Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin 1, ten daily soups, the city's most balanced sub-EUR 10 lunch counter, the Northside's working budget lunch since 1996.
Tip: Counter-only seating; the two-soup combo with bread and a smoothie runs EUR 12. Best after 14:00.
Address: 168 Capel Street, Dublin 1, D01 V972
Musashi on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Northside's go-to Japanese noodle counter, the city's most reliable sub-EUR 15 tonkotsu ramen and donburi lunch order.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Tip: Three Capel Street locations within a block. The original 15 Capel sits busiest at lunch; the IFSC branch is quieter for dinner.
Umi Falafel on Dame Street in Dublin, the vegan Lebanese counter with the city's most credible falafel wrap, freshly fried chickpeas in a saj-pressed wrap.
Try: Falafel wrap with toum
Tip: Three Dublin locations; the Dame Street original sits twenty. Late open until 22:00 Friday and Saturday.
Honest to Goodness in George's Street Arcade in Dublin 2, three-stool sandwich counter, the city's reference for a slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich at lunch.
Try: Pulled pork sandwich
Tip: Three stools and standing only; the sandwich sells out before 14:30. Breakfast sandwich runs until 11:00.
Musashi on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Northside's go-to Japanese noodle counter, the city's most reliable sub-EUR 15 tonkotsu ramen and donburi lunch order.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Tip: Three Capel Street locations within a block. The original 15 Capel sits busiest at lunch; the IFSC branch is quieter for dinner.
Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin 2, the chef-built five-shop Dublin burger chain with one menu only of beef, cheese and fries, the city's burger value reference.
Try: Quarter-pound cheeseburger
Tip: One menu only; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
The Pieman on Crown Alley in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, handmade Irish pies and sausage rolls for under EUR 12, the city's reference for a steak and stout pie at lunch.
Try: Steak and stout pie
Tip: Steak and stout, chicken and mushroom, vegan chilli; eat in or take away in a paper bag.
V-Face on Brunswick Street North in Stoneybatter, a fully vegan diner doing plant-based burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, the Northside's value reference for vegan fast food.
Try: V-Face burger and fries
Tip: Counter only; the loaded fries are the EUR 6 add-on. Open until 22:00 Friday and Saturday.
