period, oats held that title. Perfectly suited to Ireland’s colder, rainy climate, they could be successfully cultivated whatever fortunes the weather brought. Not only were they a staple crop for humans, they provided a reliable food source for livestock.
Oat cookies, therefore, as deliciously simple as they are, have strong roots in Irish culture. Although in modern times, filings including raisins and walnuts are added, traditionally, Irish oat cookies are served plain.
Where to Get the Best Oat Cookies in Dublin
Every bakery you find in Dublin will sell you a delicious oat cookie. With such a simple recipe, they’re always good. Our favorite is SOS Cookies who have three locations where you can sample this divine street food in Dublin.
Travel tip: If you consider yourself a real foodie, you’ll want to book a spot on this Dublin traditional foods walking tour where you’ll learn about the history and legends behind all of these dishes.
8. Apple Cake
If the saying “as American as apple pie” were true (it isn’t), the Irish version would be “as Irish as apple cake”. Apple cake may be popular across Europe, but it originated in Ireland in the 7th century, being produced by monks. Many of the apples they grew were used in cider production, but those leftover were taken to the kitchens to be turned into this tasty sweet treat. Many variations of the cake, such as Jewish apple cake, have their origins in the Irish original.
Where to Find the Best Apple Cake in Dublin
An unusual suggestion when searching for street food in Dublin, but Kilkenny Design on Nassau Street have a fabulous instore patisserie. Their apple cake is divine, as is the entire ever-changing menu. For a more authentic bakery experience, head to old school Phoenix Bakery on the north side of Phoenix Park.
Supermac’s: A Special Mention
Although the best street food in Dublin, and around the world, always comes from independent local vendors, sometimes that craving for fast-food is too strong to ignore. There’s no better place for that craving to hit than in Dublin because Ireland’s offering to the fast-food scene is a cut above. In fact, I’d go as far as to recommend a visit at least once during your time in Ireland. Not going would be akin to visiting The Philippines without trying Jollibee.
Founded in Galway in 1978, Supermac’s have become an Irish institution. The menu is fairly similar to McDonald’s. So similar, in fact, that McDonald’s took them to court over the name of their Mighty Mac burger. Supermac’s won and the Mighty Mac is still one of their bestsellers. In addition to the classic beef and chicken offerings, they’re fish and chips and loaded fries are loved across Ireland. The breakfast menu, featuring a classic Irish breakfast roll, blows the competition out the water.
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