Modern Hungarian$erzsebetvarosSun-Thu 11:30-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:30-22:00
Bors GasztroBar on Kazinczy serves three daily soups and a dozen stuffed baguettes from chalk boards, a Jewish Quarter counter with the cheapest fast lunch.
Try: Daily soup plus stuffed baguette
Order: The daily soup plus a stuffed baguette from the chalk board.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the menu rotates weekly, follow Facebook for the day's soup.
Street food$erzsebetvarosMon-Sun 11:30-23:59
Karavan on Kazinczy next to Szimpla Kert is the Jewish Quarter's food truck court, with langos, burgers, gyros and kurtoskalacs all under 3,500 Ft.
Try: Lángos, burgers, kürtőskalács
Order: The classic lángos with sour cream, garlic and grated cheese.
Tip: Late-night until 01:00 Thursday to Saturday; the langos counter has the longest queue.
French bistro$lipotvarosTue-Sat 12:00-22:00
Kispiac Bisztro next to the Hold utca market is a six-table Hungarian bistro with veal liver, pork belly and roast duck at downtown bistro prices around.
Try: Hungarian small bistro plates
Order: The breaded veal liver with mashed potato and cucumber salad.
Tip: Six tables, Mon to Sat noon to 22:00; book at least two days ahead.
Modern Hungarian$ferencvarosMon 06:00-17:00; Tue-Fri 06:00-18:00; Sat 06:00-15:00
The upper-gallery langos counters inside the Central Market Hall on Vamhaz korut are the iconic Budapest spot for a 2,000 Ft lunch over Hungarian fried dough.
Try: Lángos at the gallery counters
Order: The classic lángos with sour cream, garlic and grated cheese.
Tip: Cash only at most stalls; closed Sundays; the gallery is upstairs from the produce floor.
Vegetarian$terezvarosMon-Sun 11:00-22:00
Hummusbar on Kiraly utca, the 2005 original of Hungary's vegetarian hummus chain, serves Israeli hummus, falafel and pita plates at downtown counter prices.
Try: Hummus, falafel and pita plates
Order: The classic hummus with chickpeas and a side of falafel and pita.
Tip: Five-plus branches across Budapest; the Kiraly utca original is the most central.
Modern Hungarian$lipotvaros
Retesbar on Suto utca is a downtown Budapest takeaway strudel counter with apple, cherry, poppy seed and cottage-cheese retes at well under 1,500 Ft a slice.
Try: Hungarian strudel slices
Order: The poppy seed (mákos) retes with a small Hungarian coffee.
Tip: Open daily 10:00-22:00; ask for a piece warmed in the oven if there is a slow moment.