10 iconic Hungarian food and drinks you must try in Budapest

World of Food & Drinks assembled a list of the top 10 things everyone should try in Budapest, and also added where to find them when one visits Hungary’s capital. The list contains the most iconic traditional Hungarian dishes and drinks to die for. Recipes for many of these dishes can be found in Daily New Hungary’s “recipe of the week” series.

Soups

1. Fisherman’s soup (Halászlé)

Hungarian Fisherman’s soup is similar to fish paprikash, but with more water. This delicious spicy soup is usually made from carp caught in the river Danube. The recipe relies on the traditional paprika powder, which gives the soup’s bright red colour. Most famous versions of fisherman’s soup are: fisherman’s soup of Baja, Szeged and the Tisza region. You can try this soup in many places in Budapest, for example at Horgásztanya Restaurant.

2. Goulash (Gulyás)

Goulash is one of the (if not the No. 1) most famous Hungarian dishes. Goulash is a rich stew made of meat and vegetables, and with lots of paprika. Traditionally, it is made from beef, but you can also find goulash made from pork or chicken. You can try the goulash in almost every restaurant in Budapest, but for a unique dining experience, you can go to Vagon restaurant or Gettó Gulyás.

Main courses

3. Chicken Paprikash (Csirke paprikás)

Chicken paprikash has everything that characterises Hungarian cuisine: paprika, pepper, onion, garlic, green, pepper, tomato, meat and sour cream. This dish has a creamy sauce which the chicken meat is simmered in for over an hour. Traditionally, it is served with egg dumplings called nokedli. You can try this really popular Hungarian dish at Paprika Jancsi, Budapest.

4. Hungarian Lecsó

Several nations have their own versions of this meal (e.g. French ratatouille). Hungarian Lecsó is basically a vegetable stew made from tomatoes, yellow peppers and onions. Vegetables are seasoned with salt and paprika powder. Meat lovers often put sausages in their lecsó, but the original version of this meal is made without meat. Lecsó is usually served with bread and a scoop of sour cream. There are not many vegetarian traditional Hungarian dishes, so Lecsó is really a must try meal for vegetarians visiting the capital. You can try it at the restaurant M10 in Buda.

5. Sólet

Sólet is a stew made from kidney beans, onions, barley and paprika. It is traditionally a Hungarian-Jewish dish. Sólet is usually served with a whole or a halved egg as garnish. You can try it in the heart of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, at Kőleves restaurant.