When I want to impress my friends that Budapest has restaurants as hip as those in New York's East Village, I take them out to DOBRUMBA. With a chic crowd, effortlessly cool design, and a Middle Eastern menu, DOBRUMBA is a wildly popular restaurant inside Budapest's buzzing Jewish Quarter. The place is especially enjoyable in the warmer months when the oversized windows swing open and ear-catching electronic music wafts into the street.

Unfortunately, the food can fall short. I've had a couple of unremarkable meals here, but the creamy labneh (€4) and the baba ganoush (€4) starters, both light and flavorful, and the tender chicken tagine (€9) are unlikely to disappoint. I also enjoyed the basbousa (€3), a rich and sugary semolina cake blanketed in a tangy yogurt, a nice contrast to the sweet dough.

It’s no coincidence that DOBRUMBA is so popular—the owners seem to rightfully understand that a homey ambiance, an Instagrammable interior, a kind service, and a deep drinks menu will satisfy most millennial diners, even if the dishes are just okay. Reservations are an absolute must.
