A Wetherspoons customer tried the Irish takeaway staple, a spice bag, from the menu and has described it in one word
Abigail Nicholson Content Editor
08:47, 15 May 2026
A view of a Wetherspoon external Signage(Image: Peter Dazeley, Peter Dazeleyvia Getty Images)
Spice bags, a staple on Chinese takeaway menus throughout Ireland, have crossed the Irish Sea in recent years. Drawing inspiration from Chinese cooking, the dish typically features deep-fried salt and chilli chips, chicken and red and green peppers combined with a blend of spices.
The meal has become essential eating for visitors to Ireland, with celebrities such as Lizzo actively seeking them out. More recently, numerous establishments in Britain have begun offering spice bags after sampling them and witnessing their growing appeal.
JD Wetherspoon, the chain operating almost 800 venues across the UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, has embraced the trend.
The pub group initially launched spice bags as part of a St Patrick’s Day special menu, though many branches have since made them a permanent fixture owing to customer demand.
One Wetherspoon regular, who has sampled over 30 spice bags from 11 different pubs across one area in the UK, has delivered their one-word assessment of the menu item.
The Reddit user posted their enthusiasm about the spice bag in the r/Wetherspoons community, titling their post “Spice Bag…… Heaven!’
They wrote: “I’m about to enjoy my 31st Spice Bag….. In 11 different Spoons around Kent…. And I always ask for extra of the dry spice! It’s the best thing on the menu and I’m so glad it’s staying for a while!”
“Maybe 3 or 4 things in 49 years have made me this happy! Cheers Tim Babes!” Other diners, however, weren’t quite as enthusiastic about the dish, with several commenters expressing their dissatisfaction.
One customer remarked: “I was really interested to try it but was disappointed with the handful of chips and some nuggets of chicken with a few pieces of chopped chilli and some seasoning shaked on top. It was all just a bit meh.”
The original poster responded: “That’s a shame for sure…. each time I’ve had it, I can honestly say that the portion has been decent as a great snack to get me through 3 pints!”
Another diner commented: “I went to Dublin in December and fell it love with spice bags. Had it twice at two different spoons since and they are not bad… but not great either.”
A third contributor, seemingly employed by the pub chain, revealed: “I’m glad our customers enjoy it, while we on occasion get annoyed making it. Just annoying especially if you’re working the line solo with other different plates waiting to be sorted out as well.”
A fourth reviewer observed: “It tastes so nice, but it’s also far too dry. If they could find a way to make it less dry, it would genuinely be the best thing on the menu.”