Mediterranean, Hungarian$$terezvarosMon-Fri 08:30-23:30; Sat-Sun 09:00-23:30
Ket Szerecsen on Nagymezo's theatre strip is a two-floor Mediterranean-Hungarian bistro and cafe serving from breakfast to midnight in Pest, Budapest.
Signature: Mediterranean breakfast, Mangalica pork
Order: The Mediterranean breakfast plate with avocado and Hungarian sausage.
Tip: Open 08:00-24:00 weekdays, 09:00-24:00 weekends; the upstairs balcony is the quieter room.
Hungarian$$erzsebetvarosTue-Wed 12:00-22:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-22:00
Koleves Vendeglo on Kazinczy in an old kosher meat plant cooks affordable Hungarian and Jewish-Hungarian lunch menus, with a summer garden across the road.
Signature: Goulash, Chicken paprikash
Order: The weekday lunch deal: soup, main and dessert in the kosher-meat-plant room.
Tip: Lunch menu Mon to Fri until 16:00; the summer garden across the road is the better seat.
Hungarian$terezvarosMon-Sat 11:00-22:00
Frici Papa on Kiraly utca has poured the cheapest sit-down Hungarian lunch in Budapest since 1997, with shared tables, no menu cards and a daily blackboard.
Signature: Daily lunch menu, Goulash
Order: The daily lunch menu under 3,000 Ft with the day's soup and main.
Tip: Cash preferred, no reservations; shared tables and quick turnover, no English menu.
Modern Hungarian$$erzsebetvarosMon-Sat 11:30-23:00
Klassz on Andrassy ut sits on the boulevard near the Opera, a chef-driven Hungarian carte run by Bortarsasag with the city's deepest sommelier-led wine list.
Signature: Mangalica pork plates, Foie gras course
Order: Mangalica pork with a glass of Hungarian Furmint from the sommelier's list.
Tip: Reservations not accepted; arrive 11:30 or after 21:00 to avoid the wait.
Mediterranean, Israeli$$erzsebetvarosMon-Thu 12:00-23:00; Fri-Sun 12:00-00:00
Mazel Tov on Akacfa in the Jewish Quarter is a Mediterranean ruin garden in an early 1900s courtyard, with mezze, shawarma and live klezmer most nights.
Signature: Mezze plate, Lamb shawarma
Order: The mezze plate to share, then the lamb shawarma.
Tip: Open noon to midnight daily; book a week ahead for weekends.
Modern Hungarian$$ujbudaSun-Wed 12:00-23:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-00:00
Szatyor on Bartok Bela ut in Ujbuda shares a building with Hadik Kavehaz, an eclectic art-bar dining room with Hungarian and Mediterranean small plates.
Signature: Hungarian small plates, Mediterranean tapas
Order: The mixed small-plate selection with a glass of Hungarian dry Furmint.
Tip: Next door to the historic Hadik Kavehaz; ask for the gallery room with the rotating local artist shows.