Hungarian Cuisine
The great traditions of Hungarian cuisine have,in the last ten to fifteen years, successfully mingled with modern sophistication.At its roots, classic Hungarian gastron - omy is nothing less than French bonne bouches reaching Hungary via Austria and mixing with ancient Hungarian peasant dishes - many of them originated in a Asia offering every gourmand somethings to his/her taste. The first thing that a people recall about Hungarian cuisine is goulash, which is, contrary to popular belief, not a stew but an artistically prepared thick soup.Sour cream is often used to soften the flavours. You must try a fish soup, chicken paprika, and good home-made pörkölt (stew) & the excellent fresh-water fish: grilled pike-perch, trout with almond. Also compulsory is goose liver.Whether fried or grilled,cold or hot,it is simply unforget- table. Desserts really deserve a separate chapters. The most delicious ones are a strudels, Gundel pancakes, somloi dumplings and gesztenyepüre (cooked chestnuts mashed, topped with whipped cream). Specialities include salty and sweet pastas, of which turos csusza (pasta with curd and sour cream) is warmly recommended.
Cheap food in Budapest consists of a few old style self-service restaurants, pizza joints, western-style fast food outlets and butcher shops which sell cooked sausages. There are also fast food stalls at many of the big markets around town.
Felafel
Good value felafel place where you can take away or eat at the tables upstairs. VI, Paulay Ede utca 53. Metro: Oktagon.
Karcsi Etkezde
The set menu at this cheap etkezdek is great value. VI, Jokai utca 20.
Metro: Oktogon.
Kisharang Etelbar
Traditional etkezdek near the business district serving up hearty Hungarian
fare. VI, Oktober 6 utca 17. Metro: Arany Janos utca.
Mongolian Barbeque
This all-you-can-eat place goes a step further with unlimited beer as well.
Lunch time is cheaper than dinner. XII, Mavany utca 19a.
Nagycsarnok
Excellent market with good fast food available on the upper level. IX,
Fovam ter. Metro: Kalvin ter.
Budapest has a good drinking scene with plenty of bars and some classy, but affordable, cafes modelled on the Viennese coffee house.Unfortunately a few bars and restaurants have given Budapest a bad reputation as a place where unscrupulous establishments rip off the unsuspecting traveller. The US embassy has released a list of 12 places which have drawn the most complaints. It has been reported that these bars and restaurants are guilty of excessive billing and physical violence against those that refuse to pay.Despite this there are a lot of great places to go out drinking in Budapest. It is a good idea to start in the hostel bar and ask staff and other travellers about other places to go out to.Always remember to never clink your beer glasses in Hungary.
Good bars include:
Amstel Bar
This established bar has a good selection of beer, late hours and a relaxed atmosphere. V, Vaci utca 6. Metro: Ferenciek.
Cafe Mediterran
A busy bar with a popular terrace. VI, Liszt Ferenc ter 10. Metro:
Oktogon.
Nothin' But the Blues
Good cheap place for live music. VIII, Krudy Gyula 6. Metro: Kalvin ter.
Good coffee houses include:
Muvesz Kavehaz
A beautiful coffeehouse opposite the Opera House. VI, Andrassy ut 29.
Metro: Opera.
New York Kavehaz
An expensive and opulent coffeehouse with a rich history and even richer
cakes. A great place to linger over coffee and newspapers. VII, Erzsebet
körut 9-11. Metro: Blaha Lujzater. |
