Budapest Restaurant – 2183 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 1K4
Country: Hungary      
Must-try dish: Hortobágyi Style Crepe
Seating: Indoor seating and outdoor seating when the weather is warm. 
Dinner guests: Daddy Pig & The Empress 
The high: The dishes that we ordered educated a newcomer to Hungarian cuisine in a good way.  
The low: The portions are big so go with a large appetite. 

What is Hungarian food? The first thought that comes to mind is paprika, a heavily relied on spice in this country’s cuisine, and the second is red wine, which is undervalued yet delicious in this region. There is however a lot more going on in Hungarian food than what meets the eye. 

Despite using similar ingredients to its Central European neighbours, Hungarian food is unique from the cuisine of surrounding countries. For starters, the heavy-handed use of paprika in the majority of dishes is a must. It never overpowers a dish, but it most certainly makes itself known. The base ingredients are meats, vegetables, and bread. And it must be noted that the wines hailing from Hungary are terrific, especially when you have the pleasure of tasting them within the country’s own borders. 

Although Hungarian cooking might seem like it comes from a far away place, it’s actually one of the more approachable of Europe’s cuisines. Anyone a meat and potato fan? It’s right up your alley. The recipes are perfect for the cooler months because the soups and stews will warm you all the way to the core. The sauces that dress each dish are delicious on their own, but elevate its accompaniments in a manner that most would be pleasantly surprised by. 

All this to say that we had an incredible dinner at Budapest Restaurant in the Danforth Village. It’s open everyday of the week for lunch and dinner, and there are outdoor seating options for the warmer months in Toronto. The serving staff take pride in their product and ensure that diners are happy with their choices of food. 

Upon looking at the menu, it was immediately evident that a round of Goulash Soup (Gulyás leves) had to be ordered per person. It was a light broth packed with flavour (paprika mostly) alongside chunks of celery, carrots, potato, and beef. It was enhanced when dipping the fresh pieces of rye bread in it. 

The next dish that arrived was the Hortobágyi Style Crepe, which identifies itself as a sauteed crepe stuffed with slow cooked meat and then topped with a traditional gravy and sour cream. If you’re only going to order one thing, it would be this sauce on everything. Not surprisingly, there’s an obvious paprika presence with chicken stock and soup cream that gives it a velvety texture. 

A schnitzel is commonplace, but when you encounter a schnitzel that’s juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, it’s a game changer. The Hunter Schnitzel (Bécsi szelet lecsóval) is a breaded pork cutlet topped with a fragrant tomato and pepper sauce. It’s a match made in heaven with the Dumplings (Nokedli), which are balls of dough reminiscent of gnocchi that soak up all the sauce. 

If you like a meaty Cabbage Roll (Töltött káposzta 2 töltelékkel), then the ones at Budapest Restaurant are just for you. These big boys are stuffed to the brim with ground pork and rice, then topped with a paprika infused tomato sauce and sour cream. Once you start cutting into it, you’re able to mix the sauce, the meat, the cabbage, and the sauerkraut into decadent bites. 

Budapest Restaurant offers a full Hungarian experience within Toronto’s borders that’s worth checking out. Anytime of the year is a fine time for this food, but it’s especially comforting in the cooler months.  

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)