Dublin Dining chronicles my food & drink experiences during six months living in Dublin, Ireland.
Thursday is quickly becoming one of my favorite days in Dublin, and it’s mostly because of this pop-up lunchtime market on Mespil Road. Vendors start setting up their stalls along the Grand Canal early in the morning, and by around 11am, they’re serving more than a dozen different global cuisines right across the street from my office. Every week, I join hundreds of other businesspeople who grab lunch and find a spot along the canal to enjoy it, often on blankets provided by the market.
I couldn’t help but notice the long queue at Kerala Kitchen week after week, and finally had to try it for myself. Both dishes – chicken tikka masala and Keralan chicken coconut curry – were completely delicious. If I had to choose between the two, I’d go with the Keralan coconut, simply because it felt more unique and had a nice balance of sweetness and spice. But since half-and-half is an option, I probably won’t ever have to.
The half-and-half is also a staple at another perpetually crowded stall: The Paella Guys. Why just order chicken and chorizo paella, cooked in the largest paella pan I’ve ever seen, when you can add in garlicky moorish meatballs in a rich and aromatic sauce? The pairing of flavors was even more satisfying than I expected, and the large portion was enough to have leftovers.
I was also charmed by the Pieman Cafe, whose tagline is “Look Into My Pies.” During my first week in Dublin, I tucked into the Sunday Dinner pie special, complete with mashed potatoes and brown gravy, and it couldn’t have been more comforting. And of course, there’s dessert, in the form of picturesque cupcakes from The Cupcake Oven. I was a fan of the traditional Irish toffee flavor.
There’s also a coffee stall, Bryan’s Coffee, which came in especially handy when I needed an afternoon pick-me-up and the office coffee machine was out of order. At the last minute, I noticed that marshmallows were an option for the latte, and I had to smile when these pink and white miniatures were scattered on top. It made an already tasty latte extra special.
The details: Irish Village Markets, Mespil Road, Dublin 4, Ireland (one of several market locations throughout the week).
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