Exclusive – 94′ konyha & bar: Unparalleled Vietnamese fusion kitchen in the heart of Budapest

In the heart of Budapest, close to the Jászai Mari Square and the building of the Defence Ministry, the 94’ konyha & bar is committed to taking you as close to Vietnam as you can possibly get without travelling there—and they excel at doing so. Their traditional Vietnamese and fusion Asian cuisine is unlike anything you can find anywhere nearby, prompting you to stay a while more and try just one more dish.

Stepping into 94’ konyha & bar, the hospitality and the commitment coming from the owner and the staff can already be felt right in the first minute. The modern, olive-limewash walls, jazzed up by the vibrant reddish colour of the furniture serve their purpose perfectly: to make guests feel comfortable without stealing the spotlight from the main attraction—the food. At this point, it is crucial to mention that, contrary to most Vietnamese restaurants in the area, the staff at 94′ konyha & bar create everything themselves from scratch, even their desserts, mochi and crème brûlée, and this is evident right from the first bite.

Wonders at 94′ konyha & bar

Daily News Hungary had the pleasure of trying this brand-new restaurant in Budapest, and we were not disappointed. The abundance of special appetisers, salads, soups, main dishes, and noodles make you feel spoilt for choice.

If you’re not careful, you will be full right at the beginning after trying 94′ konyha & bar’s unbeatable appetizers. Whether you choose the summer roll with a slice of tender duck breast, a fresh salad mix and teriyaki & mango-peanut sauce, or the crunchy spring roll with pork, wood ear mushroom, egg, and an amazing mango-curry sauce, you will want to come back for more.

The pork, shrimp and white fish-filled gyoza is also a perfect choice: the dish, originally from China but also extremely popular in Japan, is made perfectly in this Vietnamese kitchen. Just like the “crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside” Tom Chien Com, which is shrimp covered in rice flakes, complemented by a special Saigon sauce.

If you’re a coffee person, fret not: 94′ konyha & bar’s special Phin coffee will make sure you get your daily caffeine intake. Craving a refreshing, cold alcoholic drink? The restaurant’s Saigon summer cocktail with Baigur Gin with the delicious taste of lychee will make you ready for another meal.

You can choose from a selection of three special salads: Mix Salad (which is made even more tasty by dry miso and ponzu sauce), Mint Salad (with the surprising combination of mint leaves and bélszín [tenderloin] beef), and Lotus Salad with lotus roots, carrot, mint, peanuts and tiny shrimps.

If there’s only one Vietnamese dish that you’ve heard about, it’s most likely the Pho soup. While the 94′ konyha & bar likes to play around with ingredients and taste styles, often creating fusion dishes, this soup is made in the traditional way to emphasise its importance in Vietnamese cuisine.

As for the main dishes, the restaurant in Budapest has a vast selection: you can excite your tastebuds with saucy noodles, cracklings, wok dishes, and steamed dishes. Check out some photos of the Saigon Dry Pho from the saucy noodle section, the Singapore Fried Noodles from the wok section, and the caramelised pork & eggs from the steamed section below:

If you feel like there’s a little more space left for some desserts, you can choose between the option of a mochi selection and a crème brûlée: whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed.

While the 94′ konyha & bar opened merely half a year ago, it already has a special place on the Hungarian capital’s culinary map. Whether you’re a veteran of Vietnamese flavours or someone who would like to try really good Southeast Asian food, this will be your next go-to place.

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