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Where to eat in Budapest
The Budapest dining scene has boomed in recent years, embracing a wealth of international cuisines in the process. With Budapest’s traditional cooking so hearty, comforting and paprika-loaded, however, why would you want to eat anything else during your stay?
Meat dishes and comfort food dominate, with goose liver pâté, smoked pork knuckle, fried beef sirloin and roast goose leg among the dishes you can expect to find on the menu.
Favoured dishes are often served with stuffed or pickled vegetables, followed by a gleefully calorific strudel or sponge cake, so save room for dessert!
Meat dishes and comfort food dominate, with goose liver pâté, smoked pork knuckle, fried beef sirloin and roast goose leg among the dishes you can expect to find on the menu.
Favoured dishes are often served with stuffed or pickled vegetables, followed by a gleefully calorific strudel or sponge cake, so save room for dessert!
Travel Information
Language: Hungarian | Currency: Forint (Ft) | Local time: (UTC+1:00) | Average flight time: 2 hrs
Where to eat in Budapest
The Castle District buzzes with tourist-pleasing restaurants, many catering to an international palate.
For the widest variety of cuisines you’re best off heading to Erzsébetváros, where you can dine on anything from kosher food to fine French cuisine.
For hearty Hungarian dishes, Budapest’s dining spots in the Gellert Hill region and along the river include a number of traditional eateries.
In the heart of the city, it’s no surprise that Óbuda is home to the most historical restaurants in Budapest, while in Buda itself, meals are usually barbecued and served al fresco. If you want to splurge, some of the best places in Budapest for upmarket dining are the restaurants in Belváros and City Park.
Hungarian dishes to try
Somewhere between a soup and stew, Hungarian goulash (gulyás, as locals say), is usually a mix of beef, onions and tomatoes spiced with Hungary’s ‘Red Gold’ paprika. The spice is an essential ingredient in Budapest food, with the average resident wolfing down 500g every year. It’s rich in vitamin C, containing even more than an orange, so make like a local and have it in everything!
Soups feature heavily on menus in Budapest restaurants, made with the likes of catfish and tomatoes, or beans and meat.
Another great dish to look out for in Budapest is csirke paprikas, chicken cooked with, yes, you guessed it, paprika and served with pasta or dumplings.
For an afternoon snack, try a strudel or a dobos torta – a chocolate and cream cake.
Eat like a local
Most folks here start the day with little more than a hot drink, saving their biggest meal for lunch or dinnertime. Leisurely three-course lunches are the norm in rural areas on Budapest’s fringes.
As for where to eat Budapest’s traditional cuisine, look for a vendéglő if you want regional, home-style cooking, or a csárda, where you’ll find rustic dishes and traditional music.
