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 dishes: Mezze plate, Lamb shawarma
Must order: The mezze plate to share, then the lamb shawarma.
Tip: Open noon to midnight daily; book a week ahead for weekends.
Address: Akácfa utca 47, 1073 Budapest
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.
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.
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 200-bottle 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 the Danube and Parliament across the river.
Halaszbastya Etterem occupies the neo-Romanesque Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill, with modern Hungarian tasting menus and panoramic Danube views over Pest in Budapest.
Signature: Hungarian tasting, Goose liver
Order: The seasonal multi-course tasting at sunset for the Pest skyline view.
Tip: Three rooms in the bastion (Restaurant, Bistro, Cafe); book the Restaurant for the tasting and the terrace.
Menza on Liszt Ferenc ter is a retro-70s Budapest bistro just off Andrassy boulevard, cooking modern takes on the Hungarian canteen canon at a steady boulevard pace.
Signature: Hortobágyi palacsinta, Túrós csusza
Order: The Hortobagyi palacsinta, savoury crepes stuffed with veal stew under sour cream.
Tip: Open 11:00 to 23:00 daily; the kitchen runs 11:30 to 22:30 and the terrace fills first.
