Budapest: hidden food gems
Best places do not live on a central street. You need to find them.
I recently realised that great places out there are not at all shining on a central street waiting for you to pop in whenever you are ready for that special delight. In most cases you have to do the homework and know exactly where to go and what to look for. Lucky you have me - your local food junkie, sharing hidden gems you definitely need to experience. This time I am in Budapest, exploring best of two worlds — Buda and Pest.
A Sef Utcaja
First you need to spot a small in-door food market in the middle of Hold utca street just near the Parliament building area and then find your way to the second floor. You will be surprised how many cosy and ambient places are there and one of them is A Sef Utcaja — a truly traditional flavours reimagined. Same as its western neighbours Hungarian cuisines is build on sheep loads of meat, gravies and various sausages but in our case its the paprika that makes all the difference and I do recommend to start with a traditional paprika sausage. Here at A Sef Utcaja they cook it in its own natural sauce garnishing it with mustard roasted onions and home made pickles. Also these people know how to put everything together so it looks super yum. This is pure love from the first bite, specially if you pick yourself a bottle of a local sweet red wine prior to visiting this bistro. And don’t forget to try one of those daily menu specials.
To eat:
- Hungarian sausage from the old times (1.100 Huf or $3.80)
- Hungarian “Lecso” with two types of sausage (1.700 Huf or $6)
Address: Hold u. 13, Budapest, Hungary
Website: https://www.facebook.com/asefutcaja
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Butcher’s Kitchen
Another special place I would never pop in without knowing the background is Butcher’s Kitchen. I swear this one looks like just as an ordinary sandwich bar for locals as it’s somewhat hidden from the public eye in the corner of a peaceful street. The guy behind the counter is the proud owner of the place will easily tell you that all the meat he buys at some true hungarian organic farm and c arves himself right in the shop. Oh boy, this message gets right into your heart and turns into the best sauce you eat your sandwich with loaded with BBQ roasted pork on onion jam, dijoni mustard and garlic mayonnaisse served with crispy pickles. God will not forgive you if you eat this one without a pint of a proper local lager!
To eat:
- Pulled pork sandwich (1650 Huf or $5.68)
- Pastrami (1750 Huf or $6)
Address: Klauzál u. 11–13, Budapest, Hungary
Kerkyra Görög Ételbár
Yes, I know it’s not one of those ambient cafes or trendy gastro pubs I normally write about, yet it’s another unique story of a hardworking owner from Greece that puts his heart, skills and time into his own business. This guy managed to build a famous loved by locals gyros shop where you can actually see a queue during the day time. But first you need some time to find the blue door with the owner’s huge pic on it as it’s a bit off the main road. Those pita delights does have everything all other gyros around the town have, but I guess it’s all that feta cheese sauce and carrot stuffing that makes your stomach sign.
To eat:
- Gyros pita (750 Huf or $2.58)
Address: Eötvös u. 5. (Szófia u.), Budapest, Hungary
Piknik Pavilion
This place is all about traditional food on a Buda side of a city neighboring the Matthisa Church and these folks has the swag for creating finger liсking window dressing with all the meat, sausages and vegs looking at you and asking to grab it. Trust me, if you make it to this side of a Danube and find the spot, you will fall in love with its duck confit served with beatroot and potatoes, espacially if it’s 11pm and you had a couple pints before in Pest. Please, don’t skip the Hungarian roasted paprika sausage in baguette with mixed pickles and mustard, as it is a great campanion to anything you will order.
To eat:
- Piknik Hun-Dog (2200 Huf or $7.5)
- Confit duck in hungarian paprika (3700 Huf or $12.50)
Address: Tárnok Utca 15., Budapest, Hungary
To read my previous post from Palanga, Lithuania, please click here
Thank you for reading.
Your local food junkie!
