Balaton Restaurant

Restaurant Balaton in Kraków offers an excellent taste of Hungarian cuisine and delivers a truly satisfying dining experience. From the very beginning, the quality of the food stands out, both in flavor and presentation. As a starter, I had the Hungarian-style herring, which was perfectly prepared, well-balanced in taste, and beautifully served. It was rich, fresh, and full of authentic flavors. The bean soup was hearty, comforting, and deeply flavorful, clearly made with care and quality ingredients. It felt homemade, warm, and perfectly seasoned, making it an ideal choice, especially on a colder day. The highlight, however, was the lángos – crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, generously topped, and absolutely delicious. It tasted authentic, indulgent, and incredibly satisfying. Overall, everything was extremely tasty, high-quality, and visually appealing. The portions were generous, the flavors authentic, and the presentation thoughtful. Restaurant Balaton is a great place for anyone who appreciates well-prepared Hungarian food made with passion. I would highly recommend it and would gladly return again.

Balaton serves the kind of comfort that sneaks up on you gently, then sweeps you off your feet with the confidence of a seasoned host. Stepping inside feels like crossing a soft border between Kraków and Hungary, where warmth, paprika, and hospitality share the same passport. The meal begins with the simple joy of Żywiec beer and Słowianka mineral water—crisp, cold, perfectly paired with the hearty dishes to come. That pepper soup arrives like a small miracle: a whole roasted red pepper standing proudly in a bowl of rich, rustic broth filled with mushrooms, carrots, and tender vegetables. Each spoonful tastes like someone’s grandmother insisted on feeding you until your worries melted away. Then comes the goulash—served dramatically in its own mini cauldron over a flame. It bubbles, it glows, it perfumes the whole table with smoky paprika and slow-cooked depth. This is the sort of dish that tells you stories if you listen: winters survived, families gathered, recipes guarded for generations. The welcome sign at the door isn’t just decoration—it’s a promise that the team here keeps effortlessly. The staff is polite, attentive, and genuinely delighted to host you. The whole experience feels unhurried, generous, and authentic. Balaton isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a warm handshake from Hungarian culinary tradition delivered right in the heart of Kraków. Highly recommended for anyone who wants their meal to feel like a small journey—with a very delicious ending.

Main course was delicious, I got the Hungarian dish (450g) and the portion size was hefty. Worth mentioning the drinks come without ice, but they had a nice variety of hot and cold drinks. The waitress was also very nice and even spoke english to one of my friends when she realised we don’t all speak polish.

We visited the restaurant at lunchtime without a prior reservation and, luckily, had no problem getting a table for four. From the very beginning, the service was excellent – friendly, professional, and attentive. Our orders were taken quickly, and the drinks arrived almost immediately. We didn’t have to wait long for the food – around 10–15 minutes – which was impressive considering everything was freshly prepared. The food was absolutely delicious: hot, perfectly seasoned, and served in very generous portions. Both the adults and the two teenagers left fully satisfied and well fed. It’s clear that the people working here truly know Hungarian cuisine and are passionate about what they do. We highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back again!👌👍

Great food and lovely relaxed atmosphere. A central location in the Old Town. Potato pancakes were fresh and crispy. Goulash was rich and the veal was absolutely tender. A nice break from Polish fare.

I was told this place did the best potato pancakes in Krakow, and I was not disappointed. I had the ones with Veal, and they were so good. They have seating indoors as well as a small seating area outside. It's a busy place, so make sure to get a reservation for evening hours. I got lucky when I arrived. Waiting staff here are friendly, they do what they can to make sure people are happy.

I love langos and this was one of the yummiest! Would really recommend. Although they don’t have the traditional oven it was still great. They pan fry it.

The food was so good! We had so many plates and it was all good. The waiter was very friendly and accommodating. The place itself has a nice old charm.

I think this is a great spot when visiting Krakow. The food was incredible but keep in mind that the food was no spicy even though they said it was going to be. As someone who is polish, I approve of this place. Great options, great variety, and great service. The waitress had a lot of recommendations

The restaurant is in the heart of the historic center of the city, next to the Saint Mary's Basilica and close to the Market Plaza. The service was very good. Our waiter was Aria and she was very nice and caring. She spoke well English. The service was quick and accurate. No missing items, no wrongs. The food was incredible. They sat the 8 of us and each ordered different dishes. All good. I personally tried the Hungarian style Goulash, which was absolutely delicious. Overall, excellent place, service and food.

Every time my husband and I visit Cracow we go to Balaton and it never disappoints. The food is absolutely delicious. Fresh and flavorful. It's one of the best restaurants we've ever been to. In the entire New York City we didn't find a restaurant that would serve Hungarian food as good as Balaton. Highly recommend!

Awesome service the. Waiter was very helpful and Patient with all the food was excellent I tried and bean soup and it was big enough that I had as able to share with 2 friend. The venison goulash was great the meat was very soft with is hard do with venison.

Balaton is very much an institution in Krakow. The first time I ate here was fifteen years ago. Sadly, it has become little more than a tourist trap. The place is best known for two dishes: potato pancakes with goulash and goulash soup. The former, płacki po węgiersku in Polish, is a common dish in this country. What is served here isn't better than what you can get at a milk bar like U Babci Malina--at half the price. Portions used to be massive but that is no longer the case. With the goulash soup they've also cut corners, substituting beef with pork. Balaton is good place for larger groups. They have little problem accommodating a table of ten or more. The place can get incredibly loud if you chance upon a group of Italian tourists. If you're looking for a more intimate dining experience I'd recommend going somewhere else.

English: Fantastic potatoe pancakes. I go to Balaton every time I visit Krakow. I generally don't like this type of food, but the quality of the sauces and finished product is just superb. I can't speak to any other dish however. Polish: Restauracja którą chętnie odwiedzam podczas każdego pobytu w Krakowie. Pyszne jedzenie, od dań głównych po dodatki. Nawet zbyt lubiane przeze mnie placki ziemniaczane tam smakują wyśmienicie. Serdecznie polecam!

This was the best restaurant experience we had in Krakow. The food was so good we could not believe it was at such a reasonable price. My wife ordered the spicy goulash w potato and I went with the country dinner and a side of goulash soup. The food was insanely good. On top of that the staff was fantastic. Martin attended to us and was friendly and very knowledgeable. Pro Tip: If Martin suggests it, go for it. Not only did he turn us on to great eats there at the restaurant, he also provided suggestions on things to do and see in Krakow. Go check this place out!

This place has pretty decent Hungarian food. the Goulash soup was a nice dish - a little less interesting was a fried potato pancake with stew on top - I don't think it was a problem of not-good ingredients or execution, but it makes the crispy potato pancake a bit soggy and unappealing to dump a pile of stew on it. We liked the Hungarian house wine by the carafe. Music was distracting - very fast tempo, like we should be working out, not eating.

First time here, ordered Veal with dumplings delicious only one plate but had to order an other one same thing

This place Rocks!!! Every time i am in town i eat here. Unfortunately, lately it has been awhile. Placki po wegiersku, zupa rybna & beer. To die for.