Paprika Vendéglő — Restaurant in Budapest

Don’t bother with the phone to get a reservation. Come in person in the morning and you can get a reservation for the same day in the evening hopefully.

Came here per recommendation, this place had the most traditional Hungarian setting and the best Hungarian food we ate on the trip. Portions are massive so beware.

I had a goulash soup for starters which came with a mountain of bread, you could technically eat it as a main dish!

For mains we had the Veal Paprikash and the Beef goulash. My friend has a dairy allergy so we asked for no sour cream on the Goulash. We sent the dish back as it came with sour cream only to be rebuked by the waitress that we sent the wrong dish back. But we felt that it wasn’t entirely our fault as the service was abrupt and she did not explain which dish was what and the food was very homogenous looking. It didn’t help that when we tasted it, the Veal paprikash tasted exactly like the goulash soup and the ‘beef goulash’ tasted entirely like paprika. Reckon they just swap the recipes around so people don’t get Goulash soup and the same Goulash for mains but it was very disorientating. Disappointing as this was probably the best Hungarian meal we had on the trip but the service is awfully hot and cold. After we had the audacity to send the plate back- waitress ignored our table till the end. I mustered up the courage at the end to ask her which dish was what and she did so before shoving the bill in our face.

Don’t even dare ask to split the bill as they will seethe and say ‘you split it when you leave the restaurant’- luckily we overheard the adjacent table who dared ask and we did not make this mistake.

Also toilets are behind that green door. Had multiple people ask where it was including myself to which the staff will explain with exasperation that it’s behind the green door. Must get that question often but why not put a toilet sign on the door then? I’ll give the staff a benefit of the doubt that they’re burnt out and sick of the tourists but maybe they should hire more than 2 waitresses for a very busy restaurant so they don’t end up snapping at all the customers.

TLDR; Come for the Hungarian food and fun interior. Huge plates but beware of the...

We came here for dinner as suggested by our hotel receptionist. When we approached one of the servers, she didn't even look at us and just told us to see the manager. When we stepped forward to get in, I asked to see the manager and she remarked in a very condescending manner "I am the manager. Do you have a reservation?" When I told her that we don't have a reservation, she shoved us to go outside and wait and that we will have to be served outside too. We agreed and waited patiently standing by the highway until we were given a table, which at the time, was inside since most of the other customers had left. By that time, we were just happy to be seated and excited to place our order. The server assigned wasn't even smiling when she came to our table and when I asked if she could issue separate bills, her face looked upset and told me that she won't do it and it has to be only one bill. To avoid arguments, I just agreed to it. Clearly, this restaurant staff need a lot of customer service training. If it were not too late in the evening and I am not with a group, I would have walked out as I felt not welcome at all.

The food here, however, is flavourful. But I wouldn't go back for sure. They should learn from the other restaurant we went the next day on how to work in a service industry. Their bad attitude already dampened my positive spirits of enjoying good food. It just confirmed mine and my colleague's impression of...

We had a truly wonderful dining experience at this restaurant! From the moment we arrived, we received a warm and friendly welcome, which immediately set the tone for a great evening. Our server, Spala, was exceptional—attentive, kind, and genuinely invested in making our meal special. He guided us through the menu, offering helpful recommendations, and ensured we had everything we needed throughout the night.

What made the experience even more memorable was the surprise Spala arranged for my son, who was celebrating his 16th birthday that day. It was completely unexpected and such a thoughtful gesture that made the evening even more special for our family. Seeing the joy on my son’s face was priceless, and I truly appreciate the effort to make his day unforgettable.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was fantastic—warm, inviting, and perfect for a special occasion or simply a great meal out. The food was just as impressive as the service, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. I’ve shared some pictures so others can see the amazing ambiance and dishes we enjoyed.

A big thank you to Spala and the entire team for making our visit so wonderful. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great...