If one thing is for certain, it's that Hungarians take their Túró Rudi very seriously. One of the biggest producers of these small sweet wonders is Pöttyös, offering a wide range of flavors. This is the time to let your voice be heard: which one is the best? Are you on the side of the classics, or are you more adventurous? Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Strawberry or peach?
Cast your vote!
The poll had been closed.
Staurdays simply call for pancakes. The whole weekend is still stretching ahead of you, full os possibilities and sweet summer lazíness. In an ideal world, you've just woke up after a long night of restful sleep, and have no inclination to leave the bed just yet, so you need a recipe which is simple and does not include going to the shops.
You need palacsinta.
Everybody knows the thick American pancakes, stacked on each other, forming a tower of deliciousness.
And of course, a lot of people also know the light and airy French pancake, crepes.
The first thing, however, that you need to learn how to make in the kitchen, is the Hungarian version: palacsinta! This is somewhat similar to crepes, except for the fact that instead of being served in triangles, Hungarians usually roll it up.
You might be dazzled by the fact that the batter is very thin. Making palacsinta requires a bit of practice, but it's very easy once you've got the hang of it. And of course, you can eat all your failed attempts while you're learning the method. Just sayin'.
So here's what you'll need to make wonderfully tasty pancakes for a perfect Saturday:
This is not too difficult, right? And the greatest thing about it is that these all ingredients you usually have in your kitchen. So, in theory, you could make pancakes every day!
You'll also need something to put on your pancakes. Toppings can vary from sweet to savory, so you can think up as many combinations as you'd like. The traditional favorites are, however: sweet cottage cheese, known as túró, jam, and chocolate. These provide a good start for any beginner, and later you can experiment with spinach and mushroom, onion and bacon, or basically anything you can dream of. but first of all, let's see what you need to do with the batter.
Note: a pancake pan is basically a thin pan that makes it easier to flip pancakes. If you think you'll be a palacsinta connoisseur, you can get one in most stores, otherwise, a regular pan will do just fine.
And voilá, you've got palacsinta! Roll up those bad boys with your favorite filling and enjoy!
Once you arrive in Hungary, you’ll be bombarded by strange gastronomic concoctions to try. Of course, everybody thinks that their national cuisine is the best, but Hungarians tend to overdo it sometimes 😀 There are a number of foods we have which seem to be strange at first glance, but it’s quite easy to get addicted to them. This list tries to gather the most important things that you have to try:
Without a doubt, this is the Hungarian national dessert. Although the combination of túró (something along the lines of cottage cheese, but not quite) and chocolate might seem a bit daunting at first, a lot of people are completely addicted to the taste. Quite a number of Hungarian expats receive care packages from their families which consist of nothing else, but túró rudi.
The best literal translation here would be chimney cake, which stands for a sweet pastry that you can buy from vendors on the street. Some people make i tat home, but you need special equipment for it, so it’s easier to buy it than to make it. The flavors can appear in any combination, but the most popular are sugar-vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and almond.
Most cultures have a sort of traditional fish soup, and Hungary is no exception. Halászlé, or fisherman’s soup is prepared in a number of ways and all families have their own sacred recipe. The basic idea is that you don’t overcomplicate the whole thing, and you don’t leave out the most important spice, paprika.
This is not the fanciest dish, but still a big favorite. Good comfort food should have lots of carbs, and this dish doesn’t fail in that regard. The base is pasta with túró and a bit of sour cream, and you can eat it either sweet or sour. The sweet version, with sugar, is considered by some as the kid’s edition, while the ’regular’ túrós csusza is served with crispy bacon.
Stuffed cabbage is a staple dish, especially around Christmas time. The cabbage leafs are filled with rice and ground meat and cooked in a paprika sauce. It is served really hot with bread and sour cream. Don’t expect to move for a while after you’ve tried it, it’s pretty filling.
Lángos is the typical beach food, and most people start salivating immediately when they sell it. It’s cheap, very filling, and reminds everyone of childhood summers. The base is savory dough which is fried and then topped with a combination or garlic, sour cream, and cheese.
Another comfort food, rakottkrumpli is basically a casserole consisting of potatoes, eggs, sausages, and sour cream. People often add their own ingredients or leave out others, as it’s easily modified to suit your taste (and since it’s a pretty cheap meal, your budget).
This cake was created by Joseph Dobos in the 19th century, and since then, have become a must-have in all pastry shops. The cake alternates layers of chocolate buttercream and sponge cake, and is topped with caramelized sugar.
If you’ve ever had ratatouille or peperonata, you have the basic idea: this is a thick vegetable stew, which can be customized any way you want. The main ingredients that all Hungarian lecsós have though are onion, pepper, and tomato. A lot of people add eggs, sausages, barley, or rice, there is no end to the possible combinations!
No matter what people say, it’s a meal.
Hungarian cuisine is very much meat based, but you don’t have to worry if you are looking for meat-free options either. Most of the Hungarian restaurant offer vegetarian dishes, but if you want a really outstanding dining experience, you should visit one of the many vegetarian restaurants in Budapest. Here is a list of the five favorite places of the studentguide.hu team:
Where? 1053 Budapest, Múzeum körút 23-25.
What? Whether you are looking for a hearty breakfast, a quick lunch, or leisurely place to have dinner, VegaCity is your go-to place. Vegacity specializes in offering an exciting and constantly changing menu, creating a perfect balance of traditional dishes and interesting new combinations to amaze your taste buds. They opened in 2014, and quickly became a favorite with students from nearby universities, so you can see a lot of regulars coming back. You cannot get bored here! The place can get a bit crowded around lunchtime, but you never have to wait more than a couple of minutes, and the wonderful servers more than make up for this slight inconvenience. Also, the prices are on the cheap side, so you can make this your staple healthy lunch place!
Where? 1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 2. and 1077 Budapest, Rózsa utca 39.
What? Napfényes has long been heralded as the best vegan-vegetarian restaurant in the city, and this is not just because of the wonderful food. The restaurant operates in two locations, so it’s easy to find the one closest to you, and enjoy the family atmosphere. Napfényes offers both Hungarian style flavors and more international dishes, so it’s a perfect fit if you are thinking about bringing a bigger party to dine. Even meat lovers are amazed by the taste combinations and size of the plates! Napfényes uses organically grown ingredients, and they also offer a daily menu, which always includes some form of grain or cereal. Instead of using traditional wheat flour, white sugar, cocoa and bean coffee, they prefer spelt flour, cane sugar, carob and grain coffee, and also prepare all their meals with purified water.
Where? 1052 Budapest, Hold utca 9.
What? Located near the beautiful Szabadság tér, Nemsüti opened in 2012, and took the district with a flourish. Just like all inner city bistros, they open early and offer wonderful breakfast selections that get you through even the grumpiest Monday mornings. They are famous for their cakes, so it’s also worth checking in for a coffee and something sweet. They have a wide array of sandwiches and salads to choose from, but if you are really hungry, you must try the Nemsüti burger with grilled goat cheese, zucchini, and eggplant – it really is an experience!
Where? 1054 Budapest, 5 Garibaldi Street
What? The restaurant originally opened in 2011 under the name of Mannatural Food Manufactory, as the first 100% raw vegan restaurant in Hungary. They soon outgrew their small stall in the market, however, so they’ve been serving their delicious dishes in Garibaldi street ever since. Veggie Bistro specializes in using only raw materials in the meal preparation, which do not undergo any heat treatment, so their vitamin and mineral levels are extremely high. Talk about giving your body an energy boom! Although it may sound a bit extreme if you have encountered raw cuisine before, it’s definitely worth a try, as everything is so delicious, you’ll be coming back for more. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of your personal diet revolution!
Where? 1050 Budapest, Vigyázó Ferenc utca 4. and 1053 Budapest, Papnövelde utca 1.
What? Govinda is a restaurant chain which is known and loved all over the world. Each of their restaurants in Hungary has a unique atmosphere, and offers special lacto-vegetarian delicacies, prepared according to traditional Indian taste and following the guidance of Ayurveda. Govinda emphasizes the use of pure, fresh ingredients, and that any good meal is prepared with care and love. The dishes follow the Vedic tradition, thus observing the harmony of taste. They contain the six tastes, complying with the principles of healthy eating, and creating unforgettable food memories.
What better program is there on a sleepy weekend morning than to gather your basket and go to a nearby market to pick up fresh produce and hand crafted delicacies? We selected the coolest markets for you to check out:
Perhaps one of the oldest, but without a doubt the most well-known farmer’s market takes place in Szimpla. It has been around for four years, offering space to about 30 or 40 producers each week. Szimpla’s unique atmosphere goes perfectly with the food extravaganza on offer: you can find anything and everything from fruits and vegetables to cheese, honey, jams, and meat. Besides being the perfect place to shop for your groceries, Szimpla is also a community space, offering workshops on food culture, vine, and numerous other topics. If you get hungry while shopping around, you can try out Szimpla’s seasonal menu, or you can find the charity pot, where you can make a small donation in exchange for the food prepared by an NGO.
Sounds cool, right? And what is more, Szimpla also has live music all day! Here’s a little video to wet your appetite:
Pancs is a new player on the field and caters to a much smaller audience than Szimpla. The location is Élesztő, a popular crafts beer bar during the week, which turns into a small gastro heaven on Sundays. Although at first glance it looks rather small, it more than makes up for it in friendliness. It is impossible to leave Pancs without trying everything! But if you are still hungry after sampling everything from sausages to sandwich creams, you can join the community lunch, which is prepared from local produce. In addition, the organizers invite a celebrity chef each month for a meet and great and to cook for everyone!
And this is how it looks:
Liliomkert is slightly different from the previous markets. For one, because it is located in Római part, which is slightly further away than your regular inner city markets. And this brings us to Liliomkert’s second curiosity: originally, the market is from Káptalantóti, a small village in the picturesque Káli-basin on the northern shore of Balaton. Since its opening in 2007, Liliomkert has become the most fashionable market in the region, attracting guests from everywhere. The new location in Budapest brings you the authentic Balaton feel without having to travel for hours, while still maintaining the friendliness and beauty of a small village gathering.
Would you like to see some more? Check out these pictures:
Esti piac translates into English as Night Market. Shopping at night? – you might ask. Yes, you read it right! Budapest’s first evening market opened in 2014, taking advantage of the afternoon and early evening traffic in Király utca, Budapest’s premier party street. This is the perfect to get good food before getting drinks with your friends in one of the nearby bars!