8 Best Restaurants in Hungary

A favorite of early-20th-century Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy, the Golden Dragon restaurant has been welcoming locals and tourists for decades. Set within a small, sloped-roof house, it's known for its charming Hungarian decor and its meat- and fish-heavy menu; highlights include the velős pirítós (bone marrow on toast), sárkányerøleves (dragon's bouillon) with quail eggs, and mézes-mázas libasteak (honey-glazed goose steak). The extensive wine list offers the inquisitive palate a good sampling of local Hungarian viniculture.

The Art Deco facade of the Little Cuckoo restaurant evokes the history of this fashionable residential neighborhood street. The setting today is comfortable; wood-paneled walls and leather-upholstered chairs give the place a sophisticated, albeit homey, feel. Sunday finds multigenerational Hungarian families enjoying the familiar and attentive service. All the classic Hungarian poultry dishes are well done, including goose and duck leg with cabbage, and there are a few refined dishes, too, such as veal medallions in cream sauce and lamb with rosemary.

This is probably Hungary's most famous restaurant, an officially listed Hungarikum both for its historical significance (opened in 1894) as well as its revival in the 1990s by Hungarian-American restaurateur George Lang. Fin-de-siècle grandeur shines through in the glorious dining room, tastefully adorned with 19th- and 20th-century Hungarian paintings, and a 10-piece Romani band adds an earnest nostalgia to the place. The gorgeous setting includes an Art Nouveau bar designed by Adam Tihany. The food, sadly, is just a bit above average, though some classics such as goose liver pâté and Gundel pancakes are well executed. Nevertheless, a visit is a uniquely memorable experience.

Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) is a traditional Transylvanian spit cake and popular street food, as pervasive in Budapest as Belgian waffles in Western Europe. This charming little shop offers tasty homemade kürtős kalács and classic sweets from an adorable gazebo-style shop in the middle of the park.

This warmhearted pub (look out for the picture of the American detective, Columbo, on the sign) serves a good range of tasty Czech beers as well as ten types---count 'em---of a traditional potato pancake dish with different stuffings and toppings. Family- and dog-friendly, it's cozy rather than rowdy.

This hip little cellar establishment, adorned with funky wall (and ceiling) art from Dalí prints to cigarette packs, is the place to have your fill of Hungary's famous rolled-up pancake, the palacsinta. You can choose from any of more than two dozen varieties, from the "Boss's Favorite" (with a filling of pork knuckle, beans, cabbage, and sour cream) to the "Spring Pancake" (sheep's cheese with dill and chives), to banana pancakes with vanilla cream. Servings are lavish and prices quite reasonable. If you order a meat- or vegetable-filled palacsinta, you might ask them to take it easy on the salt.

This restaurant, which has an excellent wine list and specializes in fish and game dishes, is practically on Fø tér. Lace curtains, antique knickknacks, and lovely old paintings give the small upstairs dining room—which is air-conditioned and no-smoking—a homey intimacy; and, perhaps, the restaurant its name: Old-Fashioned (in the best sense, mind you). The downstairs dining room also has a certain antiques-induced charm to it, while the comparatively colorless seating out front carries only the advantage of allowing you to people-watch. The summer terrace, likewise upstairs, is a delightful place to dine alfresco and look out over the red-tile rooftops.