Discover Delicious Food in Budapest, Hungary

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 01:01 pm

A big part of traveling means all the special and traditional food a new location has to offer. If you’re going to be in Budapest, there are certain things you will absolutely need to try such as Langos and Kürtőskalács. But, what are those? How does one even pronounce those names? And where can you try them? Read on to discover more about fun bars, delicious street foods, and great restaurants you can experience during your stay in Budapest.

****Disclaimer: Always be sure to check the entry rules and regulations for Hungary before booking any part of your experience.

1. The Famous Ruin Bars of Budapest

Visiting the ruin bars is one of the most fun and unique things to do during your time in Budapest. Here, you will discover the new life that has been breathed into old, neglected buildings in the old Jewish ghetto. In recent years, they have been transformed into quirky, cool places to enjoy cheap drinks, delicious food, and a unique bohemian ambiance in Budapest. (In addition, one of the things I really love is how many of these businesses focus a lot on sustainability!)

Szempla Kert

The most first and most famous of these is Szimpla Kert (pictured above). If you are looking for a fun, hip, bohemian place, than Szimpla Kert is where it is at. Here you will find a unique ambiance as well as great ways to interact with the culture (see the next section below). There are also regular concerts that you can learn more about on their website.

As you might imagine, this place can get pretty packed, so my husband and I went rather early in the evening (5pm) on a weekday. We had no problems getting our drinks quickly at the bar downstairs and then we headed upstairs to get a little snack. Since it wasn’t crowded we felt like we had time and space to really take it all in: the interesting words, phrases, and drawings on the walls, the random bathtubs you can sit in to enjoy your drink, the graffitied remains of a broken-down car, the upstairs garden, and more. I can’t really say that I’ve been anywhere quite like it before and I definitely think it’s worth checking out if you are in Budapest.

Szimpla Kert is More Than Just a Bar:

On Sundays from 9am -2pm you can visit the Szimpla Kert Farmer’s Market. Here you can explore homemade and homegrown food items. On the second floor, you can discover the unlimited Szimpla Brunch.
There are regular concerts as well as folk dance nights that happen at Szimpla Kert.
Szimpla even has its own design shop where you can discover eco-friendly products, many of which are made with recycled materials. If you are looking for a unique souvenir, this is absolutely the place to go.

Mozel Tov

Oh man, Mozel Tov was INCREDIBLE. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting thanks to the garden-like atmosphere that has been created. So much thoughtfulness and love has been poured into this place, you would hardly believe that this is considered a “ruin bar”. But, here you can find a well stocked bar and many special events and concerts throughout the week.

When we arrived, there was a a little bit of a line at the door. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and we did not. So, she went to check if there was a place for us. As it turns out, there was. I was so relieved because it was our last night in Budapest and our last chance to eat here.

It was absolutely worth it. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious and tasted so fresh and wonderful. My husband loved his sandwich (and to be honest, I loved it too, but he only let me try a bite of it. lol!). My falafel was crispy and perfectly seasoned. And, the deserts were fantastic. I’m sure just by looking at the photos, you can see that this was some of the most delicious food we had in Budapest.

When we left, the line outside had tripled in length. But, both my husband and I agreed that we would have waited as long as it took to eat there because it was just that good. My recommendation to you is: don’t leave it to chance, call ahead and make a reservation for yourself!

To preview their menu, check out their website and check out their facebook page for more information on special events and their specials menu.

Other Ruin Bars to Visit

Instant-Fogas Complex – this is the place to party. With 7 dance floors, 18 bars, and an exciting event calendar, you will have a crazy fun night here!
Grandio – This is a hostel and a ruin pub all in one. Grandio is particularly known for its garden area where you can have a drink and meet both fellow travelers and locals.
Dürer Kert – this ruin bar is little off the beaten path and will take some effort to get to. But, it will be worth it for the drinks, the music, and the courtyard area. Here, you have the opportunity to play table tennis, foosball, and other games.

2. Delicious Street Food in Budapest

Lángos

If you are visiting Budapest, you should be sure to find somewhere to try the local street food: Lángos. This unusual dish traditionally involves a fried dough (kind of similar to funnel cake) topped with sour cream, cheese, red onions, and bacon. Nowadays, you can find this dish with a large variety of different toppings to suit every palate.

Retro Lángos

We ate our Lángos a little restaurant called Retro Langos and I would absolutely recommend it. The service was fast, the food was well priced, and the restaurant has a really nice, retro atmosphere.

Kürtőskalács (Transliteration: kurtosh kalach)

The famed Kürtőskalács, or “Chimney Cake” is an absolute must during your visit. This traditional cake is believed to have originated in the medieval era in the Hungarian speaking region of Székely Land. As you can see in the photo below, it is prepared in a somewhat unusual way. The bread is wrapped around a cylinder and baked over a charcoal fire. Once it is finished baking, it is coated in sugar and/or the toppings of your choice. There are many places that sell them throughout the city. While you can find them served up in all kinds of tasty ways, my personal favorite will always be the more basic version: coated in sugar and cinnamon.

If you do happen to be visiting during the holiday season, nothing compares to enjoying your own delectable, steaming hot Chimney Cake, covered in cinnamon and sugar at one of the local Christmas markets.

3. Delicious Restaurants in Budapest

Korhely Faloda & Daloda Restaurant

This adorable and yummy restaurant is located just across from the Franz Liszt Academy. Here you will find many traditional Hungarian dishes including Goulash, Lecho with Sausage (pictured above), fancy versions of Lángos with duck, and more. Please note that the portions are quite large and it is possible to share many of the dishes between two people. Of, if you can’t decide, you could order a number of different things and split all the dishes with the members of your party. That way, you could all taste multiple dishes. Of course, remember to save some room for dessert at the end!!

***As a bonus, they have often have live music here! To preview the menu click here!

Indian Palate Restaurant

One thing that my husband and I LOVE to do when we travel is find the best Indian restaurant in town. So, if you are looking for something at a different pace, I recommend the delicious food at Indian Palate in Budapest. It is a bit on the fancier and slightly more expensive side when it comes to Indian restaurants. But, everything that we tried was perfectly spiced and cooked to perfection. We especially loved the salmon appetizer that was on the specials menu when we visited.

This is a popular restaurant, so if you decide you’d like to eat here, I recommend making a reservation ahead of time!

In Conclusion

I hope that you enjoy these delicious food recommendations for your upcoming trip to Budapest! And if you’ve been to Budapest and you have your own recommendations, please add them in the comments below! 😀

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine