Any thoughts on how much people allow for food (L, D)? We prefer to eat a larger meal mid-day and smaller in the evening. Also, my husband wants suggestions for your favorite beer and best beer pubs. Do the pubs also serve wine? Not a big beer fan. Thanks.
Depends on where you go naturally. Compared to the equivalent in California i would suspect the same cost in the tourist restaurants to 30% less two blocks off the tourist circuit.
Yes, they sell wine in pubs. They also have some wonderful wine bars. The Hungarians make some pretty decent wine and are proud of it.
Ruin Bars (what Budapest is famous for): https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-ruin-bars-of-budapest/
Wine Bars: https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplists/the-best-wine-bars-in-budapest-2/
Craft Beer Bars: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jun/05/top-10-craft-beer-bars-budapest-hungary
Somewhat cheaper that in the U.S. I was not that impressed with the wine myself, but it and beer are readily available. I recommend Taverna Dyonisos, which is Greek not Hungarian. My wife and I have eaten there four times on different trips and always enjoyed it, the last time was in 2014 but it gets 4.5 starts on Tripadvisor.
Here is a great Budapest food instagram site that shows you a bunch of newer, more modern food in Budapest.
Each photo has the name of the restaurant, some great looking meals.
Ive used this site several times while in Budapest.
https://www.instagram.com/budapestfoodguide/
The cost of food in Budapest is substantially less expensive than in the USA.