When people consider traveling to Budapest, food doesnât seem to come up on the list often as a reason to visit.
The epic parliament building? Yes. Ruin bars? Sure. Thermal baths? Of course.
But forgetting about the delights of Hungarian cuisine is a shame–because there is so much delicious food in Budapest.
Sure, the names can get kind of long and difficult to pronounce for English speakers (kĂŒrtĆskalĂĄcs, anyone?), but Hungarian food itself is varied, often rich, and virtually always delicious.
If you donât want to go hungry in Hungary (forgive me, I couldnât just leave that there), hereâs all the best food in Budapest–good luck deciding what to eat!
Table of Contents
How to Try a Wide Variety of Hungarian Foods At Once
Want to sample several of the best foods in Budapest in one fell swoop, or simply want to be able to try small bites of each so you donât accidentally order something you donât like?
Consider signing up for a Budapest food tour!
Weâve enjoyed many food tours over the years, both in Budapest and across the world, and always walk away feeling a bit more knowledgeable about both the local cuisine and the city as a whole.
A food tour will allow you to sample far more dishes in one evening than you could try in a few days’ worth of ânormalâ eating!
If you would like to enjoy a food tour in Budapest (or any other city), consider signing up for it as early in your trip as possible.
That way, youâll have plenty of new favorite dishes to order in restaurants throughout the rest of your trip.
Book your Budapest food tour today!
The Best Food in Budapest: What to Eat
Goulash
I mean, how could we not start here?
If you know of one Hungarian dish before visiting Budapest, itâs probably goulash.
Goulash is essentially a meat and spice stew and can be served alone, as a soup, or even over noodles.
Youâll see all kinds of delicious presentations of goulash when exploring the best food in Budapest, and they’re all delicious!
Chicken Paprikash
One of the most popular dishes in Budapest, chicken paprikash is essentially chicken coated in a sour cream sauce (heavy on the paprika, of course).
This is standard menu offering in just about any traditional Hungarian restaurant!
JĂłkai Bean Soup
This bean soup, made with vegetables, and sausage, and topped with sour cream, is one of my personal favorite things to eat in Budapest.
That’s true year-round, but especially on a cold day!
TĂșrĂłs Csusza
Egg noodles, sour cream, cheese, and bacon.
With a combination of ingredients like that, tĂșrĂłs csusza is an easy win.
LecsĂł
This is the Hungarian version of vegetable soup, and it is a delight!
Palacsinta
Hungarian pancakes are one of the only Hungarian dishes that survived my familyâs immigration from Hungary to the USA long enough that I actually learned how to make them as a teenager–and theyâre amazing!
Think thin, crepe-like pancakes: these aren’t anything like fluffy American pancakes.
Palacsinta can be served either sweet or savory, and theyâre delicious either way.
Rakott Krumpli
This casserole is the ultimate comfort food!
Made from layered potatoes, sour cream, sausage, and eggs, this is a stick-to-your-ribs comfort dish that is impossible not to love.
KolbĂĄsz
Hungarian sausage is practically an institution: there are endless varieties and options, and so far, they are all completely amazing.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut isnât unique to Hungary, of course, but it is very popular there!
Youâll see it in soups, served on the side of sausage, cooked into casseroles, and more.
RĂĄntott Sajt
Deep-fried cheese croquettes–need I say more?
LĂĄngos
This deep-fried dough is traditionally topped with sour cream and cheese (making it a great traditional dish for vegetarians in Budapest), though today youâll see it topped with just about anything imaginable.
We recommend trying it at least once prepared traditionally, though–you just may end up as hooked on it as we are.
LibamĂĄj
Fried goose liver–because why not?
Töltött Paprika
In Hungary, this stuffed pepper dish is often served with meatballs.
Pörkölt
This slow-simmered beef and onion stew is wonderful.
Donât confuse it with goulash, though, which is not quite the same thing, despite their similarities.
Nokedli
These egg noodle dumplings are commonly served as part of Chicken Paprikash–but theyâre wonderful on their own, too!
Borscht
Borscht is not unique to Hungary, of course, but this beet soup-slash-stew is very popular there.
The dish can be served hot or cold, depending on the season.
Kifli
AKA, Hungarian croissants, though you’ll notice that they have a slightly different shape!
Fishermanâs Soup
Spicy and bright red in color, Fishermanâs Soup is extremely popular in Budapest, and is made with river fish and a generous helping of paprika.
If you want to add this soup to your list of Budapest food to try, it won’t be hard: you’ll find it on more menus than you don’t!
Töltött Kåposzta
If stuffed cabbage rolls donât sound like your thing, still give them a chance once while exploring the food in Budapest.
You just may be surprised at how tasty they can be!
Sour Cherry Soup
This summer soup is served chilled and is an absolute treat.
Donât pass it up if youâre deciding what to eat in Budapest during the summer!
Solet
Originally made by the Jewish community, this stew prominently features kidney beans, onions, barley, meat, and–I know youâre shocked–the ubiquitous paprika.
Once upon a time, solet was typically prepared on Fridays before Shabbat and then eaten for Saturday’s lunch.
The tastiness of the dish has caused its popularity to soar, though, and you’ll now find it throughout Hungary–and not just on Saturdays.
ĂjhĂĄzi Chicken Soup
Hungarian chicken soup is brothy, full of vegetables, and a fabulous comfort food.
What to Drink in Budapest
Hungarian Wine
Hungarian wine may not be as well-known as those from, say, France or Italy, but Hungaryâs wine regions sure know how to produce a delightful, inexpensive drink!
Hungaryâs best-known wine is from Tokaj, and is a sweet white wine meant to be used as a dessert wine.
Be sure not to stop there, though–youâll find plenty of wines, both red and white, produced in the country that are delicious.
We took this Hungarian wine-tasting class on one of our trips to Budapest and absolutely adored it–if you’re curious about local wine, cheese, and charcuterie, we highly recommend it!
Fröccs
Fröccs, aka wine spritzers, are a mix of wine and soda water.
They are absolutely ubiquitous during summer in Budapest!
Unicum
Unicum is the national drink of Hungary.
An herbal liqueur, it is usually drunk as a digestif and, like pĂĄlinka, is sometimes considered to be medicinal.
Iâve heard unicum described as âan acquired tasteâ more than once, so if you decide to try some, youâve been warned!
PĂĄlinka
This fruit brandy is extremely strong–youâll even hear some Hungarians calling it a medicine!
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re curious, be sure to give it a try once when sampling Hungarian food in Budapest.
Hungarian Desserts and Sweet Treats
KĂŒrtĆskalĂĄcs
These round, spiral cakes that are made by roasting on a spit are now all the rage across Central Europe (if you decide to celebrate Christmas in Europe, you’ll definitely see them at Christmas markets all over)–but theyâre original to Hungary!
Also called Chimney Cakes in English, these sweet treats are definitely worth trying when youâre looking for the best food in Budapest!
Love these quirky cakes enough that you want to take them home with you?
You can even sign up for a chimney cake workshop to learn how to make kĂŒrtĆskalĂĄcs yourself!
EsterhĂĄzy torta
One of my favorite cakes in the world!
EsterhĂĄzy cake is made up of spiced buttercream layered with walnut meringue (in Austria, this cake is made with almonds instead of walnuts) and topped with glaze.
This one came from Central Cafe, one of our favorite cafes in Budapest:
RĂĄkĂłczi TĂșrĂłs
Hungarian cheesecake is such a treat!
Youâll traditionally find this cake topped with apricot meringue.
Dobos torta
Sponge cake plus layers of chocolate buttercream, topped with caramel–the combination makes for an amazing cake!
GesztenyepĂŒrĂ©
Delicious puréed chestnuts, sweetened and then topped with whipped cream, make up this unforgettable Hungarian dessert.
TĂșrĂłgombĂłc
Cottage cheese dumplings covered in toasted breadcrumbs, and then served with powdered sugar and sour cream–sound like a bit of a strange dessert?
I promise itâs not–these are absolutely worth a try, especially if youâre the type to find some desserts too sweet for your palate.
RĂ©tes
Hungarian strudel is flaky, incredibly rich, and stuffed with a sweet filling.
Iâm partial to the cherry myself, though Iâm yet to find a version that I donât like!
Food Experiences in Budapest You Canât Miss
Buy some paprika.
Paprika is the ultimate Hungarian souvenir!
Whether classic or smoked, you can find paprika for sale all over Budapest, including (of course) in Central Market Hall.
Itâs very inexpensive, and arguably much better than any version of paprika you can buy outside the region, so be sure to stock up.
Go for a wine tasting.
We loved the wine tasting we did with Taste Hungary!
Not only did we get to enjoy several glasses of Hungarian wine (seriously, donât plan on driving after this tour, though itâs unlikely you would need to), but the charcuterie board was phenomenal.
The Tokaji sweet wine paired with blue cheese that we had during this wine tasting goes down as one of the best bites of food I have had in my life.
I promise that Iâm not entirely overstating things–my friend Allison took the same tour a year after me and said the exact same thing!
Stroll through Central Market Hall.
Also called Great Market Hall, Budapestâs Central Market Hall is a delight for the taste buds.
Featuring grocery stalls on the ground floor (fruit, bottles of alcohol, sausage, spices, etc.) and prepared food on top, Central Market Hall is one of those spots that you may find yourself passing through more than once while searching out the best food in Budapest.
You can find a version of most of the foods featured in this blog post here, though you’ll definitely want to branch out as well!
For those looking for basic souvenirs, the top floor also has several souvenir stalls, and for those looking for more basic groceries, thereâs an Aldi in the basement.
Indulge in cake and coffee at a cafe.
Budapest has an incredible cafe culture.
Gilded, 19th-century cafes serving elegant drinks and desserts are not uncommon, so be sure to stop by one at least once while youâre working your way through the best food in Budapest!
The insanely gorgeous New York Cafe is the best-known, but there are plenty of other options available in the city as well (that tend to be more reasonably priced).
Weâre partial to Central Cafe for those looking for a side of glitz and glamour with their cappuccino!
Take a Hungarian cooking class.
Want to take the best food in Budapest home with you?
Consider taking a cooking class in the city and learn how to make some of Hungaryâs most popular meals for yourself!
Not only are cooking classes tons of fun and a great way to stretch your skills (and stomach–I havenât been to one yet where I didnât leave stuffed to the gills), but they are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Hungaryâs food culture by engaging with the cuisine in a very hands-on way.
This well-reviewed one includes a tour of Central Market Hall in addition to plenty of cooking (and eating).
Grab a drink at one of the ruin bars.
Nearly 20 years ago, ruin bars came to Budapest⊠and their popularity has only continued to explode ever since.
Known for their inexpensive drinks and eclectic decor, Budapestâs ruin bars are housed in once-derelict buildings that have found second lives as pubs.
The largest and most famous ruin bar is Szimpla Kert, and itâs the perfect place to introduce yourself to this unique feature of Budapest.
Read More About Visiting Central Europe (and Beyond)
Ready to keep planning your trip to Central Europe?
Weâd love to help!
You can browse all of our Hungary blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- One Day in Budapest: How to See Budapest in a Day
- 35 Best Cities to Visit in Europe (Bucket List for City Lovers!)
- Our Delicious Budapest Food Tour + Wine Tasting (+ How to Book!)
- 15 Spectacular Things to Do in Sarajevo
- 21 Offbeat + Cheap European Destinations to Visit
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Many thanks to Taste Hungary for hosting us on our wine tasting with them! All opinions are, as always, our own.
Hi Kate – it would be super helpful to know the restaurants you visited to get these staple meals. While your tips are a great guideline, it would be great to know where you at them since they seem to look like the best of the best! Any insights?
Hi Nicole! Off the top of my head, I know we ate at Drum Cafe a few times–tasty food + prices. It’s pretty close to Dohany Street Synagogue. đ We also like the langos at Central Market–a bit touristy, but tasty and easy to access.
Thanks for these reviews. I’m heading to Budapest in November and looking forward to it very much. Having read through your article, I feel like I’m a little more prepared and know more what to expect so I can make the most of my time there.
So glad we could help, Keith! Hope you have a wonderful trip to Budapest.