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Modern HungarianFerencvaros
The upper-gallery langos counters inside the Central Market Hall on Vamhaz korut are the Budapest spot for a 2,000 Ft lunch of Hungarian fried dough.
OrderThe classic lángos with sour cream, garlic and grated cheese.
TipCash only at most stalls; closed Sundays; the gallery is upstairs from the produce floor.
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VegetarianTerezvaros
Hummusbar on Kiraly utca, the 2005 original of Hungary's vegetarian hummus chain, serves Israeli hummus, falafel and pita plates at downtown counter prices.
OrderThe classic hummus with chickpeas and a side of falafel and pita.
TipFive-plus branches across Budapest; the Kiraly utca original is the most central.
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Modern HungarianLipotvaros
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.
OrderThe poppy seed (mákos) retes with a small Hungarian coffee.
TipOpen daily 10:00-22:00; ask for a piece warmed in the oven if there is a slow moment.
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Modern HungarianErzsebetvaros
Koleves on Kazinczy is the Jewish Quarter Hungarian-Jewish room with a weekday three-course lunch deal under 2,500 Ft, a Budapest workaday institution.
OrderThe weekday lunch deal of soup, main and dessert.
TipLunch menu Mon to Fri until 16:00; the summer garden across the road is the better seat.
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Modern HungarianTerezvaros
Menza on Liszt Ferenc ter runs a 3,000 Ft weekday lunch menu of Hungarian classics, the cheapest sit-down meal on Budapest's Pest theatre square in 2026.
OrderThe two-course weekday lunch menu with a glass of house wine.
TipLunch menu runs Mon to Fri 11:30-15:00; the terrace fills first on sunny days.
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Modern HungarianTerezvaros
Frici Papa on Kiraly utca has run a shared-table Hungarian kifozde since 1997, with the cheapest sit-down soup-and-main lunch in Budapest at under 3,000 Ft.
OrderThe daily lunch menu off the blackboard, soup plus main plus a glass of water.
TipCash preferred; the room is shared tables, turn over fast at lunch.