The best Christmas sambos and specials in Dublin

It's the most wonderful time of the year - especially if you're a foodie.

On top of the festive cheer, twinkling decorations, quality time and special gifts that come with Christmas, the holiday season is also one of the most exciting time when it comes to food.

Aside from the feast of turkey, ham and all the trimmings on the day itself - as well as the prerequisite nibbling in the days that follow - one of the true joys at this time of year is seeing so many cafes launching their takes on the festive flavours of the season.

For the past few weeks, cafes, bakeries and restaurants have been unveiling their Christmas specials, and we've rounded up the best of them here.

Two Pups, Fairview and Dublin 8

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A local favourite when it comes to coffee and pastries, Two Pups always impresses with their foodie options and they've pulled out the stops for Christmas. After a hugely popular run last year, their Christmas toastie is back on the menu, loaded up with tender ham, trimmings and an indulgently gooey slab of potato gratin.

Pitt Bros

If you've always wondered what Ross Geller's "moist maker" sandwich would taste like, look no further. The Friends classic is the inspiration behind Pitt Bros' new collaboration with Bitta Banging: an enormous sandwich loaded with smoked turkey, bacon jam stuffing, Christmas glaze, Brie and garlic cheese sauce, bone marrow gravy and the all-important extra slice of soaked bread in the middle.

Bang Bang, Phibsboro

This bustling cafe is always abuzz at Christmas, and for good reason: as well as selling locally made gifts and homewares and fundraising in aid of Palestine and direct provision throughout the year, at Christmas they serve up some exceptional sambos. This year, they're doing roast turkey breast on herby sourdough stuffing, with roast potatoes, homemade port and orange cranberry sauce, Christmas slaw and rocket. Their veggie version has melty Brie and Vegan version with maple cider baked carrot.

Little Gino's, Stephen's Green

A newer spot on the block, we had high hopes for this sandwich joint's spin on a Christmas sambo and they've gone big on the gravy dip. Their version is served on sourdough bread and loaded with roast turkey, ham, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, brie cheese and comes with a pot of luscious, piping hot gravy.

Urbanity, Smithfield

Every year this chic café and roastery holds their much-anticipated Chrimbo Sambo Slam, with the four cafe chefs facing off against one another with their own festive creations. Making it extra fun, visitors get to choose the winner by voting with their orders. This year's offerings have included a Tayto crusted pulled ham Croquette with brie cheese, cranberry and chilli sauce; confit duck leg, brussels sprouts and cranberry slaw with orange vinaigrette, duck fat and plum aioli; and more.

They're also serving a 'festive' organic scrambled eggs with sausage and sage crumble, Brussels sprout, scallion sour cream, Tartine organic sourdough.

Chimac, Aungier St

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In a world of Christmas sandwiches, how do you stand out? With a Christmas fried chicken burger, of course. The Korean fried chicken spot is serving their 16 hour brined free range chicken prepared with a stuffing infused dredge, cooked "twice to be nice", and topped with cranberry mayo, Brussel sprout kimchi, sriracha candied bacon. It's all served with a side of gravy for dunking or drizzling.

Donnybrook Fair, Donnybrook

If you can't get into town for Chimac's creations, drop into Donnybrook Fair, which is doing a collaboration with the Korean fried chicken masters this Christmas. Their sambo includes freshly carved Irish rotisserie chicken and @chimacdublin famous Korean BBQ sauce, all sandwiched between slices of organic sourdough with red slaw, melted cheese and baby greens.

Bread 41, Pearse St and Greystones

As one of the most ambitious and celebrated bakeries in the country, it's not surprising that Bread 41 are serving a veritable feast of festive delights this year. Top of our list is their sambo, filled with ham, house maple mustard dressing, stuffing, mixed leaves and cranberry sauce, all wrapped up in some fresh foccacia.

Perky's, Raheny

This neighbourhood spot seems to go viral on social media every Christmas thanks to its the marshmallow-topped Christmas hot chocolate, but their sambos are just as decadent. Their festive sambo includes hand carved tender roast turkey and thick sliced ham, housemade crispy pancetta and onion stuffing, brie, mayo and cranberry sauce on sourdough, while their veggie option features butter bean hummus, leek and chestnut stuffing, pickled red onion, vegan mayo and cranberry sauce on sourdough.

Alma, Portobello

There's almost always a line out the door at this chic neighbourhood cafe, and we expected it'll be even longer this month as they serve up their take on a Christmas sambo. This mighty creation has slow-cooked pulled turkey in cranberry jus, miso-glazed Brussels sprouts, apple and sage stuffing, brie cheese, and mulled spiced kraut on organic tartine ciabatta.