12 restaurants to take someone on a date when funds are tight

The prices of everything sky-rocketing are bad enough when you're just trying to live your life, but throw in the expensive hobby of dating and it can quickly turn into a financial car crash. Tiktokers have been complaining about the cost of dating in Ireland, and can you blame them? €180 for a first date you'll probably never see again - sure you'd be as well just staying home and giving up on love. While there are plenty of free/ultra cheap date options (a walk in the park, a gallery visit, a coffee in town), sometimes you want/need to make more of an occasion of it, so here are 12 places to take that (possibly) special someone for food that might stop you having to deleting the dating apps until next month...

Hong Kong Wonton, Dublin 2

Hong Kong Wonton, from the people behind Asia Market, has a brilliantly central location on buzzy Fade Street, and with the most expensive dish on the menu €13, you can enter safe in the knowledge that you'll be able to leave with change from a fifty. Wontons are unsurprisingly the star dish, either on their own, in noodle soup or with lo mein, and it's soft drinks only, which also helps with the bill.

Sofra, Dublin 1

Turkish grill house Sofra is just off Henry Street, so you can distract yourself with some window shopping beforehand if you're feeling nervous. You can go all out with a mixed grill platter for two with bread and mezzes for €55, or eat as you go with grill specials priced at €15-€18, and kebab plates €13.50. They don't sell alcohol but they do allow free corkage so yet another saving to be had. Read our once over here.

Biang Biang, Dublin 1

Lovely little Biang Biang, just off Capel Street, is a true taste of the Xi'an region of China, amongst plenty of pretenders. It's walk in only but you won't be waiting long, and you could always go for a quick one in Bar 1661 around the corner if there's a wait. We're not going to say that their hand-pulled noodles, cold skin noodles, and beef dumplings are the most elegant things to eat, but if they're not into you with chilli oil dripping down your chin do you really want to spend any more time with this person? Mains are €11-€14, and basic beer and wines cost €6 and €8 a glass.

Space Jaru, Dublin 8

Casual Korean Space Jaru in The Liberties has a wallet-friendly menu of BBQ bowls (€18-€19), Korean fried chicken (€15-€16) and sharing plates (€9-€19), with generous portions. You could get into trouble with the lovely wine list, where bottles run as high as €80, but you could suggest a Korean yuzu soju instead to keep the experience properly authentic, at an easier to swallow €16. Read our once over here.

Kodiak, Rathmines

Beautifully expansive bar Kodiak in Rathmines (from the same team behind Bonobo in Smithfield and Caribou in the city centre) is full of different seating areas that suit a variety of meet ups. Sit at the long tables in the back room for volume and buzz, or find a quiet nook elsewhere if the vibe is a bit more intimate. The beer list in Kodiak is unparalleled, the cocktails better than many dedicated Dublin cocktail bars, and the pizzas have earned a following all on their own - try the potato and pancetta, or the mortadella and pistachio. Pizzas come in at around €15, so all you need to do is rein in the drinks side of things - sticking to beer over cocktails will help.

Pickosito Taqueria, Dublin 1

Pickosito Taqueria, just off Capel Street, specialises in Northern Mexican tacos, meaning more wheat and beef, less corn and pork. It's a big room with plenty of noise, so perfect if you're worried about stilted conversation, and with mains priced from €10-€15, it's also perfect if you're worried about the bill. It's soft drinks only, but there's plenty of good pubs on Capel Street for a pint after. Read our two minute review here.

Mosaic, Glasnevin

Suburban wine bar Mosaic, from specialist wine importers H2G Wines (which was the previous name here), has simple sharing plates, a beautiful by the glass wine list, and sun-trap seating outside if the weather's with you. Share a Mediterranean plate for €15 with some Med-wines to match, or go all out with a charcuterie and cheese platter for €19. Ask the staff for recommendations - they know their stuff. Read our two minute review here.

Pi, George's Street

Pi takes away the whole "how many courses should we have" debacle, because there's just pizza. Very good pizza. The nduja with scamorza and honey will always be our favourite, but there's no bad choice here, and yes you need the dips. The house wine is very decent at €30 a bottle, or a beer will set you back around €6.

Pho Kim, Dublin 1

Vietnamese Pho Kim (formerly Pho Viet) has been open on Parnell Street since 2012, and is now run by the original owners' children. From where we're sitting quality has never once dropped, and prices have stayed incredibly affordable. With starters around €10 and mains €17-€21, you can eat very well for not a lot in here, and as the wine list is so dull you might just skip it in favour of a Vietnamese coffee instead.

Good World, Dublin 2

One of our best dining on a budget hacks is dim sum - little plates of snacky bits that fill you up faster than you think. Good World's plates of dumplings, fish balls and cheung fung are priced between €6 and €8 so you fill the table without a monster bill at the end, and if your date doesn't like dim sum, it's better to find out early so you can cut things off before they get too serious.

Soup Ramen, Dun Laoghaire

A bowl of deliciously different ramen at Soup in Dun Laoghaire will cost you around €20 (butter chicken ramen anyone?), with a shared side between €10 and €12. It's an easy stop that you don't need to book in advance, and a stroll hand in hand down the pier after will be trés romantic (as well as being free). You could even treat them to a '99 for dessert.

Priory Market, Tallaght

Is Dublin about to get it's first proper indoor food market? Tallaght's Priory Market opens tomorrow and we can't wait to get in there and see what it's all about, as well as tasting the goods from El Milagro, Bless Up, Mama's Boy and more. It's going to be a buzzy, laid back space, full of things to look at and explore, so the pressure will be off for in depth conversation, and everyone's sure to find something they want to eat.