McDonagh’s

I love it here. I love it, love it, love it. I traveled to Galway during a backpacking trip through Europe, and the UK, and a good friend of mine (who does not eat seafood) recommended McDonagh’s for Fish n Chips (as I was on a mission to find the best around) and I was not at all disappointed. This place is fast and delicious and though the seating for the take out side was small and somewhat cluttered, I imagine this place has been in business for awhile so they know what they’re doing. I miss this place and would consider a trip to Galway for fish n chips alone.

We waited on line here for about 10 minutes for fish and chips, the place was packed around dinner time but things were moving quickly. We decided to go on the left side and just order at the counter to make things quicker. The right side is for people who wish to sit down with a waiter/​waitress. I’ve heard a lot about this place, so I ordered the cod and chips which were pretty good.

Fish ‘n chips as fish ‘n chips should be: simple, no frills, delicious. We took the train from Dublin and the first thing we did when we got to Galway was to come here for lunch. The fish had a thin layer of crispy batter on the outside, big hunk of cod inside. The chips were perfect too: crispy on the outside, tasty potato inside. Definitely recommend. The oysters and fresh tarter sauce are a recommended accompaniment.

This is a great place in Galway for fish and chips. There are two parts to the establishment. On the left, you can place orders up front for either quick eats there or take-​away. On the right, it’s split off for full-​service dining. The staff is very efficient and friendly.
We ordered for take-​away. It was very convenient because we found that aside from fast food like McDonald’s, not many restaurants in Ireland offer take out. Anyways, we ordered the plaice and cod fried fish with chips (tasty!), the chicken pie, the chowder, the fish pie and a ton of sides. The mushy peas were not great in appearance but exceptionally delicious. The chips (french fries) were sooo good! Onion rings were also very good. The portions were huge. One plate can easily be shared by two. Prices were very reasonable.

Great classic fish and chips! Large portions, reasonable prices, and quick service.

Based on the earlier reviews, it seems McDonagh’s is THE place to get the best fish and chips in Galway. My boss rates them as the best he’s ever had, but then he’s from the middle of America… However it was my first night in Galway and I was roaming the Latin Quarter looking for a small and light bite. Most of the other places looked great but heavier than I wanted and then I saw McDonagh’s and though a simple piece of grilled fish might work. It took me a while to work out that there are two sides — the left is a simple fish and chips only menu and the casual side whereas the right side includes table service and a more upmarket (and expensive) menu. I felt like a more casual meal but unfortunately all of the fish on the left side comes battered so right side it was for me. They had an excellent 20 euro special where you could get two courses but that didn’t really meet my ‘light’ requirement. The rest of the meals sounded nice although again, a bit more than I wanted. Eventually I settled on a starter portion of the mussels (6.45) and a side of vegetables (3.00). The mussels were a large portion of 20ish mussels cooked in a coconut and lemongrass broth, which I though was a bit odd for an Irish place but hey, why not? The mussels were all quite tiny in comparison to the ones I was used to in Australia but they were super tasty and I thought it was a pretty reasonable price for the size. My side of veges included a mix of mashed carrot and potato, peas and a few pieces of broccoli. My meal was an odd combination and I wasn’t feeling like a drink so although I really enjoyed my meal, I don’t think it’s what McDonagh’s is really best known for! I saw some of the other meals from the restaurant side and they were pretty generous looking too. Décor of the place is very in theme with some amazing ceiling decorations. Love the ambience of the place and would love to get back to try some fish.

I’ve wanted to love it here every time I’ve been, but it’s proving tricky. It’s got a good vibe sometimes, but the fish hadn’t been great (though there is a good choice). There are posts all over the place about the chips here. Long story short, they’re rubbish. Soggy, not very tasty, there is very little to recommend.

This place is a European version of Long John Silvers. My baked cod tasted nothing of remotely fresh and I was constantly spitting out bones which shouldn’t be in there in the first place. The older woman who took our order (seen in several photos on the wall) at the counter was more unfriendly than a starved pitbull defending a t-​bone streak. Walk on… trust me. And TripAdvisor was wrong as hell.

Sadly, very hit and miss. Can be the best fish and chips in Ireland, can be a very average plate of fish and chips. On this occasion, sadly the latter. Still decent though.

Stopped in for dinner. We both had cod fish and chips and thought the meal was very good. Not a huge fan of the green bean mash. The service was great. Waitresses were friendly and we didn’t have to wait. We did sit on the dine-​in side. The restaurant was busy the entire time we were there but they seemed to keep things moving.
I recommend stopping in if you are looking to try fish and chips while in Galway!

Did not live up to the hype.
Fish was fine but needed a bit of salt, and was also very greasy. Chips were good, but weren’t anything to write home about. Atmosphere was okay. In the midst of the busy pedestrian area which makes me think there are plenty of superior options for you.

Fantastic fish and chips. Both are meals were well prepared, the Cajan chicken soup actually had some spice, and the service was even good. There are two sides to the location, the left side you order and pick up the food at the counter, and on the right side is table service. We sat and ate with the table service.

Not what I expected but still a good meal. I had expected the most stellar fish and chips I have ever had, but it was no better than any of the other fish and chip restaurants I have been to in Ireland. The main courses were really kind of average but the portions were good. The interior décor was something straight out of Davy Jones locker. I kind of like the kitschy and cheesy décor and information fish place mats. Do I think it was worth the price for what seemed like a little more than fast food? Not really. Would I go again? Maybe, but not likely. Was it terrible? No.

Going to a place with a reputation and coming away from it with a good impression typically boils down to two things: timing and knowing what to order. We went in the middle of the day, just after the lunch rush, around 1:30pm. It wasn’t crowded and everything seemed fresh. In addition, this is a place that specializes in fried foods. They do baked specialties on the side to be accommodating, but it’s not what their business is built around. Hence, I don’t recommend ordering anything baked or anything raw. It’s just not the place to do it.
What you SHOULD order, however, is a piece of fried fish and a regular sized chips (good enough to feed two people!) with some sort of sauce (IMO curry is the best). The cod was good, but it’s the plaice that really shines. We don’t have plaice in the States — I think it may be similar to flounder — but it’s the fish that used to comprise the majority of my childhood fish & chips in England, and there is something very visceral and nostalgic about perfectly fried plaice for me. And so, when I found myself in Galway with two crispy golden filets of plaice with moist and slimy flesh doused in malt vinegar and covered in heaps of salt all over my plate, I couldn’t have been a happier girl. The chips are real chips here, so don’t expect anything of the McDonald’s size. And don’t expect this meal to clear from your stomach anytime soon. It will sit there, like lead, for hours.
To recap: order fried fish & chips, curry sauce, tartar sauce, and use loads of malt vinegar, salt, etc to enhance the glory greasiness of it all.

Spot on seafood at moderate prices!
Despite being located in the heart of the tourist epicentre of Galway, this place is loved by locals as well as tourists and lived up to the hype. They offer more than just the standard fish and chips. You can select from a vast array of seafood choices either fried or baked accompanied by chips and optional sides.
The baked cod was fantastic! A huge portion of tender, flaky cod with crumb topping and stuffed with a delicious white sauce with broccoli bits. It just melted in our mouths! The tartar sauce is home-​made, creamy with plenty of dill weed and nicely compliments the fish.
The chips are average, and the mushy peas, baked beans and cole slaw sides were not up to par but the wonderful seafood is the main draw here.
Well done!

Galway’s most famous chipper does not disappoint. Right at the end of pub row, it’s the perfect spot to finish or start a long night in Galway’s famous pubs.
The best part is the range of fresh fish you can choose. Cod, Hake, Plaice, Salmon, even the smoked variety — just pick your poison (literally) and it’s fried up golden brown in minutes. I wasn’t as wowed by the chips, somewhat too thick, but the huge portion of fish and tangy dill tartar made the chips an afterthought.
Be sure to just order from the lunch counter and find a seat by the window to watch Galway roll past. The sit down portion seems to be the same deal at price the price.
One caveat: no beer served. Luckily that’s what Galway’s 100+ pubs are for.

Large portions, fast and friendly service. Convenient location on the walking portion of Shop Street.
My friends and I all ordered cod and chips. They reside locally and eat regularly at McDonaghs. The fish was crisp and flaky and the chips were also good.

Den engen Raum teilen sich eine Art Fisch-​Fast-​Food im McDonalds-​Stil und ein sehr einfaches Restaurant. Das Gedränge sollte man schon lieben. Ich hatte im Restaurant das Evening Special die fette Fischsuppe, die hier in jedem Pub serviert wird, gebackenen Kabeljau mit den ortsüblichen Chips und ein Glas Weißwein. In die Suppe waren Kartoffeln einpürriert, was die Pampe noch dicker erscheinen ließ als gewöhnlich. Die Fischbröckchen waren trocken, aufgewärmter Räucherlachs schmeckt ausgesprochen unlecker. Der Fisch war nicht übergart, das Öl noch relativ frisch, aber natürlich Fritieröl. Die Chips hatten schon eine Weile lauwarm gestanden und schmeckten entsprechend rubbery. Der Wein kam sehr kalt, war äußerst sauer und bot eine unangenehm aufdringliche, süßliche Fruchtigkeit. Für 20 Euro plus obligatorischem Service kann man in jeder Nordsee oder auch an jeder holländischen Fischbude leckerer essen aber auch in benachbarten Pubs wie dem Frontdoor oder der Spanish Arch. Der Hype, den manche Reiseführer um diesen Fastfood machen, wirkt völlig unangemessen.

Now I’ve heard tales from Galwegians about McDonaghs. The best fish ‘n chips eve. r
It’s not.
Or maybe it was that one night. But so much depends on the freshness of the fish, the oil being used enough but not too old, etc.
Some tips: Don’t order the cod. It’s good, but it may have been sitting around for a while. Get something unusual — the smoked fish is always good, as is the ray. And the mackerel. You’ll wait a bit but it’ll be worth it.
Can be a bit on the spendy side– I wouln’t come here for oysters, for instance. Stick to the chipper side — the spendy side just looks spendy.
Good, solid, safe.

Ostras buenas, mejillones razonables, pescado de nivel (he comido un muy buen rape) y vieiras realmente diferenciales, las de más tamaño y mejor sabor que he comido nunca. la selección de vinos corta pero de un nivel aceptable.
Sin duda, el mejor lugar de Galway para comer marisco y pescado fresco de la costa oeste

Very small place with a kind of disjointed layout. To the right is the «restaurant area» and the left is the self-​serve tables. They don’t serve beer on the self-​serve side but they have some kind of deal with the Spanish Arch Pub a couple of doors down. You a can get your Guiness at the pub and drink it at McDonagh’s.
On to the food! This place has the best fish and chips that I have had outside of London. The chips were also crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. I would definitely return next time in Galway for more.

This was my foray into «official» fish & chips. The venue has a cool ambiance in terms of a bustle and insider-​type order. The place was packed. Service was speedy.
«How do I order traditional fish and chips,» I ask.
«Cod and chips» is the reply, as a a plate is slapped on the counter in front of me moments later.
Reading the advertisements, it seems their fish comes from sustainable stocks, they continually change their cooking oil and used oil is recycled into bio-​fuel, which is pretty cool, in my opinion.
The fish and chips… eh, they were ok. A little on the mushy side for fish texture.

Concept très anglo-​saxon de fast-​food de fish and chips avec un large choix de poisson.
Très sympa, à essayer!
(Voir photo ci-​dessous)
C’est un peu un KFC du poisson en fait.
Je n’y mangerais pas tous les jours par contre!

Tipiquísimo ‘Fish and Chips’, tiene también una zona restaurante que no visité. Es un estilo comida rápida. La calidad es bastante deficiente, es barato, pero desde luego no vale más de lo que se paga.
El servicio también deja que desear, no fue una muy buena experiencia, encima era difícil encontrar sitio puesto que hay poco y tienes que dividirte para poder sentarte.

Traditionsreiches Fast Food im Baukastenprinzip: Fischsorte, Pommes Frites und Sauce wählen, alles frisch fritiert im Laden essen oder mitnehmen. Qualität und Preis sind in Ordnung. Wer mitnimmt, kann ich mit seiner Mahlzeit an den Kai setzen und den Möwen zusehen.

Le meilleur Fish and Chips du monde tout simplement, si si! En plus l’ambiance est conviviale, on se pose sur de grandes tables en boisEt pas trop cher