Planning a trip to Ireland, but have no idea what to eat? I got you! I spent 4 months studying abroad in Ireland and fell in love with not only the culture, but the food as well. Here are my suggestions as a foodie so that you can try the maybe not so stereotypical Irish foods and eat like a local!
Biscuits and Tea
Tea and biscuits, a very typical Irish experience. You may have heard about the Irish obsession with tea and I am here to tell you it is a real thing. If you visit an Irish person in their home they will 100% offer you a cup of tea. This is when you find out what type of person they are because there are two kinds of people in Ireland: the Barry’s drinkers and the Lyons drinkers. Lyons is made in England, which makes it a bit more controversial choice where as Barry’s is as Irish as it can get. I don’t like to pick a side in the debate. Instead I mix the two.
Then there are biscuits which I definitely ate way too many of in Ireland. My favorites are Viscounts (another British import). They are like a combo of thin mints and York patties. I love mint. Digestives, Jaffa Cakes, Jammie Dodgers, Bourbon Creams, and Hobnobs are all great options as well. Tea and biscuits are what I always stock up on when I am Ireland. It’s just not the same here in America.
Curry Chips
Curry chips were my greatest discovery in Ireland. I heard about them when I arrived but I didn’t really understand the hype until I ordered them for the first time at Supermacs. Now they make the perfect snack after a night out. They are pretty straight forward: curry sauce and chips. Irish curry sauce has its own special flavor. It has a bit of a kick to it but is also slightly sweet. You can get a much fancier version than what is at Supermacs at the restaurants and food trucks which may include more topping and meat. I think it’s good either way. Don’t feel like you have to get the fancy ones to experience the best curry chips! Supermacs still has some of the best!
Spice Bag
This Irish staple is another result of the Asian influence in the country. Of course it’s base is chips. What makes its special is the chips are fried with chicken, peppers and onions, and spices. The crisp and spicy combo is amazing. You can dip it in a sauce like curry or ketchup, but it is also great just the way it is. You can buy these at most Asian restaurants in Ireland like Xian Street Food or even in some pubs! You can’t leave Ireland without trying it!
Brown Bread
Brown bread is my favorite bread in the world! I prefer a brown soda bread which is an inbetween of soda bread and a traditional brown bread. I find this has the best flavor with the sweet melt in your mouth flavor of the soda bread and the extra flavor of the wheat and bran. You can buy brown bread in the grocery store where you’ll have lots of options, just don’t forget some Kerry gold butter and jam to go with it. You can also choose it as you toast option in an Irish breakfast. If you are feeling adventurous you can even bake it yourself. It’s much easier than a normal bread because it is made with baking soda and buttermilk instead of yeast which is why it feels almost like you are eating cake.
Irish Scones
These are some of my favorite! I even bake them at home and finally have perfect them, the Irish Scone! You maybe know that they call biscuits something different in the UK and Ireland. Well what we would call biscuits they call scones. Irish scones are essentially a biscuit with raisins in it. They are best served with strawberries and cream inside. I always ate my plain or with butter and jam from the cafes in Ireland. There are many ways to eat them. Depending on where you get them, they can be dry, so they might not be for everyone, but I loved them!
Fish’n’Chips
This is an obvious one. Everyone knows that they have to have fish and chips when in Ireland. The hard part is deciding where you are going to get it. You can have a true Irish experience and go to a chipper or you can get the nice version at a pub that comes with mashed peas, tarter sauce, and a lemon. Both are great options! If you get it at a pub you can also order a Guinness with it which I have found to be a nice combo, especially if there is trad music at the pub too.
99 Cone
A 99 cone reminds every Irish person of their childhood going to the seaside in the summers. You can get them anywhere that serves ice cream, but I think it is best enjoyed next to the water. You might be thinking what makes this cone special. It’s just a cone with vanilla ice cream but it is the sprinkles, strawberry syrup, and a flake bar that make it special. It’s so simple yet so good. If you need a dessert in Ireland, this is my recommendation.
Irish Breakfast
An Irish breakfast, the better version of the English breakfast. A trip back to Ireland for me in not complete without a morning spent in a pub eating an Irish breakfast and drinking an Irish coffee. It is a slow meal so make sure to set time aside to really enjoy this Irish staple. Now what is in it. First you have your baked beans which are slightly different than ours with a sauce that resembles runny ketchup. This is topped with fried eggs, some form of fried potatoes, cooked mushrooms, and a grilled tomato. As for the meat you’ll find bangers, rashers, and white and black pudding. Add some brown sauce for some extra flavor to meat. This is my favorite way to eat it. On the side you also get a choice of toast and brown bread. I always choose the brown bread with some butter and jam. It is very filling but worth every last bit of it.
Smoked Salmon
This is another Irish staple I forget to take a picture of. I had it for the first time on a Caesar salad in Ireland and it was amazing. I’ve never been a salmon fan until I tried smoked salmon. Its also very good with butter or cream cheese on brown bread, which I have done at home with my homemade brown bread. You can buy it in the grocery store, but I recommend getting it in a restaurant on the coast of Ireland. It is the best!
Carvery
When you ask a local what their favorite food is and they will say carvery. For the longest time I always thought they just meant like deli meat and cheese, but this is in fact not what they mean. After about five trips to Ireland I finally understood what carvery was when I got to try it. Essentially it’s the sliced roast (maybe beef, bacon, or turkey) you get at a hotel or a pub with sides of vegetable, stuffing, at least two types of potatoes, and of course gravy or a parsley sauce. It sounds so simple, just meat and potatoes, but there is something about meat and potatoes in Ireland. They do it right, so your meat and potatoes will be the most flavorful you’ve ever had!
Chicken Fillet Roll
Now this is one I have only tried once, so I can’t really say its the most amazing thing in the world, but I also can’t tell you to not have it. Irish people swear by a chicken fillet roll! They are quite simple, a baguette filled with chicken, and your choice of sauce, fresh vegetables, and cheese like a sandwich, but its not just a sandwich. Pop into a gas station or centra in Ireland and you will find a deli area where they will make you your chicken fillet roll. This makes it perfect for any time of day, breakfast or a late night drinking snack.
Any Irish Drink!!!
We all know Ireland is know for its drinking culture. There are many drinks that are uniquely Irish! Try any of these Irish drinks. Guinness is the most well known stout from Ireland. Bulmers is my favorite Irish Cider, but Orchard Thieves is also a great cider option. Irish coffee is coffee with cream and Jameson. It’s not very sweet so if you want the sweeter version then order a Bailey’s Irish coffee. I typically go for the Baileys but I still love my Jameson. My favorite is a Jameson and Ginger which is the famous whiskey with ginger ale, and lime. Then my last suggestion is a baby Guinness which is not Guinness. It is a shot made to look like a little pint of Guinness. It has two liquors: a coffee liquor and Bailey’s. It’s the only shot you’ll actually enjoy!
Now you are all set to visit in Ireland and have the best food experience. There are other foods we think of when we think of Irish food like Guinness beef stew and bangers and mash, but these are more from the tourists then the locals. If you want the true native experience then these are what I recommend you try!
