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Should you haven’t visited Dublin, there’s a great likelihood you’ve by no means heard of town’s beloved takeaway dish, the spice bag. This fusion of Irish and Chinese language flavors has grow to be considerably of a cultural phenomenon in Eire over the past ten to fifteen years.

A mixture of spice-covered rooster, fries, and greens, spice baggage are vastly totally different from the traditional Irish dishes which might be widespread on my Dublin meals excursions, but they’re simply as tasty! On this information, I’ll break down the story behind this new-age treasure and allow you to in on the place you’ll discover one of the best Dublin spice baggage.

The Historical past & Evolution of the Spice Bag

Photograph credit score: Xian Road Meals

Although spice baggage are nonetheless a comparatively new invention, there’s nonetheless some dispute concerning the backstory. Essentially the most generally accepted model of occasions is that it originated in The Sunflower Chinese language takeaway in south Dublin round 2006. Apparently, the employees members mixed the dish’s key elements to make an after-hours snack that wasn’t initially featured on the menu.

It’s troublesome to pinpoint simply how the recognition of spice baggage in Eire surged within the following years, but it surely wasn’t lengthy till it grew to become a signature dish in Chinese language takeaways. Lately, it’s greater than your typical fast-food providing, even showing on some sit-down restaurant menus.

In early 2025, the time period ‘spice bag’ was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and the meals supply app ‘Deliveroo’ has even urged making a Nationwide Spice Bag Day!

What’s in a Spice Bag? Elements & Preparation

Dublin spice baggage are made with somewhat easy elements and preparation methods, although the result’s a daring mix of irresistible flavors.

The principle elements are crispy salt and chili-covered shredded or battered rooster and chunk fries, recognized regionally as ‘chips.’ Most often, these components can be blended with an assortment of onions and peppers, although some institutions additionally embrace chilis. Choose eateries additionally supply vegan alternate options, the place the rooster is swapped for tofu or mushrooms.

All the things is roofed in a pleasant vary of seasonings, corresponding to salt, Chinese language five-spice, garlic, and chili. You’ll often have your selection of dipping sauce, with curry being the most typical. 

When ordered from a takeaway, the elements can be deep-fried, although it’s potential to make more healthy alternate options at house with a shop-bought spice combine utilizing an oven or air fryer.

The place to Get the Greatest Spice Luggage in Dublin

San Sab

Photograph credit score: San Sab

San Sab was voted one of the best place to get spice baggage in Dublin, so I couldn’t wait to get my fingers on one in all their Thai-style variations after I first arrived within the metropolis! It’s a preferred spot for each sit-down meals and takeaways, and I beloved its darkish, up to date decor.

I had excessive hopes, and the mixture of calmly battered rooster items and crispy fries actually didn’t let me down. What I beloved most was the seasoning combine they used, which was bursting with candy, salty, and spicy notes.

San Sab – Dublin D09 C2W0 – Open each Monday and Sunday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Thursday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and each Friday and Saturday from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Xian Road Meals

Xian Road Meals is arguably probably the most well-known Dublin spice bag spot, having gone viral lately. After I noticed the prolonged line of shoppers queuing outdoors this compact fast-food joint, I couldn’t assist however wish to attempt their spice bag for myself.

As an alternative of their traditional rooster choice, I went for the tofu. Its gentle style meant it soaked up all of the daring, savory flavors from the spice combine. It tasted even higher when dunked into the signature creamy curry sauce.

Xian Road Meals – Dublin D02 DX39 – Open on daily basis from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am.

The Sunflower 

I needed to attempt the fare within the takeaway that’s stated to be the house of the spice bag, so I made my method out of the middle to swing by The Sunflower, a bustling fast-food spot.

Whereas I had deliberate to attempt their conventional rooster spice bag, I used to be intrigued by the prawn model, which I hadn’t seen wherever else. Deep-fried prawns are one thing I really like as they’re, however the fiery and fragrant spices took issues to a different stage, as did the nutty satay sauce.

The Sunflower – Dublin D6W DK70 – Open each Monday to Wednesday from 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm and each Thursday to Sunday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Pink Rice

Pink Rice was someplace I’d by no means heard of earlier than I arrived in Dublin, but it surely got here extremely beneficial by a bunch of locals I met throughout my keep. It’s a pint-sized takeaway slightly out of the middle, however belief me, it’s price making an effort to come back right here!

I went for the spice tray, a spice bag served in a field. The flavors had been sensational, from the crunchy fries and tangy onions to the juicy rooster items.

Pink Rice – Dublin D6W V029 – Open each Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am and each Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am.

Summer season Inn

Summer season Inn has a number of takeaway branches throughout Dublin, all of which have been acclaimed for his or her pleasant spice baggage.

I noticed the dry, sizzling rooster choice, and it was just like a typical spice bag, with candy peppers and tender fries. Nevertheless, it got here with further spicy rooster coated in a aromatic dry rub.

Summer season Inn – Dublin D08 V8W2 – Open each Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am and each Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am.

How Spice Luggage Grew to become an Web Sensation

Photograph credit score: Summer season Inn

The standard Dublin spice bag is a trademark of contemporary Irish delicacies, and its cultural impression and evolution have been the topic of numerous on-line discussions and evaluations. On platforms like Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, each Irish and worldwide foodies commonly share their ideas and proposals on this legendary dish.

There are unending debates about one of the best locations to get spice baggage in Dublin, whereas others look into how they evaluate to different Irish fast-food favorites. Should you’re something like me, this may depart you with a prolonged listing of takeaways to check out!

Closing Ideas & Suggestions

Even in case you’re sometimes drawn to extra refined meals and flavors, attempting a Dublin spice bag at the least as soon as throughout your go to is one thing you gained’t wish to miss! For the entire expertise, check out a handful of various institutions and crew your spice bag with a crisp Irish lager or creamy Guinness.

Incessantly Requested Questions (FAQs)

What’s a spice bag in Dublin?

A Dublin spice bag consists of salt and chili shredded rooster, fries, and greens tossed in a flavorful mix of spices and seasonings and deep-fried.

The place can I discover one of the best spice bag in Dublin?

There are fixed debates about the place to seek out Dublin’s finest spice bag, although spots like San Sab and Xian Road Meals usually come out on prime.

What’s the distinction between a spice bag and a spice field?

Relying on the place you’re eating, a spice bag and spice field comprise the identical dish, although the latter can be a lot bigger and served in a pizza-style field. Nevertheless, some spice bins comprise the same old spice bag elements together with different snacks like rooster balls and spring rolls.

Are there vegetarian or vegan spice bag choices?

Choose eateries have vegetarian or vegan choices, which usually use tofu or mushrooms as an alternative of rooster.

Can I get a spice bag delivered in Dublin?

Most Chinese language takeaways in Dublin supply supply in case you want to order in a spice bag.

Sources:

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Dublin meals excursions. Consuming Europe. https://www.eatingeurope.com/dublin

San Sab. (n.d.). San Sab Thai restaurant. https://www.sansab.ie/

Xi’an Road Meals. (n.d.). Xi’an Road Meals Dublin. https://www.xianstreetfooddublin.ie/

Sunflower Chinese language Takeaway. (n.d.). Sunflower Dublin – Supply. https://sunflowerdublin.com/supply?utm_source=GMBwebsite&utm_medium=natural&utm_campaign=Google+My+Enterprise

Pink Rice. (n.d.). Pink Rice Chinese language restaurant. http://www.redrice.ie/wp/

Summer season Inn Chinese language. (n.d.). Summer season Inn Chinese language takeaway. https://summerinnchinese.ie/