Dining Recommendations Budapest

Your hotel location might help narrow down dinner ideas.....

EXCELLENT HUNG / JEWISH ($$)
MACESZ HUSZÁR
District VII, Dob street 26.
+36 1 787 6164
www.maceszhuszar.hu

ALL YOU CAN EAT HUNGARIAN ($$$)
TRÓFEA GRILL
District VI, Kiraly utca. 30-32.
+36 1 878 0522
http://kiraly.trofeagrill.eu/

HUNGARIAN FOOD AND STEAKS . 100 YRS OLD ($$$)
HAXEN KIRALY
District VI, Király str.100.
+36-1-351-6793
http://www.haxen.hu

GOOD GYPSY MUSIC / FOOD ($$$)
RÉZKAKAS BISTRO
District V, Sas utca 3
+36 1 318-0038
http://www.rezkakasbistro.hu

IF CHILI’S OPENED A HUNGARIAN RESTAURANT ($$)
VAKVARJÚ ÉTTEREM
District VI, Paulay Ede utca 7
+ 36 1 268 08 88
www.vakvarju.com/

I NEED! A HAMBURGER . BUY THE CATSUP ACROSS THE STREET ($)
ZING BURGER
District VI, Kiraly Utca 60

OLD WORLD HUNGARIAN FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE ($$)
PAPRIKA ÉTTEREM
District VII, Dózsa György út 72
+36-20-294-79-44
http://www.paprikavendeglo.hu/

NEW IN-PLACE IN TOWN ($$)
HUNGARIKUM BISTRO
District V, Steindl Imre u. 13.
+36 30 661 6244
http://hungarikumbisztro.hu

GOOD HUNGARIAN FOOD ($$)
BELVÁROSI LUGAS
VENDÉGLŐ
District VI, Bajcsy Zsilinszky u.15
+36 1 302 5393
http://lugas-etterem.com/

MY FAVORITE WINE BAR HAS GREAT FOOD. 150 FEET FROM THE APT ($$)
KADARKA BÁR
District VI, Király utca 42
+36 1 266 5094

GOOD BREAKFAST ($$)
CAFÉ VIAN
District VII, Király u. 13
+36 1 878 1350

HUNGARIAN BREAKFAST ($$)
FRAPPANS
District VII, Király u. 15, www.frappans.com
+36 1 798 5030

SWORD FIGHTS & BELLY
DANCERS & GREAT FOOD ($$)
SIR LANCELOT
District VI, Podmaniczky u. 14
www.sirlancelot.hu
+36 1 302 4456

GOOD CHEAP HUNGARIAN ($)
FRICI PAPA KIFŐZDÉJE
District VI, Király u. 55
http://www.fricipapa.hu
+36 1 351 0197

YOU CAME FOR EXOTIC SO EAT GEROGIAN—EXCELLENT ($$)
HACHAPURI
District VI, Andrássy út 3
http://www.hachapuri.com
+36 1 317 5479

UNUSUAL BOOK THEMED FOOD WITH GOOD REVIEWS ($$)
KÖNYVBÁR & RESTAURANT
District VII, Dobb u. 5
booking@konyvbar.hu
+36 20 922 7027

CASH
OTP BANK ATM MACHINE
Király utca 49

PHARMACY
GYÓGYSZERTÁR
(Pharmacies sell only medicines)
Király utca 47

PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS
DM STORE
Király utca 34

SPAR GROCERY STORE
Király utca 35

WASH & FOLD LAUNDRY SVC
WASH AND FOLD
Ó utca No. 24

FULL LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SERVICES
VAJNÓCZKI LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING
Szófia utca 7
+36 1 342 3796
Mon thru Fri: 8:00-18:00
Saturday: 8:00-13:00
info@vajnoczkitisztitoszalon.hu

James, who is a delight to read as well as follow in this forum for his keen insights and generosity, has chosen some very good spots to consider.

Here are a few others:

Rosenstein, in the Jewish qtr. They serve a special breed of Hungarian pig, the Mangalica
Fulemule, also in the Jewish qtr - has a terrific cholent, the Hungarian version of cassoulet
Kehli in District 3 northern Budapest. Traditional Hungarian cuisine with gypsy music - dancing - singing, etc. District 3 also houses a museum that displays early Roman ruins. Budapest was the northern most post of the Roman empire.
Horgastanya. On Fo Ut. has about 3 or 4 varieties of the wonderfully delicious Hungarian fish stew: Halasszle. Their specialty.

If you are a gourmand:

Costes
or the new, Costes Downtown (I have not been to)
Onyx
Borkonya
Bock Bistro (lots of offal)
are my favorites.

The picks above these are more "traditional"

Thanks Don.

Rosenstein's is famous for their modern take on cholent. Cholent is a Jewish dish prepared before the start of the Sabbath, then left in the oven overnight to stay warm. While they don't have a kosher kitchen, most things on the menu have a strong Jewish influence.

This is why I love Rick Steve's; thank you all for your great suggestions.
Jean

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Your hotel location might help narrow down dinner ideas.....

and watch this: http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/bizarre-foods/episodes/hungary

Zeller Bistro is my favorite restaurant in the world!!! I dream about their whipped foie gras. The duck is cooked to perfection! Really everything I've had is stellar. My partner and I found this place on our first trip, took his brother and sister TWICE on our last trip, and are bringing my mom and aunt this time. The food is amazing, the setting is relaxed, and the servers are extremely personal. They give you a glass of champagne on arrival. Their food and wine are sourced from their family farm, and each person paid around $25 for an appetizer, main course, and wine! Please, please, please, don't miss out on this place.

Trofea Grill is great and about $13 for all you can eat lunch with beer and wine included. I've only been to the one behind the city park.

Arie; Zeller, what a great find. I love the upper end of Kiraly utca. Its what most all of Budapest looked like a 15 years ago. Brings back good memories before the tourist arrived en masse. Thank you for the tip. I will put in on my list for April.

Made reservations for Zeller for tomorrow - Will post back.
UPDATE: every bit as good as stated. We got lunch reservations for a holiday (March 15), though dinner might be harder to book. Great personal service, yummy duck and Hungarian "grey" beef. Will definitely be on our go-back-to list.

A little further up at 100 Kiraly utca is a place called 100 Kirlay. Was one of my favorite places in town. The sort of place you would expect communist party bossed meeting; and its been open that long and a lot longer. They changed owners and I haven't been back since the ownership change..... I will try it again in a few weeks. Few places with better atmosphere.

I've never been to Zeller...or, 100 Kiraly...something to look forward to.

Don, since you are looking for a place for a picnic with a bottle of wine, you might be interested in the local wine bars. There are quit a few in town. Here is a list: http://welovebudapest.com/budapest.and.hungary/the.best.wine.bars.in.budapest.1

I am a bit biased with Kadarka's. Its not the fanciest in town, but I am a people person and the owner and staff cant be beat. AND, its about 200 feet from the front door of the place I stay in town. In the early days I would have a couple of glasses, then pick the best from the night and buy a bottle. Of course I had neither corkscrew or wine glass so they would lend me what I needed for the night and I would return them in the morning. I know there have been people who stayed where I stay and have lost their keys. The wine bar has lent their phone and given them a place to sit while help was on the way.

And they also have sidewalk tables in good weather and a pretty decent menu of food. Tell me this doesn't look good! https://iwgrsq-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y3muXpPiYoB7L_vdKZGbAM9Z9Qsp1uC2gQGJgCplgy3pEKgY09nct-PQBJi1XZRnTmM5WcjcaE-AQLbdKxoR5sYPinKqVcfS2tNL09q3mVK6WuzLdQW-DR7BDe0way4k7nmkrFo1KmqiwMCz-G09kMIvWTjvWq3sOPRE3SjoHh9NCQ/20150918_154638.jpg?psid=1

Oh, Laura, I'm SO glad you liked Zeller Bistro! The duck is ridiculously good! I hope you get to enjoy it, too, James and Don!!!

We just arrived in Budapest. And we didn't realize that the day after Easter is a national holiday in Europe. Many of the places on James' list are closed today--including Spar (grocery store.)
We did find a great bakery around the corner, and were quite surprised at how cheap fabulous pastries are in Budapest. This city is really a bargain in travel.
Update: Yep, Zing Burger does indeed make a mean burger.

Yup i love zing burger. If you go to the one on Kiraly Utica, then across the street is a convenience store where you can buy "real catsup". Last few times we boit a bottle, used it, then passed it around. You are very near home sweet home for us.

If you are,still there try the food at Kadarka's. The burgers are a bit frufru for my taste but the rest is amazing with a glass of wine.

My wife and I enjoy Taverna Dionysos which is a Greek place, not Hungarian. 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor and we have eaten there about four times on two different trips. #22 of over 2,000 restaurants in Budapest. Portions are big, tasty food, reasonable prices, nice atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We ate at the Hungarikum Bistro - James posted it in his comprehensive list. I recommend it. Family owned with small tables, lots of atmosphere, a hammered dulcimer player and daily specials, wine and beer and reasonable prices. Do make reservations or you'll never get in. Check their website for hours and details. Located near Parliament - a ten minute walk north of the Chain Bridge.

The Hungarikum Bistro sounds perfect for our first day in Budapest. We are flying in around 11:00 a.m. so by the time we get to our hotel we are hoping we can check in, freshen up and then be off to do some sightseeing. I see that we are a 10-15 minute walk to the restaurant and it looks fairly close to the Parliament building and Liberty Square which is where we planned to head to that day. So if I make a 6:00 reservation when they reopen for dinner, I think that would work out pretty well. We will probably fade fast after dinner! We are arriving on August 29th. How far ahead would you suggest we make a reservation? I saw that they have an option for doing that on their website.
Thanks for all the restaurant and other suggestions James.

I see they have a reservation fill in the blank on their web page. I guess i would do that as soon as you can, then call on Thursday or Friday before your arrive to confirm. +36 30 661 6244. I always enjoy talking to people when i travel, so i call or stop in, every chance i get. The 29th is a Tuesday, but the place is in the fringe of the tourist zone and it has a pretty impressive internet presence so i suspect its always pretty busy.

A few weeks back i discovered a new place. https://patanegra.hu/hu/asador/home/ Okay, you are in Budapest and this is Spanish Food. Normally I would push back, but this is absolutely one of the best places in Budapest. At the other end of the street is my favorite wine bar, Kadarka's, so that helps too. Dinner, then sitting at a sidewalk table and people watching with a great platter of pate and a bottle of wine. Not elegant, just a neighborhood wine bar with good people. You will need reservations http://kadarkawinebar.com/events/