Umi Falafel Georges Street Arcade is a levantine restaurant in South City Centre, Dublin.
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 dishes: Falafel wrap, Mezze plate, Baklava
Must 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.
Address: South Great George's Street Arcade, Dublin 2
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Seafood Cafe by Niall Sabongi at Sprangers Yard off Fownes Street in Temple Bar, the open-kitchen seafood bar from the team behind the original Klaw.
Signature: Half-shell Irish oysters, Lobster roll, Daily chowder
Order: Half a dozen oysters two ways; the warm Lambay crab and lobster roll; finish on the daily chowder.
Tip: Oyster happy hour daily 16:00 to 17:00 with around €1 off each shuck. Counter seating; the chefs work the bar in front of you.
Leo Burdock on Werburgh Street in Dublin 8, the city's longest-running chipper since 1913, beer-battered cod and chips on greaseproof paper.
Signature: Cod and chips, Spice burger, Fresh ray
Order: Large fresh cod with chips, salt, vinegar and a lemon wedge; add the famous spice burger as a side.
Tip: Closes 21:00 most nights; the queue is fastest at the Werburgh Street original. No seating; walk to Christ Church and eat on the steps.
