A Definitive Ranking of The Best Irish Chips in Dublin

10

The Chonky Chips

You know, the ones, every single restaurant of a particular ilk has this chip. They require at least four sachets of Blenders mayo on top to digest properly. Some of them do better with them than others, but I think we can all agree that these are just not it when it comes to chips. 

09

Those Skinny Fries That Are Everywhere

If you eat out enough or get enough takeaway delivered on bikes, you start to recognise the brands of chips. These are the ones that you would know and see immediately. Not too thick, not too thin, have that bit of skin on the ends for purely aesthetic purposes. Often served with notions in a mini basket or tin bucket. While they have their place and some places do better with them than others, these are mid at best. I skip them if I know this is what they’re at. 

08

Shoestring Fries

These came into vogue when Bunsen arrived on the scene. When done well, they are great, if a little unsatisfying. They need to be served quickly because they go cold quickly, and if you’re into sauce, they just don’t stand up well to it. They’re great for adding a little crunch and for sharing if you have a group at the table, but not for much else. 

07

The Chinese Chips

These are a flop on their own, but as soon as you dress them up in a little mystery spice bag seasoning, they are little gifts from the heavens. Become the best by default after hours when you’ve been hoofed out of the pub and need soakage.

06

Wow Burger Chips

Listen, the garlic butter was a stroke of genius. Anyone who has tried them with an open mind and a love of butter has been blown away. They do, however, make your hands all buttery, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s not the most practical. 

05

Supermac’s

They’re a bit floppy, and they never really seem to get the crispy, crunchy outside that many of us associate with good chips. But what Supermac’s does better than almost anyone is dress their chips up. Something about the deeply flawed chip on its own means it actually makes the perfect base for garlic cheesy chips or taco chips. Like honestly, this is the perfect way to eat chips at Supermacs: get them all gussied up and go to town. 

04

Those Relatively-New Curved Chips Like Yeeros Do

They function like little scoops and are perfect for a little dippy dip. They give a good crunchy to soft fluffy centre ratio. They always make me happy when they appear on the table. More places should be serving these chips, TBH. 

03

Eddie Rockets

They brought paprika to Ireland. They literally changed the world and my life in the process. 

02

The Chips That Are Actually Hand-Cut

Now, these are as rare as a legit shiny Mew Pokemon card from 1999. Like, this actually takes so much time for a restaurant to do, and there is a cap on how much people will spend on chips that it often seems irrelevant. But when you get them, they are the kind of chips that would make you pull a Meg Ryan in the middle of the restaurant. 

01

Chipper Chips

These are the best of the OG chips. Fresh chipper chips doused in salt and vinegar cannot be beaten. They are the taste of the seaside, childhood revelry, and a spontaneous ‘ah, will we get chips?’. They have intergenerational appeal and no one will ever fugg with their originality. Yes, some chippers are better than others – with people staunchly defending their local to the death – and the soggy ones are an acquired taste; but bang for your buck, these are the best of the bunch. 

Elsewhere on Char: The Dublin 100