Looking for some casual dining ideas in Dublin – look no further!

I am a final year student studying in UCD and love nothing more than to treat myself on late evenings or over the weekend to a cheeky meal out with friends. Like most students these days, I have far less money at my disposal than I would like so I try my best to pick restaurants around the city that leave me feeling satisfied both in my tummy and in my purse. Thankfully, Dublin city centre is absolutely jam packed with hundreds of casual, affordable and extremely tasty dining spots that are an absolute must for students and young professionals across the county. I have gathered a list of a few of my favourite dining ideas to help you narrow down your search for the perfect casual meal to enjoy!

• Basic yet brilliant – Bunsen Burger

Located in several spots across Dublin, Bunsen takes the concept of a simple burger joint to the next level. I must admit, I am a huge fan of a tasty burger, and my Bunsen order was without a doubt the best burger I have tried in a long time (Trust me – I have tasted countless burgers over the years and none have compared to this!). It was oozing with freshness, the juicy meat and toppings mixing with the tasty brioche bun to create moments of magic with every bite. And best of all, it only cost me €14.35 – no complaints there!

Instagram @bunsenburgers

Bunsen operates with a menu so concise that it fits neatly on the back of a business card. There are burgers (single or doubles, cheese or no cheese and garnishes), chips (shoestring, hand-cut or sweet potato) and a range of drinks (fizzy drinks and milkshakes). There are no alternatives on the menu – no sandwiches or salads just burgers, so it is a must try for any burger fanatics around the city. They leave themselves little room for error with their narrow menu but undoubtedly succeed in providing the tastiest burger, with the freshest ingredients time and time again.

• A little piece of Italy – Paulie’s Pizza

Located on Bath Avenue in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life, Paulie’s Pizza is a quaint restaurant that offers an inexpensive and incredibly tasty menu filled with a variety of authentic italian flavours. The menu offers 15 different pizza options and an array of pastas and antipasti to be enjoyed which is complimented beautifully by their classic cocktail menu.

I myself have visited Paulie’s on a number of occasions and have yet to be disappointed. I opted for one of their specials – a prawn and monkfish linguini in a tomato-based sauce. This may sound plain and basic but it was anything but that. Exploding with flavour from the fresh herbs, fresh pasta and fresh fish, it was hands down one of the nicest pastas I have eaten in Dublin. I did my best to taste as many cocktails on the menu as I could (it wasn’t difficult to convince myself), and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed in this regard either. My ‘go-to’ cocktail order, an Aperol Spritz, didn’t let me down and was an excellent accompaniment to my main meal.

Instagram @pauliesdublin

The small restaurant operates in a way that allows you to see the chefs preparing and cooking your pizza from the comfort of your own table – a feature I liked a lot about the restaurant. On my second visit, I decided to mix things up and opted for one of their wood-fired pizzas – the ‘Caprese’ – topped with cherry tomatoes, baby buffalo mozzarella, basil, oregano, sea salt, cracked black pepper and rocket. Much like the pasta I had enjoyed previously, it was a relatively simple combination of toppings on the pizza yet somehow, I managed to be surprised with all the flavours that the chefs could pack into it. The freshest of ingredients making for a pizza that tasted like it came straight from the streets of Italy.

• A Cheeky Chinese – Mak at D6                        

Located in the heart of Ranelagh, Mak at D6’s menu invites you to indulge on their Dim Sum and oriental cuisine. The restaurant’s modern and stylish décor is inviting and sets the scene for the perfect evening of delicious, affordable food and tasty cocktails. The menu offers the usual, tasty dishes served in many of Dublin’s great Chinese inspired restaurants. In addition to this, the Dim Sum menu is broken down into three sections; steamed, pan-grilled and crispy allowing diners to treat themselves to Asia’s take on a tapas experience like no other.

Instagram @makrestarauntd6

While the a la carte menu can be relatively expensive, the restaurant offers an early bird experience for a more than reasonable price perfect for anyone looking to dine for less – Two courses for €23 or Three courses for €25. On my first visit to the restaurant, I availed of this two-course experience as it fitted much better into my budget, and I was not disappointed. I opted for salt & pepper prawns which were the ideal balance of salt and spice and were the perfect way to begin my meal. I followed this up with crispy sweet chilli chicken and egg fried rice which was equally as satisfying. I am a massive fan of a Chinese takeaway on a Friday night, and this was the perfect upmarket Chinese style ‘fakeaway’ that I could enjoy alongside a range of impressive cocktails which I couldn’t possibly replicate at home. An absolute treat that was kind to the stomach and bank account!