As an island nation, Ireland offers abundance in its shellfish, from crustaceans - crab, lobster, prawn - to molluscs like mussels, oysters, clams and scallops.
From grilled, cured, dressed and flamed to raw, torched, fried and steamed, the garlic butter is never far from reach either when it comes to the spoils of the sea.
If you're looking to delve deliciously into Ireland’s coastline spoils, here are nine spots around the country slinging sublime shellfish.
King Sitric, Howth
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Sitting on Howth’s throne for over 50 years, the McManus family’s restaurant King Sitric is devout to lobsters sourced nearby at Balscadden Bay and Lambay. Their lobster is priced at market rates, which naturally fluctuate, making this an ultimate contender for Dublin’s best priced, freshest lobster. Have it steamed, with butter or garlic sauces or lavished as Dublin Lawyer or Thermidor.
Dish to try: Kick off with Kelly’s Oysters, continue with Clogherhead langoustines and finish with lobster and chips.
Fisk, Downings
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Almost at the tippy top of the whole island, Tony Davidson and wife Lina combine Irish and Swedish on the plate in this tiny little restaurant adjoining Downings’ iconic Harbour Bar, boasting the best views over Sheephaven Bay. No reservations needed, simply rock up for a casual seafood feast (washed down with a pint acquired from next door).
Dish to try: Toast Skagen, a Swedish style of prawn cocktail, served on sourdough (€9.50).
The Glyde Inn, Annagassan
In little Louth, The Glyde Inn hasn’t yet sunk into the collective radar as a shellfish restaurant, but it really should. Set on Dundalk Bay, this pub and restaurant has rightly been multi-awarded, including National Pub of the Year in 2018, and shellfish is their speciality which they rightly shout about.
Dish to try: the local razor clams in garlic and white wine (€12), The Glyde Inn signature.
Julia’s Lobster Truck, Ennistymon
The name says it all: Julia Hemingway is the queen of lobster in Ireland. Having taken her truck on the road for years at festivals, events and kerbside perches around Clare, Julia is now happily in residence at Pot Duggans in Ennistymon. Serving Thursday - Sunday, you can pre-order via text and there’s a short but seriously delectable menu of fresh, seasonal signatures.
Dish to try: the whole grilled lobster with beef dripping chips and salad (€25).
Klaw Seafood Cafe & Salty Buoy truck, Temple Bar & Skerries
Niall Sabongi is the enfant terrible of Irish seafood, forever determined to stoke sustainably-caught seafood and shellfish feasts more prominently in the Irish palate. Sabongi’s Seafood Cafe is one of Dublin’s best perches for a tier of oysters and bubbles or his inventive menu of seafood and shellfish. His roving Salty Buoy truck is a festival staple, currently in residence by the water at Skerries Sailing Club.
Dish to try: A mixed dirty dozen of oysters (€40).
Michael’s & Big Mikes, Mount Merrion & Blackrock
Where else for surf ’n' turf but the larger-than-life platters (€44pp for the seafood, €48.50pp for surf ’n’turf) swimming in garlic, lemon butter sauce at Gaz Smith’s pair of belter restaurants? Find crab claws, Clogherhead prawns, homemade fishcakes and mussels plus a rake of homemade chips, whilst the wine list is big and bold.
Dish to try: go big or go home –– the full surf ’n’ turf for two (little change from €100).
Snappy Snappy, Letterfrack
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Over in Connemara, find plump crab claws plus fresh crab stuffed into sumptuous rolls and lavished on open sandwiches at Snappy Snappy. In summer you’re spoiled by seven-day service at Letterfrack Pier, but once Autumn rolls in they scale back to weekends. You can’t miss the little wooden horse box with signature red awning and there’s ample parking, right across from 12 Pins Coffee.
Dish to try: don’t overthink it, deep dive into the crab roll (€16.50).
Linnane’s Lobster Bar, The Burren
To get up close and personal why not take a Flaggy Shore oyster shucking experience (€55pp) before dinner right next door? Take a table on the terrace at Linnane’s Bar, which dates back over 300 years, for a shellfish feast, from prawns and mussels to pasta alle vongole and, of course, locally-caught lobster.
Dish to try: A massive clatter of steamed mussels in dill and garlic butter (€16.50).
Little Catch, Tramore
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Down in the Déise and on the stunning Copper Coast, Denise Darrer’s Little Catch truck is another epic spot for generously filled crab rolls but also don’t miss the crispy prawn bao of your dreams. Find her trading Friday-Sunday in Tramore.
Dish to try: the crispy prawn bao (€13) in fluffy steamed buns with lime sesame slaw, pink pickled onions, kimchi mayo and K-BBQ sauce.
