Cafe€north-inner-cityMon-Fri 09:00-15:00
Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin 1, a fifteen-seat Northside cafe running ten daily soups, the city's most balanced sub-€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.
Levantine€south-city-centreSun-Wed 11:00-18:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-19:00
Umi Falafel inside George's Street Arcade in Dublin 2, the vegetarian Lebanese counter doing the city's most credible falafel on freshly fried chickpeas.
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: Counter and a handful of tables inside the Arcade; takeaway runs fastest at lunch. Other Umi branches sit on Mary Street and Rathmines.
Middle Eastern€south-city-centreMon-Fri 08:00-15:30, Sat 09:30-16:00, Sun closed
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. Priced at €.
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.
Cafe€the-libertiesTue-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-15:00, Mon closed
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.
Japanese Sushi€€north-inner-cityMon-Fri 09:00-17:00
Yamamori Sushi on Ormond Quay in Dublin 1, the riverside sister to the Yamamori ramen room, the city's veteran Japanese counter and donburi lunch.
Signature: Sushi platter, Salmon donburi, Robata skewers
Order: The bento at lunch; the chef's omakase platter for two at dinner.
Tip: Window banquettes face the Liffey. Lunch bento under €20 is the value play; the kitchen closes between 15:30 and 17:30.
Gastropub€€ranelagh-ballsbridgeMon-Thu 12:00-15:00 17:30-22:00, Fri 12:00-15:00 17:30-22:30, Sat 17:30-22:30, Sun 13:00-16:00 17:30-21:00
The Old Spot on Bath Avenue in Dublin 4, Brian O'Malley and Stephen Cooney's Loyola Group gastropub serving the southside the city's most consistent Sunday.
Signature: Sunday roast, Atlantic hake, Sticky toffee pudding
Order: Sunday roast: roast Wicklow lamb with all the trimmings and the sticky toffee pudding to finish.
Tip: Sunday lunch books two weeks ahead; the bar runs walk-ins on the lighter menu Monday to Saturday from 17:00.