Budapest: 5 must-try culinary specialities in the Hungarian capital

Langos, hungarian fresh pan fried bread or flatbread

Budapest, the pearl of the Danube, is not only famous for its thermal baths and majestic architecture, but also for its rich and delicious cuisine. Here are five sweet or savoury specialities you need to try during your stay in Hungary.

Goulash, Hungary's signature dish

This is Hungary's signature dish, a treat for the taste buds, somewhere between a stew and a soup., Goulash is made with slowly simmered beef, vegetables. The key ingredient, essential in Magyar cuisine, is paprika. This is what gives the dish its reddish colour and slightly smoky flavour. In Budapest, every restaurant has its own recipe, offering a limitless variety of flavours and textures: in the lively Erzsébetváros district, the Gozsdu passageway is lined with restaurants serving this speciality.

Gozsdu Udvar

Budapest 1075

Halászlé, the Hungarian fishermen's broth

This is the seafood equivalent of goulash: very popular during celebrations, halászlé is a spicy soup prepared with freshwater fish, often carp or pike, and full of paprika and tomatoes. Originally from the south of the country, this soup is often served with pieces of spicy pepper. In summer, some restaurants in Budapest prepare halászlé outdoors in huge cauldrons.

Lángos, a savoury treat found on any market

You won’t be able to stroll through the markets of Budapest without catching the tempting scent of lángos. This doughnut, fried flat to a chewy-crispy texture, is traditionally stuffed and topped with sour cream and grated cheese. However, recent variations include toppings such as garlic, ham, or even sweet versions. At Budapest's central market (Vásárcsarnok), you can snack on these in halls opened in 1897 and now superbly renovated. Enjoy the treat!

Great Market Hall of Budapest/Vásárcsarnok

Budapest, 1093

The kürtőskalács, emblematic of Budapest's sweet street food

If you find yourself with a craving for sweets, kürtőskalács (“chimney cake” in Hungarian) is another speciality you need to try. Wrapped in a spiral around a wooden cylinder and then baked on a spit, it is recognisable by its unique shape and perfectly caramelised outline. It is equally delivious plain, sprinkled with nuts or covered in chocolate, available at one of the many street stalls selling this delicacy in Budapest.

Krémes, a sweet treat to enjoy in a café

Hungarians have a sweet tooth, same as us: so while in Budapest, make sure to try a krémes, a pastry similar to a custard slice, made with a thick vanilla cream lined with puff pastry. This time, however, you can enjoy it in a traditional café, such as Ruszwurm Cukrászda, one of the oldest tearooms in the Hungarian capital, whose décor has remained the same since 1827!

Ruszwurm Cukrászda

Szentháromság u. 7

Budapest, 1014