The best food in Budapest: What to eat and where

The best food in Budapest: What to eat and where

Taste your way through the best food in Budapest, from crunchy lángos to delicious variants of goulash.

Sitting at the intersection of Turkish, Austrian, Balkan, and even Italian cuisines, Budapest has some of the most interesting dishes in Central Europe. Meat, soups, and dough in different forms are staples, with dishes like lángos, goulash, or krémes helping you to stay full and happy throughout the day.

Food in Budapest is famous for including paprika — considered the national spice of Hungary — and is hearty enough to sustain you even on a pub crawl through Budapest. From fisherman’s soup to chimney cakes, here are 10 traditional foods to try when visiting Hungary’s capital.

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As versatile as it is affordable, goulash is a regular fixture on breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus in Budapest.

1. Goulash

One of the best foods to start your day, goulash is a spicy beef and vegetable stew served with fresh bread. It’s a regular fixture on breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus and very affordable if you’re visiting Budapest on a budget.

How to eat the best goulash in Budapest?

Goulash should be thick and rich. If you’re struggling with the spice levels, a side of sour cream will help. Gettó Gulyás, in the old Jewish Quarter close to the Dohany Street Synagogue, is one of the city’s most famous places to try it, known for its traditional recipe.

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photo: Chris Potako

A staple at festivals and festive markets, paprikash gets its name from paprika, a beloved ingredient in Hungary.

2. Chicken paprikash

Chicken paprikash is a popular food known for its rich, creamy sauce and tender chicken. It gets its signature flavor from paprika, a key ingredient in Hungarian cuisine. It’s typically served with noodles or dumplings, making it a hearty and satisfying meal.

How to eat the best chicken paprikash in Budapest?

Look for traditional restaurants in the Jewish Quarter or the fifth district (Belváros-Lipótváros) like Menza or Kőleves Vendéglő. Paprikash is also popular at food festivals and festive markets during Christmas in Budapest.

Explorer Budapest’s Jewish Quarter

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The much-loved creamy fisherman’s soup is best enjoyed on the banks of the River Danube.

3. Fisherman’s soup

If you’re looking for a hearty and satisfying meal before taking on Budapest’s many landmarks, the much-loved creamy fisherman’s soup (halászlé) will keep you going for hours. It’s made with fish marinated in paprika and vegetables, cooked in a tomato-based broth, and typically served with bread.

How to eat the best fisherman’s soup in Budapest?

Choose fresh bread to dip in the broth and soak up all the flavors. While fisherman’s soup can be found everywhere in Budapest, the Central Market Hall and along the Danube River banks have some of the best places to try.

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Deep-fried lángos are a staple of Budapest's growing street food scene.

4. Lángos

One of Budapest’s most famous street snacks, lángos is a deep-fried flatbread topped with sweet or savory ingredients, like cheese, sour cream, garlic sauce, or sugar and cinnamon. It’s perfect for a light meal on the go.

How to eat the best lángos in Budapest?

You can find lángos stalls all over the city, but for some of the freshest and crunchiest versions, the best Budapest neighborhoods to try them are Király Utca and Andrássy Avenue. If it’s on the menu, try tejfölös lángos, a type made with cheese and sour cream toppings.

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photo: Nikola Smernic

Chimney cake, the Hungarian dessert, is crafted by wrapping a strip of dough around a cylindrical mould before baking.

5. Chimney cake

Kürtőskalács is a type of pastry popular all over Hungary and a must-eat during your first time in Budapest. It is so versatile that you can have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is made with sweet dough slowly rolled over the fire and can be enjoyed plain or covered with toppings such as sugar, chocolate flakes, cinnamon, or nuts.

How to eat the best chimney cake in Budapest?

With versatility comes choice. Although the dough recipe is similar everywhere, the toppings vary. You can choose from classic cinnamon to chocolate, vanilla, nuts, or dried fruit, and add ice cream or fruit for extra flavor. Join one of Budapest’s cooking classes to learn how to make your own.

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Every region of Hungary prides itself on its unique dobos torte recipe.

6. Drummer cake

Dobos torte is a cake with multiple layers of dough separated by chocolate and nuts. Sweet and filling, it is often served with coffee or tea for afternoon tea in Budapest.

How to eat the best drummer cake in Budapest?

Every region of Hungary prides itself on its unique dobos torte recipe. For the best in Budapest, visit Cafe Gerbeaud or the Daubner pastry shop.

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Hungary is known for its flavorful and satisfying stews like lecsó.

7. Lecsó

Lecsó is another popular Hungarian stew made with vegetables and sausage — although you can get a vegetarian-friendly version if you prefer. It is a popular local street food and a great snack to keep you going while sightseeing in Budapest.

How to eat the best lecsó in Budapest?

Seek out stalls on the famous Király Street and Andrássy Avenue that serve it fresh, and ask for extra sausage and vegetables if you’re looking for a heartier portion.

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photo: Nan Palmero

The Great Market Hall is one of Budapest's largest indoor markets and boasts neo-Gothic architecture and Hungarian classics.

8. Jókai bean soup

A hearty soup made with beans, smoked meat, vegetables, pasta, paprika and other spices, jókai bableves is a local favorite. This comforting dish is perfect for a cold day and is often served in traditional restaurants across Budapest in winter.

How to eat the best jokai bableves in Budapest?

Year-round, the best jókai bableves can be found in traditional Hungarian restaurants or csárdas in Budapest’s fifth and seventh districts. In the wintertime, it’s also popular at many of Budapest’s markets and food festivals.

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photo: Robert Lender

Budapest enjoys a thriving pastry culture thanks to its iconic custard-filled krémes.

9. Krémes

There are desserts, and then there’s krémes, a classic Hungarian dessert layering flaky puff pastry with a rich and creamy custard. It’s a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth visiting Hungary.

How to eat the best krémes in Budapest?

To sample the best krémes in Budapest, head to Ruszwurm Cukrászda. Located in the historic Buda Castle district, this famous pastry shop has delighted customers with its exquisite pastries for centuries.

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No trip to Budapest, especially during winter, would be complete without sampling some of its must-eat stews and soups.

10. Pörkölt

Another one for your must-eat list of stews and soups, pörkölt is a slow-simmered, flavorful Hungarian stew, often made with beef or pork, onions, and paprika. You can feel the Italian influence, as pörkölt, similar to the goulash and chicken paprika, is also typically served with noodles or dumplings.

How to eat the best pörkölt in Budapest?

Popular among locals and tourists, pörkölt is a regular fixture at the city’s many traditional Hungarian restaurants, such as Kőleves Vendéglő in the historic Jewish Quarter.

FAQs:

Where to find the best street food in Budapest?

Budapest is famous for its budget-friendly street food, and streets like Király and Andrássy Avenue are excellent starting points for foodie adventures.

Are there any vegetarian foods to try?

Traditionally, food in Budapest is meat-heavy, but vegetarian dishes, such as lángos and kürtőskalács, and variants of the popular chicken paprikash are available.

What is the dining etiquette in Budapest?

While restaurants often provide cutlery, eating with your hands is common and perfectly acceptable for many dishes, especially street food or stews that you might want to dip your bread in to savor every last drop.

What is the best time of the year to visit Budapest for food lovers?

With a cuisine so focused on warming soups and stews, the best time to visit Budapest is during the colder months, from November to March, so you can really feel the benefit.

How much should I budget for food in Budapest?

Budapest caters to all tastes and budgets, from street food cheap eats to fine-dining experiences. Expect to spend between HUF1,500 – HUF2,000 ($20-$30) per person per day if you’re savoring the city’s street food or as much as HUF6,500+ ($80+) for fancier plates.

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