Take a culinary journey south of the border in Eastern Europe with salsa-slathered specialties like tacos, burritos, and tamales, all made fresh in the Magyar metropolis. From a small cantina found along downtown’s most popular partying street to spacious full-service restaurants where genuine sombreros hang from the walls, Budapest offers a wide variety of delicious destinations for fans of Mexico’s perpetually picante cuisine.
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Arriba Taqueria
With the lively spirit of a surf-city hangout, all three locations of this casual eatery let guests customize every taco and burrito as they’re made before their eyes, before taking a booth seat amid brightly painted Mexican icons like Frida Kahlo, lowriders, and lucha libre wrestlers. Other delicacies available here include quesadillas, tamales, tortilla soup, jalapeño poppers, and breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs served all day long.
Where:
1067 Budapest, Teréz körút 25.
1015 Budapest, Széna tér 1/A
1117 Budapest, Október huszonharmadika utca 8-10. (Alle)
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Burrita Bar (Closed)
Just a two-minute walk from the Basilica or Erzsébet Square, this sleek spot specializes in burritos and quesadillas made with fresh produce and local meats in authentically prepared Mexican ingredients like pork chorizo and beef poblano, along with excellent guacamole. Groups of friends gather around the long tables inside and on the sidewalk terrace to share great chips and salsa with ice-cold Coronas offered at a discount on the “amigos menü”.
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El Bigote - Podmaniczky utca (Closed)
These days, walking along the bustling first few meters of Király Street from Deák Square can easily feel like entering the wild party zone of Tijuana, so it feels appropriate to find this Mexican street-food vendor alongside a money-exchange office and cheap bars. However, this tiny eatery exceeds expectations with admirable ingredients like Serrano ham and tasty chorizo, and for less than 1,000 forints you can enjoy a huge filled tortilla.
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El Rapido Grill & Tequila Bar (Closed)
Some of the most authentic tacos in town are cooked up at this hole-in-the-wall grill and international-specialty shop on chaotic Kazinczy Street, found behind a colorful façade just a few meters away from Szimpla Kert’s front door. Late-night business is brisk for the simply prepared tortilla-wrapped treats (not to mention the impressive assortment of hard-to-find tequilas), but it’s also worth stopping by here during the day for a spicy snack.
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Gringos Amigos
Tortillas are made on-site all day at both the Buda and Pest locations of this “Mexican food factory”, where diners enjoy large portions of cheddar-cheese nachos or fresh guacamole and chips. Along with the made-to-order quesadillas, burritos, and tacos, the salad prepared with tomatillo dressing and pico de gallo or corn salsa is a favorite among somewhat-light eaters. For dessert, try one of the crispy churros coated with cinnamon and sugar.
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6/9
Iguana
Hungary’s most beloved Mexican restaurant is a cherished landmark for many Budapest expats – a classic cantina with a laid-back spirit and friendly servers offering delicacies like sizzling fajitas, jalapeño cream-cheese soup, enchiladas de mole, and the infamous “whoop-ass chili”. Located right around the corner from Parliament, this is the epicenter of Budapest’s annual Cinco de Mayo Street Party, featuring live mariachis and dancing till dawn.
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Mezcal
Zesty Latin music fills this adobe-walled cellar restaurant adorned with clay pottery and wooden rafters, where visitors can find many uncommon Mexican dishes like chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips topped with spicy tomato sauce and cheese), Aztec steak, or mole poblano prepared with chicken, chili peppers, and chocolate. During summertime, enjoy the well-seasoned specialties along with a cold Negra Modelo amid the spacious sidewalk seating area.
Where: Budapest 1094, Tompa u. 14
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Tacos Locos (Closed)
Dependably delicious meals of Mexico are available at this unassuming eatery alongside one of Budapest’s busiest boulevards, where a new menu includes green-tomato enchiladas and chicken flautas (deep-fried stuffed-tortilla rolls, also known as taquitos), and desserts like hot cream-cheese empanadas or lemon pie with mango sauce. Along with the luscious Latin American flavors, 990-forint weekday lunch specials include customary Hungarian meals.
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W35 Buda (Closed)
With a nice Tex-Mex selection, the street-food purveyors of this low-key bandito-themed eatery operate three distinct locations within two adjacent blocks of Pest’s District VII. A solid selection of foil-wrapped burritos provides perfect self-contained meals for eating on the go, but if ordering one of the grilled burgers here (including the BBQ or “fire in the hole” varieties), it’s probably best to enjoy them on the spot with lots of napkins.
