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 in Budapest.
Signature dishes: Hungarian small plates, Mediterranean tapas
Must 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.
Address: Bartók Béla út 36, 1111 Budapest
Zona on Lanchid utca is a modern Hungarian bistro on the Buda side of the Chain Bridge with river views from the upstairs room and a deep Hungarian wine list, Budapest.
Signature: Mangalica tenderloin, Tasting menu
Order: The mangalica tenderloin with foie gras butter.
Tip: Daily 12:00 to 23:00; the upstairs tables face Parliament across the Danube.
Halaszbastya occupies the neo-Romanesque Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill, with modern Hungarian tasting menus and panoramic Danube views over Pest, Budapest.
Signature: Hungarian tasting, Goose liver
Order: The seasonal multi-course tasting at sunset for the Pest skyline view.
Tip: Three rooms (Restaurant, Bistro, Cafe); the Restaurant is the slowest, longest evening.
Hungarikum Bisztro on Steindl Imre near Parliament cooks the canonical Hungarian classics, with goulash, chicken paprikash and stuffed cabbage in a tiny old-school Budapest room.
Signature: Goulash soup, Chicken paprikash
Order: The chicken paprikash with house nokedli and cucumber salad.
Tip: Online reservation only; the small room books out for both lunch and dinner.
Menza on Liszt Ferenc ter is a retro 70s-style Budapest bistro off Andrassy, cooking modern takes on the Hungarian canteen canon at a steady boulevard pace.
Signature: Hortobágyi palacsinta, Goulash
Order: The Hortobagyi palacsinta, savoury crepes stuffed with veal stew under sour cream.
Tip: 11:00 to 23:00 daily, kitchen runs 11:30 to 22:30; the terrace fills first.
Getto Gulyas on Wesselenyi cooks 14 varieties of Hungarian stews alongside Jewish-Hungarian classics in a tiny ghetto-era room in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest.
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.
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 Budapest.
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.
