Being a self-proclaimed foodie, I am always on the look-out for some mouth-watering meals and snacks. One of the things I love most about food is how it brings people and cultures together. Every new place we go to, I love to find the delicious, traditional foods that locals stand by. It get’s me closer to the culture, their way of life, and has me feeling like one of them!
After being in Hungary for a week, there are a few Hungarian dishes and snacks that stand out. Regardless of where you come from, these will be a must try!!
1. Lángos
Now this one is one you cannot leave Hungary without! Fried dough, garlic spread, sour cream, and shredded cheese sounds like a debatable combination, but opinions will be settled after that first bite. I mean, garlic, cheese, and fried dough.. who wouldn’t enjoy this?! Each place puts their own spin on it, typically meat, bacon, and onions as additional toppings. There was a shop right outside our Airbnb and was the best late night snack ever.
2. Goulash
This soup is a big part of Hungarian culture, especially in the winter months. There is nothing quite like some hearty soup on a cold day. It is a Hungarian beef stew that makes you feel at home with every bite. You can find goulash restaurants all over the country, I had mine in the beautiful town of Keszthely. I forgot to take a picture of mine, so here is a photo from Canva!
3. Chimney Cake or Kürtőskalács
This is the official dessert of Hungary! First off, what a name. It’s so fun!! I guess they do look like a round chimney and are steaming off the top when fresh off the rotating broiler. This dessert is dough that is wrapped around a wooden cylinder and baked until golden brown. Once baked, the wooden cylinder is removed, leaving you with a hollow, golden dough tower.
You can get various outer shell flavors- vanilla, cinnamon sugar, pistachio to name a few. You can also get Nutella on the inside. Some people even put ice cream in the middle or apple custard! In Budapest, we tried the cinnamon sugar outer shell with Nutella on the inside, and one just cinnamon sugar.
The cheapest Chimney Cake we found in Budapest was 2 euros (~$2 US dollars) on Váci Utca Street close to the Fovám Tér public plaza!
Let us know if you have ever tried these before, or if one of these sound like something you would try!!
Cheers,
Sabrina
