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 dishes: Hortobágyi palacsinta, Túrós csusza
Must 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.
Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 2, 1061 Budapest
Ket Szerecsen on Nagymezo utca, Pest's Broadway theatre strip, is a two-floor bistro and cafe serving Mediterranean-Hungarian crossover plates from breakfast to midnight, Budapest.
Signature: Mediterranean breakfast, Mangalica pork
Order: The Mediterranean breakfast plate with avocado, jamon and Hungarian sausage.
Tip: Open 08:00 to 24:00 weekdays, 09:00 to 24:00 weekends; the upstairs balcony is the quieter room.
Szabina Szullo and Tamas Szell's Stand cooks two-Michelin-star modern Hungarian tasting menus from a Terezvaros room near Andrassy and Liszt Ferenc ter, Budapest.
Signature: Paprika fish soup with smoked carp tortellini, Tasting menu
Order: The full chef's tasting; the smoked carp tortellini is the signature.
Tip: Bookings open 60 days ahead via SevenRooms; arrive on time, tables held only 20 minutes.
Ket Szerecsen on Nagymezo utca, Pest's Broadway theatre strip, is a two-floor bistro and cafe serving Mediterranean-Hungarian crossover plates from breakfast to midnight, Budapest.
Signature: Mediterranean breakfast, Mangalica pork
Order: The Mediterranean breakfast plate with avocado, jamon and Hungarian sausage.
Tip: Open 08:00 to 24:00 weekdays, 09:00 to 24:00 weekends; the upstairs balcony is the quieter room.
Szabina Szullo and Tamas Szell's Stand cooks two-Michelin-star modern Hungarian tasting menus from a Terezvaros room near Andrassy and Liszt Ferenc ter, Budapest.
Signature: Paprika fish soup with smoked carp tortellini, Tasting menu
Order: The full chef's tasting; the smoked carp tortellini is the signature.
Tip: Bookings open 60 days ahead via SevenRooms; arrive on time, tables held only 20 minutes.
Akos Sarkozi's Borkonyha behind St Stephen's Basilica on Sas utca holds one Michelin star and pours from a 200-bottle Hungarian wine list, downtown Budapest.
Signature: Mangalica pork belly, Foie gras
Order: The mangalica pork belly with the matching pairing.
Tip: Mon to Fri open from 18:00, Sat from 12:00, closed Sunday; book a Saturday lunch for daylight on the wine list.
Babel in Lipotvaros holds one Michelin star and cooks Austro-Hungarian fine dining with Transylvanian roots over 8 and 13-course tastings near Vaci utca in Budapest.
Signature: 13-course tasting, Smoked sturgeon
Order: The 13-course tasting; the smoked sturgeon course is the room's calling card.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Saturday only; ask for a counter seat by the pass.
Costes on Raday utca was the first restaurant in Hungary to earn a Michelin star in 2010 and still cooks a seven-course tasting in a Ferencvaros townhouse, Budapest.
Signature: Seven-course tasting, Foie gras
Order: The seven-course tasting with the matching wines.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays; the in-house butter, preserves and ham are made on site.
Costes Downtown sits in the Michelin Guide on the ground floor of the Prestige Hotel near Parliament, a calmer Lipotvaros sister kitchen to the original Costes, Budapest.
Signature: Modern European tasting, Sunday brunch
Order: The five-course tasting with the Tokaji Furmint as the opener.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday only; the Sunday brunch is bookable separately and fills a week in advance.
