A stone's throw away from the Nightmarket in Budapest's Chinatown, Eastwin Square is a fairly new find. It popped up on our Facebook feed, and as fans of Asian gastronomy, we didn't hesitate to check it out. Soon, we listed it among the best food courts in the city, but now, we are ready to explore Budapest's new and most authentic open-air food hall even further.
We visit Budapest's Chinatown in Kőbánya (a district in southeast Budapest) every season whenever we are after something authentic (here is what to try at which restaurant). There are unmissable appetizers, pancakes, and wok dishes, and if you come in a larger group, go for the hot pot and finish off with a four-pack of mango and bean mochi. The area is super popular among the Asian diaspora, foreigners, and locals. And Eastwin Square, a small courtyard filled with wooden stalls, is a thrilling new addition. Enter the ornate gate and browse the rich selection of uniform wooden huts. You can sit under a tent or outdoors.
It's no exaggeration to say that, apart from us, there were only Asian guests: some were just enjoying a quick meal on their own, while others were feasting on tables loaded with six-packs and large pots in the middle, as they should, in good spirits and apparently with a good appetite.
The selection of restaurants is quite diverse: you have Chinese and Thai flavours and lots of grill options. The best is to sample a little bit of everything. There is a lot of meat and even offal, but they also serve vegetarian options, which is a big plus! There is also a separate spot for drinks (Shop 8), with a selection of Asian beers and liqueurs. And speaking of drinks, bubble tea is not to be missed: the T-cup in Shop 7 is the place to indulge your fantasies with an array of sweet beverages.
Ngon (Shop 2) has no shortage of classic Thai dishes, so if you’re still getting to grips with Asian cuisine, you can stay within your comfort zone with a decent coconut milk-based soup or Pad Thai noodles. But if you’re open to new things, you can also sample specialities from Eastwin Square stalls such as deep-fried oyster cakes, steamed river snail soup (Shop 11), salt-baked quail eggs, lamb kidneys, spicy squid, or chicken gizzard skewers (Shop 3).
Shop 6, another lovely spot, specialises in breaded Asian chicken dishes. They also run a Hungarian unit in Stall 9, but we skipped it this time. However, we see its relevance: perhaps he came for the river snails and crabs, but she would rather have some goulash soup...
Sitting and nibbling on delicacies in the Eastwin Square court is quite an experience, not only because of the authentic atmosphere but also because it is a food court in the neatest sense. It’s clean and uniform, with inviting aromas as several skewers prepared by the minute at the grills. And the smell of the spicy meat stew is tempting and captivating, whether it’s a sweltering day or a mild summer evening.
Upon our visit, credit card payment was not available, so make sure to bring cash.
