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Do not even try here unless you have allot of experience with running a restaurant.

Be ready to pay for protection too;

My HU husband had an old friend here who opened up small donut shop back around 1990

He had to pay so much to gangs that he closed down.He later opened successful chicken sandwich type shop.Had several locations throughout Budapest, one in the Westend mall. Not sure how he handle the extortion issue.

He was very street wise and business minded.

IDK have seen so many food joints come and go over the years;

Just do your homework before signing any lease agreements etc.

We tried an import/export business from Ca; to HU in 1990; Had a few HU backers, never again!!!

I lived in Budapest for 5 years and am looking to move back. I plan on opening a restaurant and am trying to research as much as possible on how to make my dream a reality with the least amount of surprises or setbacks. I know I can't plan for every possible scenario, but I have a good amount of time to try. I have Hungarian family on my ex-wife's side and I speak a little Hungarian and am learning more everyday. Any input or suggestions on starting this would be greatly appreciated. - @David Umberger

Not sure why an American style grill place would do any better than all the others.  Is it enough?

We're overloaded with KFC, McDs, BK, Pizza and all those kinds of things.  Plus lots of Chinese food places and discount shops.  They are everywhere.  In our village, we had a McDs.  Closed down and is now a discount supermarket.  It's unheard of McDs closing down anywhere else in other countries.  McD's MO is to takeover failing franchises.  But not here apparently.

There's used to be a US Bagel place which was very popular and had some branches I believe.  It closed down in the end.

Protection money is inevitable. It's one reason why people don't do want to do any cash based business here.  Many larger successful businesses get muscled by Orban supporters and some of Orban's family.   They've taken over a lot of stuff.  They can close any uncooperating businesses down on a whim using official channels like tax investigations.  It's a common MO.  But most business owners cave after they've been dangled out of a window.

Maybe the thing to do is to come here and work in a restaurant and see how it all works locally.

I was also going to suggest working here first and seeing how it goes.

I heard they might bring back Wendys restaurants.

A grill place sounds good but TGIF Fridays closed. Cheap fast food or high end seems what is going on here.

I asked my husband how these Asian and middle eastern restaurants make it here, he said the same way as Hungarian owned ones; Pay to play.

It is the wild west here.

Anytime you start making money, someone thinks they want to get to know you better, I.E. extortion.

That old friend who had that donut shop was hit up for money by a HU gang.

Not sure if he had his own protection set up later when he had his chicken shops or if he just rolled over.

Not even sure they are still open, think he died and his son took over?

Our old neighbor who was a LT. in a local gang once worked part time in a strange business; We went in once to say hi;

He looked like a bouncer, at the time all his teeth had been knocked out, later he fixed them when he retired and moved away.

It was a sort of liquor, cig, coffee house. He was the last person on earth you would think would be brewing coffee and serving it. Something was going on for sure. Blackmarket cigs or booze?

I was also going to suggest working here first and seeing how it goes.
I heard they might bring back Wendys restaurants.
A grill place sounds good but TGIF Fridays closed. Cheap fast food or high end seems what is going on here.
I asked my husband how these Asian and middle eastern restaurants make it here, he said the same way as Hungarian owned ones; Pay to play.
It is the wild west here.
Anytime you start making money, someone thinks they want to get to know you better, I.E. extortion.
That old friend who had that donut shop was hit up for money by a HU gang.
Not sure if he had his own protection set up later when he had his chicken shops or if he just rolled over.
Not even sure they are still open, think he died and his son took over?
Our old neighbor who was a LT. in a local gang once worked part time in a strange business; We went in once to say hi;
He looked like a bouncer, at the time all his teeth had been knocked out, later he fixed them when he retired and moved away.
It was a sort of liquor, cig, coffee house. He was the last person on earth you would think would be brewing coffee and serving it. Something was going on for sure. Blackmarket cigs or booze? - @Marilyn Tassy

The only way I can think of - to avoid the gangs - is to be a corporation.  I doubt McD owned places are paying anything.  If there's just a manager in whatever chain it is, it's no good giving them a going over.  Managers are easily replaced.   Corporate HQ might be in Boise or somewhere.  Manager can just refer the gang up the chain. I think it's something they are all knowledgeable and skilled at. No doubt it's more of a slick operation than just heavies dropping in.   Perhaps they just rent security guards from the gangs and they hide their cut that way in the books.   Of course, politics will play into it as well - if a place is protected, probably the cops will know it's not a place to hang out in.    And the local mafia will know if the political type heavies are involved there as well and know to steer well clear.

@David Umberger

OK, although I am in Austria, it's very much the same everywhere. The hospitality industry isn't what it used to be. High food costs, high rent, high business rates, high energy costs, insurance, wages, and an accountant. I have 35 years of experience in the industry, and I am so glad that I didn't put all my savings into owning a place (B&B with a restaurant).

In my town, in the space of 5 years, 3 food establishments have gone bankrupt (2 restaurants and 1 cafe). All had owners who were experienced in the trade. The town next door has 4 hotel auctions coming up, 2 of which went bankrupt the other 2 just quit their losses.

I see in Vienna regularly the same thing happening there. The ones that I do see coping are well-established eateries like Wine Taverns that sell their own wine, have been in the family for 100 years and own the property.

I'm sorry it's not what you wanted to hear, but my advice is, it's not worth the gamble unless you are willing to take the gamble or have an unlimited amount of cash to fall back on.

On another note....... this is what it's like in the UK.

More than 200 UK pubs closed in the first half of the year as part of a "heartbreaking" trend which industry bosses fear is set to accelerate.

Analysis of government figures revealed 209 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the opening six months of 2025 - around eight every week.

The South East was hit the hardest, losing 31 pubs during the period.

It means 2,283 pubs have vanished from communities across England and Wales since the start of 2020.

@David Umberger
OK, although I am in Austria, it's very much the same everywhere. The hospitality industry isn't what it used to be. High food costs, high rent, high business rates, high energy costs, insurance, wages, and an accountant. I have 35 years of experience in the industry, and I am so glad that I didn't put all my savings into owning a place (B&B with a restaurant).
In my town, in the space of 5 years, 3 food establishments have gone bankrupt (2 restaurants and 1 cafe). All had owners who were experienced in the trade. The town next door has 4 hotel auctions coming up, 2 of which went bankrupt the other 2 just quit their losses.

I see in Vienna regularly the same thing happening there. The ones that I do see coping are well-established eateries like Wine Taverns that sell their own wine, have been in the family for 100 years and own the property.

I'm sorry it's not what you wanted to hear, but my advice is, it's not worth the gamble unless you are willing to take the gamble or have an unlimited amount of cash to fall back on. - @SimCityAT

Do you think there's just less interest in eating out?  Even if it was cheaper would it make a difference? 

It might be a lifestyle change or demographics.

People getting older, less disposable income, fewer younger people?   Could those be drivers of the decline?

Community pubs seem to work but I guess they have lower running costs (i.e. staff do it for free).

Sitting here, I'm just thinking I cannot be bothered going out.  But then again I'm mid-60s.  But I will go out this week one time.  First time in a couple of months.

@fluffy2560

It's hard to say, really, many factors. People dont have the disposable income like they used to have. Years ago, we would go out to the pub and have many pints, and on the way home, we would grab a Kebab. Now, if you do go out, it's a couple tops.

It's way cheaper to stay home, buy a case of beers that cost €24 (24 cans good quality) or a nice bottle of wine €5 from Lidl and watch Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, etc.... Have a takeaway. Sure, people do go out, but for special occasions. Birthdays, Anniversaries, but you can't just rely on them alone. You need the place to be packed every night.

My dad came to visit, and it rained nearly every day. On the Friday & Saturday nights, we went to the bistro in town only because it was local, and during July and August, they have free live music. It was p^ssing it down both nights, although it was within walking distance, we drove there. Now, if it wasn't for the music, the place would have been dead. Our local Indian restaurant does more takeaways than seats in the restaurant, and it even sells pizzas and kebabs.

OK, I'm not saying it's impossible, but you have to find the right location where you have parking, outside tables, in a place where people walk past daily, going home after work, but also where tourists are around. These places are hard to find because they are already taken, and the downside they also come at a premium.

I said earlier about the restaurant going bust twice. Its been taken over again with a that doesn't suit the area. I can see this failing as well.

If it does, I might write to the mayor and say Look, it's failed 3 times now, how about having it as a community tavern, selling local wine, maybe local beer, the staff work voluntarily, and all the profits go back into the town. The council owns the building anyway, as it's where the town hall is. No need for fancy food. just toast, ham & eggs, simple bar food.

Probably will say no, but worth a shot. 

@fluffy2560It's hard to say, really, many factors. People dont have the disposable income like they used to have. Years ago, we would go out to the pub and have many pints, and on the way home, we would grab a Kebab. Now, if you do go out, it's a couple tops. It's way cheaper to stay home, buy a case of beers that cost €24 (24 cans good quality) or a nice bottle of wine €5 from Lidl and watch Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, etc.... Have a takeaway. Sure, people do go out, but for special occasions. Birthdays, Anniversaries, but you can't just rely on them alone. You need the place to be packed every night. My dad came to visit, and it rained nearly every day. On the Friday & Saturday nights, we went to the bistro in town only because it was local, and during July and August, they have free live music. It was p^ssing it down both nights, although it was within walking distance, we drove there. Now, if it wasn't for the music, the place would have been dead. Our local Indian restaurant does more takeaways than seats in the restaurant, and it even sells pizzas and kebabs.OK, I'm not saying it's impossible, but you have to find the right location where you have parking, outside tables, in a place where people walk past daily, going home after work, but also where tourists are around. These places are hard to find because they are already taken, and the downside they also come at a premium.I said earlier about the restaurant going bust twice. Its been taken over again with a that doesn't suit the area. I can see this failing as well.If it does, I might write to the mayor and say Look, it's failed 3 times now, how about having it as a community tavern, selling local wine, maybe local beer, the staff work voluntarily, and all the profits go back into the town. The council owns the building anyway, as it's where the town hall is. No need for fancy food. just toast, ham & eggs, simple bar food. Probably will say no, but worth a shot. - @SimCityAT

Looks like a good building but that faux French menu is insanely expensive.  No change out of 150 EUR for 4 people with drinks (wine) and desserts.  And nothing really special.  Just schnitzels.  The cost must be in fixed expenses - not the materials.

In my mind, it's like you say, easy bar food, lunch or quick snacks needs to come in under 10 EUR.

I do agree, cheap supermarket booze is so easily available, and a takeaway rounds it off.   And of course, you're quite right, "free movies" on streaming are a disincentive to go out to the movies and have nosh on the way.  There is a VIP service in cinemas here where you can have food at the cinema.  Pasta it seems - cheap.  They also have drinks service in the actual cinema I believe. Never done it myself. 

I wonder if it's also working practices - people working longer hours, travelling longer distances and so on.   People just don't have the time for it.  And if there are kids in tow, more or less forget it.  With prices rising, people have to be working harder and more.  Just to cover living costs.   

There will always be people with disposable income but they aren't going to be the majority.

@fluffy2560

My ex wife is 100% Hungarian and lives there to this day. She owns a couple of businesses and I have never heard her say anything about being extorted. Maybe her family knows some people that can keep it out of my plans. 

@fluffy2560
My ex wife is 100% Hungarian and lives there to this day. She owns a couple of businesses and I have never heard her say anything about being extorted. Maybe her family knows some people that can keep it out of my plans. - @David Umberger

Depends what she's doing. 

If it's a retail business handling cash, then there's a chance.

If it's something like translation services which are not taking cash, selling skills like that or carpentry or plumbing on sites then more unlikely to be extorted. 

Perhaps you should ask her about it?

Those that are big in that kind of racket are those connected with politicians.   We all know who they are.   

@fluffy2560
It's hard to say, really, many factors. People dont have the disposable income like they used to have. Years ago, we would go out to the pub and have many pints, and on the way home, we would grab a Kebab. Now, if you do go out, it's a couple tops.
It's way cheaper to stay home, buy a case of beers that cost €24 (24 cans good quality) or a nice bottle of wine €5 from Lidl and watch Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, etc.... Have a takeaway. Sure, people do go out, but for special occasions. Birthdays, Anniversaries, but you can't just rely on them alone. You need the place to be packed every night.

My dad came to visit, and it rained nearly every day. On the Friday & Saturday nights, we went to the bistro in town only because it was local, and during July and August, they have free live music. It was p^ssing it down both nights, although it was within walking distance, we drove there. Now, if it wasn't for the music, the place would have been dead. Our local Indian restaurant does more takeaways than seats in the restaurant, and it even sells pizzas and kebabs.

OK, I'm not saying it's impossible, but you have to find the right location where you have parking, outside tables, in a place where people walk past daily, going home after work, but also where tourists are around. These places are hard to find because they are already taken, and the downside they also come at a premium.

I said earlier about the restaurant going bust twice. Its been taken over again with a that doesn't suit the area. I can see this failing as well.

If it does, I might write to the mayor and say Look, it's failed 3 times now, how about having it as a community tavern, selling local wine, maybe local beer, the staff work voluntarily, and all the profits go back into the town. The council owns the building anyway, as it's where the town hall is. No need for fancy food. just toast, ham & eggs, simple bar food.


Probably will say no, but worth a shot. - @SimCityAT

Lovely spot!