Irish specialties - reinterpreted

Typical Irish food of today

Typical Irish food. These are Irish Stew, Irish Coffee and Shepherd's Pie. Who does not know her? Typical Irish food is home-cooked food. It is hearty and hearty. Even poor people eating. At least those were Irish specialties, as I knew them so far. In recent years, in Ireland's Kitchens have done quite a bit. Well, many of these foods are still available in restaurants today. But in a different way. Prepared with more love. Done with imagination. Cooked with local ingredients, but also with new recipes. The dishes are created by young chefs. Many of them have learned their trade abroad. Others come from new cooking schools in the country. This changes Irish cuisine. In a hurry!

Typical Irish food – reinterpreted

Of course, there is also typical Irish food today. However, Irish steaks now come from cattle that are bred according to sustainable principles. Food trends are changing in Ireland. People are focused on delivering quality rather than quantity. The same applies to the production of vegetables and fruit. People are happy to use what is produced in the country. The shorter the route to the cooking pot, the more likely the ingredients are to end up there. Irish producers have learned from this. They cultivate their products according to ecological principles. They are inventive. In addition to whiskey and Guinness Cider, craft beers, and new Irish gins are becoming increasingly important. Ciders from regions such as Tipperary and Kilkenny are particularly popular. We also tried mead on our trip. This is giving rise to new Cocktailsthat you didn't know before. An exciting development - not only for foodies. Or who has heard of a cinna-bon-bon cocktail or a gin and tonic with raspberries?

Traditional dishes rediscovered

Although Ireland's young chefs are now cooking creatively and internationally, they aren't ignoring many classic Irish dishes – on the contrary: they're reinterpreting them in a more refined, often sustainable way. Here are some traditional dishes you absolutely must try on your next visit to Ireland – preferably in a modern version.

Irish Stew – typical Irish food with history

Irish stew used to be a simple peasant dish with mutton, potatoes, and onions. Today, it's often cooked with beef and flavored with carrots, parsnips, or barley. Many restaurants rely on meat from local farms and regional vegetables—slow food, Irish style.

Black & White Pudding is typical Irish food not only for breakfast

These spicy black puddings, as well as porridge sausages, are traditionally part of the Full Irish Breakfast. But here, too, a shift is evident: in many modern bistros, they are served as tapas-like snacks—for example, on apple chutney or wrapped in crispy pastry.

Colcannon & Champ – Mashed potatoes with an extra twist

Mashed potatoes can do more in Ireland: In colcannon, it's mixed with kale, in champ with spring onions. In modern cuisine, these dishes appear as a side dish to game or fish—or as a creamy base in bowls.

Crubbeens – Pig with a Story

Crubbeens (pig's feet) are a real poor man's food of yesteryear. Today, creative chefs like those at Mikey Ryan's in Cashel serve the delicacy as deep-fried balls with dips—bold, surprisingly delicious, and definitely a conversation starter.

From the farm to the table

However, they don't follow exotic paths. Instead, the young chefs concentrate on what the island has to offer: apples, strawberries, raspberries, honey, beef, sheep, seafood, and yes, even cabbage. Traditional ingredients are used in the new recipes. "When I arrived here from the USA, there were more than 70 dishes on the menu," the head chef at the Pembroke Hotel in Killarney tells us. And he shakes his head. "I threw out all but one recipe." A look at his menu today makes his dishes curious. He is the creator of the Cinna Bon-Bon cocktail. He created it, for example, with apple products from the surrounding area. It tastes simply delicious! Fresh, spicy, but also surprising.

Pot roast – typical Irish food in Ireland

Inventive is Damian Finnegan, the head chef of the Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny. His menu now only contains a dish from his predecessor, the beef stew. This dish is the only typical Irish food he still cooks today. All the other food he serves his guests, he has developed with ingredients from the farms in the area. These can be proud of!

Our meal begins with a cocktail mix of pear vodka, apple cider, lemon juice, apple syrup, cinnamon and the foam of a passion fruit, the aforementioned Cinna-Bon-Bon drink. Sounds and tastes very delicious. Apple syrup and apple cider both come from one of the apple farmsthat we visited on our trip. For starters, he served us pistachio-crusted foie gras with arugula and apple jam. The pistachio-crusted foie gras served as a starter, by the way, is a French influence—a creative outlier amidst the otherwise regionally focused menu. For the main course, I chose the traditional braised beef. A poem for anyone who loves roasts.

Imaginative Irish Sweets - Snickers Tart

Irish pastries have always been good. Irish cakes as well as Irish desserts. But something has changed here too. Surprising is the Snickers Tart, which Damian Finnegan created as a dessert. The name he borrowed from the famous chocolate bar. However, he has prepared a chocolate and toffee cake, which he decorates with peanut crumble. There's also caramel ice cream.

Tip: Experience the St. Patrick's Day in Dublin with Irish food.

Statham's Bar and Restaurant

Pembroke Kilkenny
Patrick Street
Kilkenny

Typical Irish food with a modern twist at Mikey Ryans in Cashel

I am particularly impressed by Liam Kirwan, the new chef at Cashel's Mikey Ryan's in-pub. His dishes take up traditional Irish specialties. He even serves traditional Irish dishes like crubbeens to his guests. These are boiled pig's feet. "The problem is that nobody wants to try them," he laughs. "They just taste delicious." I won't let that be said twice. I try his crubbeen fritters ... and I melt away. Along with the smoked pork that melts on my tongue. The poor Irish certainly hadn't dreamed of that at the time of the famine in the 19th century. Her recipes, which arose out of necessity, now land in gastro pubs, where they amaze visitors.

Irish snacks - honeycombs with whiskey for dessert

Liam tells us with enthusiasm that his pig feet come from the butcher in town. "He can tell you exactly which farmer the pig comes from." After we have sat at the table full of our midday meal, we actually want to avoid desserts. Espresso and coffee are all we order at the end. It doesn't take long, however, and Liam brings us a cheese platter with locally produced cheeses. "I know the farmers personally. And I know which types of cheese they are currently producing. You have to try the honeycombs. I serve it with a dash of Tipperary Whiskey, ”he explains. "I tried around for a long time until I got the idea. So I'm curious to see how you like it. "

As I write these lines here, I feel the taste of this delicious combination on the tongue and my eyes are rolling upwards in memory of a taste experience that is second to none. The crust of the honeycombs melts in my mouth surrounded by the warm feeling that triggers the honey-whiskey mixture on the palate. A culinary highlight on our journey through the southeast of Ireland, which you should not miss, if you are planning an Ireland trip.

Mikey Ryan's Pub

76 Main St
St. Dominick's Abbey
Cashel
Co. Tipperary

Anyway, a visit to these two restaurants is a must for Foodies! It's also worth keeping an eye out for Pubs and restaurants with an innovative approach. While black and white pudding, scones, and potatoes are still part of a full Irish breakfast, and fish and Irish stew are still on the menu, there's also a delicious new Irish cuisine that's worth discovering. Enjoy your trip through Ireland and get to know some not-so-typical Irish food.

Our tip: On Day trips from Dublin You can sample typical Irish cuisine with a glimpse into modern interpretations.

Restaurant prices for typical Irish food

Food prices in Ireland are high compared to other European countries. Main courses usually start at €18 in pubs, and €25 in more upscale restaurants. Many restaurants used to offer special tourist menus, often marked by a green sign with a chef's hat symbol. Today, such offerings are rarer. Instead, many restaurants focus on transparent ingredient origins and seasonal menus – often with a focus on regional producers and modern interpretations of classic dishes. However, anyone who wants to try the new Irish cuisine will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

Questions and answers about typical Irish food

What is the most famous Irish dish?

If you ask about the most famous Irish dish, you'll quickly end up with Irish stew. This hearty stew is a true classic and has its origins in rural Ireland. Originally made with mutton, today it is often made with beef or lamb. It is also served with potatoes, onions, and, depending on the region, carrots, parsnips, or barley. What makes Irish stew special is that it is slowly braised – this allows the flavors to develop particularly intensely. Many modern restaurants today reinterpret it with high-quality, regional ingredients, but the feel-good factor remains.

What do Irish people traditionally eat for breakfast?

The traditional Irish breakfast, also known as a Full Irish Breakfast, is a real treat – not just in terms of food, but also in terms of calories. On the plate are fried bacon, sausages, black pudding (a blood sausage), white pudding (a version similar to a porridge sausage), fried eggs, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. Beans in tomato sauce and potato bread are often served as well. Of course, a strong tea or coffee is a must. The Full Irish Breakfast is almost standard in hotels and B&Bs, but many pubs also serve it until midday – perfect for late risers or after a long night.

Are there any vegetarian Irish specialties?

Even though Ireland was long known for its meat-heavy home cooking, you can now find many vegetarian alternatives – some of which are even traditional. Colcannon, for example, is a creamy mashed potato with kale or cabbage that tastes great even without meat. Champ is a similar version with spring onions. Scones, soda bread, Irish cheeses, and sweet desserts like apple crumble or rhubarb pie are also vegetarian. And the best part: Many modern Irish chefs are consciously focusing on plant-based cuisine – often using ingredients directly from the farm next door.

What is the difference between black pudding and white pudding?

Black pudding and white pudding are both typical Irish breakfast staples, but they differ significantly in their composition. Black pudding is a spicy black pudding made from pig's blood, oats, fat, and spices. It has a strong flavor and is usually fried in slices. White pudding contains no blood, but is made from oats, pork fat, meat, and spices. Both varieties can be found in Ireland not only for breakfast but also in creative dishes on the dinner menu—for example, as a stuffing or crispy fried on salad.

Are there typical Irish desserts?

Yes, they do exist – and they're quite something. Classic Irish desserts are often sweet, rich, and perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Apple crumble is particularly popular: an apple pie with buttery crumble, best served warm with custard or ice cream. Barmbrack, a fruit bread popular around Halloween, is also a favorite. Modern restaurants also offer creative interpretations: from chocolate desserts with Guinness to cheesecake with Bailey's to homemade honeycomb with whiskey. If you love sweets, you're sure to find something to your liking in Ireland.

About the Author

Monika Fuchs is a travel journalist with a passion for good food. She has been traveling throughout Europe for over 15 years, always searching for authentic culinary experiences, exciting producers, and regional specialties. On her travels through Ireland, she has not only sampled typical dishes like Irish stew and crubbeens, but has also discovered the new Irish cuisine being creatively reinterpreted by young chefs.

👉 More articles by Monika:

• Bon Appetit in Ireland - Discover Food Trends
• Did you know that Pub in Ireland something like the second living room of the Irish is?
• Here you find out How to pour a Guinness properly.
• A great cafe in Dublin here.

Travel Arrangements:

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Compare and book flights here* (Advertisement). Lufthansa and Air Lingus fly to Dublin. Other airlines also fly to Kerry.

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Accommodations in Ireland's Ancient East:

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Hotels where you can try typical Irish food include:

Hotel Minella * in Clonmel (Advertisement)
Pembroke Hotel * in Kilkenny (Advertisement)
Killashee Hotel * in Naas (Advertisement)

More posts about typical Irish food is also available in the Genuss Blog. Typical food in Ireland you can find it here, for example.

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Source for the article Typical Irish Food: Research on site. I would like to thank Failte Ireland for the invitation to this trip through Ireland's Ancient East, My opinion, however, remains my own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright by Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline