If it’s your first time in Budapest, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of sights and places to eat. The Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Danube riverbank, ruin bars, cafés on every corner — and sooner or later, the question comes up: what should you actually try if you want to experience real Hungarian food?
Hungarian cuisine is hearty, bold, and full of stories. Some dishes are not only delicious but also help you understand the city and the everyday life of the people who live here. If you’re visiting Budapest for the first time, these are the foods worth starting with.
Goulash Soup – A Must-Try Classic
Goulash soup is known all over the world, and for good reason. This dish is much more than just a soup: it’s rich, well-seasoned, filling, and a perfect introduction to the foundations of Hungarian cuisine.
Many visitors are surprised to learn that goulash is not a stew but a soup — and that discovery is part of the experience. If you choose just one traditional Hungarian dish to try, goulash soup is an excellent place to begin.
Lángos – The Icon of Hungarian Street Food
If there is one food you simply cannot skip in Budapest, it’s lángos. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, freshly fried — lángos is the most iconic Hungarian street food.
For many locals, lángos brings back memories of summer, markets, and beaches, but in reality it offers the same comforting experience all year round: it’s quick, filling, and honest food. The classic version is topped with garlic sauce, sour cream, and cheese, but today you’ll find many different variations as well.
At Retro Lángos Budapest, lángos is more than just a quick bite — it’s a true Hungarian food experience. With locations in the city centre, near St. Stephen’s Basilica and close to the Parliament, it fits perfectly into a city walk or sightseeing programme.
Sausage and Blood Sausage – The Flavours of Markets and Fairs
Hungarian sausage and blood sausage are dishes you’ll most often encounter at markets, fairs, and street food stalls. They are bold, spicy, and clearly show how important paprika is in Hungarian cuisine.
These flavours come from the same world as lángos: simple yet distinctive, deeply connected to Hungarian street food culture. At Retro Lángos Budapest, sausage is also one of the essential toppings — it’s what gives our rustic lángos its rich, slightly spicy character.
Lecsó – Hungarian Ratatouille with Bold Flavours
Lecsó, often described as Hungarian ratatouille, is one of the simplest yet most iconic dishes in Hungarian cuisine. Made from paprika, tomatoes, and onions, it shows how a few basic ingredients can come together to create something deeply flavourful and satisfying.
This traditional Hungarian ratatouille highlights what Hungarian cooking is really about: balance, quality ingredient, and bold flavours rather than complexity. If you enjoy vegetable-based dishes with a strong paprika character, lecsó is definitely worth trying when exploring Hungarian food.
Where to Try Hungarian Food in the City Centre
When exploring Budapest, it’s worth choosing places that are easy to reach from the city’s main attractions. That way, eating becomes a natural part of the experience rather than a separate programme.
Retro Lángos Budapest welcomes guests at two central locations, making it easy to stop by during sightseeing or a longer walk around the city.
Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 25. – right next to St. Stephen’s Basilica
Vécsey utca 3. – near the Parliament – table reservations available
If you’re visiting Budapest for the first time and want to taste a truly Hungarian flavour, lángos is always a safe and delicious choice.
