Sometimes you just need to take a good break during the day, to stretch your legs and go in search of some really tasty food. Whether it's a normal weekday or you're visiting Ireland on vacation here are some top spots.
While we are all for meal prepping and packing your own lunch, we are firm believers in the odd lunchtime treat, even if that means you just nip down to your local burger joint for a cheeky midday bite.
However, if you want to try something new for lunch, there are great places around Ireland offering tasty options. Thankfully our sister publication, FOOD&WINE Ireland decided to list out a few of their favorites for you to try.
Read more: Looking for great to eat in Dublin? Download this 2019 color-coded spreadsheet
Check out this list of Ireland's best lunch spots:
The Dough Bros, Galway
The Dough Bros, which started as a food cart, offers some of Galway’s best pizza at their two permanent city-center locations.
Set up by brothers Eugene and Ronan Greaney, these pizzas are made using only the best local ingredients. The pizzas are massive, so you could easily share them, and they all ring in below the €12 mark, so you won’t break the bank with this treat. There are also vegan options available, so there really is something for everyone at this Galway eatery.
Dough Bros pizza, from The Dough Bros Instagram page
O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, Cork
If you’re looking for a quick lunch in the Rebel County, then look no further than O’Flynns. The sausage company can be found at the English Market or on Winthrop Street and the offerings come in at a very reasonable price point.
At the English Market, you can order a feast for less than €10, with rolls (the Cork Boi is a firm favorite) or fried potatoes on offer. At Winthrop Street, the menu is a little larger, with more sandwich varieties and potato options available.
The Cork Boi, from O'Flynn's Instagram page
Read more: 15 great places to eat in Dublin's Temple Bar
Liberty Grill, Washington Street, Cork
While The Liberty Grill is well known for its delicious brunch, there is a lovely lunch menu available alongside it during the week. With a variety of egg dishes, vegan options, seafood and more, there is sure to be something for everyone on this menu. The lunch dishes come with a side of potatoes or salad, so you know you’re getting bang for your buck!
Eggs Benedict from Liberty Grill Instagram page
Yardbird, Hill Street, Belfast
Yardbird is a rotisserie located upstairs in The Dirty Onion, which is one of Belfast’s oldest buildings. The menu might be small, but the fflavorsare intense and the chicken is juicy – just the way we like it! While there are lots of delicious options on the lunch menu, there are two special deals available between 12-5pm daily: A quarter chicken and a side (fries, coleslaw, corn, avocado salad or sweet potato fries) for only £5.95 or the Yardburrito, which includes chicken, salsa, rice and more in a wrap plus tortilla chips or fries. Sounds good to us!
Rotisserie chicken from the Yardbird website
James St. & Co, James Street South, Belfast
James St. combines the cooking from two great Belfast restaurants: James Street South Restaurant and The Bar and Grill at James St. While there are a few pricey options on the lunch menu, like a Tomahawk sharing steak for two for £70, most of the daytime options are really reasonable for the quality of the food. The portions are pretty big too, so you’ll probably end up giving dinner a miss after trying out the lunch offerings at this Belfast eatery.
Steak sandwich from James St. Instagram
The Fumbally, Merchants Quay, Dublin
The Fumbally provides honest and delicious food made as much local and organic produce as possible. The permanent lunch menu includes falafel, avocado toast on Le Levain bread and a porchetta ciabatta, but there is a range of ever-changing specials available every day, so you know you’ll get something tasty to eat. Considering the quality of the food and ingredients, the prices are really impressive, so this is definitely one to visit for your midday meal.
Porchetta ciabatta from The Fumbally Instagram
Tang, Abbey Street and Dawson Street
The breakfast and brunch offerings at Tang are delicious in their own right, but we would eat lunch there every day if we could. The salads and flatbreads, which change daily, are always super flavourful and great value for money. The Middle Eastern-inspired flavors are always delicious and the produce is as local as possible, making every visit a treat.
Salad of the week from Tang's Instagram
Pang, Kevin Street, Dublin
Pang is definitely one of the capital’s best Vietnamese restaurants. While the Kevin Street location only has six stools for dining in, it’s a great takeaway option and it’s available on Deliveroo if you don’t fancy venturing outdoors. There is a range of rice paper rolls, bánh mi, pho and sides available, all for under €8.50, so you won’t have to empty your wallet when you want a tasty lunch.
Rice paper rolls, image from Pang Instagram
Staple Foods, Grattan Street, Dublin
This healthy café is located just around the corner from our office, so we love to pop in for a lunchtime treat every now and then. The menu is full of a wide variety of salads, soups, wraps and more, all for under €10. The majority of the Staple Foods' menu is customizable and there are plenty of dishes available for alternative diets, ensuring that everyone will be satisfied.
Salad from Staple Foods Instagram
Soup Dragon, Capel Street, Dublin
Soup Dragon, which is coming into its 19th year of business, offers soups, stews, bagels, salads, sandwiches and wraps for ridiculously low prices. This low-maintenance spot has become very well known for its low-cost delicious menu, so if you’re in the area, definitely drop in to see what the hype is all about.
Chicken stew from Soup Dragon's Instagram
Did we miss your favorite lunch spot in Ireland? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more: What Irish superfoods should you be eating in Ireland?
* Originally published on our sister website, FOOD&WINE Ireland.
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