Traditional Irish Food - Fish and Chips at McDonagh’s

Since the first time I set foot in Ireland, I have noticed how much Irish people are fond of Fish and Chips. However, it was only when I started to work at a restaurant there that I could understand the superb quality of its seafood, from prawns to native oysters, high-quality cod, and salmon, as well as the best crabs and lobsters.

Years later (Irish accent here), it was on our first rainy day in Galway, when Julia and I decided to stop and have some food after roaming around for many hours exploring every centimetre of the city. I was starting to get bad-tempered (only god, my family, and close friends know how much my mood changes when I am hungry) when we made up our minds, the place chosen by me was the McDonagh's a traditional restaurant that has been around for 4 generations, rewarded for its speciality, the awful good fish and chips and seafood dishes.

The McDonagh's was enchanting from its facade that displayed fish hangers at the door, its very traditional, and eye-catching decor could make you think you are looking at the laid-back rustic boat. Once inside we faced a very long queue, the place was no reservation required to order at the counter system, the attendants at that time were all women, and due to the kitchen open concept we could see the men at work preparing the food, no more than 5 minutes later, and we had already ordered and preparing to sit down on Wooden benches, and start lunch.

We ordered the traditional Fish and Chips made with cod fish, though you can either take whiting, mackerel, smoked fish, hake or ray. To accompany the fish and chips coleslaw, mushy peas and tartare sauce, to drink the classic black stuff (Guinness), a combination that I am sure, no one in the world could regret. The fish was as fresh as it had just jumped from the sea to our plates. The chips were thick and dry, soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

After finishing the meal, while Julia went to the toilet, I spent some time looking around appreciating the atmosphere of the cosy maritime-themed restaurant, trading since 1902. It is informal, reasonably priced, not fancy though really yummy!

Willing to visit Galway? Have a look at our 2-Day tour to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.