Hungary’s clear favourite is the beef burger, ideally with plenty of cheese, bacon, fresh vegetables and a generous choice of sauces – according to data from a survey carried out by TV Paprika to mark World Hamburger Day.
In Hungary, a hamburger is not just a simple dish but a real gastronomic experience. Most respondents like it packed with all sorts of things, eat it with both hands and do not mind one bit if their face gets messy while eating it.
The survey also revealed that we are less keen on mustard in our burgers, that we mostly eat them with chips, and that we are more likely to make the burger patty ourselves at home than the bun.
The love and appreciation for the hamburger is enormous worldwide – so much so that it even has its own world day. To mark World Hamburger Day on 28 May, TV Paprika’s new survey set out to find out how we Hungarians like to eat it most. (The TV Paprika channel’s online questionnaire was completed by 430 respondents in May 2025.)
The Hungarian hamburger is not born of minimalism but is a tasty, rich, juicy, multi-layered experience that we take in both hands and savour. Only a few voted for minimal burgers; the majority think the real thing is when it is packed with all sorts of things, and two thirds of Hungarians do not even mind getting a messy face while eating. What is more, it is probably not only their faces that get messy after a good hamburger but their hands too, as eight out of ten Hungarians say that a good hamburger needs no knife and fork, just two hands.
For almost a quarter of Hungarians the flavour does not matter: they are such fans that they happily eat any version of the hamburger, be it chicken, fish, vegetarian, or breaded or grilled cheese. The majority, however, made it clear that the beef version is the real thing. Some said it is best with csalamádé (mixed pickled vegetables), but more than half of Hungarians say it should be beef, and csalamádé should definitely not go in it.
When it comes to the Hungarian hamburger, respondents were clear: bring on anything that enriches the experience. In order of popularity, cheese, fresh lettuce, bacon, tomato and caramelised onion are the foundations of Hungarian burger architecture. Many are not put off by versions with two patties and extra sauce either – in fact, jalapeños and onion jam can go in too.
If there is one thing we cannot or will not skimp on in our burgers, it is the sauce. According to the responses, most hamburgers get ketchup, followed by mayonnaise, and quite often a mix of the two. Cheddar cheese sauce is also exceptionally popular, leaving mustard behind. And we do not stop there: barbecue sauce, bacon jam – a thick, caramelised bacon sauce – and pickled gherkin additions are all popular too.
By far the most popular choice to go with a hamburger is classic chips. The second most popular side turned out to be American cabbage salad (coleslaw), followed neck and neck by sweet potato fries and steak fries. Some are happy with just the hamburger and do not want anything else with it, while many think onion rings make the burger experience complete.
With the arrival of spring, barbecue season opens up new dimensions: many people now make their hamburgers not in the kitchen but in the garden, on the grill, and are glad to get out of cleaning the kitchen. More than a fifth of respondents to the TV Paprika survey make their own burger meat, and many have a go at the buns too.
Source: Turizmus.com