Traditional Hungarian$$erzsebetvarosMon-Tue 12:00-22:30; Wed 12:00-23:00; Thu-Fri 12:00-23:45
Getto Gulyas on Wesselenyi cooks 14 varieties of Hungarian stews alongside Jewish-Hungarian classics in a tiny ghetto-era room in the Jewish Quarter.
Signature: Beef goulash, Rooster pörkölt
Order: The rooster pörkölt with nokedli; the Jewish egg paste as a starter.
Tip: Tiny room, no walk-ins after 19:00; reserve a day ahead Walk-ins usually OK.
Traditional Hungarian$$lipotvarosTue-Sat 12:00-22:00
Kispiac next to the Hold utca market is a six-table Hungarian room cooking veal liver, pork belly and roast duck right by the open kitchen in downtown.
Signature: Breaded veal liver, Pork belly
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.
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.