What’s your first thought when imagining what to eat in Budapest? Is it the thick goulash, mountains of spätzle, or packed plates of pickled vegetables? How about a zesty cheese soup and an ice cold beer at a ruin bar? The food in Budapest is hearty, flavorful, and will always leave you wanting more. Whether you’re traveling through Budapest on a budget or looking for some lavish meals, our Budapest food guide will take you on a tour of one of Europe’s most underrated cities!
Discovering the Best Food in Budapest Hungary
The famous city was the first stop on our Hungarian adventure, and we were ready to dive into what we heard was an amazing food scene. With not much research done beforehand, we roamed the streets hoping we’d be able to hunt down all the good stuff.
This article combines all the delicious meals we ate in between the best things to do in Budapest. Also, be sure to check out the famous spas like Szechenyi Thermal Bath & Gellert Baths on your visit!
What to Eat In Budapest Hungary
Coffee & Breakfast
Where: Central Market Hall
Order: Dish of Choice (We Loved the Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Sauerkraut)
Open Hours: 6am-6pm
Location: Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093
Visiting the Central Market Hall is an experience in itself, and the perfect place to start your Budapest food tour. On the second level of the market you will find multiple stalls and restaurants specializing in all the traditional food of Hungary. With so many options it can be overwhelming choosing something, but you really can’t go wrong.
We started off with a Hungarian treat… A shot of espresso and mound of freshly whipped cream! After that, we indulged in a hearty breakfast of stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut. Not the typical morning meal I know… Yet when searching for what to eat in Budapest there’s no time for messing around!
Traditional Food in Budapest For Lunch
Where: Tabáni Gösser Étterem
Order: Roast Duck & Goulash
Open Hours: 12pm-10pm
Location: Budapest, Attila út 19, 1013 Hungary
When it’s time for lunch, head over the bridge to the Buda side of the city! Tabáni Gösser Étterem serves hearty traditional Hungarian food that we just couldn’t get enough of.
We can never pass up a roast duck, and this one came with all the fixings. We also recommend ordering a veal or chicken goulash with spaetzle on your visit.
Tabáni Gösser Étterem makes for the perfect place to stop before or after visiting the Buda Castle. You’ll also want to check out Fisherman’s Bastion for epic views of the city!
Afternoon Snack
Where: Retro Lángos Budapest
Order: Lángos Topped with Sour Cream and Cheese
Open Hours: 11am to 10pm
Location: Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 25, 1065 Hungary
When searching for what to eat in Budapest you may need a doughy snack! If you haven’t heard about the Langos, get ready to throw away all your ideas of what fried dough should be. This is a staple of the city and no Budapest food guide would be complete without it.
They can be found at many restaurants and snack shops throughout area, specifically near the pubs. A large piece of dough is fried and topped with almost anything you could imagine. We kept it simple with the traditional Langos, sauced up with sour cream and a mound of cheese.
The ONLY thing we would say is that if you’re not hungry for an afternoon snack this also makes a great post-ruin bar treat after you’ve enjoyed some drinks. We even had an amazing langos at the Budapest Christmas Market this past winter!
International Dinner
Order: Hummus Plate
Open Hours: 10am-1am
Location: Mazel Tov- Budapest, Akácfa u. 47, 1072 Hungary
Budapest is very culturally diverse so we wanted to highlight one meal that isn’t traditional to the country. Middle Eastern food is wildly popular in Hungary and can been seen all over the city.
Mazel Tov not only holds the title as being the most upscale ruin bar, but it’s also crazy popular. We stopped in for dinner once and actually had to come back another night because they were completely full!
Most people around us were ordering the falafel pita, but we would recommend getting hummus and an assortment of other dips and vegetables as well. If you can’t get a reservation or if you’re traveling through Budapest on a budget, the Hummus Bar is a great alternative. We ate at both and they are amazing in their own special ways.
Dessert
Where: Any Chimney Stand in the City
Order: Kürtőskalács – Hungarian Chimney Cake
Don’t worry, we saved the best for last on our Budapest food tour! The Hungarian chimney cake is made by wrapping dough around a thick wooden spool then baking it. Typically it’s cooked over a fire, but you will also see this done in large glass ovens.
Now to say we wen’t a little overboard on our first one is probably an understatement… The dessert is so rich in itself that you might not need the Oreo ice cream filling we got. We actually would have preferred whip cream so it didn’t melt all over us. Nevertheless, with it’s crisp exterior and soft doughy center your only issue will be what toppings you want.
Ruin Bar Drinks
Where: Szimpla Kert & More Ruin Bars
Order: Cherry Beer
Open Hours: 12pm-4am Daily Except Sunday 9am-4pm
Location: Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075
Truly the ruin bars are unlike any other nightlife scene we’ve experienced. The brilliant concept has turned abandoned buildings into funky bars that double as music venues and art spaces.
The original ruin bar Szimpla Kert is the most exciting of all, and a must see after figuring out what to eat in Budapest. Each room has everything from bathtubs to jungle trees, ladders, and even massive boat sails! Go early to beat the crowds and really explore this ruin bar while sipping on your drink of choice.
Once you’re done at Szimpla Kert you’ll be in the heart of the Jewish Quarter which has all the best pubs and bars in the city. They’re also perfect for people visiting Budapest on a budget as beer and wine prices range from 1-3 Euros. Cheers!
Have any questions on our Budapest food guide or your own tips to add to our self-guided Budapest food tour? Please let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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Planning a Hungary trip and adding this post to my list. Thank you.
Anytime! So much delicious food in Budapest. Enjoy!