The votes are in – these are the 16 best homemade sausage rolls in Cork
Is there a food more perfect than the sausage roll?
Moist, juicy meat wrapped neatly in a warm, crisp jacket of flaky pastry, steaming through a brown paper bag on a cold day… this is a portable snack that, if you ask us, does not get enough recognition.
The jury’s out on whether they’re a breakfast food or a lunchtime thing (they make a fine dinner too, to be fair) but the one thing we can all agree on is that the sausage roll, whether stuffed with traditional fillings or veggie alternatives, fresh from the oven or dunked in a dollop of Ballymaloe Relish, is an important fixture on the Cork food scene.
In fact, it’s probably more important than you think.
When we put the call out and asked our readers to tell us who they believe produces the best sausage roll in Cork, the votes came in thick and fast, together with many a (mildly aggressive) proclamation that none other than their local sausage roll seller could possibly secure the top spot.
With that in mind, we decided to name the top 16 cafés, restaurants, and caterers that received by far the most votes, as well as one overall winner for 2021/2022.
Here’s the full roll call – we challenge you to try them all:
View this post on Instagram
OVERALL WINNER
ALCHEMY
Barrack Street, Cork, and The Marina Market
Paired with a strong 3fe coffee, Alchemy’s famous house sausage rolls are scientifically proven to alleviate a hangover, so do get up before the crowds if you want to bag one at the weekend. Ours is a pork, leek, and apple roll, dunked in Ballymaloe relish, devoured on a picnic table on the cobbles outside with a flat white chaser.
The mushroom and herb is as moist and delicious as their black pudding flavour, which is saying something.
View this post on Instagram
SONNY’S DELI
Where: Albert Road, Cork City
Sonny’s sensational sausage rolls are made with pork, fresh thyme, Timo cheddar and caramelised onion in an all-butter pastry. Oh – and they’re served with homemade chipotle ketchup for dipping.
View this post on Instagram
LISHH CAFE
Where: South Douglas Road, Cork
These hefty meaty monsters are a breakfast must-have for locals. People go absolutely wild for them. Get there early to snap them up fresh from the oven. If you’re buying for a crowd you can put your order in beforehand too.
View this post on Instagram
PINK MOON
Where: Washington Street, Cork
Down on Washington Street, Pink Moon’s Vegan Rolls are stuffed with Moroccan spiced shredded carrot and diced flat mushroom and served with jalapeno and raspberry jam – marvellous stuff altogether.
For the carnivores, there’s spiced black and white pudding in a flaky puffed pastry.
View this post on Instagram
THE VILLAGE DELI
Where: Kerrypike
Okay so it’s not technically a sausage roll but the Village Deli’s mini spicy empanadas are a gloriously delicious take on the classic – inside you’ll find West Cork Wagyu and smoked cheese.
Their traditional sausage rolls are a fresh slice of heaven too.
View this post on Instagram
DIVA BOUTIQUE BAKERY
Where: Ballinspittle
You haven’t tasted a sausage roll until you’ve devoured one piping hot from a paper bag while sitting on the beach at Garrettsown. No matter what the weather is doing, you can guarantee a warm front if you swing by DIVA in Ballinspittle before you hit the sand.
The pork rolls are free-range and the veggie options are always moist and moreish so don’t skimp.
View this post on Instagram
DUKES COFFEE
Where: Carey’s Lane and City Gate, Mahon
The meat-free sausage roll at Duke’s was the top choice for many a Yay Cork reader – this vegan-friendly bake is made with chickpea, almond and Quorn. They do a lovely traditional pork version too and both come three in a bag for €8.
View this post on Instagram
ORSO
Where: Pembroke Street, Cork
Everything that emerges from this little city kitchen is delicious so it’s no surprise their sausage roll was a top pick for many of our readers. Baked fresh daily, the homemade free-range sausage roll at ORSO is on the breakfast menu from 8.30am.
View this post on Instagram
THE GRUMPY BAKERS
Where: Broderick Street, Midleton
They might be grumpy by name, but trust us; when it comes to sausage rolls The Grumpy Bakers’ bakes are as joyous as they come. The meaty version involves Grumpy’s puff pastry with Murphy’s free-range sausage meat, dunked in Ballymaloe Relish for the perfect East Cork breakfast.
They also do a mean chickpea nut roll and Mexican black bean roll.
View this post on Instagram
FIG & OLIVE
Where: Scartagh, Clonakilty
In Clon for lunch? Lucky you. Make a beeline for Fig & Olive where their Clonakilty Blackpudding sausage rolls are served with skinny fries and salad.
Their chickpea and feta rolls are also delicious, served with Folláin Exotic Fruit Relish.
View this post on Instagram
TWENTY
Where: Anglesea Street, Cork
This buzzy city sandwich bar is known for its massive stuffed bread rolls and sambos, but locals swear by their breakfast sausage roll – golden, crisp, and oven warm.
View this post on Instagram
JOES & BROS
Where: Winthrop Arcade, off Oliver Plunkett Street
The perfect warming brekkie on a chilly morning, Joe’s & Bros’ get the day rolling with West Cork Black Pudding and jalapeno sausage mix, baked into fresh pastry.
View this post on Instagram
CINNAMON COTTAGE
Where: Monastery Road, Rochestown
In Rochestown, Cinnamon Cottage is the place to go for your sausage roll fix. Their crisp, flaky pastry is stuffed with moist meaty sausage for a roll that will keep you going ’til dinner.
View this post on Instagram
ON THE PIG’S BACK
Where: St Patrick’s Mill Douglas
With a name like that, the sausage roll at On the Pig’s Back was always going to be superior. Oven-baked with caramelised red pepper relish, the sausage meat in these tasty rolls is sourced from Mc Carthy’s butcher in Kanturk.
View this post on Instagram
THE ROCKET MAN
Where: Mahon Point Market (Thursdays) Douglas Market (Saturdays)
Made with free-range Irish pork, apple and sage and served up with mouthwatering banana ketchup, The Rocket Man’s rustic sausage rolls are best eaten immediately from the paper bag.
Pick up one of their lentil and feta rolls for tea too.
View this post on Instagram
UNION GRIND
Where: Union Quay
Over on Union Quay, the meaty sausage rolls at Union Grind make a fine al fresco breakfast beside the river. Grab a table in the scenic seating area and kick back with a coffee to start the day as you mean to continue.
