I recently spent an incredible two weeks on a road-trip driving part of the Wild Atlantic Way. I had a rough plan of where to go, but when I had a night free I chose where I'd go next based on what restaurants I wanted to try.
It turned out to be a great way to travel and tick places off my Irish food bucket list at the same time. I could write an entire article on any one of these towns and cities but here are a few highlights that are worth heading west for.
The Salt Project at Pot Duggans, Ennistymon, Clare
I had a night to spare in between leaving the Beara peninsula and arriving in Connemara, so I got in the car and headed for Ennistymon, all so I could sample the goods from The Salt Project which I had been admiring on Instagram. They've taken up residency in Pot Duggans for the month of January.
The Salt Project offer a hyper local Irish street food menu and are focused on a zero waste target. I tried the ham croquettes and the Burren premium beef hotpot with hibachi grilled veg and Salt Project Herbs. I was too full to try the free range chicken dumplings but heard other diners raving about them.
Pot Duggans is a great spot with a really cozy converted barn, good tunes, and lovely staff. If you don't make it to sample The Salt Project fear not, Ash at Pots returns in February with a Middle Eastern inspired menu that looks incredible.
Follow The Salt Project on Instagram to see where you can find them next and if you're in Ennistymon be sure to also check out The Cheese Press and This Is It.
La Maison Gourmet, Kenmare, Kerry
Kenmare is a real food destination with renowned restaurants like No 3 and Mulcahy's as well as a great market selling local veg, eggs, and other local produce. Karen Coakley runs Kenmare food tours and is a wealth of knowledge on dining in the area if you're headed that way this year.
I spent 36 hours in Kenmare and frankly lost count of the amount of baked goods I consumed from the traditional French bakery, La Maison Gourmet. The pain au chocolate alone is worth travelling for.
They sell bread, desserts, pastries and savouries so, of course, I had to sample some of the other classics such as apple tarte tatin and mille-feuille. I picked up a few bits before hitting the road and it made for the most delicious road-trip picnic including some great baguettes using top quality ingredients like St. Tola goats cheese.
I also managed to fit in time to go to The Purple Heather Bistro for an open crab sandwich that I'd highly recommend before heading back to La Maison Gourmet for dessert.
Ichigo Ichie and Miyazaki, Cork City
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During my trip, I stayed on the Beara peninsula and got some great cook at home options from The Chef's Table based out of Castletownbere which I'd definitely recommend for self-caterers. They sell at various markets around Cork and Kerry including the aforementioned Kenmare market.
If you find yourself within travelling distance of Cork City or passing through on your way home from West Cork a visit to Ichigo Ichie or Miyazaki is a treat worth travelling for.
Now, before you say it, I know that Cork City isn't technically on the Wild Atlantic Way (it only goes as far as Kinsale), however, my recent road trip brought me a little further afield and I couldn't bear to keep it off the list.
Chef Takashi Miyazaki left Japan for Ireland in 2008 and the Irish culinary scene is all the better for it. There are two offerings with Miyazaki Japanese Takeaway and the Michelin Starred restaurant Ichigo Ichie. If you're lucky enough to get one of few dine in spots in takeaway Miyazaki the Lemon ramen is not to be missed.
As for Ichigo Ichie, meaning 'the moment perfected', try to nab a table at the Kappou counter and watch the chefs prepare up to 12 courses right in front of you. Unsurprisingly, booking is essential.
Kai, Galway City
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Aniar, Loam, Dela, Dough Bros, Ard Bia at Nimmos – there's no shortage of great places to eat in Galway. Kai, coming from the Maori word for food, has been around for more than ten years and is one of Ireland's best known restaurants.
Run by New Zealander Jess and Carlow's Dave Murphy, Kai is renowned for letting the top quality, local, and in-season ingredients shine in their stunning dishes. It has a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a Michelin Green Star, and chef Jess is a former winner of the prestigious Blas na hÉireann Producers' Champion. They also sell very cool merch designed by Fuchsia.
The menu is constantly changing to reflect what's in season. Dishes can include Clare crab, celeriac & pumpkin seeds to start, for mains Roscommon lamb chops, beetroot picada and green tahini, and for lunch chickpea & goat's curd filo pies, lentil pate, carrot and apple salad, parsley pistou, garlic and herb focaccia.
Lucky Galwegians have Kai on their doorstep but for the rest of us it's a meal worth travelling for.
Solas – Dingle, Kerry
My love affair with the Dingle food scene is well documented, there are so many great places to eat but when someone tells me they have only one night in Dingle I tell them to go to Solas. Lots of places are taking a well-earned rest at this time of year and will reopen in the Spring, but you can start planning your culinary adventures now.
Chef Nicky Foley's food is hugely exciting and some of the best I've had in Ireland. Nicky uses the best of local ingredients, including some he'll have foraged himself, and his flavour combinations are out of this world.
Some of my favourite dishes are the chorizo and manchego croquettes with almond aioli, confit organic tomatoes with bacús sourdough, and the octopus carpaccio. Solas will be back in late February.
Further down Strand Street you'll find a great new cocktail bar and venue called The Greenroom, located upstairs from the famous John Benny's Bar which is itself a good spot for pub grub and live music. The Greenroom's Ben Moriarty makes phenomenal cocktails and it's the perfect spot for a post-dinner drink. It reopens in March.
Sweet Beats Café, Sligo
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Vegan options are increasing all the time but any plant based foodies will be particularly thrilled to find Sweet Beats in Sligo. A family run plant-based café and shop overlooking the Garavogue River in Sligo town, Sweet Beats Café is a perfect lunchtime spot as you travel along the west coast. You can sit in or pre-order for click and collect.
There's a great pantry selection too featuring lots of lovely condiment and the makings of some cook at home dishes if you're heading off on your holidays and planning on self-catering. Nationwide delivery is available on the shop so you can recreate your holiday experience when you get home.
On the menu expect salads, fresh smoothies and juices, as well as vegan treats and pastries. The vegan sourdough doughnuts look particularly good and can include chocolate custard, raspberry jam, and lemon curd custard. Best enjoyed alongside a 3FE coffee of course.
Savoury delights can include oyster mushroom shawarma with locally grown mushrooms, tahini and lemon, romaine lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad, pickled onion and cashew cream on fresh pita breads – you don't have to be vegan to appreciate that!
Misunderstood Heron, Connemara, Galway
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First opened by husband and wife team Kim and Reinaldo in 2017 Misunderstood Heron can be found on the majestic shores of the Killary Fjord in Connemara (they are set to reopen in March). It's a firm favourite with food lovers and is a recent winner of the new category 'Food Truck of the Year' at the Irish Food and Wine – Restaurant of the Year awards.
Many travel to join the sizable queue that can very often be found outside the food truck. But it's a queue that's guaranteed to be worth the wait and the stunning views make the time pass all the more quickly.
Their ethos is 'fresh, local, and never conventional'. They pickle, ferment, and forage to ensure simple yet refined dishes. Get yourself some Killary Fjord mussels (when in Rome!), a coffee, and a cake and enjoy your lunch in one of the most scenic spots you're likely to find.
Other dishes can include incredible combinations like smoked salmon with homemade brown bread, jalapeno cream cheese, organic greens, pickled onions and fennel slaw – did I mention that it's worth the wait?
