Kisharang Étkezde — Restaurant in Budapest

You know a place is popular with tourists when the menus come laminated and translated into six languages, none of which improve the food. Welcome to Kisharang Étkezde, where the dream of Hungarian home cooking comes to die quietly beneath a blob of reheated paprika sauce.

Always check the bathroom before ordering. If they can’t keep a toilet clean, you really think the kitchen is a temple of hygiene?

Well, dear reader, the restrooms at Kisharang didn’t just fail the smell test — they waged chemical warfare. A perfume of despair, bleach, and… something feral. I came out questioning not only my appetite, but a few life choices.

Still, I ordered. Why? Because the place was packed with optimistic backpackers and TripAdvisor disciples who believe “authentic” is the code. I wanted to see how deep the rabbit hole went.

Let’s talk food. It's not bad. It's just so incredibly forgettable. If you’ve ever wanted to taste the culinary equivalent of elevator music, you’re in the right place. The goulash was as emotionally stirring as a tax form. The stuffed cabbage? More like emotional baggage. Nothing here says "you’ve been to Hungary." It says, "you got hungry within a 300-meter radius of St. Stephen’s Basilica and gave up."

But here's the twist—the service was actually great. Fast, polite, even borderline cheerful. These folks could serve reheated cardboard and still smile while doing it (some might argue they do). So yes, that 10% service charge? Fine. Pay it. They earned it running this high-speed culinary Groundhog Day.

Final Bite Come for the fake nostalgia, stay for the lingering bathroom stench.

Nothing on the menu will haunt you, inspire you, or even mildly provoke you.

The service? The only thing with any soul.

The 10% tip? Worth it, if only to thank your waiter for maintaining eye contact while serving you existential disappointment.

You won’t hate it, but you’ll forget it before your stomach finishes digesting. Which, honestly, is probably...

This is probably my first partially negative review in my life.

We came to have the best Hungarian meal in Budapest. That’s what we expected based on the reviews. I understand that there was a high volume of customers and the place was busy, but the waiting time was still too long. We ordered three standard positions from menu, including goulash, and drinks. Other customers who ordered their food later received their orders, ate, and left, while we still hadn't received our items. I informed the staff that we were waiting for a long time. After a while, we received our order, but we waited for the food for at least 45 minutes, and it even felt closer to an hour.

Our dishes were good, but they were a bit short of perfect. Evaluating the goulash, which is a flagship Hungarian dish, it was barely warm when it should have been hot. Our portion had only a minimal amount of meat, while other customers at the table next to us received the same goulash with a lot more meat.

I understand that there was a high volume of customers, but the waiting time I mentioned to the staff was definitely too long. I believe the service is at a good level, but the balance between the kitchen and serving could be improved.

Some customers who ordered their meals after us received them much quicker, within 15-20 minutes, and their goulash had a lot more meat compared to ours, which was mainly full of vegetables.

I don't want to criticize the establishment's overall quality, but I feel we had an unfortunate experience. The venue should refine its standards to ensure consistency in the quality of the food...

Terrible Experience – My Birthday Was Ruined

I recently visited this restaurant in Budapest for a birthday dinner after reading some positive reviews. Upon arrival, I informed the waiter that I am vegetarian, and he suggested a few vegetarian options, which I agreed to.

However, the atmosphere in the restaurant was very rushed and chaotic, as if the staff were in a hurry to wrap things up. Just five minutes later, the same waiter came back and informed me that the kitchen was now closed—even though the restaurant was supposed to remain open for another hour. He said that the only thing they could offer me was goulash soup, which he would make vegetarian for me. With no other choice, I agreed.

The soup was served very quickly, and I started eating. But after a few bites, I was shocked to find pieces of meat in it. As a vegetarian, this was extremely upsetting and unacceptable. I immediately left the restaurant in tears, and sadly, my birthday evening was completely ruined.

This experience was not only disappointing but emotionally distressing. I expected much better communication and care, especially after clearly stating my dietary preferences. I sincerely hope the restaurant takes more responsibility in the future when serving guests with specific dietary...