Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is famous for its history, beautiful buildings and exciting food. Regardless of whether you’re trying to save or experiencing fine dining, Budapest has restaurants that fit your preferences. Since the city mixes old and new traditions, the food you can find there is both diverse and very tasty. We will look at how much it costs to have a 3-course meal in Budapest depending on your budget in this article.

1. Budget-Friendly Dining

You’ll be happy to hear that there are plenty of cheap restaurants in Budapest. If you’re looking for traditional Hungarian meals, many small self-service restaurants provide them at low costs. Many locals enjoy these eateries to have a genuine flavors of the region.

In Hungarian food, you find lots of hearty, tasty dishes, including stews, soups and plenty of meat. Even when eating at a low-cost restaurant, you’ll likely enjoy a soup or salad, chicken paprikash or pork stew with dumplings and sweet Hungarian crepes for dessert.

Most budget-friendly restaurants charge between 2,500 and 4,000 HUF (around $8 to $14 USD) for a 3-course menu, usually. You should know that these prices are based on your part of town and the restaurant itself.

Tips to Help You Save Money on Eating Out

• Check the day’s menu or lunch specials, because they are frequently more economical than the evening choices. Most of them provide a discounted 2 or 3-course meal during lunchtime hours.
• Have a look around the surrounding areas since these are usually not as expensive. Many hidden treasures in restaurants can be found in suburbs and outer neighborhoods along the Danube and they charge less too.
• Stay away from places with many tourists, since costs are likely to go higher there. Close to places like Buda Castle or Váci Street, you’ll find prices are higher and menus are tailored to visitors, not to locals.

2. Mid-Range Dining

There are many mid-range restaurants in Budapest if you want a good meal but don’t want to go too expensive. Most places have dishes that are both Hungarian and international, served with innovative ideas. They highlight seasonal and fresh products, serving them in a stylish way so you get quality at a good price.

This category of restaurants focuses on better ambiance, better service and better-quality dishes. Sometimes, you’ll come across old-fashioned bistros with simpler decor or new, modern restaurants with Hungarian favorites.

Sitting down for a 3-course meal in a mid-priced restaurant will usually cost 6,000 to 10,000 HUF ($20-$35 USD) per person. You’ll discover many interesting restaurants in this price range, all serving different dishes. Often, you can start your meal with mushroom soup, move on to grilled duck breast and potato cakes and end with rich Dobos torte.

What to know about Mid-Range Dining:

• Check recommendations on the internet or ask people in the area for help, so you don’t miss the best restaurants. TripAdvisor, Google Maps and even food blogs run by the locals can give you valuable reviews.
• Get a taste of the city’s culture by dining in either the Jewish Quarter or District XIII. You’ll find a mix of old-time restaurants, gastropubs and trendy cafés in these parts of Italy.
• If you want to try Hungarian food, why not have goulash, chimney cake or langos? Many mid-range restaurants display these dishes with style, making sure tradition and progress go hand in hand.

3. Top restaurants and those with Michelin stars

Anyone wishing for a luxury dining experience will enjoy plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants which are available in Budapest. You will find the best Hungarian and worldwide cuisine, along with thoughtful service and elegant surroundings in these places. The chefs here often use first-class ingredients and the newest culinary methods to create beautiful dishes.

Looking out at the Parliament building during a meal or enjoying opulent food inside a historical venue is as important as the meal itself in most fine dining places.

Plan to spend between 15,000 and 40,000 HUF or $50 to $140 USD, for a meal in a good restaurant. The cost of meals depends on how renowned the restaurant is, the freshness of its ingredients and how hard the food is to cook. Sometimes, you’ll find that meals offer amuse-bouches, match with wine suggestions or provide tasting menus with more than just three courses.

Some Advice for Enjoying a Gourmet Meal

• You should make reservations for Michelin-starred restaurants early on. Make reservations at Borkonyha, Costes or Stand several weeks or months in advance.
• Make lunch your choice, since upscale restaurants tend to provide cheaper fixed-price meals during the afternoon. Enjoy the same care in cooking at a lower price by picking these out.
• If you want to enjoy a chef’s most fascinating ideas, try tasting menus when you’re out to dine. Most menus offer smaller samplings of several dishes which allows diners to enjoy an overall view of what the kitchen offers.

Conclusion

A wide variety of budgets are served when it comes to eating in Budapest. From on-budget meals to amazing gourmet dishes, there is something in Budapest for every type of visitor. Thanks to its food culture, you’ll rapidly discover both street served food and gourmet dishes nearby.

No matter your budget, you’ll find plenty of Budapest restaurants serving local dishes or a mix of flavors or gourmet meals. Anyone who loves food will be delighted by how much and how good it is here.