What’s on offer?
“Back in 1930s Nashville, Tennessee, a scorned woman was looking for revenge on her cheating husband. She doused his chicken with hot spices. It backfired and he loved it. And so did everyone else.” That’s what you’ll read on the menu for Firebyrd, an American hot chicken restaurant and takeaway that opened in Ranelagh in Dublin in 2020, and followed with a second premises in Dún Laoghaire in 2023.
It is owned by Cork man Peter Constant, who moved to the US in 2010, and Atlanta-born Ashley Wright. The couple, who are now married, worked together in the restaurant industry in the southern US for 10 years before bringing authentic American hot chicken to Dublin.
The chicken (not free-range, sourced in Ireland and the Netherlands) is brined in buttermilk overnight and fried in a home-made blend of flour and spices. You can pick your spice level, from mild to hot. Other popular choices on the menu include wings and tenders, which you can have a number of ways, including with lemon pepper, buffalo sauce and a spicy ghost pepper. You will also find southern American favourites such as tater tots, fried pickles and pimento cheese.
In 2021 the couple began importing their favourite American hot sauces to sell in the restaurant. The sauces were so popular they developed an online store and now stock more than 200 different sauces that range from mild to extremely hot.
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What did we order?
Nashville chicken burger (medium spice), medium Buffalo loaded fries, Philly chicken burger and tater tots.
How was the service?
We ordered at the restaurant for takeaway, but opted to eat in. Service was efficient and personable.
Was the food nice?
The Nashville chicken burger was succulent and tasty, with an ultra-crisp coating that crunched beautifully against the topping of pickles, home-made coleslaw, and the medium spicy Firebyrd sauce in a toasted brioche bun. The Philly chicken burger and tater tots were not as distinctive. The substantial portion of Buffalo loaded fries was generously coated with blue cheese and Buffalo sauce.
What about the packaging?
All packaging is recyclable or compostable – paper bags, recyclable and compostable cardboard boxes.
What did it cost?
Dinner for two people came to €32.45: Nashville chicken, €17.50 (included Buffalo loaded fries for an additional €3); and Philly chicken burger and tater tots, €14.95.
Where does it deliver?
Delivery and takeaway, open Monday-Sunday, noon-10pm; in Ranelagh and Dún Laoghaire; Just Eat and Deliveroo within a 5km radius.
Would I order it again?
Yes, despite the fact it is not free-range chicken, the Nashville fried chicken is very good.
