For a traditional Irish pub experience, you need a plateful of Irish food served with foamy Guinness while live music plays in the background. If you’re not familiar with traditional Irish fare, you won’t know what to pair with Guinness, leading to a disappointing experience. Here are some staples of Irish cuisine that are the perfect complement to Guinness.

What Irish Food Pairs Well With Guinness?

1. Corned Beef Sandwiches

Ireland is known for producing exceptional corned beef products, crafted with choice cuts of beef and high-quality rock salt for a rich, savory taste. Often made on specialty rye bread with Thousand Island sauce and sauerkraut, the flavor profile offers a blend of salty, tangy, and slightly sweet for a delicious experience. When paired with Guinness, the beer’s roasted, chocolatey hints enhance the sauce’s sweetness while offsetting the saltiness of the meat, making it the perfect beverage to wash it down.

2. Shepherd’s Pie

If you don’t know what shepherd’s pie is, picture your favorite beef stew ladled into a baking dish, topped with a layer of buttery mashed potatoes, and then loaded with Irish cheese and baked to golden perfection. Traditionally, the filling is thicker than in American-style beef stew and has a higher meat and vegetable content, all marinating in a Guinness-infused gravy. The heartiness of the meat, sauce, potatoes, and cheese are complemented by the stoutness of the beer, which helps wash down the thick food.

3. Irish Style Fish & Chips

Beer-battered fish served with piping hot chips, all smothered in dark Guinness gravy – it’s an Irish favorite that everyone loves. This dish is light, offering subtle notes of beer with the flavors of salt, fish, and potatoes. It allows you to enjoy the heavy finish of Guinness and savor its dark profile without the food overwhelming it, and the beer cuts through the greasiness for a refreshing accompaniment to your meal.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill serves some of the best Irish food and drafts around, in a traditional Irish pub setting with live music every weekend. Located in both Plant City, FL, and Wesley Chapel, FL, their locations offer staples of Irish food like shepherd’s pie, alongside American fare like juicy burgers. Their beer selection is unbeatable and includes Guinness, and they have regular specials, like their .75¢-wing Mondays. Check out their upcoming events and live music lineups online, and call (813) 764-8818 to ask about current specials.