Best Restaurant in Budapest?

For me, scores of 8 is where Michelin Star restaurants begins.

Number 1: Király100 Gastro Corner. A tough choice. The advantage of being in Budapest is that ….. well ….. I am in Budapest and it’s logical that the best would be a dinner where you celebrate “Hungarian”. No place, more so than Király100 is more reflective of high end Hungarian dining as one would have imagined it to be prior to WWII when Budapest was still an economic and cultural leader in Europe. A perfect location to stew in the pot that is my home. I am very surprised this is the one I chose. Took a lot of thought and attempt to find balance.
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 10
Sense of Place/History/Meaning: 10

Number 2: Cork Breakfast and Wine birthday party (theirs, not mine). Live music, but not too loud. Obvious mixture of languages in the room, from English to French to Ukrainian. A familiar welcome from the staff as though each guest were a family member at their birthday party. Outstanding and caring service, among the best presented and consistently good menus in town. This hold second place even if there were no event. Obvious choice given the that so much of what makes a good experience is "emotional".
Food: 9
Service: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Context/Staff: 10

Number 3: Getting an outside table without a wait (rare) on cool September morning at Stika Gastropub on Dob utca. The waitress, wish I could remember her name, did remember mine and said good morning, Mr. E. The Eggs Benedict with American style bacon, properly cooked, crispy, and a palinka raspberry lemonade just made reality go away for a while. Another surprise for me.
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Calm: 10

Runner up: N28 Wine and Kitchen. Textbook perfect dining. Obvious choice.
Food: 9
Service: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Exceptionalism: 10

What was your single best dining experience in Budapest

I can’t rank in order, so these might be my top 3 for lunch or dinner:

• Stand25 - food is the standout here.
• Cork Breakfast and Wine - food and service
• Fioka - food and atmosphere

Honorable Mention to Dunacorso for a gorgeous location and Porc & Presli for food and experience.
I haven’t been to N28 yet.

Top 3 for breakfast or brunch (also not in order):

• Stika Gastropub
• Franziska (the one in Buda)
• Lion’s Locker

The choice depends on what I am in the mood for. I also have less experience in this category since I eat breakfast or brunch at a restaurant less often.

I can’t begin to answer Question 2.

What was your single best dining experience in Budapest; then number 2 and number 3 if either are worthy

Number 1: Getto Gulyas
Our meal was outstanding. According to my husband, the best meal during our 3-week trip through Romania that included 5 nights in Budapest. The decor is modern. Friendly and attentive staff. Located in the Jewish Quarter.

Number 2: Kacsa Etterem
Delicious food. Wonderful Old World atmosphere with strolling musicians. Awesome service. Located on the Buda side.

Number 3: Korhely Etterem
This is probably the more touristy restaurant we dined at but we really enjoyed the food and the ambiance. Located on Franz Liszt Terrace in the Jewish Quarter. We dined outside on a warm September evening.

Like TexasTravelMom, it's impossible to answer your second question.

The reason for this was the restaurant lists for Budapest are too long. TexasTravelMom's list, Ricks guide book (which needs rethinking), the Eyewitness Guide list, my list; every list i have ever seen. Yes, they are all good, as this city is dripping with good food, but this is a chance to do great every night of the week. Except for Tuesday of course. Every "best" list is full of tweezers food, so those aren't good.

Question 2, sort of. Best meal of my life was a place called Citronelle not in Budapest. The food, the service, the atmosphere, the company.... solid 10s....

What was your single best dining experience in Budapest; then number 2 and number 3 if either are worthy.

For what it's worth, I do consider myself a foodie and will go out of my way for really good, creative and well-prepared food.

No. 1—Goli Budapest
No. 2—Két Szerecsen
No. 3—Kizmeso

Did the dining experience in Budapest fall into the top ten you experienced in Europe?

Yes, definitely. I rank Budapest in the top three countries where I've had the best meals in Europe. The other two would probably be Italy and Turkey.

kmkwoo, I am going to add those to my list of places to try. :)

Mardee, I’ve been to Két Szerecsen a couple of times (yes, it’s good), and for some reason Goli doesn’t call my name, even with all the great reviews. But Kizmeso is a new one (to me) I will take a look at!

Where Kizmeso is located sent up a red flag, but then I keep reading the reviews and this place is good. I havent done it yet, I will save it for a special night because its sort of got toutisty prices, but if the reviews are any indication, its worth it. Goli? Yes, I tried it about a year ago. Didnt even know it was a "in" place, I just happened to be out front when I was hungry. It was very good, but not the type of dining that sets me off. But I can see why many do love it. Its why there are so many places, because we are all different. Now, a block down the street on the left (sort of around the corner on the left is Terv Bisztró which use to be Terv Presso which is an indication that they are giving way to tourist pressure. Anyway, its a pretty amazing hole in the wall with a good hungarian Presso menu and beer. More me.

TexasTravelMom, I have a cousin who has visited Budapest many times, and he is the one who recommended the first 2 restaurants on my list. Both of them are awesome! Our hotel recommended the 3rd restaurant on my list, and it was the perfect place for our first night in Budapest and close to our hotel.

Mardee, I’ve been to Két Szerecsen a couple of times (yes, it’s good), and for some reason Goli doesn’t call my name, even with all the great reviews. But Kizmeso is a new one (to me) I will take a look at!

TTM, I know not everyone is a fan of Mediterranean food, but I love that stuff. That's why I put Turkey as one of my top countries for food next to Italy. 😊 But I really liked Kizmeso and would happily eat there again.. I happened to find it by accident after the opera when I was looking for some place that was open. I loved the veal paprikash over dumplings and that cucumber salad was delicious. And the wine was good, too; obviously a big plus for me and you, lol!

But I'm saving your list for next time. I had Stand 25 on my list but just didn't make it there. Next time I'm going for two weeks at least and plan on just eating my way through all the neighborhoods. 😂

Kmwkoo, i put the first two at the top too. Excellent and it took you to get me to go. Thank you.

Mardee, there is no right or wrong here. Just what makes you happy. I went to a place called Bob's Kitchen yesterday. I love it, so who am I to judge.

Okay, I sent a PM to the OP and asked for the OK to go a bit OT, I got it.

I went to one of my favorites for lunch. I love the staff and the food. I have done most of the menu but never the burger. This place is too good to have that on the menu. Besides it will be a too tall over sauced nightmare like all European burgers. I finally saw one being served. Yes, typical European slide-fest burger nightmare. Squeeze too hard and the meat shoots out the back. Too tall to eat without a knife and a fork. WT .... you know. WAIT! What are they giving him? 🤣🤣 blue, rubber food service gloves! 🤣🤣 so he can eat the atrocity.

Insane. Sometimes I miss the US and Fuddruckers!

Fudruckers! I haven't thought of them in years!

You are much, much to young to remember the original concept. They had a butcher shop in each restaurant. You could see a side of beef hanging in a window and watch it being converted to hamburger meat. Then the last decade or so they just bought their meat. But still a good mainstream all beef burger with all the right fixings that you helped yourself to at the fixings bar. Dang they were good. Not nearly as many as there once were: https://www.fuddruckers.com/locations

I wonder if I could get the European market? This continent needs a good burger. So many squirt and fru-fru burgers, so few real burgers. And how do you do a real bacon cheese burger without real American cured bacon properly cooked and real sharp American Cheddar Cheese? Impossible. I don’t want freeking sautéed onions. I want a big fat slice of red onion. Dressing? Seriously. A little mayo on the bottom bread. It waterproofs the bread so it doesn’t get soggy from the meat drippings. Then above that it’s a personal choice. But catsup always goes closest to the cheese. And here the beef isn’t ground is turned into a paste then formed into a burger. Not a pleasing texture when cooked. Or its real tinny tasting because its some inferior European version of a cow. Okay, I am buying a ticket home now…..

At least when we steal food, like pizza for instance, we make it better not worse.