Ireland Food and Beer Guide
Before our trip to Ireland, I was unfamiliar with the different foods and beers the country was famous for. Aside from Guinness, of course.
I believe countries cuisine is a travel experience on its own, and one of the best ways to experience a different culture is through their food.
In this blog, we discuss our three day journey through Ireland, exploring the top foods and beers that encapsulate the essence of this charming nation. We have done this in a few countries now, and Ireland ranks towards the top!
1. Fish and Chips in Ireland
Fish and chips in Ireland are a beloved classic, and this iconic dish has become a staple in the country’s culinary landscape.
I am putting fish and chips first due to the volume that Mason consumed over our short 3-day trip. Mason ate fish and chips as her meal at least once every day throughout our Irish road trip.
Gallagher’s Pub in Cork
Our first fish and chips experience in Ireland was at Gallagher’s Pub in Cork. We had just finished a long day of driving and were eager to have our first Irish pub experience.
We ordered a Fish and Chips platter to share, along with two Guinness’s. The platter was one of the largest portions of Fish and Chips we received on our trip, and we were glad that we decided to share it when ordering. The fish was lightly battered and full of flavor. The chips were cut thick and golden brown, with the perfect amount of salt.
We were extremely pleased with our first Fish and Chips experience in Ireland. As well as the phenomenal atmosphere that Gallaghers Pub provided!
Rating:
Fish: Mason – 10/10, Josh – 8.6/10
Chips: Mason – 8.0/10, Josh – 8.5/10
Fitzpatrick’s Pub in Doolin
Our second Fish and Chips experience in Ireland was at Fitzpatrick’s Pub in Doolin. After exploring the Cliffs of Moher, we decided to pub hop in Doolin before heading back to our AirBnb on a farm just outside of town.
We walked into Fitzpatrick’s Pub, and there was live music and a room full of people singing and dancing. We were lucky to get two seats at the end of the bar, and along with our Fish and Chips, we got a round of Irish Coffees.
While the platter was not as large as the order we received in Cork, the fish and chips were just as good!
The fish was very fresh tasting and perfectly cooked. The batter had a ton of flavor and was so crispy! The chips were not as thick as the previous ones that we had. However, they were a perfect golden brown and salted to perfection.
Rating:
Fish: Mason – 7.5/10, Josh – 7.3/10
Chips: Mason – 8.0/10, Josh – 8.0/10
The Old Mill Restaurant in Dublin
Our third and final Fish and Chips experience in Ireland came in Dublin at a restaurant named The Old Mill. We had about a 30-minute wait to get into the restaurant. However, it was well worth the wait!
The restaurant was full of character, and the wait staff made for a fun dining experience. The Fish was more battered than the previous two we tried, but this made each bite crunchy and flavorful. The chips were thickly sliced and cooked perfectly. All in all, this made for a fantastic dining experience!
Rating:
Fish: Mason – 8.5/10, Josh – 8.0/10
Chips: Mason – 8.0/10, Josh – 8.3/10
Whether enjoyed by the seaside, in a cozy pub, or at a jam-packed restaurant in the middle of the city, fish and chips in Ireland are a culinary experience that combines simplicity with unbeatable flavor. We had the best time exploring Ireland and eating fish and chips at each stop!
2. Guinness and Beef Stew
We had Guinness and Beef Stew in Doolin at Gus O’Connor’s Pub. To be completely truthful, Mason and I agreed that this was the best meal we had in Ireland by far!
After a day filled with driving from Cork to Doolin and hiking around the Cliffs of Moher, we stopped at Gus O’Connor’s Pub for a happy hour and food, prior to checking into our Airbnb for the night.
The pub was full of locals escaping the cold, and the ambiance of sitting right near a roaring fire made the Guinness taste even better than usual.
We split a bowl of their Guinness and Beef Stew, and immediately upon tasting it, we both wished that we had ordered our own. The stew had endless flavors, containing beef, carrots, peas and potatoes. The beef was extremely tender and delicious.
Rating:
Guinness and Beef Stew
Mason – 8.5/10, Josh – 8.0/10
We truly do not have enough good things to say about this meal, and if you find yourself in Doolin, you must stop into Gus O’Connor’s Pub to try it!
3. Braised Lamb Shank
While Mason got her third order of Fish and Chips in three days at The Old Mill Restaurant in Dublin, I ordered the Irish Lamb Shank and was very happy with my decision.
In my opinion, this meal rivaled the Guinness and Beef Stew we had in Doolin. The Lamb fell right off the bone and was some of the most tender meat I have ever had. They served the Irish Lamb Shank over a creamy and flavorful mash, topped with savory brown sauce.
After a day exploring Dublin and tasting Guinness at the Storehouse, this meal was a perfect way to end our short three-day trip to Ireland!
Rating:
Irish Lamb Shank
Mason – 8.5/10, Josh – 8.0/10
4. Irish Breakfast (Sandwich)
We arrived in Dublin at 7:30 in the morning for the start of our trip. After picking up the rental car, our first priority was to get outside of Dublin and stop for breakfast. We stopped in a town named Bray, just 30 minutes south of Dublin at the Kitchen Cafe.
As we walked in, the place was filled with locals, all of whom seemed to be getting breakfast prior to heading to work, and the shop owner could not have been more welcoming. He was cracking jokes with everyone in the cafe (including us) and even gave us suggestions for our road trip and time in Ireland.
Among other things on the menu, we spotted a Traditional Irish Breakfast, and a Traditional Irish Breakfast Sandwich. We both opted to get the Traditional Irish Breakfast Sandwich with an Americano Coffee.
The Traditional Irish Breakfast Sandwich consists of two sausages, two rashers (sliced bacon), two eggs, cheese, and white pudding, all served on rye bread. For those unfamiliar with white pudding, it is a traditional Irish and British dish that is a close relative of black pudding. It’s a type of sausage made from a mixture of suet or fat, breadcrumbs, oatmeal, and various spices. Unlike black pudding, white pudding doesn’t contain blood.
I opted to put ketchup on my sandwich, and whether that is the traditional way to eat the sandwich or not, we both could not have been more satisfied with our meal.
Overall, we had a fantastic time at the Kitchen Cafe in Bray and would highly recommend it!
Rating:
Traditional Irish Breakfast Sandwich
Mason – 8.0/10, Josh – 9.2/10
5.Mash and Peas
From our experience, depending on what restaurant you are at and what you order, Mash and Peas may be served as a side to your meal. This happened to us on more than one occasion throughout our trip, and I figured rather than adding it to the reviews of the other foods, I would make it a separate category on its own.
Each Mash we had was very rich in flavor and had a creamy texture. The Mash had butter on top, and we loved it each time we had it. The peas were always very fresh tasting, and we noticed they served them with a mushy consistency. I am not a huge fan of peas. However, because of how fresh the peas always tasted, I always enjoyed them!
Rating:
Mash: Mason – 8.75/10, Josh – 8.5/10
Peas: Mason – 8.5/10, Josh – 7.5/10
6. Irish Beer Rankings
Prior to our visit, I knew the country was famous for its Stouts. However, being from the States, the only Irish beer I was familiar with was Guinness.
Stout beer is a dark, rich beer with a roasted malt or roasted barley flavor, often featuring notes of coffee or chocolate. The dry stout style, exemplified by Guinness, has become synonymous with Irish brewing.
While Guinness is the most famous, there are other Irish stouts worth exploring. Murphy’s and Beamish are two notable alternatives that also offer a robust and flavorful stout experience.
On our first night in Cork, we thought it would be fun to do a taste test of the three most famous stout beers in Ireland and create a rating scale.
Guinness Irish Stout
Guinness is the most well known and oldest stout beer Ireland is known for. As we found out on our tour of the Guinness Storehouse, it dates back to 1759 in Dublin, making it an integral part of Ireland’s brewing heritage.
Guinness has a creamy texture and is known for its iconic flavor, which includes roasted malt bitterness, coffee notes, and a hint of chocolate. It has a well-balanced and smooth taste with a dry finish.
Guinness was by far the stout that we drank the most during our time in Ireland, and I can easily say that it was also our favorite!
Rating:
Guinness Irish Stout
Mason – 8.5/10, Josh – 8.7/10
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Murphy’s dates back to the 19th century and originated in Cork, Ireland. It is known for having a sweeter and chocolaty flavor profile. Murphy’s has a creamy texture. However, I would say it was smoother and lighter tasting than the other stouts that we tried.
Getting to try Murphy’s in Cork, Ireland, where it originated, was a cool experience, and I enjoyed it very much! I would rank it as the second-best Stout we tried in Ireland.
Rating:
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Mason – 7.7/10, Josh – 7.8/10
Beamish Irish Stout
Beamish also originated in Cork, Ireland. However, it dates back to the 18th century. During our time in Cork, we quickly realized that Beamish is the Stout that the locals all drink.
Beamish was not as creamy as the other stouts, having a sweet and bitter taste. Similar to Murphy’s, it was a cool experience to drink this Stout in the city where it originated, and we both enjoyed it very much!
Rating:
Beamish Irish Stout
Mason – 7.2/10, Josh – 7.5/10
While there are many different Stouts to try during your time in Ireland, from our experience, you can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose. We enjoyed all three stouts that we tried very much. However, there was something about Guinness that made me love it the most.
7. Honorable Mention – Irish Coffee
We got Irish Coffees when we first walked into Fitzpatrick’s Pub in Doolin, Ireland. We had just finished a long day of driving over to Doolin from Cork and exploring the Cliffs of Moher.
After a long day, an Irish Coffee was just the pick me up that we needed to be able to enjoy a night of pub hopping around Doolin. Our Irish Coffee had so much flavor and was a comforting drink on a cold night.
Rating:
Irish Coffee
Mason – 8.2/10, Josh – 8.0/10
Ireland Wrap Up
If you are visiting Ireland, I highly recommend doing a taste test of the different Stouts to see which one you like the best!
If you visit Ireland, be sure to taste and try the different foods and beers the country is known for. I highly recommend all of the foods that we tried during our trip. However, I would recommend ordering something different than just fish and chips for every meal.
Some other foods that Ireland is famous for that we did not try include:
- Boxty
- Colcannon
- Coddle
- Soda Bread
- Black Pudding
Be sure to check out our other blog posts detailing all of our recent travels! While your there check out our photo gallery with all of our unposted shots we have taken on our trips.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our Pinterest!! https://pin.it/6iNWrdH
Till next time – Josh 🙂