TOP 5 favorite restaurants to enjoy Hungarian food in Budapest

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Most people visiting a country like trying its cuisine. This is not different in the case of Hungarian food. When you come to the capital of Hungary I’m sure you will look for where to eat the best Hungarian food in Budapest besides its famous sights.

Telling you the truth, authentic Hungarian dishes are definitely not for people on a diet. These dishes are a bit too heavy and fatty; however, their rich flavor and texture compensate you for the slightly excessive calorie intake. By using modern cooking methods Hungarian cuisine can be healthier, low in calories, but still rich in vitamins while preserving authentic Hungarian flavors.

I rounded up 5 of my favorite restaurants where you can enjoy delicious Hungarian food in Budapest. I have visited these restaurants many times, so you can be sure that these recommendations are based on my personal experiences.

Restaurant Kiosk in Budapest

Hungarian food on the Pest side

Café Kör

Café Kör is an absolute must in Budapest, one of the most popular restaurants since its opening in 1995. The first time I visited this restaurant, if I remember right, was in 1998. As I worked for 20 years in the neighborhood, I visited this restaurant frequently since then.

It is located in the heart of the busy Fifth District, near St. Stephen’s Basilica. If a restaurant can be called a second home, this bistro feeling makes you feel comfortable. Gábor Molnár, the ever-present manager spends “his life” in the restaurant, so that’s probably the key to the success of Café Kör.

Café Kör serves excellent traditional Hungarian food without twists or updates, prepared with loving care – just like at home. The portions are large and the prices are friendly. Those visiting this restaurant frequently already know the menu by heart, but there is always a surprise in the daily menu which is scribbled on the wall as you expect in a bistro. The place is always full of people living a social life here and bustling with conversation.

KIOSK

KIOSK is a hip restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Budapest with a stunning view of the Danube and the Elisabeth Bridge from its outdoor terrace, and a dramatically high-ceilinged, industrial chic interior with brickwork and New York cosmopolitan style interior.

Interestingly, this trendy venue where KIOSK is located houses a Roman Catholic high school upstairs, in fact, there’s a chapel right above KIOSK and the restaurant itself used to be the gym of the school.

Kiosk Restaurant in Budapest

Since its opening in 2013, the menu contains a variety of traditional Hungarian and international, cosmopolitan flavors. The restaurant also has its own bakery where you can taste special desserts and classic Hungarian sweets reinvented. They serve a large supply of premium spirits and creatively presented cocktails, from the classic Aperol Spritz to the modern Frizzante di Bosco and Pisco Sour.

We celebrated my husband’s birthday here in February 2022 and the chocolate mousse birthday cake with mango and passion fruit was super delicious, not to mention all the dishes we tried.

Hungarian food on the Buda side

Bistro Déryné

Bistro Déryné, named after the most famous Hungarian actress of the 19th century, has become a historic hangout with its 21st-century atmosphere and delightful bistro ambiance on the Buda side, just a few minutes from the Tunnel at the Chain Bridge.

It is my favorite bistro since 2007 when the Kovács family took it over and redesigned it to a timelessly chic and sexy cosmopolitan restaurant. The bistro welcomes its patrons both inside in the restaurant, and outside on the shaded terrace.

The menu used to offer breakfast meals with super delicious coffee varieties, seasonal lunch specials and gourmet dinner selections of French classics with a few Hungarian dishes. Since January 2022 you can enjoy a huge variety of brunch food until 4 pm every day and the short brunch and dinner menus are changing every 5 days.

Bistro Déryné in Budapest

21 Restaurant

21 Restaurant is located in the narrow Fortuna Street in the Buda Castle. They offer traditional Hungarian cuisine with a modern bistro feeling. Their philosophy: “Hungarian cuisine as it was in good old days, but updated to the 21st century”.

In the light of this slogan all the ingredients keep the essence of classic Hungarian gastronomy but without feeling too much overwhelmed and heavy, so these dishes are not so fatty and are much lighter than Hungarian food used to be.

After a pleasant lunch or dinner in the restaurant you can walk around and enjoy the beautiful surrounding of the Buda Castle. This is what I did every time when I had dinner with my foreign colleagues from my ex company here.

Restaurant Náncsi néni

Restaurant Náncsi Néni is like an old farmhouse decorated with wood panels and paintings, located in a calm, wealthy suburb among the hills of Buda. Even if it is in a rich area, Náncsi Néni is not a fancy place. It it indicated by those red and white chequered tablecloths. It represents traditional Hungarian cuisine with all the sinful heavy food how a typical Hungarian grandma cooks them, though international dishes are also available.

The outdoor seating area is in a nice garden with century old oak and chestnut trees, which has a great atmosphere in the summer. The restaurant pays special attention to families with babies, guests with pets and bikes are also welcome.

I used to have birthday lunches and dinners there with my family and friends. Now it is time to revive this tradition after the pandemic.

Restaurant Náncsi Néni in Budapest

Have a nice stay in my lovely hometown!

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