Sometimes referred to as ‘Irish Chinese Takeaway,’ there’s a fusion food that’s grown to be extremely popular ‘across the pond,’ but until this week, finding it in Colorado was impossible.

The dish is commonly referred to as a ‘spice bag,’ a fast food-style dish that’s served in Ireland and inspired by Asian cuisine. It generally consists of thicker fries (or ‘chips’), shredded peppers, chicken, and a variety of spices, tossed in a bag and served with a side of curry sauce. It hasn’t been a thing for too long – 10 or 15 years – but in that time, it’s developed a bit of a cult following, often billed as the perfect ‘hangover cure.’ The hype has even reached Colorado, too, with multiple online posts showing how people have tried and failed to track down the dish locally in the past.

I’ll admit – I’d never heard of this dish before a local Colorado Springs restaurant called Codswallop announced that they were adding it to the menu, billing their spot as the only place to find a true ‘spice bag’ in Colorado. Located on the west side of the city in the Old Colorado City area, Codswallop’s menu of fish, chips, and meat pies is a collection of British cuisine – the ‘spice bag’ being an Irish dish bucked that trend. I had to give it a try.

Codswallop is mainly a grab-and-go spot, though there are a few small tables inside for dining. Its walls and windows are adorned with British memorabilia and a section of British items not found in the typical Colorado grocery store is tucked into the corner. It’s ‘authentic’ British, from the menu to the vibe.

After waiting for my lunch break all day, I popped away from my keyboard and made the drive to Codswallop with a ‘spice bag’ on my mind.

Once inside, I heard Irish accents around me, all of whom were giving the new offering a try. The scent of curry wafted through the air, making me even hungrier than when I had arrived.

Soon, I had my own ‘spice bag’ on the way, and while I waited, I made conversation with two Irish women regarding what the best approach toward eating the dish would be. I was told some people prefer to keep the curry on the side and use it for dipping, some pour the curry directly into the bag and give it a shake, and others opt to rip the bag open and drizzle the curry on top – I’d soon choose the latter option.

Within a few minutes, I had my ‘spice bag’ in hand and was headed home to give it a try.

Moments after walking in the door, I tore the bag open.

Steam poured out and I added my curry to the top of the mixture. It was looking something like a poutine, though with peppers and chicken instead of cheese curds and curry instead of the standard brown gravy. I grabbed a fork and dug in.

After chowing down, I understand the hype – and I’d have to imagine, it is indeed, a great cure for a hangover. Between the spice blend, the curry, and the peppers, the dish was full of flavor, and the fries with the chunks of fried chicken strips provided a good variety with each bite.

With a menu price of $13, I’d say the Codswallop ‘spice bag’ is definitely worth it. It’s delicious, it’s filling, and if you’re someone like me who craves curry on a regular basis, it’ll get you your fix.

Don’t forget about the other menu items at Codswallop either – they’re best known for their ‘fish and chips,’ with fish options being hake, cod, and haddock.

Sausage rolls, ‘proper pork pies,’ and other traditional British items can be found on the menu, too.

Learn more about Codswallop and check out the menu here.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)