Big Daddy Burger Bar

For a deeply local experience, trek out to Big Daddy Burger in the south of Budapest, located a half-hour away from downtown by bus. Flanked by drab communist-era high-rises lies this flimsy wooden shack, painted in red, white and blue. The kitschy 'Merican decor – I'm not sure whether it's meant ironically or not – features plenty of tchotchkes and decorative license plates from Texas, Florida, and Missouri.

Big Daddy's burgers are very tasty, in part because they come in smaller and squishier buns than elsewhere in Budapest, making for an ideal patty-to-bun ratio. The default doneness level is just over medium, but you can specify how you want yours cooked. Of the 28 options, you might also like the “Még egy kis hús – bacon burger” packing cheddar and strips of crispy bacon. Another reason to journey out to Big Daddy is the price points, which are about half of what you'll need to cough up in downtown.