6 Foods to Try in Ireland: A Traveler’s Guide to Irish Eating
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Ireland might not always be the first country that comes to mind for food lovers, but it should be. Between its cozy pubs, coastal seafood, hearty stews, and buttery baked goods, the Irish food scene is all about comfort and connection. Everywhere we went, from bustling Dublin to quiet coastal towns, we found that every meal told a story.
Here’s a complete guide to the best food to try in Ireland, with a mix of classic dishes, regional specialties, and a few personal favorites from our own road trip around the country.
Classic Irish Dishes You Have to Try
1. Full Irish Breakfast
No trip to Ireland is complete without a proper Full Irish Breakfast — a generous plate piled high with eggs, bacon, sausage, black and white pudding, baked beans, grilled tomato, and toast. It’s hearty enough to keep you fueled until dinner, especially if you’re spending the day exploring the countryside.
Most hotels we stayed at included breakfast and all had an option for a Full Irish Breakfast, so definitely try it! Just make sure you look up what black pudding is before you bite in, because you might have feelings about it.
Try it at: Beanhive Coffee (Dublin) or The Quay House (Galway).
2. Irish Stew
Ireland’s national dish, Irish stew, is slow-cooked perfection — usually lamb, potatoes, carrots, and onions simmered together until everything melts into a rich, savory broth. Every region has its own take, but all versions share the same comfort-food DNA.
Try it at: Gallagher’s Boxty House (Dublin) or The King’s Head (Galway).
3. Seafood Chowder
If there’s one dish that truly captures the taste of Ireland’s coast, it’s seafood chowder — creamy, briny, and full of local fish and shellfish.
We had our favorite bowl at The Old Bakehouse Restaurant in Milltown Malbay, a small seaside spot on the west coast. The chowder was thick and flavorful, loaded with chunks of salmon, cod, and shrimp, and served with slices of brown soda bread and rich Irish butter. It was the kind of meal that makes you want to linger long after your plate is empty.
Also try it at: O’Grady’s on the Pier (Galway) or Out of the Blue (Dingle).
4. Fish and Chips
No matter where you are in Ireland, you’ll see fish and chips on the menu — and trust me, they’re never just “fish and chips.”
In Dingle, we ordered the Sharing Box for Two at The Fish Box, piled high with crispy fried fish, calamari, chips, and house-made sauces. Everything was fresh from the sea and cooked perfectly golden.
We also loved the fried fish and mushy peas at Flanagans Bar & Restaurant in Dublin, which made the perfect lunch break in the city — simple, crispy, and deeply satisfying.
Other great spots: The Bulman Bar (Kinsale) or Fish Shop (Dublin).
5. Coddle
A Dublin original, coddle is the ultimate rainy-day comfort food — sausages, bacon, and potatoes slow-simmered in broth until everything blends together. It’s rustic, hearty, and exactly the kind of dish that pairs perfectly with a cozy pub fire and a pint (alcoholic or not).
Try it at: The Brazen Head (Dublin’s oldest pub).
6. Champ and Colcannon
Champ and colcannon are two variations of Irish mashed potatoes — one with scallions, the other with cabbage — and both are simple, buttery perfection.
We had incredible champ twice on our trip: once at The Gate Bistro in Derry alongside a rich Guinness beef pie, and again at Pat Cohan Bar in Cong with a chicken supreme that was tender and full of flavor. Both meals were cozy, comforting, and quintessentially Irish.
Try it at: The Gate Bistro (Derry) or Pat Cohan Bar (Cong).
Regional and Coastal Specialties
Dingle
Dingle’s food scene is small but mighty. Beyond The Fish Box, we spent an evening at Dick Mack’s Pub, one of the most famous pubs in Ireland. I ordered a non-alcoholic beer, and Tim tried one of their craft brews brewed on-site. Between the live music, friendly locals, and open courtyard, it’s the perfect example of Irish hospitality done right.
Portmagee
This picturesque fishing village is home to The Moorings, where we stopped for a seafood lunch overlooking the harbor. Their menu focuses on fresh, locally caught fish, and the setting couldn’t be more perfect — waves outside, the smell of salt in the air, and that relaxed, west-coast pace.
Derry
Up north, The Gate Bistro was one of our favorite dinners of the trip. The Guinness pie and champ combo was pure comfort food and so hearty after a long day exploring the city walls and the Peace Bridge.
Cong
Pat Cohan Bar feels like stepping into a storybook — warm light, dark wood, and locals laughing over pints. The chicken supreme with champ was one of those “simple but perfect” meals that defines Irish cooking.
Sweet Treats and Desserts
Irish desserts are humble, homey, and deeply satisfying.
- Irish Apple Cake – sweet, spiced, and often served warm with custard.
- Bread & Butter Pudding – custardy, comforting, and found on many pub menus.
- Scones with Clotted Cream – the best mid-day treat with a pot of tea.
- Barmbrack – a fruit loaf with a touch of folklore, especially around Halloween.
Try them at: Queen of Tarts (Dublin) or The Woollen Mills (Dublin).
Drinks to Try in Ireland
- Guinness: There’s no substitute for a pint poured in Ireland — it truly tastes smoother here.
- Irish Whiskey: Visit Jameson, Teeling, or Bushmills for tastings.
- Irish Coffee: Whiskey, sugar, coffee, and cream — the perfect blend of cozy and kick.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Try in Ireland
Tea is Ireland’s national drink, and it’s a ritual as much as a beverage. Strong, malty Irish breakfast tea is served everywhere — best enjoyed slowly with conversation.
For something sweeter, stop at Butler’s Chocolate Café for rich hot chocolate or sample homemade lemonade and elderflower cordial at The English Market in Cork.
Ireland also does non-alcoholic beer surprisingly well — I had a great one at Dick Mack’s Pub in Dingle, and Guinness 0.0 is now available on tap across the country.
And if coffee is your love language, grab a flat white from one of the Good Vibrations coffee trucks in Dublin — their espresso is perfection.
Snacks and Sodas to Try on the Road
Ireland’s gas stations and corner shops are goldmines for snack lovers. Grab a bag of Tayto Crisps, try Hunky Dorys if you like bold flavors, or go fancy with O’Donnells hand-cooked crisps from County Tipperary.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, reach for Jacob’s biscuits or Cadbury bars, and don’t skip Ireland’s quirky sodas: Club Orange (with real pulp), Tanora (a tangerine soda from Cork), or Football Special (a Donegal favorite).
Food Festivals and Experiences
If you love trying local dishes, time your trip with one of Ireland’s food festivals:
- Galway International Oyster Festival (September)
- Dingle Food Festival (October)
- Taste of Dublin (June)
- Kinsale Gourmet Festival (October)
Irish Food Tours
Take the guesswork out of your experience and learn the stories behind the food on a Irish food tour! Here are a few ideas and recommendations:
Irish Cooking Classes
- Galway: Irish Brown Bread and Scones Baking Class
- Traditional Irish Stew and Brown Bread Cooking Class
- Westport Mayo Ireland: Baking and Food Heritage Experience
- Dublin: Irish Coffee Masterclass at the Irish Whiskey Museum
Irish Drink Tours
- Dublin Whiskey Trail Tour
- Dublin Traditional Pub Walking Tour
- Belfast: Titanic Distillers Signature Tour & Whiskey Tasting
- Cork City: St. Patrick’s Irish Whiskey Tasting Experience
Irish Food Walking Tours
- Dublin: Historical Centre Food Tour with 8 Tastings & Drinks
- Cork: Fab Food Tasting Trail
- Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour
- Galway: Food and Culture Walking Tour with Tastings
- Belfast: Food Tour with 10+ Tastings of Bread, Beer, Seafood
Ireland Food Map
This map of where to eat in Ireland has all of the restaurants, markets, cafes, and festivals mentioned in this guide. Enjoy!
Final Thoughts
Ireland’s food scene is so much more than pub grub — it’s a celebration of comfort, freshness, and heart. From creamy chowder at The Old Bakehouse in Milltown Malbay to fried fish and mushy peas at Flanagan’s in Dublin, every dish we tried felt connected to its place.
If you love travel that revolves around good food, Ireland delivers. Order the stew, try the crisps, and always say yes to dessert — because here, every meal feels like part of the story.
