Through the good and the bad of Ireland’s history, there’s one thing we’ve always mastered, and that is our food (I’m biased) and so here are our picks for the best classic Irish cuisines and where you can go to get a plate of them.
Irish Stew:
The classic Irish stew is a pretty basic meal, it consists of vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions and sometimes leeks, along with a meat (normally lamb or beef) and of course, a broth/water.
Brannigan’s:
- Brannigan’s is located on Cathedral Street.
- Brannigan’s sells a delicious Irish stew with Wicklow lamb, carrots, leeks and rosemary, and is served with mashed potatoes.
- They also have many vegan options for food, so you needn’t worry about that.
The Oval Bar:
- The Oval Bar can be found on Middle Abbey Street.
- Any Oval Bar patron will be able to tell you how delicious the lamb stew is here, it is served with soda bread, and has lamb shoulder as the meat.
Full-Irish Breakfast:
It’s called a full-Irish for a reason, as they normally have sausages, rashers, eggs, beans, tomatoes, black pudding, white pudding, bread, mushrooms and potatoes, and the history behind the sheer amount of food is that it would help fuel farmers for a long day of work.
Keogh’s Café
- Keogh’s Café can be found on Trinity Street.
- They put an emphasis on creating all of their food with care and by hand, so all of their breads are baked fresh the same day you eat them.
- They whip up a mean full-Irish, with every ingredient listed above.
Slattery’s:
- Slattery’s can be located on Capel Street.
- Their full-Irish is so good that the world-renowned Anthony Bourdain recommended them if you want a top class breakfast.
- Slattery’s is one of the oldest licensed bars in Ireland, being a staple of the culture since 1821.
Bacon & Cabbage:
Bacon & cabbage is as it’s name suggests, bacon and cabbage, it is made by boiling bacon and cabbage in a pot and is served with mashed potato and creamy parsley sauce.
The Stag’s Head:
- The Stag’s Head can be found on Dame Court.
- Their bacon and cabbage is comprised of roast bacon, green cabbage, mashed potato and parsley sauce, and has it’s fair share of butter.
The Celt:
- The Celt can be found on Talbot Street.
- Their “Granny’s Bacon & Cabbage” is a delicious meal served with mashed potato and parsley sauce, you know what they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
Shepard’s Pie:
Shepard’s pie is a traditionally English dish but is also eaten throughout Ireland as it’s ingredients are easily accessible. It is made up of minced lamb, gravy, vegetables like carrots and peas and is topped with a layer of mashed potato.
The Boar’s Head:
- The Boar’s Head is located on Capel Street.
- Their shepard’s pie served at the Boar’s Head is served with coleslaw, wedges, and of course, shepard’s pie.
Madigan’s:
- Madigan’s can be found on O’Connell Street Upper.
- Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Madigan’s has live music events from 9 P.M. ’till close.
- Their Shepard’s Pie is made with lamb mince, carrots, peas, creamy mashed potato and buttery garlic vegetables.
And there it is, from a full-Irish recommended by Anthony Bourdain himself to bacon & cabbage that feel like home, if you’re looking for the best classic Irish meals, we can’t recommend any of these spots enough.
