Food has a place above all other things in our culture. Soup is often provided prior to the main course, which is then followed by dessert. And what better for a Hungarian to rinse down their throat after a generous meal than some pálinka?

Here are 5 Hungarian dishes you need to try!

Lángos

This almost always refers to a large flat patty of dough fried in a generous amount of oil, then salted, and rubbed over with garlic. There are a multitude of other potential toppings, among them grated cheese.

Gulyás

The gulyás which is most well-known abroad is beef stew. There are many variations to the stew, and other central European countries have their own nationally unique ways of preparing it. Among famous Hungarian gulyás dishes, for example, are bean stew and sauerkraut stew.

Pörkölt

While it is often mixed up with gulyás, pörkölt is another type of stew, prepared with meat, peppers, and various vegetables. It can be prepared with practically any kind of meat, but the most popular are beef and pork.

Dobos torte

Dobos torte is a dessert unique to Hungary: It is prepared from five layers of chocolate buttercream and sponge cake. The top is covered in crunchy caramel. This elegant cake, first officially introduced in 1885, can be found in many restaurants and confectioneries throughout Europe.

Chicken Paprikash

Chicken topped with sauce and sour cream with a side of nokedli (spätzle). It is a favored dish in Hungary, there is practically no one who does not like it.