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Wallet-Friendly Bistros, Canteens, and Restaurants in Budapest – How to Eat Cheap as a Student!
Cooking is the cheapest option for budget-friendly meals, but we all know that living on vegetable stew and boiled sausages isn't always enjoyable. If your studies overwhelm you, or if you're out and about in the city all day, sometimes it's perfectly fine to treat yourself to something delicious! Often, it's even the more cost-effective decision: for instance, if you're going home to your family for the weekend, it's unnecessary to cook a big meal on Friday, ...
...as you'd end up throwing most of it away. Here are some canteens, restaurants, and bistros in Budapest where you can fill up for 1,000-1,500 forints!
Budget-Friendly Canteens and Restaurants Around BME
Nyakleves
If your afternoon technical drawings are hard to get through after a heavy lunch, you're better off filling up with something light. How about soup and a sandwich? At Nyakleves, you can get soups and sandwiches for 450 forints each, and if you order them as a combo, your lunch will cost only 800 forints! Absolutely wallet-friendly!
Stoczek Melódin Menza
A bit like a canteen, but not quite: the good news is that those choosing Stoczek Melódin Menza won’t have to endure overly sweetened carrot stew. Located just a few minutes' walk from BME's main building, this eatery offers student menus for 1,350 forints every weekday. The menu includes a soup and a main dish – those who eat here daily can expect varied and mostly healthy combinations.
These places are also not too far from ELTE’s Faculty of Informatics, so if you study there, you can also benefit from these options!
For Downtown Students (ELTE – BTK, ÁJK, PPK, Corvinus)
Students at ELTE’s downtown campuses, as well as Corvinus students, are very fortunate due to the central location of the university buildings. The areas around Astoria, Ferenciek Square, and Kálvin Square offer numerous wallet-friendly dining options for students! Here are two highlighted choices. 👇👇
Pizza Manufaktúra
In terms of value for money, Pizza Manufaktúra is a real city treasure. A few minutes' walk from Kálvin Square, and you can start feasting! The simplest pizzas cost 1,300 forints, but even those opting for more exotic flavors can stuff themselves for a maximum of 1,700 forints.
Hummus Bar
Hummus Bar restaurants are found at several downtown locations – much to the delight of ELTE and Corvinus students, there’s one at Kálvin Square too! You can get a falafel pita for around 1,000 forints, and it will easily fill you up for a few hours to survive your afternoon classes!
Far from the Center – BGE KKK
BGE’s downtown students can choose from the options above, but those at the College of International Management and Business (KKK) need to hunt for good deals.
IKEA
They're lucky to have the IKEA at Örs vezér Square nearby, where they can eat great food for a few hundred forints. The famous IKEA hotdog, the inexpensive pastries, and the meatballs… You can’t go wrong with them!
And if they've already come this far, the Árkád mall also offers numerous dining options.
SOTE
Although SOTE (Semmelweis University) has several campuses, we’ll cater to the students at the Nagyvárad Square building this time, as medical students can't avoid the Theoretical Block.
Ancsa Kifőzde
If you rarely have time to visit home due to your studies, you’ll love Ancsa Kifőzde! This traditional restaurant offers daily menus for 1,380 forints, with absolutely nostalgic flavors. Brassói aprópecsenye, tomato meatballs, or layered potatoes? What’s not to love?
Want to Eat Well More Often at Great Places? Y Generation Can Help! Check out our website for current student job opportunities!
*Prices checked in September 2021.
