If you, like me, believe a city is best explored with your taste buds, then you’re in for a treat. Budapest is a city filled with delicious, cheap eats.
Here’s a list of what to eat in Budapest, Hungary, based on my visit. Sadly, I did not get to try every dish I wanted to try, but these are some of my favorites from the trip:
#1 Langos
Irreverently referred to as “Communist pizza” by locals, langos is deep fried circular dough traditionally topped with sour cream and shredded cheese (though toppings these days have gotten pretty extravagant.
Where to Try Langos:
- Retro Langos. It’s a food stand with a few tables and chairs outside.
- Address: Budapest, Podmaniczky Frigyes tér 4, 1054 Hungary
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. every day, except Sunday when they’re open 10 a.m. to midnight.
#2 Rose-Shaped Gelato
I know, I know, gelato is Italian, right? But rose-shaped gelatos are taking Europe by storm, and Hungary is no exception. This beautiful and tasty rose-shaped gelato is from Gelarto Rosa across from St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest.
Where to Try Rose-Shaped Gelato
- Gelarto Rosa
- Address: 1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 3, Hungary
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, including Sunday
#3 Goulash
You can’t talk about Hungarian food without the famous goulash coming up. Goulash is really any type of stew with meat and vegetables, so you can have
Where to Try Goulash
- Frici papa kifőzdéje
- Address: Budapest, VII. ker. Király u. 55.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday
#4 Palinka
Palinka, the drink of Hungary, is a fruit brandy with an alcohol content ranging from 37% to 86%!
Where to Try Palinka
- Go to a fun ruin bar! Budapest is famous for these. I stopped by Anker’t.
- Address: Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 33, 1061 Hungary
- Hours: Monday-Wednesday 2 p.m. to midnight, Thursday 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday-Saturday 2 p.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday 2 p.m. to midnight
#5 Palacsinta
Palacsinta is, essentially, Hungarian crepes. Now, depending on which part of the world you’re from, “crepes” can mean different things. For us Americans, crepes are very thin breakfast foods made from batter. They are typically sweet, but can also be served savory.
The photo above is Kiraly Palacsinta (King Crepe) and has vanilla creme, whipped creme, and chocolate sauce.
Where to Try Palacsinta
- Frici papa kifőzdéje
- Address: Budapest, VII. ker. Király u. 55.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday
#5 Nokedli
Nokedli are chewy, lumpy Hungarian egg “noodles” or “dumplings.” They have a unique appearance and texture that complements goulash or chicken paprikash extremely well.
Nokedli are often likened to German spaetzle.
#6 Turo Rudi
These candy bars are covered in chocolate and have curd (dairy, like cheese) filling mixed with other flavors, from blueberry to hazelnut. I liked the hazelnut best! You can find them in most supermarkets. I think we found Turo Rudi bars in the Spar grocery store chain in Budapest.
Where to Buy Turo Rudi Bars
- Any grocery store, really, but we found them at Spar.
- Address: Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 2, 1088 Hungary
- Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
#7 Rántott sajt
Have you ever had mozarella sticks? Rántott sajt is a lot like that. It’s a mild cheese that’s breaded with flour and then deep fried. Bite into it and watch the cheese ooze out. YUM. It’s often served as an appetizer.
Where to TryRántott Sajt
- Frici papa kifőzdéje
- Address: Budapest, VII. ker. Király u. 55.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday
Recap: Here’s What to Eat in Budapest
- Langos
- Rose-shaped gelato
- Goulash
- Palinka
- Nokedli
- Turo Rudi
- Rántott sajt
Remember, these are just SOME of what to eat in Budapest, not all. There are so many more things I wish I had tried, such as the chicken paprikash. But if you have only a few days in Budapest, there’s only so much you can eat! Enjoy your trip!
Side note: If you go on a Budapest Free Walking Tour (which I highly recommend), they give handouts with popular Hungarian foods AND you can ask the guide for restaurant recommendations!
