Ireland's 100 best places to eat - they're not as expensive as you think

McKennas' Guides has released its app of the 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland, and it's sure to cook up some tasty debate.

22 new inclusions are featured in the updated EAT 2016, with a strong emphasis on modern, casual Irish food and up-and-coming chefs.

Among them are Miyazaki, the cult takeaway in Cork, Belfast's Established Coffee, and the hip and minimalist Fish Shop in Dublin's Stoneybatter.

Omitted, on the other hand, are some of the most celebrated restaurants on the island - including The House at the five-star Cliff House in Ardmore, Mount Juliet's Lady Helen and EIPIC in Belfast - all of which hold Michelin Stars.

But then John and Sally McKenna are no strangers to debate. Their STAY 2016 app, also released this week, includes just a handful of five-star hotels among its list of the 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland.

All told, EAT 2016 is an appetising list ranging from fine dining stalwarts like Chapter One and Nevin Maguire's MacNean Restaurant to whippersnappers like Harry's Shack and Kevin Pyke's food truck in Derry.

Although dominated by Dublin (28 inclusions) and Cork (16), it showcases the diversity and energy in Irish food right now - particularly at the casual end.

Uniting it are great chefs and great cooking, the McKennas say.

100 Best Restaurants in Ireland

Co. Carlow

Step House Hotel,  Borris

Co. Cavan

MacNean Restaurant, Blacklion

The Olde Post Inn, Cloverhill, Butler’s Bridge

Co. Clare

Gregans Castle, Ballyvaughan

Murphy Blacks, Kilkee [NEW]

The Long Dock, Carrigaholt

Vasco, Fanore

Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna

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John & Sally McKenna.

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Co. Cork

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry

Café Paradiso, Lancaster Quay, Cork

Deasy’s Harbour Bar, Clonakilty

Diva, Ballinspittle [NEW]

Elbow Lane, Cork [NEW]

The Farm Gate Café, English Market, Cork

Fishy Fishy Café, Kinsale

Glebe Gardens, Baltimore

Iyer’s, Cork

L'Atitude 51, Cork [NEW]

Manning’s Emporium, Ballylickey

Miyazaki, Cork [NEW]

Pilgrim's, Rosscarbery [NEW]

Sage Restaurant, Midleton

The Black Pig, Kinsale

The Food Depot, Courtmacsherry

Co. Donegal

Harry's Bar & Restaurant, Bridgend

The Mill Restaurant, Dunfanaghy

The Tap Room, Rathmullan House

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Rathmullen House

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Rathmullan House, Co. Donegal

Co. Dublin

Amuse, Dawson St. [NEW]

Ananda, Dundrum Town Centre

Bastible, South Circular Road [NEW]

Brioche, Ranelagh

Brother Hubbard, Capel Street

Chameleon Restaurant, Temple Bar

Chapter One, Parnell Square

Delahunt, Camden Street [NEW]

Dunne & Crescenzi, South Frederick Street

Ely Winebar, Ely Place

Etto, Merrion Row

Fish Shop, Queen Street [NEW]

Forest Avenue, Sussex Terrace

Kinara Kitchen, Ranelagh

L’Ecrivain, Lower Baggot Street

L. Mulligan Grocers, Stoneybatter

Locks, Windsor Tce. [NEW]

Luna, Drury St. [NEW]

O’Connell’s, Donnybrook

Pichet, Trinity Street

Restaurant Forty One, St Stephen’s Green

Taste at Rustic, Sth. Great George's St. [NEW]

The Cake Cafe, Pleasants Place Winding Stair, Lower Ormond Quay

The Fumbally, Fumbally Lane

The Greenhouse, Dawson Street

Thornton’s Restaurant, St. Stephen’s Green

Winding Stair, Lower Ormond Quay

Soder+Ko, Sth. Great George's St. [NEW]

Co. Galway

Aniar, Lower Dominick Street

Ard Bia at Nimmo’s, Spanish Arch

Cava Bodega, Middle Street

Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites, Inis Meain

Kai Cafe + Restaurant, Sea Road

Kappa-Ya, Middle St. [NEW]

Loam, Geatta Na Cathrach, Fairgreen

Upstairs @ West, Barna [NEW]

Co. Kerry

Daroka, Ballybunion [NEW]

Global Village, Dingle

Idás, Dingle

Mulcahy's, Kenmare

Co. Kildare

The Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace

Harte’s of Kildare, Kildare Town

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Campagne, Kilkenny: New to Blue Book for 2015

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Campagne, Kilkenny

Co. Kilkenny

Campagne, 5 The Arches, Gashouse Lane

Foodworks, Parliament St. [NEW]

Co. Leitrim

The Cottage Restaurant, Jamestown

The Courthouse, Kinlough

Co. Limerick

Canteen, Mallow Street

La Cucina, Castletroy

Restaurant 1826, Adare

Co. Longford

Viewmount House, Longford

Co. Louth

Eastern Seaboard, Drogheda

Co. Mayo

An Port Mór, Westport

Knockranny House, Westport

Rua, Castlebar

The Idle Wall, Westport [NEW]

Co. Meath

Tankardstown, Slane

Co. Sligo

Pudding Row, Sligo [NEW]

Shell’s Café, Strandhill

Co. Tipperary

Chez Hans, Cashel

The Old Convent, Clogheen

Co. Waterford

Momo, Patrick Street [NEW]

The Tannery Restaurant, Dungarvan

Co. Wicklow

The Happy Pear, Greystones

The Strawberry Tree at Brook Lodge, Aughrim

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Mark Ashbridge, Established Coffee, Belfast. Photo: Pól Ó Conghaile

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Mark Ashbridge of Established, Belfast

Northern Ireland

Balloo House, Killinchy

Browns, Derry, 

Established, Belfast [NEW]

Harry’s Shack, Portstewart

James Street South, Belfast

Lost and Found, Coleraine

OX, Belfast

Pyke’n’Pommes, Queen’s Quay, Derry

Shu, 253 Lisburn Road, Belfast

McKennas Guides have been published since 1992, with the new apps including bite-sized reviews, interactive maps, social media links and booking options.

Inevitably, several high-profile restaurants have been dropped from this year's list to make way for the new arrivals - including Fenn's Quay in Cork; The Chop House, Pearl Brasserie and The Woollen Mills in Dublin, McCambridge's in Galway, The Fatted Calf in Athlone, Out of the Blue in Dingle and Packie's in Kenmare.

EAT 2016 is available on iTunes and Google Play at €3.99.

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