Bangkok Thai Étterem

Bangkok Étterem is one of Budapest's oldest Thai restaurants, occupying a below-ground space near the Grand Market Hall and the tourist-heavy Váci Street. Golden Buddha statues and fading celebrity photos line the walls — hello Matt Damon and Yoko Ono — and lend an adorably dated feel to the inside. The food is a bit hit-or-miss. I've had disappointingly tired papaya salad (som tam) but also bright and silky green curry here. A highlight is the whole roasted trout, served with a crispy skin and blanketed in a chili-laced sauce. The stir-fried noodles feature the usual suspects: pad see ew, pad thai, drunken noodles, and pad woon sen (glass noodles).

In its third decade of existence, Bangkok Étterem is still going strong — a wait during dinner hours is not unusual. Prices have remained reasonable despite the central location and popularity (mains range €12-18). The old-school servers are accommodating even during peak dining hours. Note that there's little network signal inside the premises so this is your chance for a truly unplugged meal with friends or family.