Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin, the chef-built burger that built a five-shop Dublin chain on one menu of beef, cheese and fries, the city's reference.
Signature dishes: Cheeseburger, Fries, Milkshake
Must order: Quarter-pound cheeseburger with onion, fries and a chocolate milkshake.
Tip: One menu, no specials; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
Address: 36 Wexford Street, Dublin 2, D02 PW56
Umi Falafel on Dame Street in Dublin, the vegan Lebanese counter doing the city's most credible falafel on freshly fried chickpeas in a saj-pressed wrap.
Signature: Falafel wrap, Mezze plate, Baklava
Order: Falafel wrap with toum and pickles; a mezze plate and a glass of mint tea to share.
Tip: Three Dublin locations; the Dame Street original is the original kitchen. Open until 22:00 Friday and Saturday.
Tang on Dawson Street in Dublin, an all-day Middle Eastern counter, the city's most reliable lunch-grab and weekend brunch in one room.
Signature: Halloumi wrap, Shakshuka, Chia bowl
Order: Halloumi wrap with house slaw and a turmeric latte to go.
Tip: Two-floor venue; the basement is the table service room. Walk-in only at lunch; book the basement for weekend brunch.
Sano Pizza on Exchange Street Upper in Dublin 8, the wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria with a Caputo flour spec, the city's most credible margherita pizza.
Signature: Margherita, Diavola, Nduja
Order: A margherita with fior di latte, then a diavola with extra basil; share over a glass of Aglianico.
Tip: No bookings; arrive at 17:30 to walk into a table. Counter and tables sit twenty inside.
Musashi on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Northside's go-to Japanese noodle and sushi counter, the city's most reliable sub-EUR 15 ramen and tuna nigiri lunch.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Sushi set, Gyoza
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu, a side of pan-fried gyoza.
Tip: Three Capel Street locations within a block. The original 15 Capel sits busiest at lunch; the IFSC branch is quieter for dinner.
Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin 1, a fifteen-seat Northside cafe running ten daily soups, the city's most balanced sub-EUR 10 lunch you can find.
Signature: Soup of the day, Smoothies, Daily bagel
Order: Two-soup combo with house bread and a smoothie; Thai chicken soup if it's on the board.
Tip: Walk-in only and counter seating only; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00 to find a stool. Takeaway runs all day.
Umi Falafel on Dame Street in Dublin, the vegan Lebanese counter doing the city's most credible falafel on freshly fried chickpeas in a saj-pressed wrap.
Signature: Falafel wrap, Mezze plate, Baklava
Order: Falafel wrap with toum and pickles; a mezze plate and a glass of mint tea to share.
Tip: Three Dublin locations; the Dame Street original is the original kitchen. Open until 22:00 Friday and Saturday.
Tang on Dawson Street in Dublin, an all-day Middle Eastern counter, the city's most reliable lunch-grab and weekend brunch in one room.
Signature: Halloumi wrap, Shakshuka, Chia bowl
Order: Halloumi wrap with house slaw and a turmeric latte to go.
Tip: Two-floor venue; the basement is the table service room. Walk-in only at lunch; book the basement for weekend brunch.
The Fumbally on Fumbally Lane in Dublin 8, Aisling Rogerson and Luca D'Alfonso's open-plan day cafe and fermentation lab, the Liberties' working kitchen.
Signature: Sourdough toast, Daily soup, Friday Dinner
Order: The daily soup with house sourdough at lunch; Friday Dinner if you can grab the booking window.
Tip: Communal seating; arrive before 12:30 to get the long table to your group. No reservations except Friday Dinner.
