Essencia on Sas utca holds one Michelin star for Portuguese chef Tiago and his Hungarian wife Eva, a small warm room cooking Portuguese-Hungarian tastings in Budapest.
Signature dishes: Portuguese-Hungarian tasting, Bacalhau course
Must order: The full tasting; the bacalhau course is the bridge between the two cuisines.
Tip: Eva chooses the pairing in the room; ask for Hungarian pairings over the Portuguese list.
Address: Sas utca 17, 1051 Budapest
MAK Restaurant on Vigyazo Ferenc near Parliament is a long-running Michelin Guide modern Hungarian room with seasonal tastings and a sharp Hungarian wine list, Budapest.
Signature: Four-course lunch tasting, Hungarian wine pairing
Order: The four-course lunch tasting; the value seat in the room.
Tip: Book the chef's counter to talk to chef Janos Mizsei mid-service.
Hungarikum Bisztro on Steindl Imre near Parliament cooks the canonical Hungarian classics, with gulyás, chicken paprikash and stuffed cabbage in a tiny old-school room, Budapest.
Signature: Gulyás soup, Chicken paprikash
Order: The chicken paprikash with house nokedli and cucumber salad.
Tip: Online reservation only; the room is small and books out for both lunch and dinner.
Kispiac Bisztro next to the Hold utca market in the 5th district is a six-table Hungarian room cooking veal liver, pork belly and roast duck right by the open kitchen, Budapest.
Signature: Breaded veal liver, Pork belly
Order: The breaded veal liver with mashed potato and cucumber salad.
Tip: Six tables, lunch Mon to Sat noon to 22:00; book at least two days ahead.
MAK Restaurant on Vigyazo Ferenc near Parliament is a long-running Michelin Guide modern Hungarian room with seasonal tastings and a sharp Hungarian wine list, Budapest.
Signature: Four-course lunch tasting, Hungarian wine pairing
Order: The four-course lunch tasting; the value seat in the room.
Tip: Book the chef's counter to talk to chef Janos Mizsei mid-service.
Bock Bisztro inside the Corinthia Hotel on Erzsebet korut is a rustic-modern Hungarian kitchen with 220 wines from the Bock family Villany cellar, Budapest.
Signature: Veal cheek pörkölt, Hungarian wine flight
Order: The veal cheek pörkölt with nokedli, paired with a glass of Villany Cabernet Franc.
Tip: Hours 12:00-24:00, closed Sunday; the wine list is the deepest house list in town.
Mazel Tov on Akacfa utca in the Jewish Quarter is a Mediterranean ruin garden in an early 1900s courtyard, with mezze, lamb shawarma and live klezmer most nights, Budapest.
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.
Hungarikum Bisztro on Steindl Imre near Parliament cooks the canonical Hungarian classics, with gulyás, chicken paprikash and stuffed cabbage in a tiny old-school room, Budapest.
Signature: Gulyás soup, Chicken paprikash
Order: The chicken paprikash with house nokedli and cucumber salad.
Tip: Online reservation only; the room is small and books out for both lunch and dinner.
Getto Gulyas on Wesselenyi in the Jewish Quarter cooks 14 varieties of Hungarian stews and goulashes alongside Jewish-Hungarian classics, 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 Bisztro next to the Hold utca market in the 5th district is a six-table Hungarian room cooking veal liver, pork belly and roast duck right by the open kitchen, Budapest.
Signature: Breaded veal liver, Pork belly
Order: The breaded veal liver with mashed potato and cucumber salad.
Tip: Six tables, lunch Mon to Sat noon to 22:00; book at least two days ahead.