The best spots for pub grub in Dublin
05 Sep 2024
05 Sep 2024
Uncovering what makes Masa such a good Mexican restaurant in Dublin
Mexican restaurants have taken Dublin (and much of Ireland) by storm in the last few years, with quick and easy burritos becoming a hugely popular choice for Irish foodies. With a buzz surrounding fast food Mexican joints, the team behind Bunsen – one of Dublin’s most popular burger restaurants – saw a gap in the market. Inexpensive, authentic, and genuine quality Mexican food in a contemporary restaurant – that’s exactly what Masa brings to the table.
Authentic Mexican methods
What puts Masa above many other Mexican joints around Dublin City is how it prepares its ingredients. ‘Masa’ is actually the broken down corn that is then created into the dough served on your tacos, and Masa brought in specialty equipment to create fresh tacos on site. It’s the only place in Dublin to do this, giving a truly authentic feel to the food.
Masa’s menu is not as extensive as other Mexican spots in Dublin, but this is the kind of minimalistic style you can expect from the owners. If you’ve ever been to Bunsen, you’ll know the menu can conveniently fit into a credit card slot in a wallet. Masa offers up a range of small plates, quesadillas, and tacos, which are all undoubtedly worth a try.
Before we get into the meat and bones of the menu, we must talk about Masa’s interior and design. Situated on Drury Street, Masa’s minimalistic style gets a little bit lost in the noise of the city centre. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked into a Miami beach café. White tabletops and blue tiled walls are adorned by beautiful mini palm trees, which are dotted throughout the diner. A neon cactus is emblazoned across a wall, which makes for a great Instagram photo. The minimal vibe is certainly unmatched.
Inspiring menu, without an eye-watering price
One of the most common complaints about some Mexican diners in Dublin is the price. At Masa, you really are paying under the odds for a phenomenal meal.
We’d recommend going for a three or four course meal, as the prices are good and the food is even better. Starting out with the small plates, the Mexican patatas bravas are sensational at €5.45. The bravas sauce is well made and is comparable to what you’d be served in a Mediterranean diner or in Mexico City itself.
Moving on to the quesadillas and we’re torn between two choices here. Masa’s black bean quesadilla is as traditional as they come, featuring hot jalapeños and oozy melted cheese. However, there’s something about the chorizo sprinkled with paprika that can’t be beaten. Both come in at under €6, which is an absolute steal.
Taco heaven
Finally, the star of the show, Masa’s mouthwatering tacos. You can choose from up to six different meats or fishes to fill your two tacos, and truthfully they’re delicious. We’d recommend the Carne Asada Taco, featuring some beautiful Irish steak, cheese, jalapeños, pickled onion, coriander. If you’re looking for vegan options, Masa has you covered. The Soyrizo option features marinated soya, ancho, pasilla, paprika, guacamole, pico de gallo, and is cooled down with coriander. The steak taco comes in at €7.45 and the vegan comes in at €5.95, highlighting once again the impressive prices at Masa.
Three beautiful dishes can be washed down with a lovely Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo beer, but for those looking for something stronger try the Fresh Paloma with Reposado Tequila, fresh grapefruit juice and soda water for €10.95.
Masa is a hugely underrated option for food in Dublin, whether you want a pre-night out snack, a full Mexican meal with friends, or are looking for a minimal spot to bring a date, Masa covers all bases.
