The Hungarian Grocery Store

Product Name and Ingredients
Although you may find 12-15 languages on a product's description/ingredient list, you still may not find English, usually noted by "GB" (Great Britain). If you find an "E" on the list, it is normally the notation for Spanish (Espanol). This is just another reminder that you are in a country that is bordered by 7 countries in the heart of Europe. Often you cannot understand the Hungarian food words, but you may understand French,Italian or German which have similarities to English.

Cart/basket
Some Americans have been introduced to the European "cart rental" by the German chain Aldi which is now in many American cities. In general, stores will require a coin to unlock a shopping basket which will be returned when you "plug" it back into the rest of the carts on your departure. Even if you don't use a cart, you should take one of the plastic baskets when entering a grocery store. If people see you walking about without one, they may think you are planning to put something in your pocket or back pack. And don't be surprised if your back pack/large purse is checked at the check out even if you do use a basket or cart.

Produce
In most Hungarian grocery stores, you weigh your own produce on a small scale located in the produce section that spits out a little label with the weight and price. You affix this to the fruit or bag and take it to the check out with your other purchases. Don't expect to find baby carrots peeled and ready to eat. While you can get shredded carrots in some stores, carrots usually still have their "hair" attached and you will see locals tear this off and leave it in a trash can provided nearby so that they don't have to carry it home with their groceries. Until recently, you could not find celery tops,only the celery root. But the American influence is changing that and I have been able the last few years to find celery stalks available as well.


Meat
Beef (marhahus) is normally a bit flavorless and chewy in Hungary whether you order it in a restaurant or buy it at the grocery store. I almost quit cooking it while in Hungary. I did use ground beef on occasion for tacos (can't live without tacos!) but I always got the leanest ground beef available at the French version of Walmart--Auchan. I was never satisfied with the meat from other stores and all ground beef with higher fat content had bits of gristle in it. You can avoid this by buying it from one of the many small butcher shops located in almost every neighborhood, but you'll need to either find a butcher who speaks good English or explain in Hungarian which meat cuts you want him to grind for you--something which I never got comfortable doing. Don't expect to see meats cuts you are familiar with in the U.S. They carve up beef a little differently than we do.
Chicken (csirke) and turkey (pulyka) are available everywhere and are good quality. If you are looking for breast meat in restaurant or store, it will have "mell" on the end. Hungarians use fresh turkey meat much more than Americans, but rarely ever buy or serve it as a whole bird like we do on Thanksgiving. Pork (sertes) is also easy to find and usually is a good quality and flavor.