Goodbye lángos, hello Christmas street-food fun – we visit the Winter FoodFest

Erzsébet tér might bustle in summer, but life doesn't stop during Advent, either. We enthusiastically welcomed the fact that the Fröccsterasz, which was already showing signs of transformation last summer, has been made over for the winter as Télifröccs, an enticing culinary Christmas universe.


Not only does the Winter FoodFest await, but you can also warm up at Télifröccs, with a real Alpine atmosphere to enjoy mulled wine, a Gin Corner for the discerning, and the Terminal for dancing until dawn – up to Christmas Eve, at least.

At last locals can feel that Erzsébet tér is not only for passing tourists, but also for them, too, and for great relaxation on a laid-back winter’s eve. Not to mention that if you sample some of the iconic street food dishes at the Winter FoodFest – where several nations are represented – you will surely go home satisfied, perhaps singing a few Christmas carols along the way.

Fairs are integral to the Christmas atmosphere in Budapest, where the essential question is, let’s face it, ‘What can we eat’? But what? You’re almost always enthusiastic about the dishes, but while the food behind the glass looks great, you still might be disappointed when it comes to tasting it, and how much you might have to pay for it.


At the Winter FoodFest, you can wave goodbye to all that, as the most outstanding players on Budapest’s gastronomic scene have come together to create something lasting on the barren Christmas-market front. Mazel Tov, Tereza, Smoke Riders, the 101BISTRO and Chimney Cake have gathered up their goodies and, with all the practicalities of street-food serving, brought restaurant quality to the stalls around the Fröccsterasz.

With Christmas practically closed last year, many places pulling down the shutters, it’s a pleasure to see that Budapest’s culinary industry can work together, and look for new approaches and alternative solutions.

This is how dishes created by Mazel Tov, Tereza and Smoke Riders came to be served from the same counter, 101BISTRO’s iconic Taiwanese speciality steaming away at the stall next door, Chimney Cake’s pistachio variety being made two stops away.


However, Fröccsterasz is also meant for those after more classic dishes, so if someone wants a good stuffed cabbage, they shouldn’t have to head to another Christmas market.

So let’s see what’s different about Winter FoodFest. Say goodbye, for example, to classic goulash and hello to steaming soups from different nations. Mazel Tov’s is a vegan lentil cream soup from the Middle East, Tereza is offering roast tomato soup while 101BISTRO has its signature tainan noodle soup.

So, this is soup with a capital S, which warms on a winter’s night, the chili tingling, not to mention filling. Plus, you can take the chili crunch home with you and, if you can stop yourself from using it, it can make a great Christmas gift.

After the soups, let’s move on to the mains, which are not easy to choose from. Highlights include Tereza’s steaming chili con carne, the perfect winter comfort food, but it’s also hard to resist the pork quesadilla cooked in orange juice.


Smoke Riders also prepare two types of BBQ sandwiches – pulled pork and smoked beef – for which the meats are cooked in their own smoker, but the jalapeño chili-cheese fries, which arrive with melted cheese, are also a really sinful treat, which can be enjoyed while walking around the fair.

Last but not least, the desserts shouldn’t disappoint, either. Although the guys at the other stalls don’t make sweets, fortunately Chimney Cake is right next door, and they easily steal the show with their delicious pastries.


Their latest invention is chimney cake with pistachio which, judging by the colour, might even tempt The Grinch, but don’t worry, it’s a much sweeter treat. They also have chimney cake with Oreo cookies but you can choose from the more classic flavours, and the version with gingerbread will soon debut here as well.

Prices are reasonable considering this is filling street food, and certainly no higher than at the classic Christmas markets – only here. you can expect to get a really hearty and tasty dish. Soups are around 1,500 forints, except for 101BISTRO pasta soup, which in itself counts as at least a half-helping more than any standard main course, so 3,000 forints is a completely fair price.


Sandwiches are also around 3,000 forints, chili con carne 2,490 forints and those richly topped fries 1,790. Chimney cakes cost 1,800 forints, but they come with whipped cream and extra fillings.

Of course, mulled wine and hot tea can’t be left out, either thanks to Fröccsterasz. If those don’t warm you up, it’s worth popping into the TéliFröccs bar, where a real winter ambience awaits.


If you’ve had a gastronomic experience at the Winter FoodFest, don’t miss the Gin Corner either, just as good in winter as it is in summer, because of its spicy taste. And if you don't want to bury yourself under the duvet just yet, humming Christmas carols after you get home, head to Terminal, where great parties and concerts await all winter.