Not been there for 10 years but I used to love a restaurant called 'Fatal' (means 'wooden plate)Its at the quiet end of Váci Utca, nr 67, between Ferenciek ter (square) and Fövám ter. Very busy, big portions, not very formal (once saw Andrew Lloyd Webber there)

More formal but good food and reasonable prices: 'Muzeum' restaurant on Muzeum Korut nr Astoria tube station

Recommend booking for both.

I also (used to= love Fatal, but the prices have risen sharply in the past 10 years (even in the past 1 year!) so it's dropped in my esteem.

For better prices and bigger portions, try Szt Jupats in Moskva Ter or Arany Hid on Alkotas utca (near MOM Park) in Buda. But what you really want is a small vendeglo somewhere on a side street to get much cheaper, more authentic food. To find these you just have to wander or meet a very nice local :-)

As for value/area: watch out for Vaci utca and the Castle District. The prices are high compared to the quality. Liszt Ter, Raday utca, and now some of the area near Kiraly utca are more pricey, but also offer more like nouveau cuisine and a more modern atmosphere, so you get what you pay for. Everywhere else in the center is pretty much the same.

Fatal and, to a lesser extent St Jupat, both serve what I (and cpfoutz) call pastiche versions of Hungarian cuisine - though St Jupat has a nice atmosphere.

My recommendation is called Hunyadi Kisvendeglo, and it's in Vorosmarty Utca (NOT Vorosmarty Ter). Catch the metro line 1 towards Hosok Ter and get out at Vorosmarty Utca: as you get to the top of the steps, turn back on yourself, Vosrosmarty Utca is 50 yards away: turn left into the street, the restaurant is about 300 yards ahead on the left.

The decor is nothing special, but the food is, just like my mother-in-law used to make.

Easily less than £10 per head.

It is popular with expats, another forum user took my advice and promptly went back the next day.

Charlotte,

I just now posted about "restaurants, are we too cheap" on this forum that has some places and prices. As someone else has posted in reply to you, I would wander the sidestreets for these kinds of places

Bon apetit!

My experience at Fatal was bad...I think it was only the second time I've ever seen my wife set her meal aside. It tasted as if it had sat under heat lamps all day.

I'd trust RomanCitizen's recommendation...I've hever eaten there but plan to on my next trip.

Now to go to both sides of the spectrum...

While not cheap, Cafe Kor is still a bargain...3 people ate with wine for $80...and one of the best meals I've had. Bring cash, they don't accept credit.

For the cheapest meal you'll ever find, go to the food court at any mall...though they tend to reheat the food, you're unlikely to pay more than $5.

Believe it or not, while I make a rule not to eat at American chain restaurants when I travel, I always visit the Pizza Hut...much better than in America and the environment is quite swank if you go to the one by Oktogon.

Roman: Thank you, I tried Hunyadi Kisvendéglő last night with some friends who are over for the weekend, what a GREAT place! We had starters, mains and deserts with several beers and 4 Unicums and the bill was 15000 HUF between 4 of us. The place is basic and reminds me of a cafe, but it is clean and warm, we'll be going back. I'd recommend the mutton Pörkölt :-)

That is my wife's favourite ! fairly unusual to see mutton on a Hungarian restaurant menu - and I don't think I have ever seen lamb. Whenever I go to Budapest I have to smuggle in a couple of legs of lamb, never seen it in a butcher either, though I believe one ot two are now starting to sell it.

Thank you all for being so helpful!

Roman Citizen, I will definitely go to the Hunyadi Kisvendeglo

St Jupets was on my list too , so I'm glad it got a positive mention. The prices look very reasonable!

I looked at Fatal but although reasonably priced I've heard they live on a past reputation and it's not supposed to be very good anymore.

There's also a Merlog Vendeglo that was recommended on another site. Has anyone heard of it?

:)

Hi, We also visited the restaurant Hunyadi Kisvendeglo and found it really fantastic. The owner was brilliant and the food was very tasty, traditional and extremely good value. We paid about 18 euro for two main courses and two huge desserts. Unfortunately we only found it on our last night in Budapest, but had we been there longer we would definitely have gone back. If you are looking for a basic, traditional Hungarian restaurant this is it. As mentioned there is a feel of a cafe to it, but what you get is good honest Hungarian food.

We have just returned from Budapest and would recommend APOSTOLOK in Kigyo Utca just off Vaci Utca. Good selection of hungarian food