When it comes to comfort food with a kick, few dishes rival the curiously addictive Irish tradition of the spice bag. Originating from the, shall we say, enthusiastic pub culture of Ireland, this unusual snack is as commonplace during an Irish drinking session as a shamrock in a pint of the black stuff. So, what exactly is a spice bag, and – more importantly – where can you get one?

In its simplest form, a spice bag is a combination of crisp fried chicken, mixed with stir-fried vegetables like onions, capsicum, and jalapeños, all tossed together with a generous helping of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and whatever else you’ve got in the pantry. The dish is typically served in a paper bag, to be eaten on the go, or ripped apart and placed in the middle of the table.

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The pièce de résistance however, is the pot of Chinese curry sauce served alongside the chip stir-fry. Very Dublin. Essentially this is a chicken stock gravy, with a pinch of curry powder, a dash of soy, and a sprinkle of Chinese five spice.

While the exact origins of the spice bag are somewhat mysterious, it is widely believed to have emerged from the streets of Dublin in the early 21st century. First appearing as a specialty dish in Chinese takeout restaurants – potentially the Sunflower Chinese in Templeogue – the spice bag quickly gained popularity and soon found its way onto the menus of pubs across Ireland.

@deliciousaus It’s Ireland’s favourite snack. Not stew. Not potatoes. But spice bags, an Irish-Chinese mash-up that combines hot chips and fried chicken with capsicum, chillies and curry sauce, served in a paper bag. Try it at The Lady Hampshire in Camperdown, Sydney this St Patrick’s Day. #deliciouseatout #spicebag #spicebags #stpatricksday #stpaddysday #irish #sydneyfood ♬ Irish music, irish dance(1287224) – 2strings

So, a spicy bag of fried chips, chicken, and curry sauce – we don’t know about you but this is shaping up to be the perfect drinking food – where can you get one in Australia?

The good news is, that for St Patrick’s Day (for now) the spice bag is taking over. Particularly in Sydney, you can get spice bags all weekend – the Lady Hampshire in Annandale, the Forresters in Surry Hills, Taphouse in Darlinghurst, the Mercantile in the CBD and the Australian Heritage Hotel in the Rocks will all be shaking up the goods all weekend.

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