Hungary‘s answer to pizza, lángos – pronounced ‘lan-gosh’, the name taken from the láng (flame) of the oven in which it’s cooked – comprises a deep-fried base covered with cream and cold cheese, plus various optional toppings. Originally a breakfast treat made from leftover bread dough, it has since evolved into a street food staple beloved by Budapest‘s locals. Since no trip to the eclectic Hungarian capital is complete without one, here’s where to find the best lángos worth the calories.

Man cannot subsist on fried dough alone, right? RIGHT? For alternatives, here are the best restaurants in Budapest.

After dinner, it’s time to hit the town’s inimitable drinking dens. These are the best ruin bars in Budapest. 

Retro Lángos

Pizza-style toppings at Retro

Originally a pint-sized stand within the Arany János utca Metro station, this popular joint moved in 2020 to its now much larger location. With tables inside and out, peckish diners can enjoy their famous specialties with a drink at the bar, while gluten-free and plant-based alternatives to the regular dough, cheese and cream ensures that everyone is included. Inexpensive and delicious, Retro is understandably often pegged as the best spot in town for lángos.

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retrolangos.hu/en/retro-langos-budapest-street-food/

Dunaparty Megálló

For those seeking sustenance in Instagram-worthy locations, Dunaparty Megálló is a go-to – situated in a renovated double-decker bus on the banks of the Danube. Cycle along the river to compensate for the calories then settle into a fresh round of dough and a glass of wine. If you want something sweet, they do a Nutella-topped riff on the classic lángos.

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Lángos Burger, at Street Food Karavan

Looking to mesh trad Hungarian street food with more newfangled cooking trends, friends Tamas and Gabor established Street Food Karavan in 2014. The star of this bustling food market – a minute or two’s stroll from the vibey Szimpla Kert ‘ruin bar’ – is Lángos Burger. The concept is simple: take two lángos; place chicken, pork or beef burgers in-between; consume and try not to think of the run you’ll have to go on tomorrow. Expect to queue.

Kazinczy Utca. 18

Drum Cafe Lángos & Goulash Bar

Those looking for lángos in a more traditional sit-down setting should head over to Drum Cafe Lángos & Goulash Bar, located close to the central Deák Ferenc tér square. Decked out in the style of a traditional Hungarian inn, this retro restaurant offers a wide selection of lángos. If you don’t fancy schlepping out for whatever reason, they’ll also do home delivery.

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drumcafe.hu

Lángosh

A meaty number with an in-spiring view / Image: Alamy

After food with a (very hallowed) view? Look no further than this miniature store on Zrínyi street, where you can take your pick from eight different varities of lángos. Eat at the bar or, for the ultimate culture hit, enjoy on the street while gawping at the neoclassical edifice of St Stephen’s Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary. It doesn’t get more evocatively Budapest than this.

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Lángosos

While there’s no shortage of lángos in Budapest – as this list would attest – there are few quite as unique as those on offer at this stall in the Flórián tér metro station in Óbuda, where potato is added to the dough (fine, ‘unique’ is relative here). It is a little way out of the city centre, but the incredibly low prices and excellent quality make it well worth the trip.

Flórián tér 1

Ligeti Lángos

Nestled in the greenery of City Park, Ligeti Lángos offers its hungry customers ample sustenance. The ‘local’s favourite’ of cheese and sour cream might sound too simple for adventurous gourmands, but it’s beloved for a reason. Enjoy the light fluffiness of these lángos – and placate fussy children with the hot dogs on offer – before heading to the nearby Botanical Gardens and Zoo.

Állatkerti körút 3