Cork & Cycling
Cork's international cuisine
Cork has a serious claim to being Ireland's food capital, and its international restaurants are a large part of the reason. Here are six long-standing casual places representing very different kitchens — all good spots to eat after a day exploring the city.
Indian — Iyers
Iyers is a family-run south Indian café on Popes Quay, widely described as some of the most authentic southern Indian food outside India. The menu changes with the season, is entirely vegetarian, and everything is prepared fresh on site. Dosas and samosas feature regularly, including samosa chaat — an enhanced version of the classic with chickpea chole, red onion, rice puffs and garnish. If you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, the staff are happy to talk you through the menu.
Italian — Ristorante Rossini
Rossini on Princes Street has been one of Cork's most popular Italian restaurants since it opened in 1994. It serves fresh, carefully prepared food in the Italian tradition, with ingredients selected daily from the English Market nearby, and a wide range of pizza, pasta and chicken dishes.
Japanese — Sakura
Sakura on MacCurtain Street is Cork's best-known Japanese restaurant, with sushi, sashimi, norimaki, tempura, teppanyaki, noodles and ramen. The kitchen uses fresh produce and mixes traditional methods with more contemporary dishes.
Mexican — Tequila Jacks
Tequila Jacks sits on the boardwalk at Lapp's Quay overlooking the River Lee. It has become one of the city's most popular Mexican restaurants, with enchiladas, burritos, tacos and fajitas on the menu, and a bar that takes its cocktails — and particularly its margaritas — seriously.
Palestinian — Izz Café
Izz Café on Georges Quay is run by Izz and Eman, a Palestinian family who brought their food to Cork with a modern twist. They specialise in manakeesh, the Middle Eastern flatbreads, alongside hummus, tabbouleh, beetroot hummus, babaganoush and makdous — and a good range of Palestinian desserts including saffron cake and cinnamon rolls.
Mediterranean — The Real Olive Company
Inside the English Market, The Real Olive Company has had a stall since 1993. They stock olives, olive oils, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, cheeses and other Mediterranean specialities, sourced from independent producers they have worked with for years.
For an easy lunch, put together a selection of olives, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese, add a loaf of sourdough from the Alternative Bread Company stall nearby, and find a bench under the trees on the Grand Parade.
A note before you go
Opening hours, menus and service formats change. It is worth checking directly with each place before making the trip.