“ad” – Why is this here?
It is no secret that I am a massive fan of Taste From Hungary on Chesterton Road. After my revisit earlier this year, the authentic family-run Hungarian restaurant has quickly turned into one of my favourite independent spots in the entire city.
So when I heard the team were taking the jump and opening a brand new sister restaurant called Hungarian Soul right on Mill Road, I knew I had to get down there fast!
Mill Road is already well known for its diverse food scene, and this opening is a clear sign that the diversification isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Bringing Hungarian comfort food to this side of Cambridge is a bold move in such a hyper-competitive market. Luckily, as the first Hungarian restaurant on the street, it has a unique edge that will hopefully help it stand out from the crowd.
From the front, it looks like a rather modest café, but as you step inside, it opens up into a surprisingly spacious venue with plenty of seating for large parties in the back. It still keeps that charming, homely feel that makes you feel like you have stepped straight into a Hungarian living room, complete with a window bar that is ideal for people-watching over a coffee. It is clear that a lot of love and thought has gone into creating a space that feels both welcoming and distinctly authentic.
Breakfast, Lunch & Day Time Staples
One of the most exciting additions at Hungarian Soul is their daytime setup. They are serving up proper Hungarian breakfast and lunch options that you simply cannot get anywhere else in town. The dinner menu is very similar to the Chesterton location with only a few missing items (though I have been told that they are going to bring more options over soon). The pictures on the menu look exactly like the dishes that come out, giving you a reassuring sign of what is coming your way.
Coffee and alcohol-free beer is also available, making it a great place to pop in for a cuppa. In fact, they even source their coffee from the local roastery, Coffee World. My mum was treated to a decafe coffee that had distinctive notes of chocolate.
Lángos
Don’t panic, yes you can buy Lángos here. After all, it surely couldn’t call itself a Hungarian café without it. This iconic Hungarian dish is a popular street food and comes in all shapes and sizes. At Hungarian Soul it is brought out almost like a pizza shape. It is made from fried bread topped with sour cream, grated cheese, and smoked sausage. It arrived hot, golden, and slightly garlicy, making it brilliant for sharing. Biting into it freshy warm from the fryer really hits right and the proper Hungarian smoked sausage really pops out of the cool sour cream.
Sandwiches
I took one look at this epic sandwich on their menu and immediately knew I had to have it. This is how you load a sandwich people (take note, Tesco Meal Deals!). It was absolutely loaded up with rolled up ham and grated cheese packed into a soft and fluffy roll with salad, cucumber, tomatoes and much more. Quite simply, it was pure indulgence. Interestingly, it didn’t leave me feeling heavy or bloated but satisfyingly full, making it a great lunch while at work.
Avocado
After my last review of Taste From Hungary, I had several people asking me whether there were any vegetarian options, as Hungarian restaurants are not well known for catering to them. I am glad to say that Hungarian Soul has some great veggie choices. My table tried the Avocado Sandwich, made with fresh bread, boiled eggs, smashed avocado, a dollop of mozzarella, and mixed leaves. I didn’t get to try any but my guest said it was delicious. The presentation was great with lot of vibrant colour to go around.
Hungarian-style French Toast
Then came the Hungarian French Toast. 4 slices of golden fried bread cooked using actual pork fat and served with garlic sour cream to cut through the richness. They were savoury, rich, and despite looking crispy, were surprisingly soft and fluffy. This is one of the cheapest options on the menu (approx. £7-8) making it a great dish to grab on the go for a work lunch.
The Sausage Time!
The personal highlight of the entire visit for me had to be the Sausage Selection. Featuring traditional Hungarian sausages, liver sausage, and blood sausage – these bad boys are the way sausages are actually supposed to be made. The depth of flavour and smoky richness was incredible, and they tasted bloody amazing! They came with a mild spiced Hungarian mustard and a few slices of pickle that complimented them perfectly.
Hungarian Soul
If you want a change from your typical British fry-up, Hungarian Soul offers a brilliant Hungarian spin on breakfast. It arrives as a generous tray of deli meats, fried Debreceni sausage, fried eggs, grated cheese, salad, and crisp crackling, complete with two slices of toast on the side. What sets it apart from your traditional fry-up is the spice – the sausage brings a lovely spicy warmth and the eggs are seasoned to match, adding a bit of flair to start the day.
Coffee & Drinks
To wash it all down, it was great to see them supporting other local independents by sourcing their coffee directly from local roastery Coffee World. For those who want a beer with their meal without the booze, they even stock authentic Hungarian alcohol-free beers, which make for a light, refreshing palate cleanser alongside the rich food.
Final Thoughts
Expanding a successful independent spot onto Mill Road is always a big test, but the team behind Hungarian Soul have pulled it off effortlessly. They have managed to capture the exact same heart, warmth, and generous family hospitality that made Taste From Hungary so special, while creating a versatile new space that works just as well for a quick coffee at the window bar as it does for a full family feast.
The next time you are down Mill Road, make sure to catch some Hungarian Soul!
Get down, support a brilliant independent business, and let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading!
Key Information
- Location: Mill Road, Cambridge
- Hours: Breakfast 08:00–14:00 | Dinner 17:00–22:00
- Highlights: Classic Lángos, Hungarian French toast, traditional sausage selection, Coffee World coffee, massive Soul Platter
You must be logged in to post a comment.