In search of the best restaurants in Tralee? Our Tralee restaurants guide will make your belly happy!
As the largest town in County Kerry, Tralee has some great places to head for a bite to eat (there’s also plenty of great things to do in Tralee, too!).
The town sits at the edge of the Dingle Peninsula and is well worth a stop, despite not attracting the same crowds as some nearby towns.
What we think are the best restaurants in Tralee
Below, you’ll find what we believe are the best restaurants Tralee has to offer, from Kirbys and the Oyster Tavern to Il Pomo Doro and more.
Have a restaurant that you think we need to add sharpish? Let us know in the comments section!
1. Kirbys Brogue Inn
Kirby’s is a peach of a spot. It’s a proper landmark in the town (you can’t miss it!), and it’s just as good a spot for a pint with pals as it is for a feed.
On the restaurant menu, you’ve your choice of marinated spicy wings, classic Caesar salads, baked brie wedges and much more for starters.
For mains, there’s a delicious selection of beef and speciality dishes, from prime Irish steak sambos to home-baked lasagne, tagliatelle, veggie options and plenty more.
This is, in our opinion, one of the best restaurants in Tralee for good reason.
Relate read: Have a nosey at our guide to the best hotels in Tralee for a weekend away in 2024.
2. The Oyster Tavern
Just a 10-minute drive along the coast towards the small village of Spa, you’ll come across this fantastic seafood restaurant that has been run by the McGrath family since the 1980s.
It’s known for its wonderfully prepared fresh seafood dishes that are masterfully created with a bit of a French twist.
You can enjoy oysters, mussels and fish fillets straight from the sea with their seafood chowder, seafood pie and grilled oysters being popular choices off the menu.
You don’t have to be mad about seafood to enjoy the tavern though with sirloin steak, roast duck and marinated chicken also available.
3. Il Pomo Doro
If you’re looking for Italian restaurants in Tralee, look no further than the excellent IL Pomo Doro.
They have you covered for all your favourite dishes from the land of pizza and pasta, with top choices being carbonara, seafood risotto and minestrone.
For anyone with dietary issues, the menu is clearly marked with all allergens, and they even have a designated celiac menu for those who can’t eat gluten.
In true Italian style, you can also pair your meal with one of their house wines from their extensive list.
4. Spa Seafoods
There’s no shortage of seafood restaurants in Tralee, and Spa Seafoods is right up there with the very best of them.
Spa Seafoods is a fantastic restaurant located in the village of Spa, just a 10-minute drive out of Tralee.
It’s both a fresh seafood deli-style shop and bar with the best catches of the day a a delicious menu showcasing the restaurant.
You can find a range of options from classic fish and chips to Thai red prawn curry along with a popular takeaway menu too.
The restaurant faces the ocean and offers sea views from many of the tables.
5. Gally’s Bar & Restaurant
If you’re in search of Tralee restaurants that make comfort food look easy, carve out some time to visit Gally’s. Gally’s Bar and Restaurant is located just 2.5km out of Tralee town.
It’s a popular choice for families and groups of friends, with a spacious dining area and outdoor seating. The menu has standard Irish and European cuisine all at very reasonable prices.
Their steak sandwich, chicken stir fry and fish and chips are popular choices. However, you have to save room for their homemade desserts with the many raving about the chocolate brownie.
This is arguably one of the best restaurants in Tralee for food and drinks with a group – there’s plenty of space, and there’s a nice outdoor area for sunny evenings.
6. Lana Tralee Asian Street Food
Point your belly in the direction of Lana at St John’s Ct in town and settle in for some lip-smackingly-good authentic Asian street food.
There’s a good mix of grub on offer here, from ‘Asian bites’ (BBQ ribs, crispy calamari, peppered chicken and more) and soups to a huge vegan section.
For mains, there’s everything from Thai garlic and chilli and pad sha pao to massamans and spicy duck salads, to name a few.
Dishes are reasonably priced and, if you go off Google reviews (4.5 from 640+ reviews at the time of typing), this is one of the best restaurants Tralee has to offer.
7. Quinlan’s Fresh Fish and Seafood Bar
Last but by no means least in our Tralee restaurants guide is a place that knocks up a fine bit of seafood.
We’ve a bit of a sweet spot for Quinlan’s, having eaten in their Killarney location on several occasions and loved it.
Here, you’ll find the freshest Atlantic catch cooked up each day, with everything from prawns and haddock to squid and hake on the go.
It’s small enough on the inside, but there’s also a takeaway option if you don’t fancy queuing.
What tasty Tralee restaurants have we missed?
I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some other great restaurants in Tralee from the guide above.
If you have a favourite Tralee restaurant that you’d like to recommend, pop a comment into the comments section below.
FAQs about the best places to eat in Tralee
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the best places to eat in Tralee for pub food?’ to ‘Where to eat in Tralee that does fine dining?’.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What are the best restaurants in Tralee?
Our favourite places to eat in Tralee are Kirbys, The Oyster Tavern, Il Pomo Doro and Spa Seafoods.
What Tralee restaurants are good for a fancy meal?
Il Pomo Doro and Spa Seafoods are two good options if you’re looking to mark a special occasion.
Hussein amer
Friday 25th of September 2020
Restaurant uno in ivy terrace Tralee
Pauline Crossley
Thursday 24th of September 2020
Amongst all the restaurants we also find Kate Browne’s in ARDFERT have a great menu ABD The Burger Shack too. Nothing is too much trouble at either of these places too.
But of course some of those mentioned in the Top 10 are incredible too.
Ang
Thursday 24th of September 2020
Tamarind Tralee
Martina Ryan Murphy
Thursday 24th of September 2020
The Tankard Bar & Restaurant, Kilfenora, Tralee.