Our Top 5 Favourite Restaurants in Dublin City that won't break the bank
Great Value Restaurants in Dublin City
Dublin’s restaurant scene has blossomed in the last couple of decades into an impressive smorgasbord of traditional and world cuisines, furnishing us locals with every imaginable taste for any kind of budget we desire. It would be hard to find a country that is not represented by food right now in Dublin.
We have everything from cheap and tasty international street food stalls, weekend farmer’s markets, right to the top of the Michelin list of fine dining like Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Bastible and Chapter One to name a few. It’s incredibly difficult to just pick 5 places to write about but we have to start somewhere.
These are the places we find ourselves going back to on a regular basis. They’ll never disappoint and won’t hurt your wallet either (we can’t afford Michelin Restaurants!).
Zakura Noodle & Sushi Restaurant, Wexford Street
Zakura, a Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant opened around 2013 and we’ve been regulars ever since. Always fresh, always plentiful and the prices have stayed extremely reasonable for all the food you can fit in your belly. We usually share 3 to 4 starters, get a main each and it all comes to around 50 euros. It’s BYOB too so you save loads by bringing your own wine or beer. Their sushi selection is huge and presented beautifully. The pork gyoza, beef kushiyaki, chicken yakitori and veggie tempura consistently make us groan with delight and we’ve tried every main dish on the menu. My favourite is the Tonkatsu (Pork) Donburi, marinated pork fillet crispy-fried over fresh stir fried vegetables with tangy tonkatsu sauce and Neil raves about the Karubi Beef, a striploin served in a traditional clay pot with rice, kimchee sauce, a fried egg and a side of miso soup.
Takara Ramen & Deli Sushi Bar, Abbey Street
The only reason Takara comes in second place for us when it comes to Japanese food is all my fault! Neil is a huge fan of the sushi in Takara particularly the option to make your own Futomaki but I don’t get to have my favourite main from Sakura! It doesn’t stop me ordering loads of sides and not sharing any though! In fairness, they give Sakura a run for their money when it comes to the pork gyoza and I sometimes indulge in the Teppanyaki Chicken which at 12 euros is excellent value for money for the amount of deliciousness you get! There’s always a queue as it doesn’t seat many people. The takeaway service is ideal for busy days so you can picnic by the Liffey (just don’t let the seagulls get it!).
Chimac, Aungier Street
Perfectly balanced crispy coating and moist, tender chicken with the right amount of spice and flavours to let you know this is no KFC dressed up as Korean-fried chicken. This IS Korean-fried chicken. Carrying on the Korean obsession with creating the perfect fried chicken experience (a national pastime), their chicken is brined for nearly 20 hours and double fried. Choose to have it straight up with a side of lightly pickled daikon and to-die-for sauces like sriracha caramel or get stuck into a juicy burger made with potato buns so you don’t get that stodgy bread tummy.
Zaytoon, Camden Street and Parliament Street
This Dublin institution serves up the best in Kebab Dublin City and it stays open until 3 am for all the hungry revellers pouring out of Dublin’s pubs and clubs, seeking soakage. Now, you may think, “Well of course you think it’s the best kebab, you’re probably always drunk when you have it”! We have dismantled this theory on many occasions by actually having a kebab for lunch, completely sober and fully alert! The portions are huge and the prices are small so not only is it a great option for a tight budget, you won’t find in any other establishment, more delicately spiced meats or perfectly chargrilled veggies all wrapped in a soft flatbread straight from Zaytoon’s imported, traditional dome oven.
The Lucky Tortoise, Aungier Street and Temple Bar
Have you tried Dim Sum? If you haven’t then head to Lucky Tortoise on Aungier Street. We had a great experience in New York and we feel privileged that there could be anything close to it in our home town of Dublin City. The staff here are more than willing to give you a helpful explanation of how it all works. Menus are displayed on huge chalkboards on the walls and there’s an eclectic selection of Chinese, Korean and Japanese staples. Tuck in to Taiwanese Buns with tender pork and lemongrass or go veggie with tofu and kimchi, chicken and shitake mushroom pillows (as soft as you imagine) and crispy scallion pancakes. The All-in menu is the best value and you get to try a bit of everything with great veggie and vegan options. Weekends are very busy so it’s best to book in advance.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of the gastronomical delights of Dublin. Keep an eye out for more lists of fantastic places to eat especially if you’re willing to go a little further out into the suburbs. We’re spoiled for delicious grub in Dublin!
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