With veganism steadily rising, it is no wonder that new restaurants are popping up all over the world to cater for this vegan-influx. Whether you’re trying to reduce meat consumption for health benefits, for your love of animals or you are trying to make a difference to the planet – there are plenty of restaurants for you to choose from all over the globe.
We have finally collected together our top 50 best vegan restaurants in the world in 2023, Big Seven Travel wrote. There are so many great restaurants on this list – from small chains to huge well-known names and we can’t wait to share them with you. So, without further ado, here are Big Seven’s best vegan restaurants in 2023. If you want to know how we rank these, you can check out our ranking procedure here.
Downtown Budapest’s famous Great Bistro (Bank utca 6., Budapest, Hungary, 1054, 5h district) has been ranked the world’s 22nd best vegan restaurant. Here is what Big Seven Travel wrote about it:
“Great Bistro is a vegan restaurant with an extensive menu that offers vegan, gluten-free, and gourmet dishes. The restaurant is committed to sustainability, which is reflected in their ingredients and packaging choices. The fine dining atmosphere creates a sophisticated and stylish dining experience that you won’t want to miss. The menu features international cuisine with a focus on using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Some of their most popular dishes include the Seitan Bourguignon and the Mushroom Risotto. Be sure to save some room for dessert because their vegan cheesecake is an absolute must-try. Great Bistro is definitely one of the best vegan restaurants in the world, and a must-visit for anyone looking for a sustainable and delicious dining experience.”
Aldi has announced changes in its Hungarian stores. The German parent company is changing the name of one of its most popular product families.
Aldi Hungary is introducing a new, unified milk brand, the retail chain announced on its website.
It was pointed out that in the future, the dairy products will be marketed under the name Milsani instead of Milfina. The packaging of the goods will also be renewed.
The decision was taken to make it easier to identify dairy products. In addition, the German parent company, ALDI SÜD expects further cost reductions from the unification of the brand, Index writes.
“Apart from the packaging, neither the recipe nor the contents of the products will change,” said Bernhard Haider, the company’s national managing director.
As described, the brand, which is made with Hungarian sourcing and Hungarian raw materials, will continue to be available in the company’s Hungarian stores.
Starting from 1 July, smaller restaurants, buffets, and Balaton lángos sellers will have to connect their businesses to the National Tourism Data Reporting Center (NTAK). This led to a wave of concern through the predominantly micro and small business dominated part of the hospitality sector.
The smallest businesses are afraid that the deadline will force many of the hospitality providers to shut down. This concerns those who are unable to fulfil the immediate reporting obligation regarding their sales while trying go serve longs lines of customers, writes Napi.hu.
Digital transformation
According to the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTÜ), current regulations require registration of hospitality businesses in the National Tourism Data Reporting Center. This platform enables real-time visibility of anonymous traffic statistics for all dining establishments in the country.
Mandatory data reporting for hospitality providers and attractions will begin on July 1, 2023. From that point on, businesses can only sell their products in daily operations using software compatible with NTAK reporting. To facilitate the digital transition from traditional paper-based statistical reporting, MTÜ recommends the free software “Vendégem”, which small business owners can obtain without personal assistance.
Smaller restaurants feel threatened
The President of the Hungarian Association of Caterers, László Kovács pointed out that entrepreneurs perceive the current digital catch-up as a burden. The reason for this being that the current recessionary conditions largely affected the hospitality sector. Furthermore, the sector is divided because larger restaurants are in a different situation. These establishments already employ computer systems to track current sales and inventory, so they won’t be affected that much.
Currently there are around 18,000 small-scale businesses in Hungary employing one to ten people. These small-capital, vulnerable micro-businesses form the majority in the sector. This critical group typically includes small buffets, lángos vendors, fish fryers, or small family-run restaurants. Such establishments still generally rely on online cash registers without more substantial computer systems for internal record-keeping, and so they feel threatened by the change.
No more delays
Kovács emphasised that it is unlikely for lawmakers to grant another extension for the implementation of the data reporting system. They have already rescheduled it twice before. The most recent postponement was in January of this year, pushing the launch date to 1st July. They now aim to ensure that the ongoing testing period is followed by a learning period.
“We kindly request the decision-makers, the owner of NTAK, and the authorities to implement a six-month grace period starting from July. During this period, although the obligation for data reporting is in effect, businesses that fail to comply or provide incomplete information will not be penalised. Furthermore, we ask for a more detailed and effective informational campaign to accompany the implementation and the initial months in the hospitality industry,”
Stühmer’s Százszorszép (English: Daisy flower) exemplifies in a certain sense when the packaging transcends the product’s internal contents and achieves an everlasting status. The legend of the Százszorszép, created during the Monarchy, lives on to this day: the production of the paper box, once designed by an industrial artist, is now overseen by of Stühmer’s creative manufacturing partner, Sz. Variáns, who handles the packaging design and execution. The company produces tens of thousands of the classic and iconic 250-gram box annually.
The retro renaissance continues to pervade our everyday lives – beyond the various fashion trends, objects and memories, let us take a closer look a cult item that carried a great meaning for generations, the candy box of Százszorszép. Many of us may might have a childhood memory from the 70s and 80s of our grandmother’s shelf displaying a distinctive, octagonal, flower-patterned box, which quite often contained sewing kits or other personal valuables.
Candy Box or Artefact?
To this day you can bid on these objects at online marketplaces, and it even inspired a long-established porcelain manufacturing company to create a bonbonier with the identical shape and pattern, featuring the Stühmer logo. “The success and uniqueness of Százszorszép can be attributed to the fact that it has represented the same quality for more than a century. The box also plays a big role in this, which actually can be thought of as a work of art: its assembly cannot be mechanized. We cover the material of printed gray plates with art printing paper, all by hand, which highlights the added value” says János Szakál, the managing owner of Sz. Variáns.
Photo: PResston PR Kft.
The history and evolution of the Daisy box spans across centuries and generations. It acted as a fixture in the repertoire of the former bourgeois culture, since in this period the aesthetic packaging functioned as a decor for everyday life. Due to its beautiful cover it was used in the fields of medical and cosmetic appliances, however it gained the greatest cult following from the confectionery industry. By the end of the 19th century, Stühmer had made Hungary a chocolate superpower. Franz Joseph honored the activities of the chocolatier Frigyes Stühmer with the Hungarian Cross of Merit, and the chocolate specialties, whose appearance – especially later, from the 1920s – served as a symbol of high quality, was also admired by the emperor’s wife, Sissi.
This is when important craftsmen such as Ernő Jeges, Ili Szirmai, Gitta Mallász and Kató Lukáts emerged as designers of Stühmer packaging, and the Stühmer Chocolate Factory established itself at the forefront of Hungarian packaging. The exquisite national craftsmanship of Százszorszép – along its delightful contents – remained available on the market during the Kádár era, even after socialization. Due to technological constraints, the shape of the exterior box design had to remain intact – it was made on the same production line later on, however the physical appearance resembling the daisy pattern took a detour for a few decades. The flower symbolized the tears of the Virgin Mary, therefore the logo of the “treat basket” designed by Pál Gábor in 1952 was placed on the box in the end.
The Revival of an Iconic Piece
Millions of Stühmer of the legendary candy box packages produced by Sz. Variáns, the eight-time Hungaropack award-winning business are sold in the domestic and international markets. The fruitful collaboration between the two family businesses, Stühmer and Sz. Variáns, started in 2007. “There cooperation between us is seamless. From day one, we carried out product development together, in fact the process of developing a new product line starts with a recommendation by Sz. Variáns”, says Péter Csóll, the visionary and current owner of Stühmer.
As in the case of other products of the traditional brand, an important aspect in the renewal of the Százszorszép candy packaging design was that the core values were prohibited to be damaged. In this case, the change meant the restoration of an old value: on the occasion of the brand’s 150th anniversary, the daisy motif – after several decades passed by – was returned to the box adhering to the designs of Zoltán Peternák, Stühmer’s graphic designer.
Eternal Popularity
The Százszorszép candy is still one of the most popular Stühmer products. In addition to the classic version, it can be found with three different packaging designs on the shelves of gift shops, specialty shops, and airport duty-free shops. It appeares that the nostalgic magic represented by the exterior and interior content of the Százszorszép is enticing to domestic customers and tourists alike.
The managing owner Sz. Variáns, who is carries out the production of the Százszorszép box, also has decades-old memories of Stühmer’s iconic packaging. “One of the distinctive pieces of my childhood is the Százszorszép box. Even though the candy was long gone, no one discarded it, in fact, it was typically used to store small valuables – it was considered as a work of art. Typically, an object that has a soul accompanies us through our past and present. It fills me with great pride that we can be part of this story” says János Szakál.
László Bárány, the founder and owner of the Master Good group of companies, has good news for all of us. Based on the economic developments of the past few years, he expects a significant drop in the price of poultry meat. According to the expert, people can look forward to a 10 percent reduction by the end of the year.
After a 10 percent reduction in April, Mr Bárány expects another 10 percent correction in chicken meat prices by the end of the year.
Poultry exporters benefited from the unfavourable conditions
The expert told Magyar Nemzet that although the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war have put businesses in a difficult situation, poultry exporters have benefited significantly from the demand market that has also developed in this context, as well as from the weak forint.
He added that the European-wide avian influenza pandemic had led to the culling of huge flocks. This resulted in a massive poultry shortage.
Consequently, the demand market has allowed not only to absorb extra costs, but also to increase the profit margin, Index explains, based on Magyar Nemzet.
Mr Bárány said that high costs coupled with low supply naturally generated high consumer prices. To this, the Hungarian government responded by introducing price caps. Among chicken products, breast fillet and rump have been capped.
Another 10 percent price drop is expected by the end of 2023
He said that for six months, this measure had indeed put a slight brake on the relentless rise in prices. However, at the end of last year, a new turnaround occurred: as grain prices soared due to the drought, consumption fell and the fall in demand began to curb the rapid price rises.
According to László Bárány, this means that by the second quarter of 2023, overall sales prices in Europe had fallen by ten percent. What is more, this trend is forecast to continue in the coming months. According to the company owner, this means that a further 10 percent drop in prices is expected by the end of the year.
He added that, in his view, this will lead to long-term price stability. Finally, Mr Bárány said that inflation in Hungary is forecast to fall noticeably in July, which means that consumption will increase again over time at lower prices.
A ministerial decree about how to implement the government’s compulsory price reduction appeared in the Hungarian National Gazette on Friday evening. The scheme will kick off on 1 June, and the document defines how the retailers should inform the customers about the compulsory price reductions.
We wrote before that shopping in Hungary will considerably change from 1 June. That is when the government’s new scheme concerning a compulsory price reduction on several different types of foods will start. Why is that needed? Because the food price rise rate is one of the highest in Hungary in the world and the highest in the EU.
Compared to last year, the average price increase reached 40-50 percent in the case of bread, milk, butter and other basic foodstuffs. The government would like to reduce the social consequences by making it compulsory for the big supermarkets to announce price reductions concerning several food types. According to portfolio.hu, the government’s latest measure will last until 30 September. It concerns stores above 200 sqm. Therefore, Lidl, Aldi, Penny, Tesco, Spar and other supermarket chains will apply it.
Last year, the government introduced food price caps on certain products (sugar, sunflower oil, milk, flour, chicken breast and pork leg). The Orbán administration hoped that the measure would ease the burden of food price inflation, but experts agree the scheme resulted in the price rise of other popular foodstuffs. For example, butter and cheese. However, the government decided to uphold it until at least 30 June.
Concerning the compulsory price reductions, the new decree prescribes the following information sheet for each shop. It contains that the Hungarian government decided to introduce the scheme to protect the Hungarian families. The stores will need to reduce prices by at least 10 percent, in the case of 20 food product types. Those are the following:
poultry, pig, beef and other kinds of meat, fish, canned fish, processed meat products, milk, sour cream and replacements, yoghurt and similar products. Furthermore, supermarkets will have to reduce the price of cheese, butter, margarine, vegetable oils and animal fats, bread, pastries, cereals, flour, sugar, fresh vegetables and fruits, vegetable and fruit juices, convenience foods, spices, seasonings, coffee, tea, mineral water and soft drinks.
Here is the poster, which will have to be displayed in A4 size (210 × 297mm) in each Hungarian supermarket (and on its website):
Photo: PrtSCr/Magyar Közlöny (Hungarian National Gazette)
The government blames external reasons for the soaring food price inflation. But experts say some of their measures e.g. the aforementioned food price caps, the different excess profit and other taxes could play a crucial part in it. The biggest losers of the period were small rural shops. The latest data show their number decreased by 4,500. But this is not the last measure affecting our shopping habits in Hungary. The government will introduce an online price monitoring system on 1 July. We wrote about that HERE.
Hungary’s legendary biscuit, Pilóta, is back again! After months of shortage, the second favourite biscuit of Hungarians is back on the shelves.
Pilóta biscuit is here again
In October last year, we reported the sad news that the shortage of Pilóta biscuits would most likely last. It did so – until now. At the time, the snack disappeared from the shelves of most shops. The main reason was that the Székesfehérvár plant was facing a shortage of raw and packaging materials.
“The Pilóta biscuit is back in production and available in some shops from today!” Mondelez Hungária told Telex on Friday morning. “The production of the iconic biscuit was restarted at the end of April at the Székesfehérvár factory of Győri Keksz, a Mondelez Group company. Today, the product starts to be delivered to retailers, i.e. to stores. It is planned that the classic Pilóta biscuit will be available again nationwide by the beginning of July,” they said.
In the first round, the classic Pilóta will be back in stores, followed by Pilóta Triple Cocoa (Pilóta tripla kakaós) from July.
Shortage since October 2022
Pilóta Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Gg. Any
Last October, newspapers started to write about the fact that Pilóta biscuits were not to be found on the shelves. Mondelez stressed at the time that their product was unlikely to be available for months. They later said that the persistent shortage was due to a combination of difficulties in their production capacity and a shortage of raw materials and packaging, which was also affecting the confectionery sector.
More than half a century of Pilóta
The Pilóta biscuit was first produced in the 1960s. According to legend, it was made for the Hungarian airline Malév. In 2021, nearly 5,470,000 pieces were sold. Pilóta was initially produced at the Győri Keksz factory in Győr. However, for 27 years now, it has been produced at the Mondelez factory in Székesfehérvár, Telex reports.
After more than 50 years, Fischer Cukrászda (Fischer Confectionery) in Angyalföld, Budapest is closing its doors for good. The exact reason for the closure has not been disclosed by the family running the place.
Another well-known and popular Budapest confectionery is leaving us, Index reports. The sign on the door of Fischer Cukrászda, which has been operating for around 50 years, says goodbye to its customers.
Legendary confectionery closed last Saturday
Some people in the area have speculated for a long time that the confectionery might close. And on Saturday, it did. Then on Monday, a notice appeared on the door of the restaurant. It was a statement from the Fischer family, saying:
Thank you to everyone who has been a customer and loved us for the past 50+ years!
According to the Street Kitchen website, Fischer Confectionery has been run by the same family since its founding. They write that Aurél Fischer, 85, had been running the business since 1973 (other sources say the elderly founder is 86 or 87). He was actively involved until the very end.
Elderly founder, rough competition
The exact reason for the closure has not been disclosed by the family. However, locals attribute it to two reasons. The first is that the elderly Fischer was tired and there was no one in the family to take over the running of the business. The other is that in recent years, a number of new-wave confectioneries have opened up on nearby Pozsonyi Street, making it increasingly difficult for the Fischer Cukrászda to compete.
Consumer prices in Hungary rose by an annual 24 percent in April, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Wednesday. This is considered a significant step down from March’s 25.2 percent. Prices rose by 0.7 percent in a month, while core inflation eased to 24.8 percent from 25.7 percent a month earlier.
Headline inflation fell for the third month in a row and at a faster pace, dropping from 25.2 percent in March, MTI reports. Month on month, inflation was 0.7 percent.
Food prices rose by an annual 37.9 percent in April. Household energy prices increased by 41.8 percent. Gas prices rose by 59.4 percent and electricity prices grew by 27.3 percent. The data show consumer durable prices increased by 9.3 percent. Motor fuel prices, which were capped for households until early December, increased by 26.0 percent.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, was 24.8 percent.
After the data release, the Ministry of Economic Development said in a statement that the war in Ukraine and the EU’s “failed sanctions policy” had resulted in “unprecedented inflation throughout Europe”, but the government aimed for inflation to be reduced to single digits by year-end.
Inflation peaked in January, the statement noted, adding that the rate of decrease was accelerating, and this trend would intensify in the second half of the year. The ministry said food inflation on an annual basis was already almost 7 percentage points lower compared with its peak last December. Also, the price of fuels and household energy are also falling, it added.
It also noted new government measures to stimulate “significant competition” among food retailers with the aim of pushing food prices lower.
Despite the slowly decreasing inflation, Hungary’s is still the highest in the European Union. In recent months, no other country has recorded price rises of more than 20 percent. So, it will be a long process before we catch up with the rest of Europe again, Portfolio concludes.
There is probably no dispute that soups are an integral part of Hungarian gastronomy. However, not everyone’s favourite is the same. Which one is your favourite Hungarian soup?
5. Chicken soup (Tyúkhúsleves)
Photo: www.katarzis.cafeblog.hu
Our grandmothers believed that hot chicken soup strengthened the immune system. It is thought to be the equivalent of medicine for those suffering from colds – and hangovers! When cooking chicken soup, one of the most important secrets is to be patient, as the broth needs to simmer for hours, Femina advises.
4. Fish soup (Halászlé)
Fish soup from Lake Balaton. Source: Wikimedia Commons/János Korom Dr.
If there is one thing that is Hungarian food, it is definitely fish soup. Hungarian fish soup should only be made with carp. Perhaps the most important ingredient in this soup is the paprika. If we were to group Hungarian fish soups, the main groups would be: fish soups from the Danube, fish soups from the Tisza and fish soups from Lake Balaton. Of course, this does not mean that there are only these three types: there are as many types of fish soup as there are municipalities.
3. Chicken ragout soup with tarragon (Tárkonyos csirkeraguleves)
Source: PrtSc/YouTube/szazsu
A fantastic alternative to the traditional broth/chicken soup is the tárkonyos csirkeraguleves. Not everyone likes tarragon, but for those who do, it is the main ingredient, a very important part of the soup – and of course, the delicious, fresh chicken. For those who do not like tarragon, parsley is a great replacement.
2. Bean Soup in Mór Jókai Style/Bean Soup á la Jókai (Jókai bableves)
Source: Facebook.com/Mindmegette
This bean soup bears the name of the novelist Mór Jókai. This soup bears the name of the novelist Mór Jókai. The writer’s favourite dish was bean soup cooked with the nails of a smoked suckling pig. Although, of course, the Jókai bean soup we make and eat today is nowhere near what Jókai ate in his day. Today, there are as many ways to prepare it as there are recipe books and restaurants.
1. Goulash (Gulyás)
Photo: Facebook.com/gettogulyas
Our goulash soup probably does not have to be introduced to anybody. This soup is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country. Hungarian-themed restaurants all over the world serve goulash as one of their main meals. However, there are so many ways to make gulyás, you will probably never eat the same twice (unless you or one of your family members make it at home). If we have to pick just one dish that represents Hungary in the field of gastronomy, we would definitely say goulash.
Microplastics and pharmaceutical residues have been found in Lake Balaton. Experts say these particles can potentially cause behavioural and biochemical changes in the environment, putting one of Hungary’s most popular holiday destinations at high risk.
Toxic substances in Lake Balaton
According to the Hungarian Agricultural and Life Sciences University (MATE), microplastics and pharmaceutical residues have been found in Lake Balaton. These polystyrene, polyethylene and contraceptive residues can cause dramatic behavioural and biochemical changes in the flora and fauna of the lake.
Although these are small microplastics, they can trigger acute and chronic effects not only in algae but also in invertebrates and vertebrates, napi.hu reports.
“It is also becoming increasingly clear that contaminants of human origin (e.g. pharmaceutical residues, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and active ingredients of pesticides) may get attached to the surface of microplastics, which may further enhance their toxicity and accumulation in living organisms and the food chain,” the statement reads.
The research team is seeking a grant to continue its work and find a solution to the pressing issue.
The weather is also warming up bringing higher temperatures than in the previous years, which further contributes to fish mortality in Lake Balaton. Large numbers of dead fish have been found lately in the waters.
Shocking price hikes
Not only environmental factors but also price rises can scare tourists away.
According to startlap.hu, the price of the Hungarians’ favourite beach food, lángos, is rising, as are the prices of other beach snacks and beverages, such as beer. Analysts attribute the shocking 30 percent price hike to the skyrocketing energy prices, soaring raw material costs and worsening labour shortages.
The frost in early April did not help the crops, causing major damage to Hungarian apricot production.
At the beginning of April, temperatures were between minus 3 and minus 8 degrees Celsius in Hungary, which was bad news for apricots, one of Hungary’s favourite summer fruits.
According to napi.hu, in some farms, production losses can reach 90-100 percent. In the lowlands, there is hardly any crop left, and even in the higher altitudes more than half of the harvest was destroyed.
“In addition, most orchards are under very strong Monilia pressure, which will be a problem for sour cherries, but Stigmina and aphid infestations have also been reported,” fruitveb.hu writes.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), extreme weather conditions are certain to persist until 2060. The loss of production could lead to a significant price hike, the extent of which cannot yet be projected by experts.
The Hungarian Lollipop Manufactory is a huge success and is present in many European countries. Among other places, you can buy traditional, handmade Hungarian lollipops at Disneyland Paris.
Hungarian lollipops at Disneyland Paris
The Lollipop Manufactury started out as an investment for András Moldován, Levente Balogh and Gyula Fehér. They paid HUF 50 million (EUR 133,567.71) for 30 percent of the company, which was called Nauty Lollipop at the time. Since then, none of the businessmen remained among the owners, but the success story has continued. Lollipop Manufactory is already present in many European countries, and its customers include such big names as Disneyland in Paris, reports szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu.
The Lollipop Manufactory. Photo: FB/The Lollipop Manufactory
A European-level enterprise with high added value
András Foltin, the head of the company became known in 2018 when participating in the show “Cápák közt” (Among the Sharks) and his business idea won the investors’ fund prize. “We saw from the beginning that the domestic market is rather narrow. We also realised that this market cannot support a complete factory. For this reason, we decided to focus on exports”, he explained. They wanted to create a European-level business with high added value, which is why they visited numerous exhibitions held on the continent to spread awareness of their products. They progressed slowly, and the foreign contracts came together little by little, creating a capital-intensive company.
Lollipops that are more than meets the eye
The Hungarian lollipops are made with innovative technologies. The manufacturers can print the logo of any company on these hard candies and are also flexible in formatting. Their goal was not to appeal to a large crowd at the cheapest price, but they wanted to pride themselves in offering purely handmade products. “With an ample amount of planning, brainstorming and creative energy, we achieved to stand out from other manufacturers. We believe that the only way to stay competitive on the international market is to strive for quality rather than mass production”, the head of the company said firmly.
They use a unique technology for the lollipops. Photo: FB/The Lollipop ManufactoryThey sell healthy lollipops, too. Photo: FB/The Lollipop Manufactory
Healthy lollipops among the product range
In addition to the fantastic flavours, these lollipops are healthier than people might think at first. The Lollipop Manufactury sells sugar-free versions and uses excellent sugar substitutes such as musmolt. This ingredient is a very good hydrocarbon, which doesn’t trigger an insulin reaction, nor can it cause tooth decay. It is also easy to work with, as it can be molded very well.
The company aims to develop further and launch its own brand in the near future. “We have just purchased license rights from Universal, for example. We will launch our lollipops on the market in a couple of months, with this move we strive to increase the experience value. We have countless ideas, which is typical at our company”, András Foltin revealed.
A list of the items which become more expensive or have seen their prices drop since 2022 in Hungary has been revealed. Despite a few surprising ones, the list gives a clear indication as to why inflation is still higher in Hungary than in Western European countries.
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) recently reported that in March 2023, due to the high inflation, consumer prices were an average 25.2 percent higher than a year before. Now, hvg.hu obtained the full dataset, which revealed some interesting items that saw a price hike or drop.
KSH followed the price change of over 900 consumer items in the last 12 months, and from those 900 items, only 18 have seen a price drop. The 3 products with the largest price decreases are:
home insurance for flats up to 50 square metres in old condominiums – 14.2 percent
for apartments in old houses up to 80 square metres – 12.5 percent
Xbox One game console – 11.8 percent
The report does not specify which generation of Xbox Console has seen a price drop, which is only odd since KSH are extremely meticulous with some other items on the list. In the last 12 months, these items also became cheaper:
insurance for new homes
notebook, sound projector, 32 GB memory card
123-139 cm smart LED TV and 76-82 cm LCD-LED TVs
men’s perfume
hand sanitiser – the pandemic is largely over; the current price drop compensates for the previously seen increase
short-sleeved cotton T-shirts for children
hearing aids
liability insurance for the 2015 Skoda Octavia car
the sunflower seed oil (already covered by a price cap) and peaches among the seasonal goods
landline telephone subscription.
On the other side of the spectrum, the items that have seen the largest price hike were textbooks. Although in public education, most textbooks are free, those which remained on the market got much more expensive: their price more than doubled since March 2022, with a price hike of 138.9 percent.
Food and services are still getting increasingly more expensive
The price of yellow onions also more than doubled with a price increase of 109.8 percent. The third on the list, with a price increase of 91 percent, is powdered sugar, followed by 18 other food items with a price increase of between 71 and 87 percent.
Services have also become significantly more expensive in Hungary. Flight tickets between Budapest-Frankfurt and Budapest-Paris become more expensive by 52.7 and 48.2 percent respectively. Taxis in Hungary are 48.1 percent more expensive than this time last year. Among non-travel-related services, the biggest increase was for day spa tickets, up 45.7 percent.
The German supermarket chain Lidl has launched a massive price drop campaign for several foodstuffs. The domestically popular and well-frequented grocery store franchise has lowered the costs of almost 400 products since January. In some cases, this reached a 30 percent discount.
The 50 percent price rise related to foodstuffs definitely left a visible impact on consumption statistics. The volume of the sale of food products decreased by 9.6 percent compared to last year’s data. This forced grocery shops to make drastic moves and commit themselves to price decreases, writes Pénzcentrum.
Which are the discounted products?
Lidl has confirmed that they lowered the prices of many dairy and bakery products, including butter, cheese, sour cream and white bread. They also mentioned on their list other basic groceries such as rice, honey, pasta and sandwich spreads. Cleaning materials, baby products and fruit juices also saw price cuts.
The average decrease in prices is around 20 percent, even bordering 30 in some cases. According to research by Pénzcentrum, Lidl is the cheapest grocery market in Hungary. In recent months, consumers have become more price-conscious. Shoppers started actively seeking discounts and special offers. To keep up with the changing consumer trends, the supermarket strategically lowered the prices of many basic and best-selling food products.
Milk price controversy
Lidl’s discount flyers have recently informed customers about a huge bargain. The price of the 2,8 UHT milk was temporarily reduced to only 209 forints (EUR 0,56) between 27 April and 10 May. Not only is this an amazing price, but they also announced that one could buy up to 24 bottles, instead of the usual 3.
However, on the day the discount was supposed to come into action, it disappeared from the flyers without explanation or trace. This obviously caused a public outcry, as such low milk prices haven’t been seen since 2006-2007, 17 years ago. Luckily, the communications team at Lidl shortly confirmed afterwards, that they didn’t break their promise, and the price of the 2,8 UHT milk is now 209 forints indeed. It turned out the marketing was such a success, they had to turn it down a notch not to run out of stock prematurely.
By reducing the cost of milk, Lidl has jumped on a global trend. In the past few months, the global market price of dairy products has slowly but steadily started plummeting. If this trend persists, it is questionable whether it makes sense to uphold the fixed price of milk until June.
Budapest is a beloved place for movie shootings, therefore many famous Hollywood stars spend time in the Hungarian capital. They might even take a break from work to enjoy the city if their schedule allows it. If you want to spot some of these celebrities, here are the Budapest restaurants where you should make a reservation.
Actor Orlando Bloom and singer Katy Perry had a date night in Budapest last month when they celebrated Perry’s 38th birthday. For their dinner venue, they chose the Michelin-starred Babel restaurant. The couple was so pleased with the food that they even visited the kitchen after dinner. “She said that the dinner at Babel was one of the top three gastronomic experiences of her life, that we should always remain so loving and humble, and that she hopes people would travel here just to experience it themselves,” Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter, the owner of the restaurant recalled.
The Rosenstein Restaurant has probably seen the most celebrities in the Hungarian capital. Timothée Chalamet, who came to Budapest for the filming of Dune, has had dinner in this restaurant. In addition, Stellan Skarsgård, star of the Lars von Trier films, Pirates of the Caribbean, Good Will Hunting, Mamma Mia! and Chernobyl has also appeared in the Rosenstein Restaurant. The latest celebrity visiting the place was Adrien Brody, who celebrated his 50th birthday in the Hungarian capital. Other world-class actors such as Willem Dafoe or Mark Ruffalo have also previously made an appearance at the diner.
In the autumn of 2021, Prime Steak & Wine welcomed Mel Gibson for dinner. After the meal, the staff took the opportunity and asked for a picture with Gibson. The famous actor and director has visited the Hungarian capital several times. He always explores the city and spends time at places such as the Prime Steak & Wine restaurant.
This charming Spanish restaurant has also offered dinner to many foreign celebrities. However, not everyone was lucky to get a table. While Benedict Cumberbatch could try out their cuisine, they had to turn down Johnny Depp. As there was a wedding celebration at the restaurant, Depp couldn’t be seated. Nevertheless, the staff grabbed the chance to snap a photo with the star and posted it on their Facebook page.
In order to lower prices, the government will instruct major grocery chains to offer price discounts, government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.
Szentkirályi said the improvement in the inflation data was already visible thanks to the government’s measures, but the cabinet decided to introduce a new tool based on Greek and French examples, from July 1 at the latest.
The regulation will classify basic foodstuffs into 20 categories such as poultry, cheese, bread, baked goods, vegetables, fruit and cold cuts, she said. And the retail outlets affected will have to offer a product of their choice in all categories at least 10 percent cheaper than the price in effect in the 30 days preceding the special offer, she added.
Products must be selected for the special offers every week in order to ensure that the possibility of purchasing at a discount covers a wide range of products, Szentkiralyi said.
The discounts cannot apply to price-capped products, she added.
A list of the 100 best soups in the world has been compiled by the travel and gastronomy site, TasteAtlas. Among them are two Hungarian soups. Read their recipes here!
Both Hungarian soups are in the top 30
Two traditional Hungarian dishes were included in the collection of the gastronomy site, and both made it to the top 30. The chicken soup (húsleves) was 27th, while the goulash was 18th. Japanese Tonkotsu ramen leads the list, ahead of Polish Zurek and Turkish lentil soup. Czech garlic soup, Thai Tom Yum, or Paraguayan Vori vori are also among the top 20.
Chicken soup (húsleves) recipe
Ingredients
1.5 kg chicken
3 carrots
3 turnips
1 small kohlrabi
2 pieces of celery
1 large red onion
1 TV pepper
2 bunches of parsley
salt to taste
pepper to taste
15 dkg snail pasta (as many handfuls as the number of people we serve)
3.5 l water (approx.)
Firstly, soak the meat for 1-2 hours. Following that, clean the vegetables, chop the meat and onions and add them to a 5-liter container. Dissolve with enough water to cover (approx. 3-4 l). First, turn the stove to high heat until the soup starts boiling, then reduce it to low heat and season with salt and pepper. Then cut the vegetables and wash them. If the soup has boiled off its foam, add the vegetables and the tied parsley into the pot. When the soup is cooked, remove the chicken’s leg once the skin starts to split from the cartilage and joints. Then turn off the stove and take out the vegetables and meat separately.
Goulash soup (Gulyás) recipe
Ingredients
1 tablespoon fat
1 red onion
50 dkg pork leg
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon red pepper
1 tsp seasoning
1 carrot
1 parsley root
1 slice of celery
1 pepper
1 tomato
1 handful of whole pepper
1 tsp ground cumin seeds
30 dkg potatoes
To prepare the goulash soup, simmer the chopped red onion in the heated fat until glassy. Then add the diced, salted and peppered meat and fry until white. When it has turned white, sprinkle it with red pepper and seasoning, pour 0.5 dl of water over it, then stir and simmer for a few minutes. Then pour enough water to cover it well and cook the meat until semi-soft. When the meat is half-softened, add carrots, parsley, celery, paprika and tomatoes cut to taste, then pour a little more water over it. Add the whole peppers, cumin seeds and salt and continue to cook. When the meat is almost completely tender (after about 35 minutes), add the diced potatoes and cook the soup until it is completely ready in 10 minutes.
Goulash soup. Photo: Facebook.com/vasnepe.hu
+ 1 bonus recipe: Meat-filled crepes from Hortobágy
Although it is not a soup, the meat-filled crepes from Hortobágy are a real Hungarian specialty. Read the recipe below if you would like to try it out.
Ingredients for 4 portions
80 dkg chicken breast fillet
3 heads of onion
1 tomato
30 dkg sour cream
1 strong green pepper salt and pepper
2 teaspoons ground red pepper
a little oil
25 dkg fine flour
2 dl milk
3 eggs
1 pinch of salt
a little oil
Chop the cleaned onion into small pieces. Then cut the meat, peppers and tomatoes into small dice and cubes. After that, braise the onion in a little oil. When it is softened, add the red pepper and the meat. After stirring well, season with salt and pepper, and fry it a little. Add the peppers and tomatoes to the pot, cover with 200-250 ml of water and simmer for 30-35 minutes. Stir the sour cream into the stew and wait until it gives a crackling sound. Finally, strain the stew, add a few tablespoons of gravy to the meat and mix thoroughly.
Meat-filled crepes. Photo: Facebook/Diófa Csárda
If you enjoyed these recipes, here are some more for you to try:
