We all harbour a bit of a grá for a crisp sandwich, a cheeky chip butty, a customised chicken fillet roll and a floury blaa (filled with red lead or otherwise).
Ireland is a nation of sandwich lovers, even connoisseurs. Our deli counters are indoctrinated in our psyche; funeral sandwiches are a non-negotiable necessity and taste so good; we even had Tayto sandwiches served on our flag carrier airline for a time (bring them back, please!).
From our glorious farmhouse cheese anointed on local sourdough to fluffy 'doorstop' slices holding within chicken and stuffing or ham and coleslaw to our world-class Irish beef, slow-cooked until supremely tender and appointed in a toastie, you could easily eat your way around Ireland through sandwiches (or "sangwiches", whichever you prefer) so here are 10 emblematic sandwich shops across the Emerald Isle.
Griolladh, Dublin & Cork
The grilled cheese giant of Ireland, what Griolladh has achieved in a few short years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Originally a front garden food truck in Malahide, Griolladh has ascended not only from van to bricks and mortar but beyond Dublin and into franchising. Find their popular cheese toasties at branches on Thomas Street and Dame Street (Central Plaza) in Dublin, plus an outpost in Arnotts and in Maynooth, as well as two spots in Cork: Marina Market and Douglas Village. In 2025 there is rumblings of Limerick, Galway and Belfast, with an eye to expansion into UK and Northern Europe too. griolladh.ie
Poulet Bonne Femme, Dublin
The original and most iconic roasted chicken and stuffing sandwich in the country. Slowly-cooked, Irish, free-range rotisserie chicken, herb-packed, soft, bread-y stuffing, slathers of mustard if you like, a generous pinch of all-important flaky salt and cracked black pepper, Poulet Bonne Femme turned the simple into sublime and their chicken sandwich is still the GOAT. Find them in Dun Laoghaire, Monkstown and Blackrock, as well as outposts in Avoca stores in Dunboyne, Suffolk Street, Rathcoole, Ballsbridge and Kilmacanogue. pouletbonnefemme.com
Tír Deli Hatch Street Upper, Dublin, D02 E104
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Some fast casual spots claim to be seasonal and use local and Irish, and then there are some that really put their money where their mouth is. Shane Kelly's Tír is the benchmark for a sandwich shop that specialises specifically in Irish, local, seasonal flavours, working with farmers and producers and with hands over every step of the process to ensure authenticity and provenance. One look at their supplier's list will tell you all you need to know. Everything here is good, but the 'Sunday Roast' sandwich and 'The Works' bowl are stand-out. tirfood.ie
Hero Subs York Street, Belfast BT15 1AS
Hero is all about Stateside subs, super-charged. Think a 'chopped' turkey, bacon and provolone sub to the 'Heffer', a riff on a cheese steak or 'The Overacheiver', a fried aubergine cutlet with roasted red pepper, mozzarella, sun-dried tomato and basil pesto. Also find loaded fries, salad bowls and extra sauces. There's a reason this place is never quiet... hero-subs.com
Plámás (Hapi Bakery) Dominick St Upper, Galway H91 A2TT
Molly Fitzpatrick (@Molly.Maps) is the head baker of Dave and Jess Murphy's much-loved Kai in Galway and leads Kai's offshoot Hapi Bakery, rustling up the most lavish, larger-than-life, flavour-packed sandwiches made between two slices of fluffy, bubbly focaccia. Each week they land at Plámás cafe, a bohemian beacon of great coffee and food in the city of Tribes. Bonus points if you order as Gaeilge, chomh maith!
Carved, Dublin
Led by chefs, Carved has a duo of Dublin outposts (Grand Canal Dock, Ballsbridge) and prides itself on taking a chef-led approach to crafting the best sandwiches. From Buffalo chicken to Caprese, McCarrens Glazed Ham and mature cheddar to beef brisket with caramelised onions, don't miss the weekly-changing specials either. carved.ie
Sandwich Sisterz Milk Market, Limerick
Popping up here and there around Limerick, Claire and Jean's Sandwich Sisterz stall anchors itself at the Milk Market every Saturday from 7am until 4pm or so. Here, sandwiches are about as local as you can get with all the produce sourced from the immediate area, including from fellow traders at the market. Their stall is full of their own pickles, spreads, salsas and their sandwiches run the gamut from brisket and pulled pork to roast chicken and halloumi, as well as made-to-order, customisable options too.
The Pepper Pot Café Powerscourt Townhouse, South William St, Dublin D02 CH28
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This breaks the rule of this list, a little, as this feature is about spots that specialise - for the most part - in sandwiches. However, you cannot write about sandwiches in Dublin, let alone Ireland, without Marian Kilcoyne's iconic bacon, pear and cheese sandwich at the Pepper Pot Café. If the city were to be summed up in one sandwich, this might well be it. Served on their fresh, fluffy doorstopper loaves, fresh from the oven each morning and wildly fluffy inside with a dark, chewy crust, inside there is the unusual combination of sliced pear, sharp Hegarty's cheddar, sweet and salty free-range bacon, its fat rendered crisp, and mustard mayo with some organic leaves. It is a deity of deliciousness, a single sandwich that has been touched by an angel and blessed by the Gods. Don't believe the hype? Try it and come back to us... thepepperpot.ie
Cáis Dingle, Co. Kerry
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Dingle has a tourist season, swelling with visitors for a portion of the year and then going a little quiet in the colder months, which is exactly what Cáis does, too. A sandwich truck run by Sinéad Sheehy and Ann Ní Chíobháin nestled alongside Dick Mack's Pub on Green Street, this is a petite beacon of all things good food, in particular their legendary cheese toasties which are frequently-changing and packed full of local produce. When in-situ in-season, seek it out.
Little Geno's St. Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 X827
A new addition to the Stephen's Green scene, Little Geno's is made in homage to the bodega culture of New York City, little corner-side perches where sandwiches are snapped up every second of the day. Think chicken parmigiana on ciabatta; a Reuben on rye; a roast mojo pork shoulder on Cuban bread; and a pork belly (or vegan version) bành mí. Eat-in or grab to go to enjoy in St. Stephen's Green when the weather is nice. littlegenos.ie
