From Dublin, Ireland, this chipper classic proves that chips are just fries with better texture, deeper comfort, and a splash of malt vinegar that makes the whole thing snap.
Photo by SCRR
Copycat Leo Burdock Thick-Cut Chips with Malt Vinegar
Leo Burdock’s Thick-Cut Chips with Malt Vinegar is a classic Irish chipper order built around chunky, golden fries served hot and finished the old-school way. At Leo Burdock’s, Dublin’s oldest chipper, that kind of simple food has become part of the city’s identity.
In Ireland, chips are what Americans call fries, and a proper chipper serves them thicker, fluffier inside, and crisp at the edges. Add malt vinegar and suddenly a very familiar food tastes sharper, richer and somehow more complete. A beloved Dublin favorite done with a little more character than the average fast food fry.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Pub-style dinners, fish suppers, comfort food spreads, and readers curious about classic Dublin chipper food.
- Flavor Profile: Crisp-edged, fluffy-centered, savory, and brightened with the sharp tang of malt vinegar.
- Skill Level: Easy to moderate.
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: The thicker cut, chipper-style texture, and classic malt vinegar finish recreate the familiar style served in Dublin.
Leo Burdock
Leo Burdock’s is not just a fish-and-chips shop. In Dublin, it is practically civic furniture. Founded in 1913 near Christ Church, it is widely recognized as Dublin’s oldest chipper and has become a stop for locals, tourists and more than a few celebrities over the years.
Its reputation rests on doing chipper food the traditional way and doing it consistently, which matters in a city where people absolutely have opinions about where to get their chips. The shop’s staying power also says something bigger about Dublin itself: chipper culture is not a side note there. It is woven into everyday life, neighborhood loyalty and the city’s comfort-food memory.
Dublin Comfort in Its Simplest Form
In Ireland, chips are what Americans call fries. Not potato chips from a bag, just fries – usually cut thicker and treated with a little more respect.
In Dublin’s chipper culture, they are central, not an afterthought. A proper portion is hot, hearty and built for malt vinegar, which adds a sharp, malty hit that cuts through the richness of the potato.
It feels instantly recognizable, but the texture, the setting, and the finish make it feel like a real local specialty rather than just another fry order.
Leo Burdock’s Thick-Cut Chips with Malt Vinegar Recipe
From Dublin, Ireland, this chipper classic proves that chips are just fries with better texture, deeper comfort, and a splash of malt vinegar that makes the whole thing snap.
Yield: 4
Ingredients
- 4 large Floury Potatoes Maris Piper, Russet, or Golden Wonder, peeled and cut into thick chips
- 4 cups Beef Drippings or beef drippings mixed with neutral Oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Malt Vinegar for serving
Instructions
- Rinse cut potatoes under cold water to remove excess starch.
- Place chips in a pot of cold salted water. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook 5 - 7 minutes until just tender on the outside but still firm inside.
- Drain carefully and let chips air-dry 10 minutes.
- Heat beef drippings to 325°F.
- Fry chips 4 - 5 minutes until pale and softened. Remove and drain.
- Increase heat to 375 °F.
- Fry chips a second time 3 - 5 minutes until deep golden and crisp.
- Drain briefly and sprinkle immediately with salt.
- Serve hot with generous malt vinegar.
- Eat right away. Chips lose crispness as they cool.
Related Copycat Recipes
- Mayfair Chippy Fish and Chips – Golden, crisp batter gives way to flaky fish and thick-cut chips for a classic British favorite done right.
- O’Charley’s Sweet Potato Fries – Crispy-edged sweet potato fries with a soft center and craveable seasoning
- Burger King Chicken Fries – A snackable favorite that blends juicy chicken with a bold, crunchy coating.
Get All New Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes as Soon as We Publish Them
Just Follow Us on on Your Favorite Social Media Sites and Never Miss a New Recipe.
Stay in Touch, Get More Recipes from All of Our Sites and Help Us Spread the Word about Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes to All Your Friends.
Thank You.
Questions People Ask
Are chips in Ireland the same as french fries?
Yes. In Ireland, chips are what Americans would call fries, though they are often thicker and fluffier inside than standard fast food fries.
What is a chipper in Ireland?
A chipper is a takeaway shop centered on fish and chips and other comfort food favorites. In Ireland, chippers are a long-established part of local food culture.
Why do people put malt vinegar on chips?
Malt vinegar adds a sharp, tangy contrast that brightens the potatoes and balances their richness. It is a classic finish in Irish and British chip shops.
Why is Leo Burdock important in Dublin?
Leo Burdock’s is widely known as Dublin’s oldest chipper and has become one of the city’s best-known traditional food landmarks.
Related Recipes
Texas Roadhouse Steak Fries
This Texas Roadhouse Steak Fries recipe cuts thick potatoes and cooks them until crisp outside and fluffy inside with simple seasoning.
Crispy, hearty, and satisfying.
A casual steakhouse side dish favorite.
Make Texas Roadhouse Steak Fries at Home
Red Robin Garlic Parmesan Fries
This Red Robin Garlic Parmesan Fries recipe tosses crispy fries in garlic butter and finishes them with grated Parmesan.
Rich, savory, and garlicky.
A casual dining side dish favorite.
Make Red Robin Garlic Parmesan Fries at Home
Spotlight Recipes
Red Lobster Fried Catfish
This Red Lobster Fried Catfish recipe fries seasoned catfish fillets until crisp and golden.
Crispy, flaky, and well-seasoned.
A seafood restaurant favorite.
Make Red Lobster Fried Catfish at Home
O’Charley’s Fried Pickle Chips
This O’Charley’s-inspired fried pickle chips recipe coats tangy dill pickle slices in a crisp seasoned batter before frying them golden brown and serving them with a creamy dipping sauce.
Tangy, crunchy, and irresistibly snackable.
A Southern bar-food favorite appetizer.
Make O’Charley’s Fried Pickle Chips at Home
Photo of “Leo Burdock Thick-Cut Chips with Malt Vinegar” created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
Share this Leo Burdock Thick-Cut Chips with Malt Vinegar recipe using the Facebook, X, Pinterest, or Email buttons below.
It takes 10 seconds and helps other home cooks discover a recipe they will actually make.