Let’s be honest here for a second: traditional Hungarian fare doesn’t exactly conjure images of vegan dishes. It’s more like sausages, and fish, and chunks of meat. Although there are traditional recipes that are completely vegan – just that they are not as popular among travelers.

I’ve already highlighted some restaurants that cater to vegans in Budapest but, in this article, I’ve asked the fellow travel bloggers for their input. And I was happy to find some great options for vegans traveling to Budapest.

The Olive Tree recommended by Becky from Becky The Traveller

The Olive Tree restaurant in Budapest is all about hummus! So, if you love any type of hummus dish accompanied with delicious warm pitta bread then this is perfect for you.

After a busy day exploring Budapest and eating lots I wanted a light meal in the evening and came across the Olive Tree restaurant. They do other middle eastern dishes too but the menu has a large variety of hummus meals. I opted for the Hummus Falafel, which comes with two pieces of pitta bread, plus I ordered the Matbucha Salad and a glass of Hungarian wine too!

The restaurant is located on the Pest side of the River Danube, close to the popular Jewish Quarter. I arrived late in the evening, only just in time before they closed but I can imagine at peak lunch and dinner hours this restaurant would be very popular and busy. It’s not huge inside but that adds to the charm of the restaurant.

I’d highly recommend a trip to the Olive Tree if you’re visiting Budapest as a Vegan. They also have a small selection of meat dishes so if you’re traveling with a non-vegan then this is perfect for you both!

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Fat Mama recommended by Bistra from the Magic of Traveling

Being hungry vegans in Budapest , we didn’t expect much from a restaurant called “Fat Mama”. However, our friends had already been sited at a nice table in the backyard so we joined them and grabbed the menu.

We were surprised immediately we spotted a tasty vegan trio soup on page one. It is a tomato, celeriac and broccoli cream soup and it also represents the colors of the Hungarian flag. The perfect addition to this tasty soup was the scrumptious toasted homemade bruschetta with fresh basil and tomatoes!

The restaurant has a nice modern setting and the open-air part looking at the inner garden was a great place to enjoy a bite in the hot summer day. Their service is impeccable, and you can always accompany your meal with a selection of cold beers! “Fat Mama” is located on Kazinczy street in the very center of Budapest, to the east of the Danube river.

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Napfényes Cukrászda és Pékség recommended by Anna from My Travel Scrapbook

Traditional Hungarian cuisine can be very meat heavy. When traveling it is always good to try local cuisine but I was worried that would not be possible in Hungary as a vegan. I need not have worried as the wonderful Napfényes Cukrászda és Pékség is a pure vegan establishment producing both international as well as traditional dishes!

We stepped inside the restaurant and were welcomed by a friendly waitress. My partner and I spent a while reading all the amazing dishes on the menu wondering how we were going to narrow it down to just two!

Napfényes Cukrászda és Pékség strives to make their dishes as natural as possible, using mainly organic ingredients, no preservatives or coloring agents. The dishes are all prepared using purified water!

We finally narrowed it down to one traditional dish and one international option. I choose the Stuffed cabbage and it was incredible. The flavors were fantastic and the mock meats were delightful. We both tried the goulash soup which is a soup I used to love before turning vegan. It was perfect and a little spicy! We also splashed out on desserts which were incredible cakes. Suitably stuffed we both smiled at each other and agreed to come again on the following day.
Napfényes Cukrászda és Pékség is a must visit for all vegans visiting Budapest.

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Green Gorilla Vegan Pizzeria

Gonna are the days when you go to “regular” pizza place and beg them to not use real cheese on a veggie pizza. Now, there are real vegan pizza places. Yes, Green Gorilla is 100% vegan restaurant serving pizzas, wraps, and quesadillas.

We found it on Google Maps while searching for vegan restaurants. It was close to where we stayed, but it’s further away from the center, closer to Keleti Train Station.

They are only open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. So not exactly for morning persons or those who enjoy eating out in the evening. Also, the place is tiny. There are only two small tables, each table suitable for 2 persons. You’d probably want to order take out or just take the pizza with you and eat at the accommodation if you are traveling as a group.

I went for the Green Gorilla Pizza with gluten free dough (spinach , zucchini, artichokes, arugula, and a bit of vegan cheese) , whereas my better half chose a Hungarian pizza (with vegan sausage, red onions, red bell peppers, and more). There are lots of other options, including a pizza of the month!

Service is fast and the pizza is super yummy and filling! The prices are affordable. For two pizzas and two sodas (Hungarian brand) we paid less than 20 EUR (in Hungarian forint, from a Romanian Lei account).

Oh and do you know why it’s called the Green Gorilla? They help animals from profit and even adopted a primate!

I could speak English (to get my card receipt copy ) although my husband ordered in Hungarian.

Rira Vegan Food

While searching for vegan places to eat, dearest hubby found Rira, also close to our accommodation and super close to Keleti Train station. They open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The place is tiny, with just one small table outside. It’s ok for 2 persons but not more than 3. So you might want to order take out or bring the food with you to the accommodation if you travel as a group.

I went for a pumpkin falafel wrap – it was highly recommended in the reviews – and hubby got a couscous spicy wrap. The food was amazing and filling. But they don’t have any beverage choice – so hubby got tap water while I still had some elderflower juice from a place we stopped at that day.

They also have vegetarian options but everything is clearly marked in the menu. There are quite a few lovely vegan options to choose from.

Oh, and they don’t speak Hungarian. I could speak English easily, though.

For two wraps we paid 3600 huf (or about 9 Eur).

Hummus Bar

Hummus Bar has multiple locations throughout the city, right in the middle of the busy tourist spots. While it’s not a 5-star place (like the above Green Gorilla Pizzeria), at 4.1 (on Google Maps), it’s still a good choice. We’ve eaten twice (in two different trips) here.

This time, I went for hummus with mushrooms – which came with a warm flat bread. And my better half got a falafel pita sandwich. It was super yummy and super filling.

They also have non-vegan foods but everything is clearly marked on the menu.

For the food together with a Coca Cola (33ml) and beer (also 33ml) we paid only about 12 eur (again in Hungarian forint from my Romanian Lei account). I could easily order and ask for anything in English. The place is big enough to accommodate groups (outside or inside).

Most locations are open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. So again, not exactly suitable for morning persons and you might need to show up latest at 8 p.m. to be able to eat here in the evening.

Nika Restaurant (Permanently closed)

Update December 2021: This restaurant is permanently closed.

We’ve discovered Nika (former Bali Café) in 2013. I was a vegetarian then. But when I went back this May (n.a 2018), I was vegan. And quite afraid I’d be having a hard time finding what to eat. But, although the menu didn’t include many vegan-friendly options, I was able to order grilled vegetables for dinner and chia pudding. And the next day, for breakfast, I ordered a fruit salad and coffee.

Sure, the restaurant is based on traditional Hungarian fare which is not exactly vegan-friendly but being able to order a very good meal which was 100% plant-based meant a lot to me. And we will be certain to go back.