Fuji Japanese Restaurant

When it opened in 1991, Fuji was one of the first Japanese restaurants in Budapest. From a Japan-inspired wood-paneled dining room, it served pricey dishes to well-off locals and expats who were looking for exotic tastes in post-communist Budapest. Almost three decades hence — an eternity in restaurant years — Fuji is still around and it's still one of the few upscale Japanese restaurants in Budapest.

The sushi and sashimi selections are expensive and a bit inconsistent. The non-fish dishes are also hit-or-miss. The karaage (deep-fried chicken thighs) and the yakitori (skewered chicken) felt like afterthoughts, but the katsudon, a rice bowl topped with fried eggs and breaded pork, and the tamagoyaki, slightly sweet Japanese rolled omelet, were both excellent. Fuji is one of the few places in Budapest that serves chawanmushi, a savory, steamed egg custard with morsels of chicken thigh and shrimp. Plenty of sake and Japanese beers are also available.