ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Hungary
Five dishes to try in Hungary, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Hungary
Goulash Gulyásleves
Beef soup with potatoes, onion and plenty of sweet paprika.
How to have it: In Hungary gulyás is a soup, not a thick stew; order it as a starter or light lunch.
Halászlé Halászlé
Fiery red river-fish soup of carp or catfish cooked with hot paprika.
How to have it: Best along the Danube and Tisza, especially in Szeged and Baja; a Christmas Eve tradition.
Chicken paprikash Paprikás csirke
Chicken braised in a creamy paprika sauce, served with small egg dumplings.
How to have it: Look for it on the menu of traditional étterem and csárda restaurants with nokedli dumplings.
Lángos
Deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream, grated cheese and garlic.
How to have it: Sold at markets, beaches and Lake Balaton; try the stalls in Budapest's Central Market Hall.
Chimney cake Kürtőskalács
Sweet dough spun around a spit, roasted and rolled in sugar, cinnamon or nuts.
How to have it: Baked fresh at Christmas markets and street stands; eat it warm.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Hungary famous for?
Goulash (beef soup with potatoes, onion and plenty of sweet paprika) comes first on our list, followed by Halászlé, Chicken paprikash, Lángos and Chimney cake.
What is the national dish of Hungary?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Hungary is Goulash: beef soup with potatoes, onion and plenty of sweet paprika. In Hungary gulyás is a soup, not a thick stew; order it as a starter or light lunch.
Which dishes in Hungary are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Lángos and Chimney cake. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Hungary?
Lángos (deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream, grated cheese and garlic).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
Keep exploring
Practical · 3 min readEat your way through a country: how to find the national dishesFood is the fastest way into a place. How to find a country's signature dishes, order them well, eat safely and keep a record of what you have tried.
Planning · 4 min readHow to build a travel bucket list you'll actually useTurn a long wish list into a short plan: sort places by ease, season and effort, pick your next three, and keep the list alive after every trip.
Planning · 4 min readHow to choose the best time to visit anywhereWeather is only one part of it. Learn how to weigh seasons, crowds, prices and events, with real examples of the best months for popular destinations.- Country guidesCountry guidesBest months, weather, holidays and plugs for every country.
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Tick off every dish you try in Hungary
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.