Popular dishes like Irish stew, made with tender lamb, and colcannon, a creamy mix of potatoes and cabbage, showcase Ireland’s love for home-style meals. 

One ingredient that is always present in Irish food is love; and lots of it.

Whether you’re enjoying a full Irish breakfast or indulging in classic desserts like Irish apple cake, the foods from Ireland promise warmth, richness, and a genuine connection to the Emerald Isle’s culinary heritage.

Let’s go! 20 Most Popular Foods from Ireland

1) Boxty

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato dish, like a huge potato pancake, and it’s very popular in the north and midlands of Ireland. 

It combines grated raw potatoes with mashed potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk, then fried, baked, or boiled. 

The result is a heavenly, crispy exterior with a soft interior. It has similarities with the indulgent potato rosti in Swiss cuisine.

Boxty is typically served as a side dish and pairs well with butter, sour cream, or meats like bacon.

2) Irish Stew

Irish stew is a heartwarming dish traditionally made with tender lamb, potatoes, onions, and carrots, all slow-cooked to perfection. 

Irish stew is the ultimate comfort food from Ireland. It’s the ideal meal to enjoy in a cosy Irish pub.

This dish is often served with fresh slices of soda bread or crusty brown bread to soak up the decadent broth. Some enjoy it alongside mashed potatoes or colcannon for extra comfort.

It is best enjoyed with a pint of Guinness or any other Irish stout.

3) Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a satisfying dish made with ground lamb (or beef), cooked with vegetables like carrots and peas, and topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes before being baked to golden perfection. 

It’s loved for its simplicity and heartiness and the way it combines rich, savoury flavours with velvety, buttery potatoes.

This classic dish brings warmth to any meal, making it a favourite comfort food in Irish homes.

4) Soda bread

Soda bread is a definitive Irish staple. It is made with flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk for a dense yet soft texture. 

Its rustic crust and subtle tang make it perfect for pairing with a slathering of butter or jam or dunking in hearty meals like a stew. 

It’s a treasured comfort food in Ireland, quick to bake and delicious.

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5) Colcannon and Champ

Colcannon and champ are two potato dishes that are simple yet incredibly satisfying. 

Colcannon is made by mixing mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale, while champ is mashed potatoes combined with spring onions, often served with a generous knob of butter melting on top. 

6) Apple Cake

Irish apple cake is a lovely treat featuring delicate chunks of fresh apples snuggled in a spiced buttery cake. 

Often topped with a sweet crumbly topping made of flour, butter and sugar and served with a dollop of whipped cream or custard; this is one of the must-try foods from Ireland.

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7) Boiled Cabbage and Bacon

Boiled cabbage and bacon is a classic old-style Irish dish, known for its simplicity and familiar flavours.

The bacon is typically boiled until tender and then paired with cabbage, and it is also boiled until soft.

The dish often includes boiled potatoes, either served alongside or separately. It’s often enjoyed with a spoonful of mustard or a vinegar splash for added zest.

8) White and Black Pudding

White and black pudding are traditional sausages commonly enjoyed as part of a full Irish breakfast. 

Black pudding is made from pork blood, fat, and oatmeal, giving it a rich, savoury flavour. On the other hand, white pudding contains pork fat, oatmeal, and spices but excludes blood, making it milder in taste. 

Both often appear alongside bacon, eggs, and toast in a classic Irish breakfast.

9) Potato Bread

Potato bread is a delicious, rustic bread made with mashed potatoes, which gives it a soft, moist texture and a distinctive flavour. 

It’s often pan-fried or baked and can be enjoyed as a side with breakfast or served with soups and stews. I love to eat it simply with a chunk of butter smeared on top! 

This versatile bread is a great way to use up leftover potatoes.

10) Full Irish Breakfast

A full Irish breakfast is a hearty, filling meal commonly featuring a variety of components, including fried or grilled bacon, sausages, eggs (fried or scrambled), black pudding (blood sausage), white pudding, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and toast or soda bread. 

An Irish breakfast isn’t complex in flavours; designed to be filling and provide plenty of energy to start the day, it’s a favourite among locals, especially during those cold Irish winters.

11) Seafood Chowder

Seafood chowder is a decadent, creamy soup with fresh, local seafood. It typically includes a mix of salmon, cod and shellfish such as shrimp or mussels. 

The chowder starts with butter, onions, and celery, then is enriched with cream and seasoned with herbs. 

Served with a slice of crusty soda bread, the perfect accompaniment for dipping into the thick, flavoursome broth. 

I’ve eaten a similar dish while visiting the Orkney Islands in Scotland, which is also a destination with some fantastic seafood!

12) Coddle

Coddle is an Irish stew known for its comforting, home-style tastes. 

It’s made by slow-cooking layers of sausages, bacon, onions, and potatoes in a tasty broth, often seasoned with herbs like thyme and bay leaf. 

The result is a rich, hearty dish that is a firm favourite in Irish homes.

13) Barmbrack

Barmbrack is a fruit bread, a sweet, yeasted loaf studded with dried fruits like raisins and currants. 

Although it can be enjoyed as a treat or snack, especially with a slab of Irish butter, I prefer to eat it alongside a strong cup of Irish tea.

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14) Black Treacle Cake

Black treacle cake is a rich, dark, cake made with treacle (molasses) for a sweet flavour. 

This decadent cake has a deep, caramel-like sweetness and a moist, dense texture. It often includes additional ingredients like spices, nuts, or dried fruit to enhance the flavour. 

You only need a modest piece of this cake (it’s quite heavy) to enjoy with a big cup of tea.

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15) Guinness Stew

If you eat one thing in Ireland, make it this comforting dish; Guinness stew. 

This hearty Irish dish is made with tender beef, vegetables, and a generous pour of Guinness stout.

The beer adds a rich, deep flavour to the stew, creating a scrumptious, enjoyable meal perfect for those nippy days. 

It’s often served with creamy mashed potatoes or crusty bread, making it a cherished staple in Irish cuisine.

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16) Scones

Irish scones are light, flaky baked goods typically enjoyed with tea. They come in various flavours, such as fruit-studded, with cheese, or just plain. 

Scones are often served with butter, jam, and clotted cream, making them a delightful addition to any meal or a perfect treat for afternoon tea.

17) Roasted Parnsips and Carrots

Roasted parsnips and carrots are a must-eat in Ireland because they bring out these root vegetable’s natural sweetness and earthy flavours, making them a delicious addition to many Irish meals. 

Similarly, these root vegetables are fantastic when cooked in Irish stews and casseroles.

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18) Mussels in Cream Sauce

This dish features fresh mussels cooked in a creamy, delicious sauce made with cream, white wine, garlic, and herbs like parsley or thyme.

The sauce’s creaminess complements the salty, tender mussels, creating a satisfying seafood dish popular in coastal areas of Ireland. 

It’s a great way to enjoy the bounty of Ireland’s waters, best served with crusty bread.

19) Gur Cake

Gur cake is an old-school recipe. It is a traditional Irish treat consisting of a sweet, spiced fruit filling, typically made with raisins and currants, encased in a thin layer of pastry. 

Its rich, nostalgic taste and pleasant texture make it a beloved treat, often enjoyed with tea.

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20) Potato, Leek and Chicken Pie

If you find a lovely little Irish bakery offering this pie, please try one! Irish potato, leek, and chicken pie are some of the most comforting foods in Ireland.

They combine tender chunks of chicken with creamy potatoes, leeks, and herbs, all wrapped in a flaky pie crust. Yum!

We’ve reached the end of our list of the most popular foods from Ireland. Does your favourite Irish dish appear here? If not, please tell us what it is in the comments below.

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