No Place Like Home

After the thousandth "gyros plate" you're determined not to go into one of Budapest's Middle Eastern/Turkish joints to have lunch, even though there's not much cash in your pocket. More ethnic food has arrived to the capital's Grand Boulevard, the körút, in the form of the Arriba Taqueria.

Arriba Taqueria
1067 Budapest
Teréz krt. 25.

There's always a wave of trepidation that envelopes me whenever I think about eating Mexican food in Hungary or in any other part of Europe. Coming from a blue collar town with a significant Hispanic population, whenever I travel home my dad takes me to south Rockford where all the Mexican businesses are, including numerous restaurants. They're comfortable hole-in-the wall eateries - far from sterile - but serve up food that would be served in someone's home: hearty, spicy, delicious and generous portions, including homemade rice, beans and tortillas. I usually choose chiles rellenos - poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and fried in a light batter. The bill, including beer, runs around 10 bucks a head.

Back here in Budapest "No more gyros" was my recent motto as I shuffled down the Körút - it's so difficult to find a cheap and quick lunch in Budapest. I look up and what do I see but the lovely neon sign of Arriba Taqueria. While not expecting the authenticity of the Mexican joints back home, I overcome my inhibitions about Mexican food in Budapest and enter the cartoonishly-decorated burrito-to-go restaurant.

The woman working behind the counter is friendly enough. I order a veggie burrito with guacamole (which is a very tiny scoop and costs 250 HUF extra) and a Coke Zero, about which I ask her opinion. She said it was a 'real zero' and we both laugh.

I sit down, relieved that I'm indulging in something different, and start scarfing down the burrito. It's not bad, kind of reminiscent of home, but somehow the taste is kind of neutral. It's okay, but nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, this is the feeling I always come away with whenever I eat at the Arriba's "mother ship", Iguana.

And then I see some other expatriates that I hoped I'd never have to see coming through the door - so I bolt.

I would recommend Arriba to those who just can't stomach another falafel or kebab in Budapest, but it's not exactly the cheapest place for a quick bite. I'm still waiting to travel home for my "Mexican fix".

My bill totaled HUF 1,690.