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. read more

I feel bad for giving this place three stars, though I think based on my visit, I would give it two stars. The fish was WAY too greasy and not particularly flavorful. The people I went with from Galway said that it was an off day for McDonaghs, so I'll have to go back and try it on a not so off day. read more

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. read more

See all

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. read more

We ate at the take-away part, where the food is pre-prepared. I'm sure the restaurant is a little classier and fresher. The food was okay. We had: fish & chips, onion rings, mushy peas, and seafood chowder all of which were edible but not exciting or fresh. kind of a disappointment. read more

Fast and good portion sizes with some outdoor seating (picnic tables) that provides a great way to watch the people wander up and down the street. The menu is fairly simple, they have pictures of fish on the wall for you to pick from and the service is quick. Tasty, greasy, and fast. read more

Okay, if you woke up with a horrendous headache after a night of drinking and the only thing that will help you get over it is a whole lotta fried stuff then maybe go here(or drink a bottle of oil). On the other hand, the people working there were very nice and I liked the chipper tables, but I would have preferred eating really good food. Skip the "onion rings of oil". By the way, if you fry at the right temperature your fried food will not be laden with grease. read more

It was freshly cooked. We didn't enjoy it as well as the cod and fish on the south's end of Ireland. The advantage is you can get any fish on the board. Fries are great. Tator sauce is good and freshly done. read more

McDonagh's - Cod and chips. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

I was in the way of the server, looking at a poster on the wall, and the server gave me a whole body shove against the wall. It was really shocking. As we were leaving, the same server elbowed my friend in the gut AND THEN SMIRKED as she passed my other friend who followed behind us. No fish and chips is worth two physical assaults! Admittedly, the fish was good. The chips were fine. read more

For fast food, McDonaghs is as good as it gets. Food was delicious and tasted really fresh and the portions were so perfect and priced very well. Would 100% eat again! (I ordered the cod fish and chips) read more

Known for famous fish 'n chips! Good for kids. Very casual and quick with outside seating. read more

McDonagh's - Fish 'n Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

More of a 2.5 star fish and chip place. The place was pack and flowing out the door but half of the seating area was being closed off, the COD was good but the chips where a bit under cooked. The dill in the tarter sauce is yummy but the water down malt vinegar is tough on the chips. Also pass on the onion rings unless you like bland and mushy. I did hear and read good things about here, maybe it was a one off. read more

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 decor was something straight out of Davy Jones locker. I kind of like the kitschy and cheesy decor 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. read more

"Grease!!! Do you have sprite? Can I get that covered in batter aswell, thanks." Pretty much sums up this working shrine to chippers. Big lumps of fish, big lumps of shpud, fried and sold to big lumps of customers. All of this facilitated by a big lump of a queue and big lumpy tables. Did I mention the portions? They're fairly llll.....arge. MacDonaghs is laid out like a production line, one long queue and a counter serving three or four customers at a time. The centre of the room is taken up by long, wide, feasting tables capable of holding between three and a dozen customers, depending on the state they're in. Don't bring you're girlfriend here for a latte, this is trough country. And don't be shy either, the place is layed out in such a way that you have to talk to the people opposite you, making it very social. The food most definitely is not part of your five-a-day, but it is tasty. The fish is better than most chipper fare, they even include such extravagances as pea sauce-for a price. But it's the range of fish they have that's really impressive, you can get pretty much anything that swims on the West Coast. Pricewise, it's not great. Although it is a superior chipper, it's still a chipper. All in all, I consider it to be pretty average. But I do know softened Galwegians who salivate and look distant at its very mention. read more

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. read more

Not just fish and chips. When you come here read the story and enjoy. Historic location and a great vibe. Eat in or take out. read more

See all

Skip. This place is super popular and I have no idea why. It's clean, they have bathrooms. That's it. $10 euro for plate of fries that could've come from your freezer and one piece of fish that has no flavor and is drenched in oil. I've had better fish and chips from fast food restaurants. The staff wasn't impolite but they were all visibly stressed and they were super slow and kind of snappy with customers. When we got to the counter no one greeted us or anything, we just waited for a while and then the girl turned to us and waited for us to order. I get it, some of the tourists are annoying, but you gotta be professional. Not worth the stop or the money, there are definitely better places in Galway! read more

Really good fish & chips - Especially the fish portion. Chips/Fries were a little soggy for my liking. Sat on the restaurant side & service was outstanding. Would def go back for that fish! read more

I highly recommend this place! It's been nearly 15 years since I last ate here and it's just as good as I remember. Moist and fresh cod. It was so much better than Leo Burdock's in Dublin. read more

McDonagh's - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

I sometimes dream about oysters. Big, goopy oysters. So, when I heard that Galway had amazing oysters, I knew I HAD to go. Oddly, the locals I talked to in Galway said they had terrible seafood places. So, I turned to the internet and McDonaghs popped up several times. The place does have seafood. And a ton of tourists (but, I was a tourist so, yeah, I really can't complain). It's also greasy, pricey and very busy (at least on the sit-down side). The tables are also pretty close together, so, if you're looking for an intimate, quiet dinner, this is not the place. So, the food. My companion and I ordered fish and chips, the seafood platter, and oysters. The oysters tasted fresh like they were just pulled from the sea. Downside: they're also seriously pricey at 10 euro for 6 oysters. The seafood platter is even more expensive (around 30 euro, I recall) but is a delicious mix of mussels, prawn, and cooked oysters. The garlic butter served with the dish is insanely great. I'd like to bathe in it, if possible. The fish and chips, however, were underwhelming considering the place is known for that dish. The chips were soggy and the fish unmemorable and not really crispy. The cod did taste fresh, I'll give them that. Overall, the food was okay but I wouldn't return. The price is way too high for the quality, atmosphere, and service. There is a reason that McDonaghs is packed with tourists: we don't know any better. read more

I had fish and chips here almost every day! I love the decor in here and the service is very quick. The fries were a bit salty but the fish melts in your mouth and the skin is perfectly cooked. It was nice to be able to sit outside the shop and people watch at their tables placed outside, which can be nice on a sunny day. The price wasn't too bad either, and the portions are huge. Loved coming here! read more

Was told this was the best fish and chips in all of Ireland and it certainly lived up to its name. The fish was super fresh! The staff was nice. Gave us free tap water, tarter sauce, ketchup (vinegar and salt were on the table) very fast to make but tasted amazing! Definetly going back if I ever get to galway again. read more

McDonagh's - Cod fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

Great place for fish & chips indeed as every travel guide will tell you, too. This diner place lets you choose between various kinds of fresh fish to be fried. Their traditional chips to give your fish company are big and really good. Top them up with a nice splash of vinegar and your face will gleam with happiness. Pick a seat to be either inside (not too comfy) or outside (great for watching the passers-by if the weather is fine). Alternatively there's their restaurant part of the house to be checked out: More expensive, nicer seats, good service and superb food. Yum yum - if you are a "fishy" person :D read more

This place is great ! A fish and chips place straight up. Lovely woman at the counter. Delicious chowder. Quite different from US chowder, finely chopped seafood with a very nice cream base. Served with brown bread. Prices are very reasonable. read more

It's weird that this place has two separate menus and seating areas. One is an actual restaurant and one is counter/fast food. I ate at the counter area and it is definitely the best fish n chips in galway. A little oily but the fish was fresh. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to come back here, but I liked it. It has a diner feel, but the people at the counter are really nice, and there are several seafood options. read more

Don't expect glamour! This is a great place to people watch and enjoy some fish and chips! read more

McDonagh's - Fried cod and chips, garlic, and mushy peas - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

If you want a traditional Irish fish dinner, McDonagh's is a good choice. One half of the place is devoted to fast food, whereas the other side is full-service. Our waitress was very nice but the staff all seemed a bit stressed on a full night; this place gets very hectic when it's packed. The food was very good and pretty reasonable for being in the center of town. read more

Went here for dinner two nights ago because our bed & breakfast host recommended it. I do like fish and chips so thought we should give it a try. Went to the take-out counter because the sit-down restaurant had a giant queue. My friend had one piece of cod and I had one piece of salmon and we split a regular side of chips and coleslaw. The chips were nice -- thick-cut, tasty and not too oily. The salmon was good although a bit too greasy for my liking. Granted it was fresh out of the fryer but still, bit heavy with oil. My friend said the same about her cod. Other observation (not a complaint) is the portions are ridiculously huge, although given the price it's probably decent value. Was very busy at dinner time, which is a good thing since everything was freshly made to order. Shared trestle tables and benches meant bumping elbows with the folks next to us but that made for a fun communal eating experience... read more

Galway basically best city in Ireland, fish and chips very filling and super large servings. Literally felt like a bottle of homebrand oil after eating the fish tho so oily lol. Have a treat and get into some but get a drink can't do this bad boy dry. read more

Nice busy plain seafood restaurant where the service felt like the old Durgin Park in Boston and the food was good plus. It was fresh, nicely prepared and the wine was drinkable. Actually, we could have done better, but it was what we were looking for, although there were too many people on line and the service was somewhat slow. It's plain. Really plain. The food is fresh which is what makes this place succeed. read more

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! read more

Awesome Fish & Chip's! Very fresh and tasty! Not a large store but seating is spacious and comfy. read more

McDonagh's - Fish & Chip's! Yummy! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Galway, G

See all

This is a Galway institution for classic local cuisine, located right by the water: it is basically a chippy, where you go up to the counter, get ur food and go and sit down. My cod and chips was fantastic! very fresh and the batter was not overwhelming. You see a lot of locals having their lunch breaks here. Often with a glass of milk (irish tradition). Cod, chips, mushy peas and drink €10ish and well worth it!! read more

I brought my husband here so he could try the fried haggis. He enjoyed it and I got the fried chicken. Both were tasty. I recommend this place for a quick bite to eat or after having a few drinks at a pub. read more

This was billed as the best fish and chips ever. The fish was good, not great but the fries (chips) were absolutely the worst we had. Couldn't figure out how they were sort of hot inside and yet dry and shriveled on the outside. Will not even mention this as an option to friends. read more

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! read more

Short and simple - I love their fish and chips here...so much I had it 3 days in a row!! Definitely a must if you're in the area.

Fantastic.....fish & chips during the lunch time and the restaurant in the evening is very good. Not only tourists but loads of local there...this mean good food. read more

Choice of appetizer, main dish, and glass of wine for €20. Highly praise for fish and chips in many reviews so all four tried that dish; no one was disappointed. Right-out-of-the-fryer hit, worth light batter and tasty cod. The mussels were a great starter. Great for families or singles. Convenient to shops and bars. Highly recommend. read more

Best place, amazing taste, good pricing and convenient. Casual atmosphere and a must stop while touring Gallway.