Dublin is a great city for foodies. Where once we were not known for our culinary mastery and McDonald's was our most exotic burger joint, we now have multiple restaurants serving every type of international cuisine you can think of, on every city centre street you walk down. The ingenuity and boldness of Dublin’s entrepreneurs has seen lots of exciting and affordable casual dining spots open throughout the city, and despite all the wonderful variety we now have, there are some clear favourites. Here is a run-down of the most popular food in Dublin.
Dubliners love their burgers. Even back in the days when McDonald’s was the main burger spot in the city, we loved them. What’s not to love? Juicy, thick meat patties slathered with all manner of special sauce, some fresh toppings if you’re into that sort of thing, and of course a layer of melted cheese… all snuggled up between two fresh buns? Heaven.
And over the years, we’ve produced some serious burger spots in the city. BoBo’s was one of the first of the fancy burger places we saw pop up around the city, and it’s still going strong today. Great if you like your burger with ‘notions’ (fancy toppings). If you’re more of a purist, stick to Bunsen, where the menu is so small and perfect it fits on a business card. If you like a smash burger, Dashburger is the place to go. However most decent restaurants in Dublin will have a fairly decent burger on the menu - sure, with how much we love them, they’d be mad not to.
Does it go well with Guinness?
A pint of Guinness and a burger is a beautiful thing. We even serve one here in Arthur’s Bar, topped with our special Guinness-infused burger sauce.
There’s been something of a Dublin dumpling explosion in recent years, and we are here for it. Beautiful little parcels of fried or steamed dough, packed with juicy fillings of meat and vegetables, spices and seasonings, served with a tangy soy sauce dip… It’s no wonder they’ve become a firm favourite for foodies around the city.
Some honourable mentions you might want to check out around Dublin are CN Dumpling or Big Fan in Dublin 2, neither of which is too far from us here at the Storehouse, making it perfect for a fun beer tasting experience. On the north side, Little Dumpling on Mary Street and Bro’s Dumpling on Moore Street are taste sensations and excellent value for money.
How well does it pair with Guinness?
We won’t lie to you. The combo of dumplings and Guinness is not for everyone, and it very much depends on the flavours and fillings you choose - roast pork is thought to go well with Guinness. However, dumplings are a great, tasty little tummy filler in between pints.
One of the best parts of the food renaissance we’ve had here since the Celtic tiger days is how it’s brought our own Irish cuisine back to life. Cool, buzzing places with exciting young chefs started to serve up Irish classics that we hadn’t eaten since they were lovingly served to us by our mams. The coddle revival, the rise and rise of the full Irish, and most of all, the new approach to stew.
Irish stew is close to the heart of every Dubliner. As a visitor, you could do a lot worse than bring it close to your heart too - just head to O’Neills on Suffolk Street, The Black Sheep on Capel Street, Madigan’s on O’Connell Street… or just stay here with us after your Guinness Storehouse tour. We serve a superb beef and Guinness stew in our 1837 bar and brasserie - just make sure you reserve your table in advance to secure a spot.
Is it a good match for Guinness?
It’s probably one of the most Irish, tastiest, and most comforting combinations you’ll ever have the pleasure of tasting.
So popular we’ve already dedicated entire articles to it… fish and chips is as deliciously Dublin as it gets. We have countless incredible spots all over the city – whether pubs, chippers, or restaurants – where you can find a great plate of place, haddock, or cod with some lovely fat chips, maybe some mushy peas and a good dollop of tartar sauce.
There are so many incredible spots to enjoy a battered fish and chips that it’s difficult to narrow them down, but we must admit we are pretty partial to the Bow Lane Kish Fish & Chips we serve here in the Market Street restaurant.
Hop House 13-battered haddock take it to the next level; perfect with a pint, and you don’t even have to leave the premises after your Storehouse tour.
Does it go well with Guinness?
We think we might have already answered that, but for a little more foodie inspiration, why not check out our guide to the best fish & chips with a pint of Guinness in Dublin.