The spice bag: what it is and how to order one

A spice bag is a takeaway of crispy chicken, chips, sliced peppers and onions, tossed in a dry spice mix and served in a paper bag. It is salty, hot, crunchy and messy, and you eat it with your hands or a fork. If you are new to it, here is what to expect.

What is in the bag

The usual contents are strips or pieces of battered, fried chicken, chips, sliced chilli, pepper and onion, and a seasoning blend. Some versions add curry sauce, a sweet chilli dip or garlic mayonnaise on the side. The mix is shaken together so that everything is coated.

It is a Chinese-style takeaway dish and it appears on the menus of many such shops, as well as some chippers and street food places.

How hot is it

It varies. The seasoning usually contains salt, pepper, chilli and five-spice, so it has a kick but is not extreme. If you want less heat, ask for it mild or with fewer chillies. If you want more, ask for extra chilli. Staff will usually accommodate.

Choosing a portion

A regular bag is often enough for one hungry person or two sharing. A large is for a group. If you are ordering for a crowd, get two bags rather than one huge one, so that the chips do not steam and soften.

What a good one tastes like

The chicken should be crisp and the chips should be hot and crunchy, not soaked. The spice should coat evenly, not sit in clumps at the bottom of the bag. The peppers and onions should be soft but still have a bite.

A bag that arrives soggy was either held too long or sealed too tight. A good shop will pack it loosely, so that steam can escape.

Eating it

Eat it soon. Open the bag at the top, let the steam out and tuck in. Use the dip sparingly. It makes a good late meal, shared between friends. It is heavy, so you may not want a second helping.

Allergens and diet

The standard spice bag contains wheat in the batter and often egg. Chips may be cooked in oil shared with other items. The spice mix may contain gluten, soy or sesame. If you have an allergy, ask the shop for the full ingredients and about shared fryers. Some shops offer a vegetarian version with tofu or vegetables. Ask how it is cooked.

When and where

Takeaways are busy at weekends and late evenings. If you want a spice bag, order a little before you are hungry, as queues build. Check opening hours, because some shops close early in the week.

Customising your order

Because the bag is built to order, you can ask for changes. Ask for extra peppers if you like vegetables, extra chilli if you want heat and the sauce on the side if you want the chips to stay crisp. Some shops will make it with chicken only, with tofu or without the chips. Be clear and polite and say what you do not want rather than what you do.

A meal for sharing

A spice bag is a good thing to share among friends because the portions are large and the flavour is strong. Order a bag between two, add a side of rice or a salad if you want balance and plenty of water or a cold drink. Eating it on a short walk home is part of the experience, but make sure you can sit down and eat it hot.

Finding one on Mosey

Look at recent photographs and ratings. Where a bag is photographed from separate visits, you can see how the place makes it. Our guide to late night food in Dublin lists how to find places open late.