Introduction

Planning a trip to Budapest and want to know how much food will cost? The city of Budapest is full of life and it provides many dining opportunities for everyone’s budget. We will examine the prices of food in Budapest in this guide, so you can decide on your meal budget and make your time eating out enjoyable.

Classic Hungarian Dining

Hungarian food is famous for being both generous and tasty, with elements from nearby countries in them. You should try the traditional dishes such as goulash, paprikash and chimney cake when discovering Budapest. The cost of family dishes changes according to the place you decide to have them.

In these restaurants, a bowl of soup could set you back from 1,500 to 2,500 HUF and a plate of paprikash with nokedli can cost you from 2,500 to 4,500 HUF. Usually, chimney cake is between 1,000 and 1,800 HUF depending on where you get it and the add-ons, like cinnamon, chocolate or walnuts. In addition, many places sell traditional mixed platters with a variety of foods for sharing, at prices ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 HUF.

Restaurants

Dining at a posh restaurant can set you back from about 4,000 HUF to more than 10,000 for one main dish. Patrons here can enjoy exemplary cuisine, professional service and distinctive ingredients. Choosing a set lunch or meal deal can help you eat affordable Hungarian food.

Some of the top restaurants throughout the country offer wine pairings made from Hungary’s top wine regions Tokaj or Villány. Having three courses and enjoying wine together can be around 12,000 to 20,000 HUF for a person. Places like Costes Downtown and Borkonyha Winekitchen not only offer Michelin-worthy experiences, but they charge prices that go with the top-quality food and setting they provide. While some of these fine restaurants are priced out of reach for a lot of people, their lunch menus fall within the range of 3,500 to 5,000 HUF, so they’re more accessible during the day.

You’ll often find both Hungarian and international meals on the menus of mid-range restaurants. Eating a main course and a drink at this place usually costs between 3,000 and 6,000 HUF. Around HUF 2,000–2,800 usually gets you soup and a main course at any local eatery or bistro, where daily menus are available.

Street Food

If you just want a cheap meal that’s ready fast, street food from Budapest should not be missed. If you’re on a budget, you can still enjoy nice foods such as lángos, kürtőskalács and sausages. You can often get street food for between 500 and 2,000 HUF, so it’s recommended for those with a tighter budget.

Lángos, traditionally offered at markets and stalls, usually costs somewhere between 800 and 1,500 HUF based on the toppings. The classic version typically has sour cream and cheese, but you might see suppliers adding ham, sausage or the popular sweet spread, Nutella. Besides paprika chicken, Hungarian sausages are a must-have meal when in Budapest and they often cost from 1,200 to 2,000 HUF. If you check out Hungarian street food, Karavan Street Food Court or the Jewish Quarter would be good options, where you’ll get to try dishes from Hungary, Europe and beyond.

We also created tags for Grocery Stores and Markets.

Ordinary grocery stores and bright markets in Budapest give you a lot of places to get food for any meal. Two popular choices are described below:

Supermarkets

If you’re looking for affordable groceries, Tesco, Spar and Auchan have great options. It’s easy to get your hands on fresh fruits and vegetables, animal products and daily go-to products at the store. On average, most households in Budapest need around 10,000 to 15,000 HUF for groceries each week, depending on your desires.

For example, a liter of milk is 300–400 HUF, a loaf of bread is 400–600 HUF and a dozen eggs is 700–900 HUF. Tomatoes and peppers generally cost between 400 and 900 HUF for every kilogram you buy. Curd cheese, yogurt and butter can all be found locally and are quite affordable.

Városház Piac

Nagyvásárcsarnok is an indoor market with fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, meats and local specialties for sale. It gives you a good opportunity to enjoy Hungarian culture and eat homegrown food. The products here may be more expensive than what you’d find at a supermarket, but you get great value for your money.

In addition to other items, you’ll find homegrown Hungarian products like paprika paste, honey, sausages and wines at the market for taking home as souvenirs or gifts. Most vendors will let you try out samples and you may be able to talk the price down a little. As well as buying groceries, you can purchase meals from food stalls on the upper floor for a price of 1,500–3,000 HUF per serving.

Tipping Etiquette

In Budapest, you should tip, because it’s a key aspect of the service industry. It is usual to tip your waiter or waitress with around 10% of the bill. In case the service is excellent or you had a great meal, it’s a good idea to give a higher tip.

In most tourist areas, the bill at some restaurants might include a service charge; remember to look at your receipt before adding a tip. Most cafés expect you to round up your bill when paying. Remind the staff about your tip before your card payment is made, since adding it afterward may be complicated.

Conclusion

Taking into account the price of food in Budapest will help you eat local dishes without breaking your travel budget. You can go out for fine dining, try the city’s street eats or cook up something at home, since Budapest has dishes for every budget. Visit the local markets, as there you can find Hungarian recipes to enjoy during your trip.

When you take some time to organize your meals and learn about local food, eating in Budapest can be both fun and won’t break your budget. There’s no need to only eat in restaurants—sometimes indulge in gourmet meals and on others try food from the street or on the shore of the Danube. This style of cooking is happy for your tastes and wallet.