Fungarian offers this culinary tour to people with Hungarian ancestors as part of our Discover Your Hungarian Roots In Budapest Series.

During this culinary tour of Hungarian specialties in Budapest, we’d like to show you the real regional ingredients that are ideal for making dishes like your Mother or Grandma made. We’ll start the tour in the tiny family-run Hámori Cukrászda (confectionar’s) in Horváth Mihály Square, where we will taste the best krémes (cream pastry) in town accompanied by a coffee, while discussing your family heritage, sharing memories of culinary heritage, and comparing dessert recipes.

After a short walk we’ll visit the Rákóczi Square market hall – a 120-year-old red-brick landmark similar to the touristy Main Market Hall, but frequented almost exclusively by locals – where we’ll stop by numerous booths to try varied Hungarian delights, including Lipóti bread and bakery products, the famous Vecsési sour-cabbage and pickles section, Marika’s buffet with an array of breaded meat and vegetables, Krisztina’s lángos booth where you can watch this fried-dough specialty made fresh, the poultry section with chicken from the farm alongside goose and duck liver, and finally the dairy section where you can buy túró or thick sour cream by the decagram.

On Fridays and Saturdays, visitors enjoy an extra bonus experience as the nénis (aunts) from the countryside sell their own products here, like sweet fruit-rich jams and spicy paprika spreads. Since we know all of the vendors, you will be welcome to taste things and ask them questions while we provide translation.

We’ll end the tour at the nearby Rákóczi Diner, a classic Hungarian restaurant festooned with innumerable domestic decorations and red-checkered tablecloths, which is frequented by local clientele for its low-key top-quality meals. Here you can enjoy authentic country-style dishes like those your Grandma may have made. The restaurant is run by a Hungarian family that specializes in dishes typical to the region of Eastern Hungary.

Warning: please be hungry before we start this tour!