“Business wouldn’t work well if we didn’t fight” – situation report from ZEN Eatery with Szelei Pisti and Luu Trong Vinh

Pisti: We still have to grow into our new shoes, but we can already see what the place is capable of. We opened Hunyadi almost 3 years ago from a two-hole shop, this is a different level now.

I was honestly surprised by the choice of location.

Pisti: We know that Liszt Ferenc Square is famous for being almost exclusively tourist trap places where you can eat bad food at an expensive price. We are the exceptions, the fresh blood. We would like to emphasize that there are quality places here too and that it is possible to offer tourists a high standard.

When did you first feel like you had outgrown the first place?

Vini: We are hungry for success, which came quickly after the opening. We often had to turn away guests because we couldn't give them a table, we were constantly full. We were constantly busy for 2.5 years, we didn't stop, so we didn't have a chance to see where we were. The move was necessary so that we could achieve what we couldn't do in Hunyadi due to lack of space. The space is more impressive, we have a terrace, so we can seat more people. We now have a charcoal grill, which further deepens the flavors, and we were able to move to a higher level professionally.

Pisti: The new place is like the old one, only on steroids.

Was it easier to move or to open a restaurant from scratch?

Vini: Both were challenging. For me, moving seemed easier because we knew where we were coming from, had experience, and had a strong foundation to build on.

Pisti: For me, the beginning seemed easier. When we built ZEN from scratch, I felt unstoppable. Moving is another step in our development, a new pair of shoes to grow into.

How has the menu evolved in recent months?

Vini: We kept the classic dishes, such as cheeseburger spring rolls, beef cheek Hanoi ramen, katsudon, bao burgers, and yuzu apple pie – just to name a few of the regular dishes.

There are also plenty of new things: from Monday to Friday between 12:00 and 15:00, bento boxes come in 4 different versions at lunchtime. Three with meat and one with vegetarian. The boxes always have meat, side dishes, eggs, mini soup, pickles and mixed salad – except for the vegetarian version. The menu will change every one or two weeks. We offer good food at an affordable price, with lots of healthy ingredients.

Pisti: We also got caught up in the smash burger craze, we made a bao smash burger, with beef patty, truffle mayonnaise and cheddar cheese. The whole point is the roasting, as you move from the crispy browned edges of the meat to the inside.

An early summer favorite is Bun Bo Nam Bo: cold bun noodles drizzled with Vietnamese vinaigrette, topped with warm, grilled beef tenderloin from the Netherlands. All topped with sautéed onions and peanuts for crunch, and packed with refreshing greens for health.

A big favorite is the Wild Tteokbokki, a true Korean-Hungarian fusion dish: boiled Hungarian beef cheek, Korean rice noodles, and gochujang wild sauce.

In a previous interview, shortly after the opening of Hunyadi, you said that “being a slave to yourself is good.” Do you still feel that way? Is it still good?

Pisti: It's still good. When you make it your own, it gives you strength and motivates you to fight every day as if your life depended on it.

Vini: Because our lives really depend on it. Or at least our livelihood.

What kind of bosses are you?

Pisti: We don't have any problems, we try to compromise on everything. We have young Vietnamese talents in the kitchen, they came with zero kitchen experience. We taught them a lot in 3 years, and now they have become an integral part of the team.

Vini: All chefs – or at least those who take themselves and their profession seriously – strive for perfection, but I don't think that's why you have to be arrogant. Our goal has always been to create a sustainable, good environment. It's important that those who work with us feel good and like being here. They need to know that there is room for development and advancement. And kindness. It's not worth sacrificing these for perfectionism.

ZEN is not the first word that comes to mind when I think of you. If someone spends even a little time with you, they immediately feel the energy and excitement that emanates from you. What does Zen mean to you in your name?

Vini: Before we opened, we had at least ten names in mind, we had a hard time deciding which one to choose.

Pisti: It's true, we ourselves are not particularly peaceful, but the place still gives you harmony and peace. When you're with us, you'll "feel the music". By that I mean you'll feel it.