Dingle is packed with postcard views and pint-stained charm but when it comes to food, few things beat a hot box of fish and chips eaten at a picnic bench with the scent of salt in the air behind a pub. Enter: The Fish Box Food Truck.
If you’ve read my full post on The Fish Box restaurant, you’ll already know I’m a fan of what this local, family-run business is serving up. But the van? It hits different. Maybe it’s the sunshine. Maybe it’s the no-fuss setup. Maybe it’s the perfectly crisped calamari ring that made me nearly drop my fork in joy. Whatever it is, this spot deserves its own standing ovation (or sitting one, depending on how many fries you’ve tackled).
A Family Tradition on Wheels
The van is part of the Flannery family legacy fishing the waters off Kerry for over 100 years. The motto printed on every box says it all:
“Our family, our boat, our fish.”
This isn’t your average takeaway. The catch of the day? It likely came in on their own boat that very morning. That freshness shines through in everything they serve whether it’s the Fish Box classic (a generous mix of deep-fried prawns, calamari, and goujons) which I seem to always order, or the simply brilliant Flannery’s fish & chips, golden battered and perfectly flaky – which may just be the best fish & chips in Dingle!
The Setup of The Fish Box Food Truck
Located in a tucked-away yard in the heart of Dingle, the van is kitted out in bright blue with a matching bold menu. There’s plenty of seating long picnic tables, bright benches, and even a cheeky Guinness umbrella or two for cover if the Irish weather acts up.
You can enter directly from the Dingle marina or through Paddy Bawns Pub and go out the back. The great thing about this connection is your supply of pints and spritz while you wait and enjoy from The Fish Box Food Truck. I usually grab an edge of a picnic bench or go to the marina and find a bench to watch the world go by in peaceful bliss.
The Fish Box Food
Food trucks are cool and most of us know they serve some tasty stuff, but I always find that the portion sizes can be small and the prices big.
I nearly always go for The Fish Box and somehow, it keeps getting better. First off, it’s a mighty meal. I swear there’s a whole bag of spuds in there, hand-cut into chips that could feed two (but I manage). Then you’ve got that perfectly fried, fresh-as-it-gets fish on top, flaky, golden, unreal. But the recent winner? The two dips they throw in. Whatever they’re mixing into those pots is magic. One is tarter but I don’t know what’s in the other, I’d bottle it lads.
Even better, your meal comes wrapped in nostalgia: mock-newspaper print lined with fishy facts, puns, and bits of history about fish and chips in Ireland. It’s a detail that adds a dash of charm to your already hearty box of goodness or keeps you off your phone for a bit.
Final Thoughts
The Fish Box Food Truck offers what so many places try to fake, real food made by real people with a genuine connection to the sea. There’s no flash or fluff here, just proper portions, bold flavour, and the kind of casual charm that makes you want to come back the next day.
If you’re in Dingle, and don’t have time for the fancy sit-down and grab a box instead. You’ll thank yourself later.
Quick Look
📍 Location: Dingle, Co. Kerry (beside Paddy Bawn Brosnan’s Bar)
🍤 Must-Try: The Fish Box classic or Flannery’s Fish & Chips
💸 Vibe: Laid-back, local, and damn good
🎣 USP: Fresh seafood caught from the family’s own trawler
