Food Tips for Dublin

Honestly temple bar restaurants charge €25-30 for fish and chips that cost €8 on westmoreland street or €12 at leo burdock on werburgh street near christchurch cathedral. The cobblestone and brazen head do brilliant traditional music sessions but their food is genuinely shocking for what you pay. Temple bar street itself is pure tourist tax — Pints €10-12 versus €5.50 literally everywhere else in dublin

Instead try the woollen mills beside ha penny bridge for proper full irish breakfast that dubliners queue for on weekends — Black pudding white pudding grilled tomatoes the works for €12. Leo burdock near christ church does the best fish and chips in dublin since 1913 — Fresh cod daily hand cut chips none of that frozen slop tourists get served. Brother hubbard on capel street north of the liffey serves incredible middle eastern influenced brunch for €10-12

If youre doing temple bar for the traditional music sessions thats grand but honestly eat before you go or walk five minutes to dame street for proper dublin prices. Fish shop on queen street does takeaway fish and chips for €9 that puts most temple bar restaurants to shame. Bastible on south circular road if you want something fancier without the tourist markup

Trust me temple bar is for drinking and music not eating — Your wallet and taste buds will thank you for understanding the difference between tourist dublin and actual dublin food culture

Dublin restaurant kitchens basically shut at 9pm like some bizarre irish tradition which is honestly brutal if youre used to cities that understand people eat dinner after 7pm but there are lifesavers that understand normal human meal times exist

Leo burdock on werburgh street near christ church does proper fish and chips until midnight most nights — Fresh cod crispy batter hand cut chips for €14 not frozen garbage. Zaytoon on parliament street is the absolute hero — Lebanese food until 4am fridays saturdays and their mixed grill plate feeds two people for €18. Proper lamb kebabs grilled lamb chops hummus plus that garlic sauce thats basically crack

Borza on aston quay near temple bar does wood fired neapolitan pizza until 2am thursdays through saturdays — Thin crust around €12-16 and they deliver if youre too tired to leave your hotel. Theres a 24 hour mcdonalds on grafton street but honestly why would you do that when zaytoons garlic sauce exists

Also cornucopia on wicklow street does vegetarian until 9pm which is late for dublin standards and their portions are massive for €12-15. Honestly dublin could learn from continental europe about what normal dinner hours look like but at least someone gets it

Hidden on Capel Street, this tiny Chinese place has been serving proper spicy Szechuan food since the 80s. The name's not a joke — Their hottest dishes will destroy you if you're not prepared.

Order the Bang Bang Chicken if you want heat but also flavor. The Szechuan beef is next level spicy. They do proper ma la — That numbing spice that makes your tongue tingle. Around €12-15 for a main.

Cash only, no atmosphere whatsoever, but the food is incredible. Open late and they'll adjust spice levels if you ask nicely. Don't order 'very hot' unless you really know what you're doing.

Cornucopia on Wicklow Street is a Dublin institution that's been serving incredible vegetarian food since 1986. Their daily specials change based on seasonal ingredients, and everything is made fresh that morning.

The food is incredible value with various salads, hot dishes, soups, and their famous brown bread available. Try the beetroot and goat cheese salad or whatever curry they have that day. Their cakes are also legendary among locals.

Gets busy around 1pm with office workers, so go slightly earlier or after 2pm. No reservations, just queue and grab what looks good. They also do takeaway if you want to eat in nearby St Stephen's Green.

Dublin gets a bad food rep because tourists eat laminated menus in temple bar. Real dublin food happens on kevin street lower near christchurch where small plates arent pretentious just good

Oxmantown on stoneybatter does proper irish without the tourist garbage. Black pudding that ruins you for anywhere else and their full breakfast actually fills you up. Book ahead or walk disappointed past the queue

Moore street market between henry street and parnell street for authentic dublin. Vendors selling proper fruit veg for €2-3 not tourist prices. Best light for street photography early morning before crowds

Tucked on Cow's Lane beside temple bar cultural quarter, Queen of Tarts serves excellent homemade scones with clotted cream and loose leaf tea selection without Shelbourne Hotel's €45 afternoon tea pricing. Feels like someone's welcoming dublin sitting room rather than stuffy hotel atmosphere.

Victoria sponge outstanding quality, very reasonable €8-12 pricing for proper tea service and cake portions. Staff actually know their Irish Breakfast versus Earl Grey, can recommend based on personal preferences. Tea properly brewed in ceramic pots, never bitter like tourist cafes rush.

Perfect rainy dublin day refuge, much better value than Conrad Dublin or Fitzwilliam Hotel tea services charging €35-50 for essentially same scones and jam experience. Cozy neighbourhood atmosphere makes it special for visitors.

Parnell Street unofficial Korea Town, Kimchi Hophouse does best Korean fried chicken in city 🍗 Yangnyeom chicken crispy, sticky, properly spiced - not dumbed-down sweet version most places serve.

Try bibimbap (€15.70) kimchi jjigae stew (€15.30). Generous portions, reasonable prices. Korean beers Hite and Cass on tap pair perfectly with chicken.

Tiny inside so book dinner, or late lunch 3pm when quieter. Staff speak Korean with each other - always good authenticity sign!

Bewley's on Grafton Street serving Dublin since 1927, best place to understand city's coffee culture. Cherry buns legendary (€3.50), afternoon tea service (€49 plus booking fee) includes proper Irish breakfast tea with scones.

Stained glass windows upstairs gorgeous, usually quieter than ground floor café. Harry Clarke designed windows 1920s - worth seeing even if not staying for tea. They roast own beans, buy bags to take home.

More authentic experience than many hotel afternoon teas. Where locals actually go for special occasions.