Jóbarátok Halsütöde Balatonalmádi

Right on the lakefront in Balatonalmádi, next to Budatava Beach, you will find Jóbarátok Halsütöde, a real throwback to the ’90s, and still a crowd favourite. It has been run as a family business for over 30 years, untouched by the “Balaton new wave,” but that is part of its charm. It is a rock-solid go-to if you are craving fried catfish, carp, bream, trout, or the classic hekk (hake). You can swap the paper trays for a proper plate and order up things like Balaton-style fish soup, bean goulash, and various fried fish dishes. No sourdough bread here, but in the ever-changing world of Balaton beach food, this place is a reliable classic. One big plus: it is open year-round. In winter, they dish up hearty, soul-warming comfort food like kocsonya (meat in aspic), tripe stew with pork knuckle, and steamed dumplings.