Northern Soul, St Kilda
Spice-coated chips are charred in the wok along with capsicum, onion, sliced chilli and crunchy chicken nuggets. A roux-based curry sauce and prawn crackers are there for dipping. $25, available Thu-Sun and on St Patrick’s Day (March 17), which falls on a Monday this year.
6 Inkerman Street, St Kilda, northernsoulchipshop.com
Dusty’s, Fitzroy
The bags here feature all the usual suspects – capsicum, onion, chips, chicken – with the spice coming from five-spice and a wallop of curry sauce. Vegan and vegetarian options include mock chicken tenders or fried halloumi. $20, available Mon-Sat; $15 on Sundays and on St Patricks’s Day.
34 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, instagram.com/dustysfitzroy
Humble Spud, St Kilda
At this Irish chipper, spice bags are a jumble of salted chilli chicken pieces, capsicum, onion, hot chips and a signature spice blend, served with a side of curry sauce. $24, available daily.
There’s also a toasted spice bag wrap ($20), served with hand-cut chips.
5-6 Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda, instagram.com/humblespudstkilda
Jimmy O’Neills, St Kilda
A bowl of crispy chicken pieces are tossed with chips, onion, capsicum and a house spice mix and topped with McDonnell’s curry sauce, in another nod to Ireland, $27, available daily. Add rice or sweet and sour sauce for $3 each.
154-156 Acland Street, St Kilda, jimmyoneills.com.au
PJ O’Brien’s, Southbank
At this dimly lit, classic Irish boozer in the CBD, you can grab a pint of Guinness and a spice bag: chips, fried chicken, capsicum, onion, chilli and Irish-style curry sauce, $27, available daily. $20 on St Patrick’s Day.
Southgate Shopping Precinct, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, pjobriens.com.au
Fifth Province, St Kilda
Originally served as a midweek special, the spice bag became a menu mainstay due to popular demand. Served as a main meal, it includes chips, fried chicken strips, capsicum, onion and “Sichuan spices”, but for $4 you can also add rice and curry sauce. $28, available daily.
3/60 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, thefifthprovince.com.au
