Our editorial team is constantly getting asked for decent grub recommendations, so here we are with a ist of our favourite spots. What makes a restaurant good is surprisingly complex. You can only trust an eatery if you've visited it multiple times and have always been satisfied because changes in ownership, chefs, suppliers, or other factors can make a once-brilliant spot go downhill. We've rounded up eight restaurants where our team has consistently enjoyed an outstanding meal – every time!

ZEN Eatery

ZEN might not have a long history, but its owners are no rookies, and we've always had a good experience with their food – feels like we've been fans for ages. ZEN Eatery opened in December 2023, and Pisti Szelei and Luu Trong Vhin's Asian bistro cuisine with European touches has been spot on ever since. The secret could be that both owners cook, and one of them is always in the kitchen. Their menu has regulars and specials, and Pisti and Vini are always cooking up unique dishes you won't find elsewhere. Their drinks menu is just as good, whether you fancy something boozy or not.

  • WLB tip: Hanoi ramen 
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 6,000-8,000
  • Details here.

M. Restaurant

In the ever-changing landscape of the party district, M. is a true stalwart, welcoming guests since 2002. This French-Hungarian bistro is a genuine curiosity among Budapest's dining spots – they barely bother with marketing, the owner cooks, his daughters serve, and the menu is homely but filled with dishes we rarely attempt at home. M. truly feels like an authentic, small Parisian bistro. The dishes are never overdone, don't follow the latest trends, and missed the molecular gastronomy and vegan crazes, yet the place is packed every evening, and we never get bored with it.

  • WLB tip: Cholent with duck, egg, and smoked beef tongue
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 6,000-9,000
  • Details here

Stand25 Bistro

There's no real trick to Stand25: they just whip up the most popular traditional Hungarian dishes using proper, top-notch cooking methods. When they first opened, their prices were definitely easy on the wallet, and while that's shifted a bit since, the quality is still spot on. Their menu changes with the seasons and features all the Hungarian favourites like Jókai bean soup, brassói aprópecsenye (made from pork and seasoned potatoes), beef stew, goulash, and Somlói sponge cake, alongside some good non-Hungarian classics like steak, duck leg, and Tournedos Rossini. Aside from the regular menu, they always have a specials board that's worth a look-see.

  • WLB tip: brassói szűzpecsenye, pan-fried potatoes, cucumber salad
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 3,500-5,800
  • Details here.

Cintányéros

If you're not after a massive dinner but fancy a great vibe with expertly chosen wines and tasty little bites, Cintányéros is the spot. Tucked away behind Corvin Quarter, it's a proper local favourite with excellent value wines and light hot and cold grub. To go with your wine, they've got toasties, salads, Debrecen sausages, steak tartare, roast sausage, and cheese and meat boards. Even though it's mainly a pub, Cintányéros is one of our top places for a light evening meal – the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service always make us want to go back.

  • WLB tip: Bókay sandwich
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 3,500-5,800
  • Details here.

QUÍ

While all four of the Asian spots (Sáo, KHAN, QUÍ, Opium) run by the same group are a safe bet for Asian flavours, QUÍ's interior and overall feel make it a real standout for us. Their Vietnamese/Thai menu offers popular street food from both countries in a bistro style, familiar dishes you'd find in most Thai takeaways, and some proper specialities that you don't often see in Hungary because of tricky ingredients – all done with respect for tradition. Whether it's a date, a work do, or just treating yourself on a Tuesday, it's a cracking choice. The drinks menu is also worth a mention, with lovely, fresh specials even if you're off the booze.

  • WLB tip: som tam (fresh papaya salad)
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 7,000-14,000
  • Details here.

FeteKert Kávézó és reggeliző

  • WLB tip: mákos guba (poppy seed bread pudding)
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 4,500-5,000
  • Details here.

Grumpy

Szilvi Ispán's been around the block a bit, and she opened her own place, Grumpy, near Klauzál tér a few years back. It's got French bistro vibes, but the menu's got flavours from Sziszi's travels all over. Grumpy does breakfast, proper tasty and light lunches with a French, Hungarian, or even Moroccan twist, plus a warm welcome and good service. Popping in here always feels like visiting friends, whether it's your first time or you're a regular. While prices have gone up a bit in recent years, the value for money remains excellent for both their lunch and dinner offerings.

  • WLB tip: Homestyle rakott krumpli (layered casserole made from potatoes, sour cream, smoked sausage, and hard-cooked eggs)
  • Main dish and drink: HUF 5,000-8,000
  • Details here.

Arquitecto PitPit

Located in one of the most beautiful inner courtyards downtown, Arquitecto PitPit is the Padron owners' second Spanish-inspired project. The kitchen showcasing the punkier side of Catalan cuisine offers everything from oxtail to veal sweetbreads to ceviche. Besides the food, drinks are especially important – for vermouth, they outshine everyone else in the city, making this the place to come if you want to explore Spanish and Italian aromatised wines. But it's worth trying a few bites too – we promise you can't go wrong.

  • WLB tip: Barceloneta 'bomb' – potato dumpling filled with ragout
  • Main dish (tapas) and drink: HUF 3,500-8,000
  • Details here.

(Cover photo: Csudai Sándor - We Love Budapest)

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