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Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Kiskakukk Etterem is one of the best restaurants in Budapest served excellent local Hungarian cuisine. Although it does not have the Michelin Star ranking, but it is highly recommended by locals especially for their famous foie gras dishes.

There are so many great restaurants in Budapest that served wonderful cuisine from Western, Chinese and traditional Hungarian cuisine. However, if you only have limited time to visit Budapest and looking to try for local Hungarian food, be sure to include Kiskakukk étterem into your Budapest food bucket list. Most importantly, the price is very affordable, especially for the quality and quantity of food presented. A true hidden gem in Budapest!

If you prefer to dine in Michelin Star Restaurant, check out our dining experience in Costes Downtown.

Getting To Kiskakukk étterem 1913

Kiskakukk étterem was founded in 1913 with more than 100 years of history. It located in the old building of Pozsonyi út and slightly away from the famous tourist area.

However, it is pretty easy to get there with public transport. Take the Tram 2, 4, 6 to the closest Jászai Mari tér station and walk for another 5 minutes will lead you to Kiskakukk étterem.

Address: Budapest, Pozsonyi út 12, 1137 Hungary

European Classic Restaurant

We have make the dinner reservation a few days before during our three days in Budapest. Once we entered Kiskakukk Etterem, we soon admiring to the retro classic style of the restaurant.

Lovely woodblock floor and furniture, yellow dimmed light and red curtain, accompanied with green embellishment. Pleasant interior with adequate space between tables.

Warm-welcome from the professional waiter and we were seated at the wooden table. I personally like the European classic restaurant very much. Nothing is better than dining in such a pleasant environment.

Extensive Food Menu

The Kiskakukk Étterem menu is in multiple languages and offering extensive food choices. Wide selection of dishes to choose; from the dazzling hot and cold dishes, pork, fish, lamb, game, vegetarian and up to desserts.

Looking at the price listed, all the meals are not expensive and very affordable. But the food that you can enjoy is a very good value. The staff was very friendly with good English and helped us made some local selections. We ordered the famous foie gras as a starter, a few main dishes, and desserts for the great night.

Check the complete set of food menu here.

Grilled Goose Liver Hot Appetizer

There is probably no place to eat foie gras as crazy as in Budapest! The grilled goose liver with baked apple rounds in Tokai sauce is one of the highly recommended starter at Kiskakukk Étterem.

This hot appetizer is served in whole pieces of fat foie gras with just right perfectly grilled, match with the local Hungarian Tokaji wine sauce for sweet and sour taste. It also served with the baked apple and mashed potatoes.

We actually not very fancy about the foie gras and only want to try it in Hungarian cuisine. Surprisingly it taste refreshing without a strong smell on the liver. A must-try dishes in Kiskakukk Etterem. Great taste with generous portion of foie gras in 3290 Ft.

Main Dishes

Few different main dishes were ordered as per recommended by the polite waiters. While we have too much beer and wine these few days, so we decided only to have juices for dinner.

Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce

After the appetizer, the main course is served next without long waiting time.

First of all, the tenderloin is cooked to perfection with stuffed forest mushroom sauce, grilled vegetables, and Mediterranean potatoes. A greater surprise of this dish is served with a piece of fat foie gras!

Crispy Goose Leg

Next, a crispy gooese leg with crushed onion-potatoes and stewed cabbage is also highly recommended. The outer skin is slightly crispy while the meat inside is so tender and flavorful. It is a perfect match with the pickled beets with gravy.

Another must try in Kiskakukk Étterem.

Big Portion Pan-Fried Duck

One of the unexpected dishes in Kiskakukk Etterem is the pan-fried duck with crushed onion-potatoes and stewed cabbage. We all get shocked by the big portion as the whole plate is fully covered by half of a duck when it served.

In short, the pan-fried duck is only recommended if you have a big appetite. Although the duck is tasted good, but my friend end up cannot finish half of it.

Pork Strides

Last but not least is the pork strips seasoned with garlic and onions, served with potatoes. The meat is slightly too dry and nothing extraordinary. That is to say, we were a bit disappointed about this choice.

After tried on a few items of their menu, we all agreed that the tenderloin and goose leg is the best among all the food that we had.

Desserts

In addition, we all know that the restaurant’s food is delicious, but we didn’t expect the dessert to be so delicious. We would like to try more on the desserts, but too bad the food portion is so big that we did not have any more room for our little belly. So we end up ordered two desserts for sharing.

The chocolate soufflé with orange sauce and vanilla ice is so nice.

Poppy seed parfé dessert in Kiskakukk étterem

Not to forget the Poppyseed parfé with fruits of the forest sauce, something special to try at European country.

Must Try Restaurant in Budapest

All in all, our meal in Kiskakukk Étterem is less than €25 per person. The dining experience in Kiskakukk Etterem can be said to be impeccable. We love the dining environment, local taste of Hungarian Cuisine in great value. In conclusion, we would recommended Kiskakukk Etterem for a wonderful meal in Budapest.

While the restaurant is so popular among tourists and locals especially dinner time. Be sure to make your reservation online here.

Michelin Star Restaurant Costes Downtown

The Costes Downtown is located in the elegant Prestige Hotel and easy access from Budapest downtown. It is only a few minute’s walk from our hotel stayed in Budapest, D8 Hotel.

When we first arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by heart-warming welcome from the waiters. After we entered and seated, we were so admiring the foliage and interior decoration. The restaurant, being virtually brand new, is beautifully minimalist decorated and intimate with a great ambiance.

Open Kitchen Concept

The bistro-like environment with a relaxed atmosphere is very cozy and relaxing. I personally like the open kitchen concept with soft background music at Costes Downtown.

You will have the chance to watch Chef Tiago Sabarigo and his team perform culinary in a sparking kitchen if seated at the chef table.

Costes Downtown Business Lunch Menu

In regards to the menu, Costes Downtown had several options to choose from. From a la carte, three-course, and up to seven-course meal. It served the five or seven-course tasting menu for dinner.

While for the lunch, one of the biggest surprises for us is the business lunch menu, starting with a 3-course meal at 6900 HUF, 4 course at 10,900 and up to 5 course at 14,500 HUF. We really can’t imaging the Michelin star fine dining at such affordable prices.

We opted for the three-course business lunch. Choose one from the three options from the starter, main course, and dessert. Consequently, the menu will keep changing every month to continue enlightened the customer.

Hungarian Self-produced Tokaji Wine

Meanwhile, we had some lovely wines with the dishes, a bottle of Hungarian self-produced Tokaji wine, highly recommended from the waiter.

If you are not having wine, there is also a wind variety of drinks too, with cocktails served in beautiful glasses.

Complimentary Amuse Bouche

Complementary amuse bouche at Costes Downtown

Firstly, we were given the complimentary amuse-bouche with crispy sea bream with dip. It was a bit greasy with different spicy taste of sweet pepper powder. A very good start for lunch.

Freshly Made Bread

Next, the freshly made bread is served with flavored goat cheese and garlic butter. It was very caramelized with delicious scent. I like the garlic butter with the warm bread.

Starter

All foods were prepared with creativity, from excellent ingredients and very well cooked. For instance, our Starters of cured salmon trout is served with well-decorated cucumber and horseradish.

Main Course

business Lunch Served At Costes Downtown

Next coming to the mains, braised beef cheek with wild garlic and potato. It was so good and well cooked. The kitchen use great ingredient, no doubt. The chef made every dish to order and it was delicious, fun and in a beautiful setting.

Dessert

Lastly, for dessert, we choose almond cake with olive oil ganache and orange. Very refreshing. You can’t really disappointed with anything they served.

Petite Four

However, that’s not all. It come with these dainty petite four sweet treats of chocolates and mini-macarons! It was exceptional and unforgettable.

A perfect ending for our dining in Costes Downtown.

Fantastic Staff And Super Attentive

The staff were fantastic and super attentive. They do not only served the food, they present each course with an explanation on the food preparation and serving. It was useful to know what we are eating. The food is artistically plated and a pleasing experience in taste and flavors.

Costes Downtown Food Review

In summary, a very nice and memorable dining experience in Costes Downtown with a Michelin star touch. Our Costes Downtown food review conclude that it was one of the best meals we’d ever eaten in Budapest. And the given prices are quite a bit lower than that sister restaurant. Most surprisingly is the pricing. An experience worth much more than the actual cost. Excellent value for what is.

Above all, I highly recommended dining in Michelin Starred Costes Downtown as part of the must do in beautiful Budapest trip. If I was traveling back to Budapest, I would come back again for lunch or dinner in Costes Downtown. Come take down a gastronomical experience like no other in Costes Downtown!

Best Hungarian Cuisine: Kiskakukk Etterem Budapest