Restaurants

 

Pest Restaurants

Stop, V. Váci utca 86 at Fővám tér (metro: Kálvin tér), offers a good variety of fish and meat dishes plus several vegetarian selections. Prices are reasonable, the menu is in many languages, and it’s open almost 24 hours a day. Even better is the ever popular (and nearby) Fatál, V Váci utca 67, which serves massive Hungarian meals on wooden platters.
Kaltenberg, IX Kinizsi utca 30-36 (metro: Ferenc körút), has substantial Hungarian meals, a German menu and is a medium-price choice.

 

The Bohémtanya, VI Paulay Ede utca 6 between Deák tér and the State Opera House (metro: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út). You may have to wait a while for a table.

Vegetárium, V Cukor utca 3 just off Ferenciek tere (noon to 10 p.m. daily), is a full-service vegetarian restaurant with a comprehensive English menu that includes some macrobiotic items. It’s not cheap but the service is friendly, the food good and it’s smoke-free. Even more strictly vegetarian is the Hari Krishna-run Govinda, an Indian vegetarian restaurant at V. Belgrád rakpart 18.

The friendly Karcsi, VI Jókai utca 20, a block back from Teréz körút and four blocks from Nyugati train station, serves very reasonable Hungarian meals weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Duna Palota, V Zrínyi utca 5 (daily from noon to 11 p.m.). This elegant palace erected in 1894 was formerly a military officers’ club.

If you’re not discouraged by the prospect of spending something like 5000 Ft per person for dinner, Gundel, next to the zoo directly behind the Museum of Fine Arts at XIV Állatkerti út 2 (metro: Széchenyi Fürdő), is probably Budapest’s fanciest restaurant, with a tradition dating back to 1894.

Abelino Pizzeria, V Duna utca 6 (down a side street from Ferenciek tere), has reasonable oven-baked pizza. The service here is good (closed Sunday and holidays). Better still is the popular Okay Italia, with branches at XIII Szent István körút 20 and V. Nyugati tér 6.

Buda restaurants

János Vendéglő is a restaurant where service is fast and friendly. The dishes are special, made from first class ingredients and are served with beautiful decorations. You can taste the excellent Hungarian wine-even if you wish to drink just one glass of it. The candle light and fresh flowers just make the restaurant more welcoming. Only 2 minutes away from the centre of town, at the foot of the Gellért-hill we are waiting for you and those who wish to taste the traditional flavors of the Hungarian kitchen and all the other specialties of our chef! The address is I. district Hegyalja street 23. Phone: 202 3414

Expensive restaurants popular with tourists and nouveau riche Hungarians abound in the Castle District, but one place to consider is Fekete Holló at Országház utca 10, the most charming inexpensive eatery in the district.

Hungarian meals are served at Söröző a Szent Jupáthoz, II Retek utca 16 a block north of Moszkva tér. The menu is posted outside in English and it’s open 24 hours a day.

The simple but excellent Italian fare at Marcello, XI Bartók Béla út 40, attracts students from the nearby university. Yet another choice is La Prima Pizzeria, II Margit körút 3 opposite the stop of tram No 4 and 6 on the west side of the Danube. They bake good pizza and have a self-service salad bar.

Fast food and cheep eats

Fast-food places like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken you can to find on many points in the town.

Butcher shops  serve cooked sausage and occasionally roast chicken, like the Gasztró Hús-Hentesáru at II. Margit körút 2, opposite the first stop of tram No 4 and 6 on the west side of Margaret Bridge (open Monday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

Even better are the wonderful little restaurants called étkezde - not unlike British cafés that serve simple dishes that change every day. Two of the best are the Kisharang, V Október 6 utca 17 (open weekdays to 8 p.m., weekends to 3.30 p.m.), and Kádár in the former Jewish ghetto at X Klauzál tér (open Tuesday to Saturday till 3.30 p.m.).

Middle Eastern food is served at Semiramis, V Alkotmány utca 20 (additional seating upstairs). One of the healthiest and least expensive places to eat in is Falafel Faloda, VI. Paulay Ede utca 53 (metro: Opera or Oktogon). It’s strictly vegetarian, and you pay a fixed price to stuff a piece of pitta bread or fill a plastic container yourself from the great assortment of salad bar options. There’s also a large selection of teas. The bright, modern décor attracts a young crowd (open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. only).

Cabar, V Irányi utca 25, around the corner from the Vegetárium restaurant, has Israelistyle shwarma and felafel, which you eat standing up. There’s a self-service salad bar - you’ll be charged by the weight of the food you select. It’s open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.