Find the Best
Spice Bags
Worldwide ☘️
The spice bag — deep-fried salt & chilli chicken, chips, peppers, onions and a fiery blend of Sichuan pepper and five-spice — voted Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Dish in the 2020 Just Eat National Takeaway Awards.
Tracking spice bags across 5 countries
☘️ Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit! ☘️
Happy St. Patrick's Day from IrishSpiceBag!
This St. Patrick's Day, celebrate with Ireland's greatest culinary export since the potato — the mighty Spice Bag. Whether you're in Dublin, Boston, or Sydney, find the best spice bags near you and celebrate in true Irish style! 🍀
What is a Spice Bag? ☘️
Irish: mála spíosrach
A spice bag is a fast food dish, hugely popular across Ireland and inspired by Chinese cuisine. Most commonly sold in Chinese takeaways, it typically consists of:
- ●Deep-fried salt & chilli chips
- ●Salt & chilli chicken (shredded, balls, or wings)
- ●Red and green peppers
- ●Sliced chili peppers & fried onions
- ●Sichuan pepper, five-spice powder & Thai chili
Everything is tossed together and served in a paper bag (or box as a “spice box”). Vegetarian and vegan options swap the chicken for deep-fried tofu. It's often served with a tub of curry sauce on the side.
📋 Quick Facts
- Place of Origin
- Ireland 🇮🇪
- Created
- ~2006, Templeogue, Dublin
- Birthplace
- Sunflower Chinese, Orwell Shopping Centre
- Serving Temperature
- Hot 🔥
- Also Known As
- Spicebag, Spicy Bag, Spice Box
- Key Spices
- Sichuan pepper, five-spice, Thai chili, salt
- Award
- Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Dish (2020 Just Eat Awards)
- First on Just Eat
- 2012
The Origin Story ☘️
According to research by RTÉ Radio reporter Liam Geraghty, the spice bag was created around 2006 as an off-the-menu, after-hours meal by staff at the Sunflower Chinese takeaway in the Orwell Shopping Centre in Templeogue, Dublin.
When friends of the staff kept asking for the meal, it was added to the Sunflower's menu — and from there it spread to Chinese takeaways and chip shops across Ireland. By 2012 it appeared on Just Eat for the first time, and today it's served in almost every Chinese takeaway on the island.
Invented at the Sunflower Chinese, Templeogue
First spice bag listed on Just Eat Ireland
Voted Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Dish
Deliveroo petitions for National Spice Bag Day
A Cultural Phenomenon ☘️
Cult Following
A dedicated Facebook tribute group has attracted over 17,000 members who share reviews, photos, and heated debates about the best spice bag in Ireland.
Hangover Cure of Choice
Often cited as Ireland's favourite hangover cure, the spice bag is the go-to order after a night at the pub.
#SpiceBag on Instagram
Irish teens coined #spicebag as slang for "stunning" selfies — a testament to how deeply embedded the dish is in Irish pop culture.
Going Global
Spice bags have found their way onto menus in Washington D.C., London (Scaldy — London's first Irish spice bag specialists), Sydney, Toronto, and beyond. We're tracking them all.
Award-Winning
Voted Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Dish at the 2020 Just Eat National Takeaway Awards — beating out every other fast-food option on the island.
Veggie-Friendly
Vegetarian and vegan versions with deep-fried tofu are widely available, making the spice bag accessible to everyone.
📰 In the Press ☘️
The spice bag has made headlines across Irish media and beyond.
Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Revealed
The Irish Times covers how the humble spice bag was crowned Ireland's favourite takeaway dish, beating out every other option in the national poll.
Read article →Takeaway Awards: The Spice Bag Wins
Spin 1038 reports on the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards where the spice bag took home the crown as Ireland's most beloved takeaway dish.
Read article →Follow Us on Instagram
See the latest spice bag photos, reviews, and behind-the-scenes content from spice bag spots around the world. Join the community! 🍀
View on Instagram →🏆 Top Ranked Worldwide ☘️
Legendary Dublin chipper that many locals consider to have the absolute best spice bag in the city.
London's first dedicated Irish spice bag specialists. Founded by Dublin expats bringing the authentic spice bag experience to South London.
One of Dublin's hottest Asian street food spots. Their spice bag has gone viral on TikTok multiple times.
Cork's legendary late-night chipper. Locals swear their spice bag is better than anything in Dublin — a fierce rivalry.
A Parnell Street institution. Their spice bag is widely considered one of the OGs — generous portions, perfect spice blend.
☘️ Explore Cities
The spice bag started in Dublin and has spread across the globe. Tap a city to see rankings.
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🇦🇺🇮🇪 The Irish Spice Bag
The only dish we track — because it deserves its own platform.
Irish Spice Bag
Ireland · Street Food
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
A beloved Irish takeaway classic — crispy fried chicken pieces, chips, sliced peppers, onions, and chillies tossed in a blend of salt, pepper, and Chinese five-spice. Served in a paper bag.
How IrishSpiceBag Works ☘️
We rank restaurants fairly using open, publicly available data — no paid placements, no shady scraping.
Open Data First
We use OpenStreetMap, public directories, and official APIs. Crawl4AI discovers spice bag restaurants worldwide.
AI-Powered Discovery
Crawl4AI crawls takeaway sites globally and AI identifies spice bag listings. Rankings combine social mentions, reviews, and ratings.
Restaurant-Friendly
Owners can claim their page, customise their @handle, or opt out entirely — always free.
☘️ Ready to find your next spice bag?
Explore spice bag restaurants across 11 cities worldwide — from Dublin's legendary chippers to hidden gems in New York, London, and beyond.
Explore All Cities →