Hungary » Dining in Budapest

There are more than 1000 restaurants in Budapest that equally offer meals of the Hungarian and International Cuisine. The nature of the traditionally heavy and spicy Hungarian Cuisine was influenced by the sophisticated tastes of the French, Italian, Turkish and Serb Cuisine. The paprika is often related being characteristic to the Hungarian Cuisine. The truth is that paprika is the basic matter of lots of Hungarian dishes.

The most important Hungarian specialties are, goulash soup, chicken paprika, Hortobagy pancake, porkolt, stuffed cabbage, fish soup, sweet-water fishes, goose liver, flat egg-noodles and the deserts like Gundel pancake, Somloi galuska and chestnut puree. Budapest also has a significant storing and bottling capacity. There are lots of wine stores and wine tasting places in Budapest.

These are the different choices of food available in Budapest along with the names of the places from where you will get them:

Hungarian

For traditional Hungarian fare, and the social lubricant of a gypsy band, head to the famous Gundel behind Hősők tere, the Museum Kávéház next to the National Gallery, or the beautiful Kárpátia on Ferenciek tere. Raday utca, off Kálvin tér on the blue M3 metro, has recently grown into restaurant hotspot, and the Vörös Postakocsi serves up delicious Hungarian specialities. There are also plenty of Hungarian restaurants in the Buda Hills, such as the Náncsi Néni vendéglő.

On a tight budget

Small buffet restaurants are a good bet for traditional food on the run. The food is usually on display, you should be able to get what you want. Even without the delicious traditional food, Kádár, on Klauzal tér at the heart of the former Jewish quarter, is an essential dining experience. It has friendly service combined with appealingly old world touches.

Vegetarian

Hungary is a nation of meat lovers, but most the restaurants offer fried Camembert or mushrooms for veggie visitors. There are also a number of high-quality specialist vegetarian restaurants in Budapest, including Vegetárium in Cukor utca in District V, Wabisabi and Govinda.

International

Baraka is the place to go for international cuisine. Páva is the elegant restaurant in the elite Four Seasons Gresham Palace is renowned as one of the best in Hungary and the hotel's coffee shop is also one of the most modish. The eclectic African décor of Mokka, just around the corner from the Basilika, may not reflect the delicious French and Mediterranean food on the menu. Just around the corner from Mokka, Tom & George and Leroy offer great food in a sophisticated yet soothing environment.