Jewish cuisine is very present in the city, where the Jewish community is large. So it is not surprising to find Kosher restaurants around the city, especially in the old Jewish quarter. There are some of the best restaurants in Budapest, but they are not all nor are they only found there.

Within kosher food, we find several levels in terms of rigidity and compliance with the commands of Kashrut, the one known as “Mehadrin” being the strictest to Jewish law.

What is Kosher cuisine like?

In Kosher cooking there are regulations and requirements that should not be ignored. Just to name a few examples of Kashrut, that is, the laws that dictate what to eat and what not to eat within Jewish law;

• Meat is allowed as long as it is from cattle and animals that have cloven hooves, that is, it is divided into two segments. These are; cows, bulls, calves, sheep, goats, even gazelles. By the way, mixing meat with milk is prohibited.
• Fish is allowed as long as they have fins and scales. Shellfish are strictly prohibited.
• Poultry such as chicken, turkey, duck and goose are allowed. And the eggs can only be ingested if they are from one of these birds.
• Dairy products must come, of course, from kosher animals, without any type of additive that does not comply with the laws of kashrut.
• All fruits, grains and vegetables are allowed. Everything that is born from the earth is allowed. Although within the fruits, it is prohibited to eat the fruit of a tree that has been planted less than 3 years ago. This is known as the Orlah law.
• The last note is in reference to wine. Wine is allowed, as long as the tools for obtaining and making it have been cleaned under supervision as well as the entire process, from start to finish, has passed only through Jewish hands.

Food marked Kosher L’Mehadrin is the strictest of all kashrut.

Best Kosher Jewish Food Restaurants in Budapest

We are going to show you which are the best kosher restaurants in the city of Budapest right now, regardless of the district. So put on your comfortable sneakers, your elastic waist pants, and let’s enjoy.

Macesz Bistro

Dob utca 26, 1072

This may be the best-known and longest-lived establishment in the Jewish district. It has managed to remain faithful to its roots, that is, it has not been carried away by the wave of tourism.

Fantastic kosher food in a great atmosphere. You have several tasting menus as well as varied dishes but that do not compromise on quality. Precisely for this reason it becomes difficult to recommend a specific dish. We are going to make a titanic effort and we are going to ask you to try, without a doubt, the duck liver strudel and the matzo ball soup.

Although you can’t leave without trying Flódni, cholent or its red wine. There is so much to choose from!

Kőleves Kert

Kazinczy utca 37-41, 1075

Did someone say Flódni? Who dares to talk about Flódni and not talk about the Köleves restaurant? Okay, it was us, but it was only for a second. This establishment may not be strictly Kosher-only, but it is well worth the visit.

We didn’t leave the old Jewish quarter, also known as the party district, in fact, we almost didn’t leave the street to go shopping because, indeed, the Flódni de Köleves are fantastic, but they don’t only have this delicious dish.

Be sure to try their meat roll, their salmon dishes and their fantastic terrace.

Rosenstein

3 Mosonyi utca, 1087

Let’s now talk about even higher quality. Imagine a restaurant, with traditional food, also international dishes, that respects the kosher culture and that does it with the love with which a mother would do it. That’s Rosenstein.

Goulash soup, Goose Matzoh Ball soup, Lamb Knuckle, are some of the dishes you must try when you visit. And don’t leave without your dessert; Kaiserschmarrn, a well-known Austrian dessert.

Kosher Catchup restaurant 

Síp u. 5, 1075 

One of the best restaurants in the city. They have excellent service and enormous quality in the products they offer. We assure you that if you go, you will come back, because you will want to discover if the next dish is as tasty as the next. Spoiler Alert, it is!

Although everything is delicious, we recommend that you do not leave without trying the salmon, the Dhal and, as a tip, choose a menu where you can try everything you can.

Café Tamar Budapest

Nagy Diófa u. 3

Get ready for one of the best services in the city. They are friendly, which makes for a fantastic atmosphere, plus great background music.

It is true that it is not a restaurant as such. It is a place designed more for breakfast, coffee and dessert, although you can go and enjoy full meals.

As we have said, its strong point is, without a doubt, the breakfasts. Don’t leave without trying:

Shakshuka breakfast, Israeli breakfast, pink pasta and salmon salad. They have Mehadrin dishes.

Brooklyn Bagel

Újpesti rkp. 1, 1137 

Our last place specializes in breakfast, lunch, bruch and, of course, bagels. The variety of its food and its quality are on par with its location and views; near the Margit Bridge and overlooking the Danube.

Fresh and delicious kosher bagels and pastries. Mehadrin dishes available.