It’s easy to see why Indian Embassy personnel have long made a beeline for this Buda branch of this two-venue mini-chain, eagerly boarding the number 11 bus to glide downhill to this attractive terrace eatery within sight of Széllkapu park tucked in behind Margit körút.

Sister of the Pest mothership on Jókai utca, the latter unveiled back in 2005, this business in 2015, Indigo Buda sticks to the same daily schedule, noon opening allowing a lunchtime spread to be offered from Mondays to Thursdays until 4pm.



Derived from the Hindi word for ‘plate’ or ‘platter’, thali equates to an enticing selection of dishes, in this case vegetarian or chicken, reflecting the cuisine of a particular region, in this case, northern India.

Not surprisingly, therefore, breads are granted their own section on the menu, tandoori rotis, Kashmiri naans and onion kulchas. Lamb and poultry also features heavily, in soups, curries and specialities from the tandoor oven.

If you’re not following the thali route, or opting for evening or weekend dining, the lamb kebab should have you joining Indian embassy staff as regulars, as will the chicken jalfrezi, succulent chunks of meat in a spicy tomato sauce.

This being northern India and its gastronomic reliance on the seasons and Sikh diners, vegetarians are treated to a cornucopia of options without necessarily being subjected to tofu every time – the black lentil dahl is a staple in the Punjab, and a must here.



Desserts are not Indigo’s strong suit, as opposed to the mango lassi, a smooth yet zingy delight, the fruit expertly sourced by the discerning chef, himself sourced from India by strict recommendation.

This is an Indian restaurant for those who appreciate their Indian food, served by staff who take pride in their work and concocted by a chef who learned his chops on the sub-continent.

Table reservations are recommended at weekends, while groups can hire out a separate room for special occasions.

Indigo Buda
1024 Budapest, Fény utca 16. M2 or tram 4/6 to Széll Kálmán tér.
Open daily noon-10.30pm (takeaway until 10pm).


Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com
Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com