McDonagh's Fish & Chips

Not to be confused with the American fast food chain, the family run McDonagh's restaurant serves up perhaps the best fish & chips in all of Ireland. Located on the pedestrian only Quay Street in Galway, this iconic establishment has been churning out fresh locally caught seafood dishes since 1902. The Irish love McDonagh's -so much so that even my cabbie in Dublin proclaimed he regularly drives all the way to Galway for his fish & chips fix. The Fish & Chip Bar menu is pretty straight forward- simply choose the type of fish you desire (the classic is cod), then add sides such as the traditional chips or even mushy peas. You will find no frozen food here- the cooks prepare the fresh fish daily on the premises and same goes for the fresh potatoes that are peeled and chipped also daily on site. While the fast food style "chippie" may be the most popular section of McDonagh's (especially with those that may have enjoyed a Guinness or two at the numerous pubs along the street), the building also houses a full seafood restaurant for those that want to slurp their oysters in a more leisurely fashion beneath the jumble of toy boats, buoys, and fishing nets. When eating, be sure to strike up an interesting conversation with any of the local Galwegians who frequent the place.