
If you’re thinking about relocating to Ireland, or even just coming over for a visit while you explore job opportunities, you’re in for more than just scenic views and friendly faces. And while most people focus on jobs and housing when relocating, exploring Ireland’s food scene offers a more enjoyable way to experience everyday life here.
Here are some of the foods and drinks you have to try:
The Full Irish breakfast
Said by some to have come into existence during the Irish Famine, full Irish is slightly different from a full English breakfast because of the addition of soda bread and potato bread (or soda/potato farls), and there are no baked beans in a full Irish… ever.
The Full Irish makes a perfect brunch and is a staple of Irish culture. It typically includes sausages, bacon (rashers), eggs, grilled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, black pudding (a rich, savoury sausage made with blood, oats, barley, and spices), white pudding (like black pudding but without the blood), potato bread and soda bread.
Don’t let the ingredients of black and white pudding put you off. While they may sound strange at first, but they’re beloved by locals for their rich flavour and unique texture.
Spice Bag
For a true modern Irish experience, especially on a Friday night, order a spice bag from the local takeaway. This Irish/Chinese fusion dish includes crispy chicken, chips (fries), onions, and chillies, all tossed in a spicy salt blend. It’s the kind of thing you’ll crave after a few drinks on a night out.
Tayto Crisps
No move to Ireland is complete without trying Tayto Cheese & Onion crisps. They’re an Irish classic and a bit of a cultural icon. Pick up a bag at any corner shop, or go full local with a Tayto crisp sandwich, just two slices of white bread, some butter and a handful of crisps. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it!
Irish Stew
Simple, filling, and full of heart, Irish stew is one of Ireland’s most iconic dishes. Made with lamb (sometimes beef), along with potatoes, carrots, and onions, it’s slow cooked in a rich gravy that makes it the ultimate comfort food. You’ll find it in every good pub, especially during the cooler months.
Seafood Chowder
Ireland’s coastline means there’s no shortage of fresh seafood. A creamy seafood chowder (named after the pot it is cooked in – a ‘chaudière’), usually served with warm soda bread or wheaten bread, is a favourite on menus across the nation. It’s typically made with a mix of local fish, bacon, mussels, and vegetables, all in a hearty, warming broth.
Fish and Chips
If chowder’s not your thing, fish and chips is another must-try. No visit to Ireland is complete without a stop at the chipper. You’ll get freshly cooked fish in light, crispy batter, served with thick-cut golden chips in most towns, especially along the coast. In Dublin, the most famous spot is Leo Burdock’s, a local business that’s been serving up classic fish and chips for over a century.
Best enjoyed with a splash of malt vinegar, perfect for a quick lunch, a no-fuss dinner, or even a picnic on a sunny day by the sea.
Steak & Guinness Pie (and a pint of Guinness)
You’ve probably heard Guinness tastes better in Ireland (it does), but don’t just stop at the pint. Try it in a steak & Guinness pie, tender beef cooked in rich gravy, encased in flaky pastry. It’s a pub menu staple and loved by many.
Irish Coffee or Baileys Coffee
To end a meal or just to warm up on a rainy evening, go for an Irish coffee, hot coffee with whiskey, brown sugar, and a layer of cream. Or if you’re after something a little sweeter, try a Baileys coffee for the same kick but with a creamy, dessert-like twist.
Champ
Champ is made by mashing together scallions (spring onions), potatoes, salt and pepper, and a really good helping of butter, usually served with sausages or boiled ham. Champ should not be confused with colcannon, which has the addition of kale, leeks or chives and is nowhere near as nice.
If by chance you venture up North to Belfast, here are some foods that are unique to Northern Ireland:
Fifteens
You just can’t have a wee cuppa tea in ‘Norn Iron’ without a fifteen on the side. This sweet fridge tray-bake got its name because it has 15 digestive biscuits, 15 marshmallows and 15 glacé cherries, mixed with some condensed milk and rolled in desiccated coconut.
Cream Horns
Made even more famous by the hit TV show Derry Girls, this sweet treat consisting of puff pastry and sweetened cream is a must try when in Northern Ireland. Wear a bib as things will get messy.
Dulse (pronounced locally as ‘dulluss’)
This Donaghadee delicacy was recorded as having been harvested by St. Columba’s monks in Bangor Abbey over 1,400 years ago.
This seaweed is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and protein and is the original super food. Just add dulse to any cooked dish to enhance the flavour or enjoy dried as an easy snack.
The Belfast Bap
The Belfast bap is sold in many of Greater Belfast bakeries today but was created during the Irish famine as Bread at Affordable Prices (BAP) by Bernard ‘Barney’ Hughes, a businessman and philanthropist. You can find a tribute to it in the old children’s song ‘My Aunt Jane’ with the line, “half a bap with sugar on top.”
Yellowman
Sticky and crunchy, yellowman consists of brown sugar, butter, golden syrup and vinegar. Traditionally sold at the annual ‘auld lamas fair’ in Ballycastle, County Antrim and is probably the only luminous yellow thing you will ever want to eat.
Barmbrack
Barmbrack is a fruitcake containing mixed spice and moist, dried fruit which has been soaked overnight in black tea. This much-loved Irish treat is traditionally eaten at Halloween, when an object, such as a coin or ring is added to the mixture and the person who bites into it is believed to have good luck, except if you swallow it, then it’s a free trip to the hospital.
Paris Buns
Apparently so named because the person who created them thought they looked like the Eiffel Tower. These buns should not be confused with French Pastries.
Gravy Rings
Incorrectly known elsewhere in the world as donuts.
There’s a lot to think about when relocating. Visas, housing, jobs, but food? That’s the easy part! Irish cuisine is all about comfort, quality ingredients, and big flavour. Trying these dishes is not just about filling up, it's about discovering a part of the culture that makes living here unique.
So, when you do decide to make the move, come hungry. You won’t regret it.
Written by Ellen Gough