We have been to some fantastic spots over the last three months
06:30, 03 Apr 2026
Justin tries BBQ22 in Belfast(Image: Belfast Live)
There are restaurants popping up left, right, and centre, as well as some legendary spots that have stood the test of time across the city.
We’ve been out sampling some fantastic spots throughout Belfast, and we’ve put together a handy guide to all of the places we’ve been to so far in 2026 to make it easy for you to pick your next spot to eat in the city.
From Chinese to BBQ to Street Food and good-old-fashioned home-cooked favourites, there is no shortage of options for all tastes and budgets.
BBQ22
The owners of Zen and the Dumpling Library opened this spot in January of this year after much anticipation. We headed in on opening week to try out the Korean barbecue restaurant, and it was definitely one to remember.
I absolutely loved this place for several reasons. Clearly, a lot of thought has gone into creating this concept here. The food tasted great, and the actual experience was a lot of fun. It’s something I will keep recommending to anyone who will listen.
I think BBQ22 is a great spot for date night or a bigger group of mates who want to try something different.
Sicarios
Sicarios describe themselves as Californian Mexican street food. It is essentially traditional Mexican food with a bit of a Western influence throughout the menu.
The menu was pretty simple, and it consisted of burritos, rice bowls, tacos, loaded bravas and small plates. You could then choose your filling from a range of options, such as crispy chicken, beef birria, and rajas.
They have really brought classic Mexican food to Common Market and put a twist on it, which really works in my opinion. They’ve really nailed the flavours, and their menu really has something for everyone. I will be thinking about those tacos for a long time.
All in all, these guys know the score with this food. I left absolutely stuffed and can’t wait to go back.
Fowl Play
Fowl Play may already exist in the city, but I hadn’t had the chance to pay it a visit until now. So when I heard they were opening a spot in Ballyhack it was the perfect opportunity to try it out.
They have another location based in Halt at Weaver’s Cross, which has been around since about July 2025. I had seen a few food influencers making videos about it, and even one claimed it was ‘the best chicken burger in Belfast’, which is a big claim.
Fowl Play are definitely adding a little bit of fun to the chicken game in Belfast. It’s a market that people say is oversaturated, but my opinion is that if you’re doing it right, there’s space for everyone. I think Fowl Play know exactly what they’re at when it comes to great chicken burgers, so it’s definitely worth a visit, even just to see it in real life!
Maggie Mays
It has been a stalwart in Belfast, but Maggie Mays has opened a new location in Belfast City Centre, so I decided to check it out.
They have recently moved from Castle Street to a new place around the corner in Queen Street. It might not have moved very far, but it was still worth a nosey.
This spot is really casual, just like the other locations, but it has been redone nicely, and it is definitely warm and welcoming. The staff were really friendly, and we got seated right away, even on a busy Saturday, which is always a positive.
Maggie Mays might have moved location, so it has a new face, but it has the same great food. It really specialises in no frills hearty food, and it knows what it is at when it comes to that. There’s a reason why this has become an institution in Belfast, and if you have somehow not been here, you should change that.
Cafe Zulu
This little cafe in Stranmillis is somewhere I had walked past a few times but had never tried. However, when I noticed on social media that they were doing ‘Zulu After Dark,’ I was intrigued.
Cafe Zulu is open 7 days a week until 4 pm, but a few weeks ago, they announced they would open late on a Wednesday and Thursday. The menu for this is elevated classics that will have something for everyone.
Zulu After Dark is honestly one of my favourite places I’ve tried recently, and I think it’s somewhere you should add to your list. You can tell that real care and attention have gone into curating this menu. I really enjoyed my meal here, and I think it’s definitely somewhere you should add to your list.
The Sphinx
The Sphinx in Stranmillis has won countless awards, and people always swore by it as their go-to kebab spot in Belfast.
When I heard that it had won the ‘best kebab takeaway in Ireland’ for 2026, I knew I had to see if it lived up to the hype. The urge to try it out was further heightened when I saw that it had won several awards, among others.
I can absolutely see why this spot has won awards because it has nailed a favourite. The sauce here is something to behold, and they are even selling huge bottles of it in the store. So I think if you’re struggling to find a good kebab in Belfast, then you need to look no further than The Sphinx in Stranmillis.
Flink
When I heard that Michael Deane was opening a burger restaurant with the former McDonald’s operations manager, I was a little taken aback and wasn’t sure what to expect.
The one thing I did know, though, was that I had to give it a go and report back on what it was actually like. It opened in November 2025, so it has had a few months to settle in and find its feet.
I left here and told myself I’d definitely be back because I really enjoyed it. They’ve created an elevated burger here and really seem to know what they’re at.
Each of the burgers has been carefully thought through and paired brilliantly. The ‘Flink sauce’ is also one of the best burger sauces I’ve had in some time. So, in my opinion, this combination of owners seems to be working and is definitely worth a trip to East Belfast to try it out.
Katsu Kitchen
We had seen a few people posting about Katsu Kitchen, which is in HALT at Weaver’s Cross at the old Europa Bus Centre, so it was about time I went in to check it out.
I can really see why the hype is there for Katsu Kitchen; they have nailed the Asian street food. There’s a lot to choose from on the menu, from more traditional items to things like loaded fries.
I did really enjoy it here, and I can see myself heading back the next time I’m passing through or grabbing a pint. So if you’re into Asian food, definitely give this one a go.
Phat Dragon
Phat Dragon is the newest spot on the block and has just opened in Common Market between two viral favourites, Wing Society and Smash Bros, so it is in great company. The minute I noticed it was there, I knew I had to get something from it and report back on what everyone can expect from it.
The menu really focused on the famous ‘half and half’ that we have all come to love, so I went for the one that I reckon most people will be ordering, and that was the salt and chilli chicken half and half with curry sauce. There was also a range of Chinese-inspired sides on the menu, so I decided on the spring rolls. They had a satay filling and came with a satay dip too. However, it is worth noting that the filling on these will change regularly.
I really mean it when I say this is one of the most exciting new food spots to arrive in Belfast City Centre in some time. It was exactly what Common Market was missing and I can already see it becoming one of the most popular food vendors in the bustling food market.
Their motto on Instagram is that it’s “the year of the half and half”, and I really see the vision here. A fantastic street food vendor picks a few things and really works on them to get them right, and Phat Dragon has done just that. It has taken a fan favourite and nailed it.
Waka Victoria Square
Waka has become famous for its drive-thru Chinese on Boucher Road, which still has persistent queues of cars to this day. It was originally a bit of a novelty, but people really seem to have stuck by it, and it has now just opened the doors to a new location in Victoria Square, so I headed in to finally give it a go and report back.
My first impression was that Waka has a very approachable menu and has something for all taste levels. There are a few traditional Chinese dishes mixed in with westernised Chinese food. The staff were very friendly when I first went in, and they were more than happy to help with everything.
Waka brought something fun and exciting to the Asian food scene in Belfast, and their brand new store in Victoria Square is no different. I will still likely go to my usual spot for my weekly Chinese but I will definitely head back to Waka if I’m after something a little different.
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