The Best Food in Dublin

Dublin is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse populace. Consequently, the city offers a variety of cuisines, providing options to satisfy any taste or preference. This article will showcase some of the most highly regarded restaurants you need to try. I have compiled a list of the best restaurants, categorized by types of cuisine. The listed restaurants are establishments I have personally been to and others that have been favorably rated on Google by customers.

Asian Cuisine

Dublin has restaurants that offer flavors from all over Asia. There are plenty of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Indian establishments scattered throughout the city, but there are some which have received rave reviews from foodies.

For Chinese, there are some notable restaurants, but Hang Dai has gained a reputation for serving up some of the best Chinese food in the city. This trendy establishment is located on Camden Street Lower, in Dublin 2. Owners of the restaurant chose a design scheme, inspired by Blade Runner and John Carpenter films, which makes it stand out.

The restaurant’s Asian fusion cuisine has received mostly positive reviews on Google, averaging out at 4.5 stars out of 5. I have eaten there on numerous occasions, and I can confirm that the quality of food is just phenomenal.

For Japanese, I highly recommend Yamamori. They have restaurants in both the North and South sides of Dublin. They are renowned for their sushi and bento. The Izakaya Sake Bar, located on South Great Georges Street in Dublin 2, offers both delicious Japanese dishes and a club setting to enjoy drinks with good company. The ratings on Google are again mostly positive, averaging out at 4.4 stars out of 5. I highly recommend this restaurant to sushi enthusiasts.

While I’m not the biggest fan of Indian food, a few acquaintances have mentioned Konkan, located on Clanbrassil Street Upper, in Dublin 8. The restaurant has scored favourable reviews on Google, averaging 4.5 stars out of 5. Besides this, it has been mentioned in a number of blogs about popular Indian restaurants in the city.

Burgers/Fried Chicken

Probably one of the most popular food items in the world, no list of restaurants is complete without a place to get a great hamburger. There are several notable hamburger joints scattered throughout Dublin. When asking locals about the best place to get a great hamburger, I have often been directed to Dash Burger. The menu is simple but the quality is phenomenal. The burger patties are always cooked to perfection. I have been to a few other burger restaurants around Dublin and often the meat has been overcooked due to strict health regulations requiring restaurants to serve patties well done. The meat is minced at the establishment, allowing them to cook the burger to your liking. Hands down, the best burger I’ve had while living here.

If you have a craving for fried chicken, there are plenty on notable establishments. One establishment I cannot recommend enough is Happy Endings Fried Chicken. Their fried chicken is amazing. While I enjoyed their burgers, the one food item that stood out was their Ho Chi Minh honey butter chicken tenders. This restaurant has received positive reviews on the Deliveroo app, scoring an impressive 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Italian/Pizza

Who doesn’t love a good pizza? There are plenty of great pizzerias in Dublin, but a couple are a cut above the rest. One such restaurant is The Lab. Located on Thomas St, in Merchants Quay in Dublin 8. True to the Italian benchmark, this restaurant  specialises in sourdough pizza. Its reviews on Google are overwhelmingly positive, scoring 4.7 out of 5 stars. I was absolutely blown away by their sweet and spicy pie, Vesuvius.

For a more well-rounded Italian experience, I recommend Sprezzatura. The gnocchi I ordered was probably one of the best Italian dishes I’ve had in my life. It is located on Rathmines Rd Lower, in Rathmines, Dublin 6. Again, it has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Google, scoring 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Mediterranean Cuisine

Personally, Mediterranean food is not my first choice. But acquaintances have mentioned establishments such as Reyna, located on Dame St, in Dublin 2. This restaurant serves up Turkish food which has received much praise from foodies in Dublin. It scores a high on Google reviews, holding an average of 4.5 stars out of 5.

For Spanish food, I recommend Las Tapas De Lola. Located on Camden Street, in Dublin 2. Like its name suggests, it specializes in Tapas. It is among the highest rated Spanish eateries in the city, scoring an impressive 4.6 stars out of 5 on Google reviews.

For Greek, I recommend Keshk Cafe Mespil Rd, Dublin 4. This offers a more refined Greek dining experience. Again, acquaintances have spoken highly of the quality of food on offer here.

Vegan/Vegetarian

I have not forgotten about our vegan readers. Dublin hosts a number of high quality restaurants that cater to those that do not consume any animal products. One vegan restaurant that has received overwhelmingly positive reviews is Cornucopia Wholefoods Restaurant. One reviewer made the bold claim that it is “the best vegan restaurant in Europe.”

It is located on Wicklow St in Dublin 2, and serves up some great plant based dishes. While I didn’t eat there, I stopped in for a cup of coffee whilst a friend got a Smoked tofu and daikon wrap, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Another highly regarded vegan restaurant is Sova Vegan Butcher/Coco Sova in Dublin 8.

Fine Dining

For those seeking a more sophisticated dining experience, Dublin offers a number of Michelin star restaurants. Of these restaurants, one restaurant stands above the rest. Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud has received two Michelin stars. The food, service, and presentation are top tier. Customers have left overwhelmingly positive reviews and believe the restaurant is deserving of its two Michelin stars.

It is located on Upper Merrion Street in Dublin 2 catering to the five-star hotels that operate within the vicinity.

So Much More

I have really only scratched the surface of the restaurants Dublin has on offer. There are so many restaurants to try. If you have a craving for a certain food type, speak to the locals and they can steer you towards some true gems. There are many other high-quality restaurants that I have probably missed. I am still exploring this city and look forward to finding some of the hidden gems the city has to offer.