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    McDonagh's

    4.0 (229 reviews)
    ModerateFish & Chips, Seafood
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    McDonagh's Photos

    MCDONAGH'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - McDonagh's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Exterior  9/2025
    Sabrina S.

    This place was highly rated on You tube, so while in Galway.... We made it for dinner. It's a super casual, order at counter spot, but it is very popular..you may have to share a table. You choose your fish to be battered. Ordered the hake fish/chips (a local fish) special and a battered cod with a side of onion rings. All sides are ordered separately as well as the sauces. They offer a variety of fish, oysters, and sides. Check out the menu I attached. Hubby enjoyed his hake and chips. A light, mild fish, and the chips were delicious thick cut. My cod was a bit dry and overcooked, so I didn't enjoy it as much. But, the onion rings were excellent! Nicely battered, with a good size of onion and crunchy outer coating. All portions of fish and sides were of decent size. We ordered a few tartar sauces for dipping. My suggestion- get the hake and chip special!!! You won't regret it.

    Hake and Chips (back), Ray (front)
    Christine L.

    A proper fish and chip shop! Haha but for real this place is cool. You essentially pick which fish you want batered and fried, and then add chips, sauces, or sides like mushy peas, baked beans etc. They had some cool fish options so I decided to try ray for the first time, plus a more "pedestrian" fish which ended up being Hake. We added chips, tartar sauce, and a Guinness (because ofc!). The ray was very boney but tender and delicious, while the hake was your textbook fish and chips fish. Added vinegar and ketchup, and it was a yummy meal! The chips were a bit soggy, but the fish was very crispy. Very crowded inside, expect to share your table and make friends :) Service is quick and efficient despite the business.

    Inside
    Danielle V.

    Stopped here to get fish and chips as it had so many reviews and it was good! I got onion rings instead of fries because I had so many fries this trip. The onion rings were amazing and the fish was great as well. I have had better fish and chips though. It's quick and the service was friendly. Worth a stop!

    Fried Cod Fish & Chips w. Tartare Sauce
    Olivia K.

    I had high expectation knowing that this is a excellent place for fish & chips in Galway. And it didn't disappoint! When you enter the store, you go straight to the counter to place your order & pay first. They bring your order straight to you at your selected table. I knew that I had to try their original fish & chips, so I opted for their traditional fried cod fish with a side of regular chips. I definitely recommend ordering a regular size, but it's really quite a lot of food! The fried fish was a big portion. It's crispy on the outside and juicy/soft on the inside. The fish tasted really solid. They make their seafood well. The chips were also big. Everything combined was delicious. Although I couldn't finish everything on my plate because I was quite full, I throughly enjoyed every bite.

    Fish and shrimp and a lonely piece of chicken.
    Paula W.

    Very informal but the employees are all great and helpful especially to the very confused Americans. The fish, chicken and shrimp was delicious! The seasoning was fabulous! Chips were crispy with little seasoning but great with vinegar or ketchup. The only downside was the potato salad. Pretty much just mayonnaise and I mean lots of mayonnaise with a few potatoes and some shredded carrots. Great play to go after drinks at one of the local pubs!

    Hale and Chips 14 euro
    Amelia K.

    A great spot for fish and chips! They were very busy when we arrived but the workers were quickly clearing tables to make room for people to sit. A great price for a huge meal! Definitely recommend for a quick and delicious meal!

    Fish and Chips
    Andrew A.

    Great spot for some fresh fish and chips while walking around main st. Very straightforward and unassuming, with quick service and decent food. You order at the counter and pay, then bring your food to a table. There's a variety of local options for your fried fish, but we went with Cod (maybe a little safe?). Paired it with a large serving of chips, and a side of mushy peas. Cod was glistening, but felt perhaps a touch overcooked? Regardless, decent meal after walking around the Cliffs of Moher for a couple of hours. Conveniently located a the very beginning (or end?) of main street, you can get your fix, and walk around the area to explore.

    Menu board at McDonagh's, Galway
    Bruce K.

    In a seaside town, one must have fish and chips. I asked my host at my hotel for a list of recommendations. My friend asked her host at her hotel for a list of recommendations. And I checked Yelp. All three contained McDonagh's. This is absolutely not a fancy place. Order at the counter and you'll find a seat. They do not want you taking a seat before you order as they desperately need the turnover here. After waiting in the queue, I ordered the fish and chips (I chose hake for an extra €1) and my friend the baked fish. With a tin of beer and a tin of wine, it was not at all expensive. It did not take too long for our food to be ready - both very big portions with enough fries (chips) to share. The fish was hot, light and flaky. Absolutely delicious and worth the wait. This place moves fast and if you're paying attention, there are people waiting for seats. Be kind and head on when your meal is done. [Review 1930 of 2024 - 112 in Republic of Ireland - 22952 overall]

    Cod fish & chips
    Luisa V.

    This place was highly recommended to us by the tour guide, but to be very honest, it is not that good. The service was rushed and kind of dry. The very good looking food was average in flavor but not so much in price. Perhaps because it is a very touristy area and as usual, things are overpriced. My party ordered the popular cod fish & chips, scampi (aka shrimp) & chips, and hoke fish & chips. Tartare sauce was charged as an add on when if you ask me, shouldn't be like that since it is part of the dish! I haven't been to any other place where they charge you for it when you order fish & chips but oh well, just be aware of that, not a biggie but more about the gesture, I guess, but at almost €1 each, it adds up. Oh! and you need to ask for lemons otherwise they are not offered with your plate. Good news: No extra charge for your lemon wedge ;) The dining area is average clean and bathrooms despite being only for customers, they could still clean them a little more often, although it is understandable when the place gets very busy. Overall: Not bad, but nothing you'll regret missing if you decide to go somewhere else while you're in Galway.

    Cod
    Janelle A.

    Delicious cod fish and chips! Probably the best fish and chips I had in Ireland! So crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! Tried to get oysters but they were sold out already!

    Dining area
    Kevin O.

    A great fish and chips spot with excellent fried fish, fresh oysters, reasonable prices, and quick service. It's not much of a fancy place but for good fish and chips that the locals frequent, this is a great spot to check out in town.

    Anna J.

    A classic and worth the trip. We made the day trip out to Galway and looking for some lunch and we found this place. It's a super simple establishment where you order at the counter and seat yourself. I got the fish and shared some chips with a friend. The tartare sauce was delish and the fish was fresh and I thought it was well priced. Nothing crazy but still hits the spot! Definitely was busy on a Sunday but we managed to get a table outside. Worth the stop if you're in town!

    Giga Oysters
    Liz M.

    To die for GIGA Oysters! Delicious fish and chips. Came here because it was highly recommended and I ended up eating here two days in a row. Giga Oysters were fresh, fish and chips were made to order. Although this place is busy, employees here are extremely fast and efficient. Loved it! Highly recommend this place.

    Cod and Large Chips with Curry

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    Page 1 of 6

    McDonagh's Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - McDonagh's

    I had the Hake fish, because I like the hake fishiness, the batter is thin and crispy, the fish is hot and juicy inside.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    People searched for Fish & Chips 227 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Oscars Seafood Bistro - Apple blackberry crumble

    Oscars Seafood Bistro

    (107 reviews)

    €€€

    We literally ran into Oscars during a rain storm one evening. Having no transportation beyond our…read morefeet (we enjoy walking cities and towns to experience them) we were soaked to the bone. But the staff gracious sat us at our reserved table and handed us a few hand towels to notionally dry ourselves. We ordered the hake with mussels, scallops and the trio of crème brûlée. It was all absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this bistro if you're in Galway and looking for a nice mealtime experience. The venue was packed. So we're not the only ones to think so.

    The food looked better than it tastes and the red flag should've been the empty salt shakers at…read moreeach table. We ordered the crab dip (very small portion, and it tasted like imitation crab meat), the steak was overcooked with little flavor; the side of veggies tasted like they cooked them in butter and oil (no hint of salt). The drink was horrible and I'm not one to send things back, but I'm not sure how a lemon drop martini ends up tasting like watered down lemonade. The oysters were okay and they make a good home made mignonette, but there was no hot sauce or horseradish provided. Maybe it's an Irish thing, but room temperature oysters are off-putting. The service was terrible, but our waitress was likely working the bar as well. She definitely forgot about us for a solid 20 minutes after she took our plates and verified that we didn't want anything else. I do not recommend this place. Pros: The ambiance was beautiful and it's quiet enough to have a conversation. I gave 1 star for the aesthetic.

    Kirwans Lane Restaurant - Housemade brown bread and Pinot Grigio

    Kirwans Lane Restaurant

    (48 reviews)

    €€€

    Loved all the food here. It's a little tricky to find in the alleyway. Cute tables inside and…read moreout. Outside they have heat lamps. Service was friendly and nice. Ordered the oysters loved. Sea bass was very tasty. Caesar salad very good.

    Located in the Latin Quarters off a little side street. My husband and I taxied from our hotel…read morewhich made it easier to enjoy some cocktails. We didn't have reservations but the restaurant was able to seat us at the bar. For drinks, it's wine and beer. They do have some liquor. Reading previous reviews highlighted an amazing cocktail, but the manager said they do not serve cocktails. They can do things like gin and a bottle of tonic. We opted for a bottle of Riesling. We started off with complimentary soda and Guinness bread and butter. You could taste the freshness! My husband and I ordered the seafood chowder. One of our favorites in Ireland. For dinner, my husband ordered the seared tuna which was a special for the evening. I ordered the pan seared seabass. Our meal came with a side of potatoes too. His seared tuna was so good! There was calamari along with a vegetable. My seabass was so good. It came with potatoes and corn. Most fish we have come across in Ireland was fried so it was nice to have so many pan seared options. The dessert menu looked great but we were pretty full. I took a peek just in case. Chill vibes which is way different compared to the rowdiness of the Latin quarters.

    McDonagh's - fishnchips - Updated May 2026

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