If i ask you about Hungarian food, what comes to mind first? Probably goulash. And beef stew. And some more meaty dishes. And you wouldn’t be wrong.
Knowing Hungary’s big meat heritage, Martin and I weren’t expecting to eat out too much during our stay in the capital. We were still super excited to dip our feet into the former East though. However, much to our surprise, we were delighted to find ourselves in one of the most vegan-friendly capitals of Europe!
No kidding, despite spending four and a half days there, we didn’t have enough meals to cover every restaurant in town. We did however fill our bellies with the most delicious food while discovering the city that Hungarians like to call “the heart of Europe”.
Before I tell you more about it, you should know that Buda and Pest are actually two cities, where two geological formations meet at the Danube river.
We stayed in Pest, the young and hype area, in a super central Airbnb from which we could explore most of the city by foot. Pest is also completely flat, like 80% of the country, which made it easier on my lazy calves. The area boasts with ruin bars (where people are still allowed to smoke though, so no thanks) and restaurants. Most of the places we ate at were walking distance from our apartment.
The hilly Buda side is just as interesting though, with the Buda Castle, the Fishermen Bastion and the magnificent Matthias Church, to name only a few. You can also get a beautiful view on Pest and the Parliament from that side of the Danube, or Danu in Hungarian.
There is so much food to talk about that decided to divide the blog post into two parts. I’ll try and upload the second one next week (I know I’m slow when it comes to travels on the blog, sorry!)
Practical info
Languages spoken: Hungarian (Magyar), but everyone speaks quite good English in the capital.
To find vegan & veg-friendly restaurants in the area: How to find vegetarian restaurants abroad with Happy Cow
WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT
*The following recommendations are technically ads, though we paid for our food!*
Napfenyes Restaurant and Pastry Shop
This restaurant, which we called nepfenneenesfss (we just couldn’t manage to remember the name) was by far my favourite. With an extensive menu, a wide selection of pastries and a more formal dining room than your usual vegan restaurant, they managed to lure us in for a second meal.
We shared a pizza both times and two different meals, a meaty sauerkraut dish and a poutine-like dish consisting of steak fries topped with ratatouille, tasty seitan, fried onions and pickles. I still have dreams about that.
Vegan Love – For the love of burgers
Bartók Béla út 9. Budapest, Hungary 1114
Even though we had the worst coffee in the history of the world there, we had some of the best burgers and hot dogs too, so it’s all good.
We shared the broccoli-millet burger, reminiscent of a big mac, with a ginormous Mexican hot-dog. It was seriously delicious! Highly recommended if you’re in the Buda part of the city and manage to get a table. This tiny place fills up fast!
Las Vegans – For the love of burgers part 2
Kazinczy utca 18, Budapest, Hungary 1075
Located in an outdoor foodtruck court called Karavan, located 5 minutes by foot to our apartment, this was the perfect place to accommodate our group (we met up with one of our best friends who was in town for a conference). While others chose the traditional goulash, we again went for vegan burgers. We just love those.
According to Martin, the burgers there were even better than at Vegan Love, but I liked them all equally.
Martin just went for whatever burger had pickles in it, his latest obsession, but I had a much more difficult time choosing between their 4 or 5 flavour combos.
He settled for the carrot burger and I ended up choosing the Indian chickpea one. Both great choices!
Kosmosz Vegan Etterem
Hunyadi tér 11. Budapest, Hungary 1067
Facebook / Menu
This family-friendly restaurant sparked Martin’s love for goulash. He asked me to make him some for weeks after our visit there. And you know what? He’s the one who actually ended up making me some! It was so flavoursome, with seitan and lots of smoked paprika we brought back from our trip.
Since we only wanted a light lunch, I ordered the grilled veggie platter, which made me think of my lovely friend Ela Vegan, who often makes those, and Martin had the bean & smoked tofu goulash. Nerdy linguist fact, we learned that it’s pronounced goo-yash. But don’t worry, it tastes much better than it sounds.
The Great Bistro
Bank utca 6. Budapest, Hungary 1054
I discovered this somewhat famous restaurant thanks to my new Instagram friend Sam, who after seeing my Instagram stories wrote me up to tell me about this restaurant.
Pricier than the others at night time, their evening menu is super inspiring, the venue is cute and the staff friendly.
The lunch was delicious, though I would have liked to have veggies and not just peanut tofu and rice. Martin’s veggie “nuggets” and their creamy sauce were also worth mentioning.
Szimply
Károly krt. 22. Budapest, Hungary 1052
For my last morning in Budapest, I went to have breakfast all by myself, Martin having flown back a few hours before me in order to get back to work while I stayed behind to catch an afternoon flight with Wizz Air for a ridiculous €10.
I didn’t eat alone though. The café being tiny, I ended up eating my avo toast while chatting with a friendly Brit/Hungarian, who I hope didn’t mind all the greens getting stuck between my teeth haha
I was disappointed to realize that the café isn’t strictly vegetarian, but delighted to see that they cater to vegans as well with their all-day breakfast, the one meal that’s lacking on the Budapest vegan scene. The menu changes monthly and this month’s avo on toast was all vegan, topped with coconut caviar, marinated radishes (I think), pretty sprouts and a peanut pesto.
At 2,200 huf it was a bit pricier than other venues, but the portion was generous and the sourdough toast looked like art.
Magyar crash course
Hello: szia (see-ah)
Please: kérem
Thank you: köszönöm
Milk: tej
Cheese: sajt
Meat: hus
*Thanks to Visit Budapest for providing me with a 72hours Budapest Card. As usual, all opinions are my own.
o wow…these are some great vegan options. Also, I wasn’t aware that Budapest is actually made of two cities. I am a complete vegetarian and a bit wary while eating during travels especially in South east Asia where fish sauce and meat stock is used even in the preparation of vegetarian food. This said..the burgers with those fries at Vegan Love looks absolutely delicious.And, sorry to know that you have had a terrible coffee experience in your quest! Surprising since Europe offers some of the best coffee options :)
I find being vegan very easy in most places, but as you mentioned, some people have no idea. Veal and fish were labeled as vegetarian in a few restaurants in Greece!! :(
And I like to laugh at that awful coffee now, it’s a good anecdote :) At least their food was perfect!
I am not a vegan but it’s great to see the options available in Budapest. I can totally understand how my vegetarian friends from India would be benefitted from these tips. The pizza looks delicious!
I am not a vegan, but I am pleased to see such nice places to eat in Budapest. And what you show here looks really yummy. I would try it if I go there.
I may be biased, but I believe that everyone can enjoy a good vegan meal. I know I’m a big fan!
Thank you for your comment Krasen :)
I remember traveling to Budapest last December 2017. I tried a lot of fruits and the Hungarian Lángos! I placed a lot of cheese on top! Also, I find Las Vegans really interesting. I hope I can dine in there when I come back.
Oh, I have never tried Langos but I’ve seen them a lot at German Christmas markets.
And yes, I would totally recommend Las Vegans if you go back to Budapest! :)
I’m not a vegan but I’m a bit surprised you managed to find so many places for vegans in Budapest. Meat plays a big role in Hungarian diet and cuisine and finding vegan options can be a struggle sometimes. I’ll share this post with my vegan friends, one of them was struggling with the food options last time he visited Budapest
Eastern European countries have been a revelation to me, especially Estonia. They’ve been able to veganize their local cuisine and offer a wide array of delicious plant-based options to tourists, vegans and non vegans alike. Hope my post can help you friend for his next visit! :)
It is awesome that you found vegan foods during your trips. I always thought it is difficult. The foods looks all delicious and i would be happy to enjoy them all.
I was very pleasantly surprised too! I would definitely recommend you try some of them if you’re ever in Budapest :)
I had ZERO idea that Budapest was literally Buda and Pest, and goulash is pronounced goo-yash?!? I almost couldn’t focus on the rest of the food while I kept thinking about these facts I (almost) wish I hadn’t learned. I think the place I would want to try first is Napfenyes Restaurant because that pizza looks absolutely to die for. Second would be a tie between the hot dog and the deserts! I’m glad to see how many places are becoming far more vegan friendly that I thought would ever happen, great tips!
Thank you Amanda for your nice comment! I know right, Buda and Pest totally came as a surprise for me too! And I can’t remember if I mentioned it in my post, but the s in Budapest is pronounced as a sh, so it becomes Budapesht.
As for goulash, the pronunciation may only be in Hungary though. I have since been in Prag and I think they were pronouncing it differently. I can’t remember for sure though, I guess I’ll just have to go back :D
That’s really great you found some good options for vegans in Budapest. I have to say, I like the look of both burgers, and I’m a carnivore! Too bad about the bad coffee at Vegan Love, but it’s good the food made up for it!
I am trying to forget about that horrible coffee haha!
But yes, the food definitely made up for it :)
Wow! Great to know there are so many vegan options available in Hungary. The food looks tempting and super delicious. Love that chocolate cake and pizza. I wish to try all these flavours. Thanks for the restaurant suggestions.
Hungary is definitely famous for its amazing meat dishes and especially goulash. Nice to see that there are good vegan options for visitors to the capital, Budapest. I love my meat dishes, but I won’t mind giving a couple of these a shot when I visit Hungary.
Firstly, Buda and Pest are two different cities? I did NOT know that! I am glad you found enough Vegan options (especially the burgers, they look delish!). I would not have imagined Hungarian food beyond beef stew and goulash, exactly as you mentioned :)
I didn’t know that there are many vegan restaurants in Budapest. I visited Budapest last summer and it was a great destination for foodies. I’d love to try bugers in Vegan love and LAS VEGANS. So Yummy!
I had only heard bad things about the food there, so it was a nice surprise!
And you can’t go wrong with those burgers, they were amazing!
I liked the language tips in this article, especially about the pronunciation of goulash. I am going to Budapest this summer and I love to eat so I am always looking for restaurant suggestions. I think the avocado toast sounds really tasty. I’m not vegan but that’s one of my favorite breakfasts anyway.
Oh you will love Budapest for sure! I will share another post soon with more tips, but at least you already have a few food recommendations until then :)
All these photos of vegetarian food just convinced me to become a vegan! The food look amazing! I guess if I can’t over a night vegetarian at least I will try to eat less meat! So now thanks to you I dont have to be worried of getting hungry in Budapest. And btw, this is the first I am hearing that Buda and Pest is two different cities!
Wow that’s amazing! I have lots of recipes on the blog that could help if you’re interested :)
And both cities became one in 1873, so I wasn’t completely correct in the text sorry. But yes, they used to be two different cities!
We loved exploring the culture and architecture in Budapest but the most we enjoyed was the food scene. We had no idea that Budapest has so many great choices for Vegan travelers. Karavan was our favorite spot too to try some burgers and fries. We will definitely try some of your recommendations if we had to visit again.
I’m also sure that by the time you go back, even more amazing restaurants will have open! :)
I must say Budapest seems to have a fantastic food scene. I personally prefer also meaty meals but from time to time I am totally up for some great veggie dishes. The burger in the Vegan Love looks absolutely great, I would love to try that one. Just a shame that they offer such a bad coffee there. The chocolate cake would be the perfect dessert, I can already taste the sweet choci :)
It’s nice that you’re open to trying new things. Vegan burgers are amazing because they can pack so much flavors into those patties!
There are some great vegan choices in Budapest, and they looks delicious too! I’m not a veggie/vegan, but I’d definitely like to try that pastry shop. All of your food choices look so good, especially that chocolate cake too. I do also like veggie burgers, so would love to try the burger van you mentioned.
Thank you Lisa! It seems like all I do when I travel is eat (and eat very well at that) :)