Budapest has a lot to offer when it comes to gluten free and vegan food. Like in almost every big city (or capital), especially as a very popular destination for tourists, you can find globalized restaurants (Asian, Italian, Mexican, Indian, etc. food).
Especially in the center are thousands of restaurants with gluten free options labeled (look or ask for glutenmentes) on their menu. Only a few have a separate kitchen or offer only gluten free food.
On the map you can see which ones I tried (star), my favorites (heart) and the ones I would have loved to try (green flag). All of them will be described in the blog post.
But let us first have a look at the ones who are 100% gluten free and safe for coeliacs:
Free-a Gluténmentes Pékség
This dedicated and 100% gluten free bakery is in the beautiful Jewish quarter. They offer sweet and savory pastries (muffins, brownies, cheese sticks) and bread, some even vegan. I tried the vegan sticks, brownies (also sugarfree) and the delicious banana bread - everything I tried tasted very good, only the sticks were a bit fatty. If I wanted to buy bread, buns or a sweet treat I would go there.
Kitchen of Health
Also in the (very beginning of the) Jewish quarter you can find the Kitchen of Health. And just like the name reveals, it is a very healthy kitchen. No gluten, no sugar, no corn, no soy, no dairy, no additives. Salads, Burgers, Tortillas, Risottos, grilled and coated meat and vegetables - everything you need for a satisfying meal.
I still can’t believe I didn’t make it to try something here. Like I told you - Budapest has too much to offer.
Plantmilkyway
One of my favorites. Plantmilkyway is very close to the Central Market Hall and has opened just four months ago. The owner Kittie specialized in gluten free and vegan desserts. Every single cake is a masterpiece - so beautiful that it’s hard to tell whether you wanna eat it right away or not at all.
But they are not only good looking they are also very delicious. My favorites definitely are the brownie and the cheesecake - but also the carrot cake and the peanut butter chocolate cookie were amazing. Apart from that you can also get a avocado sandwich. I recommend trying them all!
A40 Dessezertszalon
On your way to the Heroes Square make sure to stop in this little hidden gem - you’ll find lots of 100% gluten free cakes and popsicles - some also vegan and sugar free. Even the plantbased milk used for the cakes is self-made by the owner - I don’t know how to put more love in a cake.
Kata Lactose and Gluten Free Restaurant
Kata is probably one of the rare destinations when it comes to gluten free fine dining in Budapest. Goose liver patée, duck leg confit, homemade tagliatelle - definitely a restaurant for people having a sensitive palate. Vegetarians can find some options on the menu as well. Only the vegan souls won’t become happy here.
Drop Gluten Free Restaurant
Right next to Kata is drop. Very similar to Kata the restaurant is more for fine dining (and not adequate for a vegan diet) but additionally offers traditional Hungarian dishes and a separated menu for children.
Both of them I haven’t tried since I am traveling on a low budget and also try to eat vegan whenever possible. Anyways I would recommend going there since the menu sounded really very good and also from what I have seen I’d guess that it’s very delicious and high quality food.
Great Bistro
Unfortunately I haven’t made it to try some food there but the food looked really good. They have a 100% gluten- and lactose free menu (sandwiches, chickpea omelette, soups, salads and even a raw and vegan cheese plate). Definitely a place I wanna go to when being in Budapest for another time.
All the other restaurants and cafés I have tried in Budapest do not have a separated kitchen for the preparation of the gluten free labeled dishes. Everybody has to decide for oneself if they are ok with that - personally, I am fine with that.
Since the list would be veeeeery long if I wrote down all the restaurants offering gluten free options, I will focus on the ones I have tried.
Sugarfree monkey
That place is heaven! They offer gluten- and sugarfree cakes and ice cream (even in cone!). Since the last post you know how much I am into cakes and it will not surprise you that this is one of my favorite places in Budapest. Especially because they have the best ice cream from the brand Hideg Nyasalat (it’s healthy ice cream!!). I am already craving.
827 Specialty Kitchen
Very close to Sugarfree monkey you can find 827 Specialty kitchen serving only vegan food. They offer a large buffet with salads, main dishes, fruits and desserts (even gluten-, sugarfree).
The dishes change every day (at least some of them) and you are able to see all the ingredients on the labels of the dishes. What I really liked is that they only use GMO free soya.
The price depends on the weight of your plate or box - you can also bring your own, they will weigh it for you before and after you put in the food. Depending on your hunger it might become a bit expensive.
The transparency given by labeling all the ingredients made me feel very safe and comfortable since I prefer knowing what I give to my body. That’s why this place is one of my favorites as well. I also recommend “The specialty of the House” - usually I don’t like meat alternatives but this one is really good. Besides that, honestly, everything I have tried was very delicious.
Oh my Green
On my first day I went to Oh my Green. It is a healthy Fastfood Bistro serving many breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options (so basically everything). They know about glutenfree and vegan dietary and can fit the bowls to your needs.
So for me they exchanged the tofu with broccoli to make it gluten free and vegan. They asked me which alternative I prefer and prepared it in front of me.
They also have a normally gluten free bowl with salmon, gluten free donuts and banana chocolate cake. In the little fridge you can find some snacks to go (smoothies, chia pudding, porridge, bars, drinks).
I recommend going there if you wanna have a healthy and quick snack/meal. It is tasty and reasonable priced.
Vegan Street Food Garden
In the Jewish Quarter you’ll find a vegan street food market open every day until late. Every stall is 100% vegan and two of them also have gluten free options. The one I have tried was at the very back of the yard in a little caravan. They do not have labels but if you ask for options they can tell you which of the dishes are gluten free (Indian spinach stew with tofu, chickpea omelet with a vegan goulash, cake). You might even get gluten free buns made of oats but these are not safe for coeliacs (!) since he doesn’t use dedicated gluten free oats. But you can ask for the chickpea omelet instead (if you ask very politely).
I had the spinach stew and two omelets. I really liked the omelets but found the pricing of the stew a bit to high regarding the size of the portion.
Anyways, I enjoyed having the possibility to get a late dinner since that is a bit tricky when looking for vegan and gluten free options in Budapest.
There is another stall on the left side offering a gluten free quinoa salad with falafel. Unfortunately they just ran out of that dish when I was there.
Napos Oldal Vegan es Vegetarismus Etterem
This cute little shop and bistro is more for the local experience. They have a daily menu (soup and main dish - ask if it’s gluten free) and a lot of salads and patties/falafel that are gluten free as well.
Everything is vegan, the staff is super friendly and the prices very cheap. Only the salads can become a bit expensive because their price depends on the weight.
The food is very delicious and you can have a bit of everything. Thumbs up!
Fitlife Cukormentes Cukraszda
This café specialises on low-calorie treats like cakes without sugar - some vegan, some paleo, some glutenfree, some lactose free. There are labels signing the amount of calories per piece. Although you can see on the labels which cake fits your dietary you can also ask the staff to tell you. I tried one of their fruity cakes and also the chocolate cake.
Honestly, even after two pieces I still I could have eaten another one - probably because I was very hungry before and since they are very low-calorie they are not that filling.
Super Markets
It’s very easy to find gluten free food in the super market. Almost every big super market has gluten free pasta, bread, flour, snacks.
But if you’re looking for something special I would recommend going to Dieta Life Market & Food Bar - it’s very close to beautiful St. Stephen’s Basilica and probably THE eco-paradise in Budapest!
Central Market Hall
Besides from fresh fruit, paprika powder, meat, cheese and a lot of souvenirs, there is a little Bio Shop in the market hall where you can buy gluten free products. It is near the fruit stalls.
Or you try the restaurant on the second floor offering gluten free options as well.
Cafés with vegan and gluten free options I haven’t tried but been to and would recommend:
Eco Cafe
On your way to or back from Heroes Square you can take a coffee break here. Besides from coffee (a lot of options also with plant based milk) you can enjoy a healthy vegan and gluten free treat (brownie, energy ball) to recharge your batteries.
Flow
Or you go to the pretty close Flow Café where you will meet the working community. Seriously almost everybody had a Laptop in front of him or was in a business meeting (and I went there twice) - probably because it is also a coworking space. Besides from that their name “flow” should describe the state (working) you get into when spending time there.
They do have some gluten free dishes, as well as a gluten free and vegan apple pie and berry cheesecake. You can ask the servers to show you.
Unfortunately they only have oat milk for the plant based cappuccino option but if you like black coffee I recommend going there because it really is high quality.
VegaCity
A local mum having a son suffering from coeliac disease as well recommended that place. Everything is vegan and they do have a lot of gluten free and sugar fee options. Unfortunately it was closed when I passed by.
Napfényes Étterem
Another vegan restaurant, where I only tried the ice cream (vegan and sugar free) and already regret not going there for lunch or dinner because the atmosphere there was just very nice. Their restaurant is not 100% gluten free but they do have options, meaning they offer dishes made from gluten free ingredients. They also have gluten free desserts.
You see - there are a lot of options! Go and enjoy yourself!