The people of Ireland have long celebrated their culture and strong national identity through music and food. Yes, food!

Many tourists and travelers consider the entire country’s cuisine to be nothing more than hearty pub food to be avoided. And, of course, there have been significant international influences (Chinese, French, West Africa, Polish, Tex Mex, Indian, etc.) which have served to reduce traditional Irish cuisine offerings.

Don’t be fooled. We think you will love traditional Irish dishes to include the following:

Coddle Stew
Found mainly in Dublin, this meaty concoction is made with potatoes, bacon, and pork sausage. The combination was born during WWII when locals found themselves with a surplus of bacon and sausage. Your bowl will be filled with plenty of vegetables too – celery, carrots, and onions – the stew is a taste treat and a meal in itself.

Irish Breakfast
Similar to its cousins in Scotland and England, the greasy breakfast fry-up has been soaking up hangovers in Ireland for years and years.  Although the ingredients vary from county to county, you’ll generally find the following on your plate: sausages, bacon, fried eggs, black pudding, and white pudding. Sometimes it is accompanied by a slide of Irish soda bread.

Colcannon
Colcannon is a mashed potato dish, blended with kale or cabbage. Similar to the Dutch stamppot, this used to be a staple food but is now a heavy, but tasty, side dish. In some pubs, you’ll find this as an alternative option to regular mashed potatoes or chips.

Boxty
This is the traditional Irish potato pancake; it is like the potato pancake found in other countries, although the Irish typically grate the potatoes very well before frying, resulting in a smoother texture.

So instead of just having a Guinness and a pie on your next Irish tour, why not try one of these traditional local treats?