If there is one dish worth trying when you are discovering Hungarian cuisine, goulash soup is certainly one of them. If you are looking for one of the best goulash dishes in the heart of Budapest, you can also order this classic dish served in a bread bowl at Paprika Kitchen & Bar.
The hot, paprika-flavoured soup, tender beef, vegetables and crispy bread bowl together make goulash soup a truly hearty dish. And thanks to its location near St. Stephen’s Basilica, you can easily stop by the restaurant after a walk through the city centre or a day of sightseeing.
Discover the Paprika Kitchen & Bar menu!
What is the secret to the best Goulash?
The history of goulash is closely intertwined with the history of Hungarian cuisine. It was originally prepared by herdsmen working on the Great Hungarian Plain, cooked in a cauldron over an open fire. Once a simple meal prepared by herdsmen, goulash has now become one of the best-known dishes of Hungarian cuisine.
Traditional goulash soup does not require complicated ingredients. Beef, onions, potatoes, vegetables, Hungarian paprika and spices form its base. One of the secrets to good goulash is time: it is cooked slowly so that the meat becomes tender and the flavours blend together nicely.
Classic goulash soup typically contains:
- beef,
- potatoes,
- onions,
- root vegetables,
- Hungarian paprika,
- traditional spices.
Why is it worth trying Goulash Soup in a bread bowl?
The bread bowl does not only make the presentation more impressive. As you eat, the inside of the bread gradually absorbs the spicy, paprika-flavoured broth, while the thicker crust holds the hot goulash inside.
As the soup disappears, more and more of its flavour is absorbed by the bread as well. You can eat pieces of it alongside the goulash or use it at the end to soak up the remaining broth. This way, the bread bowl is not simply the “bowl” for the soup, but becomes part of the dish itself.
The big question: Goulash or Pörkölt?
In foreign cuisines, the name goulash often refers to a thick beef stew, but in Hungary, goulash and pörkölt are two different dishes. Traditional Hungarian goulash is a soup-like dish rich in vegetables, while beef pörkölt is a thicker, saucy meat dish.
Alongside the beef, goulash usually contains potatoes and several types of vegetables. With pörkölt, on the other hand, the focus is on the meat and the thick, paprika-based sauce. If you would like to try several traditional dishes from the menu of a Hungarian restaurant, it is worth giving both a chance.
There is more to try beyond Goulash
The menu of a Hungarian restaurant naturally offers much more than just goulash soup. At Paprika Kitchen & Bar, you can choose from several classics that have long been part of Hungarian cuisine.
After the goulash, for example, you can try chicken paprikash with homemade dumplings or red wine beef pörkölt with sheep’s cheese strapačka. And if you still have room for something sweet, you can finish your dinner with a classic Gundel pancake. By trying several traditional dishes, you can discover much more about just how varied Hungarian cuisine really is.
One of the best Goulash dishes near St. Stephen’s Basilica
Alongside the food, the atmosphere of the place also adds a lot to a good dinner. Paprika Kitchen & Bar welcomes you in central Budapest, near St. Stephen’s Basilica, so you can easily combine a day of sightseeing or an evening walk with a Hungarian-style dinner.
The rustic interior and traditional dishes are accompanied by live music in the evenings. There is live music in the restaurant every evening between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM, so alongside your dinner, you can also get a taste of the atmosphere of traditional Hungarian restaurants.
Which could be the best Hungarian Restaurant in Budapest for You?
There is no single answer that applies to everyone when it comes to which is the best Hungarian restaurant in Budapest. A lot depends on whether, in addition to traditional dishes, the atmosphere, central location or perhaps live music is important to you.
At Paprika Kitchen & Bar, these all come together. Classic Hungarian dishes, a rustic setting and evening live music await you near St. Stephen’s Basilica, so you do not have to go far from the city centre if you are in the mood for a Hungarian-style dinner.
Taste the classics of Hungarian cuisine!
If you are looking for a Hungarian restaurant in central Budapest, start with a hot goulash soup served in a bread bowl, then try a few more classic Hungarian dishes as well.
At Paprika Kitchen & Bar, you can discover several traditional Hungarian flavours over the course of one dinner. Book a table and spend an evening enjoying good food and live music in the heart of Budapest!
Book a table at Paprika Kitchen & Bar!
