Sambros in Limerick city has been named 'Best of Ireland' and 'Best of Munster' at the ninth annual Just Eat Awards.
Celebrating Ireland's favourite restaurants and takeaways, the annual awards were hosted by TV presenter Muireann O'Connell at Dublin’s Mansion House.
Speaking to RTÉ Lifestyle, Sambros owner Gary Huynh said that the win was a proud moment for the team.
"It's amazing, actually, in fairness," he says, "I did not expect it at all. We kind of had an inkling we were going to win Best of Munster - we were hoping for that - but then she said 'Best in Ireland' and I lost my marbles."
A total of 150 restaurants were nominated under 16 categories, with shortlisted representatives from all over the country in attendance at the black-tie event.
Award winners were decided by public vote, giving customers across the country the opportunity to support their top local spots.
Having opened just months before the pandemic, and having survived a fire within the first year, the no-nonsense sandwich shop that promises to deliver "good food, no BS" is delighted to be celebrating some wins.
"We opened our doors on the first of December 2019 and we've been carrying on strong since then. It was about three months before everything started shutting down, but it's been good in fairness, I think we really worked on our social media and honed what we were doing well and just kept on going."
As well as "saving the pennies" during the pandemic, Huynh credits the success of the sandwich shop to the hard work and creativity of his team.
"A lot of my team would actually be friends that grew up with me and it just happens that a few of us became chefs. We just have the craic and banter in the kitchen, we're always buzzing and bouncing ideas off each other, so it's a really good work environment and it helps me to be creative."
That buzz of creativity is what led to one of the shop's most popular dishes: Flaming Lane. Inspired by the unfortunate fire of 2020, Huynh says he wanted to put a spin on his bad luck and create something delicious from the ashes.
Consisting of Korean Mayo, chorizo, crispy chicken, dill pickle slaw, spicy cheese sauce, and deep-fried pickled jalapenos, the burger has become a hot commodity.
"The fire put it out for two or three weeks, it was pretty hard going, but I had to make light of a bad situation so I created the Flaming Lane - and it's one of the top sellers in Sambros."
Born in London to a family of restauranteurs, Huynh moved to Limerick at the age of eight before returning to the UK at the age of 21 to study to be a chef, working in fine dining establishments across London.
When he returned to Limerick for a holiday, he decided he was ready to open a new business, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I'm so happy and so grateful to all the support in Limerick City, and the suppliers, and everybody that has continued to support Sambros. I did not think in my wildest dreams when I opened the doors three years ago that I would be winning awards like this. I'm so over the moon."
The full list of Just Eat Award winners are as follows:
- Best of Ireland: Sambros, Co. Limerick
- Best Burger: Hot Chix by Ruby’s, Co. Dublin
- Best Chain: Romayo’s Group
- Best Chinese: Summer Inn, Swords, Co. Dublin
- Best Chipper: O’Reilly’s Fish, Chips, and Pizza, Co. Cork.
- Best Indian: Thindi, Co. Dublin
- Best Japanese: Wagamama
- Best Mexican: Banditos, Oranmore, Co. Galway
- Best Newcomer: Bó Bainne, Co. Dublin
- Best Pizza: Firehouse Pizza, Ballymun, Co. Dublin
- Best Sustainability: Camile Thai
- Best Thai: Saba To Go, Co. Dublin
- Best Vegetarian: YumGrub, Co. Dublin
- Best of Connacht: Sligo Fish and Chips, Co. Sligo
- Best of Leinster: Firehouse Pizza, Ballymun, Co. Dublin
- Best of Munster: Sambros, Co. Limerick
- Best of Ulster: Ali Kebabish Indian Takeaway, Co. Cavan
