Top Irish Food In Philadelphia

St. Patrick's Day is March 17, and just in time for the annual Irish celebration we're taking a look at some of the best places to get Irish food in the Philadelphia area. While the City of Brotherly Love's Irish pubs are already well known, Philly is also home to a plethora of eateries that serve up fabulous Irish fare – and we're not just talking green beer and shots of Jameson. Read on to find out where to get the best Irish food in the Philadelphia area.

Moriarty's Restaurant & Irish Pub
1116 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-7676
www.moriartyspub.com

A neighborhood staple for more than 30 years, Moriarty's is more than a 60-foot bar serving 28 draught beers. This Philly favorite boasts an extensive menu that goes beyond pub grub. Corned beef brisket served with cabbage is this eatery's signature dish, and the Irish Classics menu also includes traditional dishes like Shepherd's pie and a Guinness beef stew that's to die for. For dessert, check out the traditional Irish bread pudding.

St. Stephen's Green
1701 Green St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 769- 5000
www.ststephensgreen.com

Owners James Stephens and Jeff Keel left no Blarney stone unturned when they opened this Philly bar and restaurant. In addition to an extensive beer list, this Irish eatery features dishes by executive chef David Shuman and brunch and buffet menu offerings. With a menu that includes Guinness-battered fish and chips, Irish bacon grilled cheese, shredded lamb tacos and Bailey's chocolate covered cheesecake, traditional Irish fare gets a modern day makeover at this Fairmount establishment.

The Plough & The Stars
123 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA  19106
(215) 733-0300
www.ploughstars.com

Philly's premiere Irish pit stop hosts a younger crowd late night, but for the dinner crowd there's a menu full of Irish classics like lamb kebabs and Guinness casserole. Corned beef and cabbage regularly turns up as a special at this Old City haunt, while ham and cabbage is traditionally available during the entire St. Paddy's day month of March. Saturday and Sunday brunch features an Irish breakfast which includes Irish bacon, sausage, eggs, roasted potatoes and black and white pudding. Live traditional Irish music is featured every Sunday.

Molly Maguire's
197 Bridge St.
Phoenixville, PA 19460
( 610) 933-9550)
www.mollymaguiresphoenixville.com

In Philly's suburbs, Molly Maguire's has been serving up authentic Irish food and drink since 2007. Located in the heart of Phoenixville in Chester County, Molly's is owned by two Irish immigrants. One look at this restaurant's menu – which includes everything from colcannon balls to Madras chicken curry to traditional boxty - and you'll see it's worth the short trip to the suburbs. For St. Paddy's Day, it's not uncommon to see leprechauns hanging out at this Phoenixville hotspot, so get there early.

Related: Top Burgers In Philadelphia

The Dandelion
24 S. 18th St. at Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 558-2500
www.thedandelion.me

At first glance, you may not think of this Stephen Starr-operated restaurant as a place to sample Irish food. But if you're looking for upscale Irish, this beautifully decorated gastropub features foods from all over the world, including Ireland. And it's some of the best food in the city, which is why it makes this list. European foods dominate the menu at this British-style eatery, and Irish food history is sumptuously showcased on a menu that includes lamb's shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, and beer-battered fish and chips.

Victoria Miller is a freelance entertainment writer who also covers recreation and leisure activities in the Philadelphia area. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.