Eating Out In Ireland

It is no secret to anyone that knows me that I love traveling and that I love to try the different cuisines of the countries that I visit as I am a foodie at heart. It is also no secret to anyone that truly knows me that I love visiting parts of the world that my ancestors are from which is why Ireland was always at the top my vacation list. Ireland has always been my favorite vacation destination due to its vast beauty, gorgeous greenery and delicious food plus add to that the fact that my fathers family is from Ireland… and it was a must visit vacation destination for me. I got to take a close look at the country that my fathers family was from all while enjoying some fabulous and historic sites plus delicious places to eat and the foods to be on the lookout for. Let’s take a look at a few of my favorite foods and places to eat when in Ireland.

Whether you are looking for a dish of hearty comfort food served in a cozy pub or a delicious Irish breakfast in a cute little restaurant, there is no shortage of delicious foodie options when it comes to eating and dining out while visiting Ireland. Below I have rounded up some of the best traditional Irish foods plus some new foodie experiences worth giving a go during your stay as well as a list of a few restaurants to make sure and visit while there. You can also check out Squaremeal which I find to be a fabulous resource as there you will find out everything you need to know about Ireland’s best and top rated chefs.

Irish Foods You Have To Try

When it comes to breakfast… the Irish do not mess around. Breakfast is a meal not to miss while on the Emerald Isle so make sure to enjoy a delicious Full Irish Breakfast at least once while you are there.. or maybe everyday. You will find that a full Irish Breakfast consists of fried eggs, rashers, sausage, black and white pudding, a fried tomato and some toast. You will also find that some of the different eateries serve their breakfasts with brown bread, baked beans, and potatoes of some kind.

Another breakfast food that I feel in love with while in Ireland was Boxty. I honestly had never heard of Boxty before visiting Ireland and seriously… where have they been all my life as they are so good! Boxty are Irish Potato pancakes that are usually served at breakfast but that can be paired with a wide variety of foods and seasonings. You can do sweet, savory or a mix of both if you choose and this is a recipe that I will share soon on my site as I have been working on recreating it as I loved it that much when I enjoyed it for the first time while in Ireland. Delish!

Other types of foods that I loved during my stay in Ireland are their delicious Soda Bread (Brown Bread) and Irish Stew. Irish Stew Irish Stew is usually made with lamb or mutton, potatoes, onion and parsley plus you will find other types of meat and veggies thrown into the mix on occasion. I honestly had never tried lamb until I had it in Irish Stew and it was delicious, hearty and comforting.

Other foods that I had never tried before visiting the Emerald Isle are Colcannon and Open Faced Sandwiches. You may be thinking… what is Colcannon, and I was too LOL… but it is basically the Irish version to mashed potatoes and they are really delicious. Made of mashed potatoes, cabbage and onions…. colcannon is served with a pat of butter on the top which you can dip the colcannon into in between bites. The Open-Faced Sandwiches…. well they are a popular lunch menu item and they are super yummy too and they pretty much speak for themselves.

Other menu items to be on the lookout while in Ireland are Bacon and Cabbage, Scones, Irish Butter, Baked Ham, Fish & Chips, Black Pudding, White Pudding, Soups, Dublin Coddle, Barmbrack, Irish coffee, Tea, and of course Irish Beer!

Now about that beer…. you have to make sure to visit a pub or two while enjoying those beers in Ireland. No matter where you are in Ireland, you are never too far from a pub with good food, cold beer and live music. At least once during your trip…. you have to visit a pub, pull up a table and enjoy!

So what do you think of these delicious Irish foods so far? Amazing right?! Well… here is a list of some eateries you cannot miss while in Ireland……

1)Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin

2) Nash 19, Cork City

3) Mews, Baltimore, County Cork

4) Campagne, Kilkenny City

5) Wilde’s at the Lodge, Cong, County Mayo

6) Jack’s Coastgaurd Restaurant, Cromane Peninsula, County Kerry

7) Olde Post Inn, Butlersbridge, County Cavan

8) Restaurant 1826 Adare, Adare, County Limerick

9) MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion, County Cavan

10) Aniar, Galway City

These are all must visit places to eat when in Ireland! We are talking Michelin 2 star rated restaurants and more! So what do you think? Are you looking to visit Ireland anytime soon? Are you looking to experience the Irish cuisine as I did when in Ireland? I highly recommend Ireland as it is a stunningly beautiful place to visit and it is loaded with lots of delicious restaurants, pubs and eateries to suit everyones tastes. Check out all of the spots above and enjoy!