More than 1.1 million spice bags were ordered through Just Eat across Ireland between January 2025 and February 2026, according to newly released figures. The data shows a nearly threefold increase in orders compared with the same period in 2024, highlighting the rapid growth in popularity of the beloved takeaway dish.
The surge in demand was particularly noticeable during St. Patrick’s Day, when the dish proved to be a go-to meal for celebrations. On 17 March 2025 alone, more than 4,300 spice bags were ordered, with 71% of those orders placed between 5 pm and 8 pm, the peak evening takeaway window.
Dublin remains the epicentre of spice bag culture, accounting for the highest number of orders nationwide. Other counties showing strong demand include Kildare, Limerick, and Waterford, all of which rank among the top five locations for spice bag orders.
The dish has firmly established itself as a modern Irish takeaway staple, often associated with late-night meals or a post-night-out hangover cure.
A spice bag is a relatively recent addition to Ireland’s fast-food landscape, emerging in the early 21st century. The dish typically consists of crispy fried chicken, chips, red and green peppers, onions or scallions, and chilli peppers, all tossed in a mix of salt, chilli, and spices. It is usually served in a paper bag, often accompanied by a curry sauce on the side.
Larger versions are commonly referred to as a “spice box.” The meal is most often purchased freshly cooked from a takeaway or chipper on the way home from a night out, reinforcing its reputation as classic food-on-the-go.
In many ways, the spice bag has joined a long line of distinctive Irish takeaway foods, sitting alongside favourites such as spiceburgers, jambons, the jumbo breakfast roll, chicken fillet rolls, and crubeens.
The spice bag is widely believed to have originated in the late 2000s at the Sunflower Chinese Restaurant in Templeogue, County Dublin.
Staff working late shifts reportedly created the dish for themselves using ingredients available in the kitchen.
“They wanted something a little different to eat at the end of a shift serving Chinese food and began experimenting with whatever ingredients were available,” according to accounts from workers involved in the early days of the dish.
Friends who tried the creation quickly spread the word, and the combination of crispy chicken, chips and spice soon gained a following.
Online food delivery records also suggest the dish’s early rise. Just Eat data shows the first spice bag order on its platform occurred in 2012, from a takeaway in Tallaght, County Dublin, not far from Templeogue.
Today, what began as a late-night kitchen experiment has grown into one of Ireland’s most recognisable takeaway meals, with demand continuing to climb across the country.
