Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Cork.

Don't-miss vendors

English Market ★ 4.8

['Irish', 'Artisan', 'Market food']English Market QuarterMon-Sat 08:30-18:00, Sun closed

The 1788 covered market at Cork's culinary heart, with stalls passed down through generations. Tom Durcan Meats and O'Flynn's Sausages are the anchor trades.

Order: Sliced hot spiced beef from Tom Durcan's stall by the fountain - the benchmark of Cork food culture and Cork's oldest surviving street food

Tom Durcan Meats ★ 4.7

['Cork spiced beef', 'Irish butcher', 'Craft beef']English Market QuarterMon-Sat 09:00-17:00

Since 1990, the definitive source of Cork spiced beef in the English Market. Tom Durcan runs two stalls side by side - the butcher's counter and a dedicated.

Order: Hot sliced spiced beef from the dedicated counter - a fundamentally Cork experience available only here

O'Flynn's Gourmet Sausages ★ 4.5

['Gourmet sausages', 'Irish butcher', 'Street food']English Market QuarterMon-Sat 09:00-17:00

A fourth-generation family business since 1921, O'Flynn's is Cork's most celebrated sausage maker. Over 50 varieties, with the Cork Boi as the flagship.

Order: Cork Boi sausage in a roll - over a century of sausage-making expertise in a single bite.

Coal Quay Market ★ 4.4

['Saturday market', 'Street food', 'West Cork produce']City CentreSat 09:00-14:00

Cork's Saturday morning street market on Cornmarket Street, operating since the 19th century as a traditional outdoor market. Over 40 stalls every Saturday.

Order: Hot miso soup from the Japanese vendor - appearing weekly since 2015 and one of the more surprising street.

Marina Market ★ 4.3

['International street food', 'Korean', 'Lebanese', 'Venezuelan']Union Quay and BallintempleDaily 08:00-20:00

Cork's largest indoor food market, with over 35 food and drink vendors trading seven days a week. Hana serves Korean BBQ, Sultan covers Lebanese and North.

Order: A Korean BBQ bowl from Hana - one of few places in Munster to find authentic Korean barbecue technique on a street-food budget

Miyazaki Japanese Takeaway ★ 4.7

['Japanese', 'Donburi', 'Ramen']€€Barrack Street and The LoughTue-Sun 13:00-15:30, Tue-Sun 17:00-21:00, Mon closed

A cult Cork Japanese takeaway counter from Chef Takashi Miyazaki, named Ireland's Best Asian Take-Out 2017. A tiny kitchen with counter seats.

Order: Salmon zuke donburi - cured salmon over seasoned rice with Japanese condiments.

Son of a Bun ★ 4.4

['Burgers', 'American street food', 'Craft beer pairings']€€MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter)Mon-Sun 12:00-21:30

Cork's most celebrated burger joint, operating from a former music store on MacCurtain Street. Everything - patties, sauces, pickles - is made in-house daily.

Order: The signature Cork burger with house sauce and pickles - the combination of daily-fresh patty and fermented.

Istanbul Kebab ★ 4.1

['Halal Turkish', 'Doner kebab', 'Late night']City CentreDaily 00:00-03:00

Cork's premier late-night halal kebab, open until 3am daily on Oliver Plunkett Street. Halal-certified with a sign clearly visible on the premises.

Order: Lamb doner in flatbread after midnight - Istanbul runs full quality until 3am.

The Farmgate Cafe ★ 4.5

['Irish market food', 'Drisheen', 'Traditional Cork']€€English Market QuarterMon-Thu 09:30-16:00, Fri-Sat 08:30-16:30, Sun closed

Perched on the balcony above the English Market since 1994, the Farmgate is Cork's most storied lunch destination. The market traders supply the kitchen.

Order: Drisheen on buttered toast as a side to the daily special - a Cork food that has nearly disappeared from restaurant menus; the Farmgate serves it with conviction

Heaven's Cakes Market Stall ★ 4.4

['French patisserie', 'Irish cakes', 'Market pastries']€€English Market QuarterMon-Sat 09:30-18:00, Sun closed

Joe and Barbara Hegarty's French-Irish patisserie stall in the English Market, trading since 1996. Classically trained pastry chefs making handmade mousse.

Order: Seasonal mousse cake slice - the West Cork butter in the pastry base is detectable and makes a difference

Quinlan's Seafood Bar ★ 4.4

['Seafood', 'Fish and chips', 'West Cork fish']€€City CentreMon-Wed 12:00-21:00, Thu 12:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 13:00-21:00

A Cork city outpost of the Kerry seafood family that has been fishing and selling directly since 1963. The Patrick Street counter serves hot fish and chips.

Order: Fish and chips with Kerry-landed cod or haddock - the freshness margin over a city chip shop using frozen.

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