NemSzomszéd („Not Neighbour”) opened in February 2025 in the centre of Keszthely at Bem József utca 3, literally next door to Pajti. The name is a joke, because both places belong to the same team. Still, NemSzomszéd is its own world: here sushi rice, tempura and matcha are the stars, not breakfast.
Sushi and what goes with it
The sushi is made fresh on site, and you can watch it being rolled at the open counter. There’s hoso and ura maki, nigiri, gunkan and sashimi, with tuna, prawn and eel alongside the salmon. For a first visit the 18-piece selection is the right call: four kinds of maki and two nigiri, 7,000 HUF when we checked. If you’re wary of raw fish, there’s the Panko Ebi Maki, a crunchy fried prawn and avocado roll (3,700 HUF).
If you don’t want sushi, there’s wakame salad, gyoza, tempura prawns, miso soup and a coconut-milk Tom Kha that a 2025 test singled out for praise. Hot dishes include pad thai, udon, ramen and garlic prawns. For dessert, a coconut rice roll with fruit; to drink, matcha and cocktails.
The place
A small, modern spot: a lantern-lit staircase leads up to a clean, simple dining room. It’s not a big elegant Japanese restaurant, but a friendly, youthful sushi bar. In the corner there’s a mini Asian shop with instant noodles, boba drinks and ingredients for cooking at home. There’s a separate kids’ menu, and dogs are welcome.
Good to know
It isn’t cheap: the special rolls are around 4,000–5,000 HUF, and a proper sushi dinner with a drink is 5,000–10,000 HUF per person. It’s small, so book at weekends. It’s more expensive on Wolt and Foodora than in person. Mention allergies in advance, as the kitchen works in a shared space.
Who it’s for
Anyone tired of fried fish who wants something completely different after a stroll in town. Don’t expect a classic omakase experience; do expect good, fresh, varied sushi.
The person behind the place
Sixty came instead of twenty
Laura Horváth and Ákos Vass started next-door Pajti as a café, then more and more Asian dishes made it onto the menu. Once they organised a sushi night for twenty guests, sixty signed up, and for the next one eighty. It became an evening special, then a permanent offer, and in 2025 a place of its own. At opening, Csaba Jónás, who had worked at a Budapest sushi bar, was in charge of the sushi.
Horváth Laura és Vass Ákos, owners (Pajti, NemSzomszéd)Worth a taste
18-piece sushi selection
Tempura prawn, salmon-avocado, teriyaki salmon and cucumber maki, plus one salmon and one prawn nigiri. 7,000 HUF when we checked, best shared between two.
Local tip
One selection for two
For two, order an 18-piece selection plus a Panko Ebi Maki, so you see both the classic and the crunchy side. After eating, look into the mini Asian shop, there may be something to take home.
The BalatonEats meal plan
How to put your meal together
- 01Tempura prawns
Hot, crunchy batter with soft prawn. A good opener, 3,100 HUF when we checked.
- 02Sushi selection, 18 pieces
Four kinds of maki and two nigiri, the house's introductory platter.
- 03Coconut roll
Sweet rice roll in coconut with fresh fruit. A light finish.
What guests say
What stays with guests?
A young place but off to a very good start: Google-based aggregators show 4.8–4.9/5 from 100–140 reviews. Guests praise the fresh sushi, the prawn dishes, the cleanliness and the friendly service. One summer guest mentioned a twenty-minute wait but was happy with the food.
From 108 reviews on ReservOurs (which aggregates Google reviews), Restaurant Guru's Keszthely restaurant list showing 142 votes, three Tripadvisor reviews and We Love Balaton's 29 March 2025 report based on an actual on-site tasting.+
What brings people back
- Fresh sushi: made on site in front of you.
- Selections: several styles on one platter.
- Prawn dishes: the tempura and prawn maki get special praise.
- Friendly service: several guests mention it.
- Mini Asian shop: rare at Balaton.
!
Good to know before you go
- Not cheap: the special rolls add up quickly.
- Small place: hard at weekends without booking.
- Big menu: as a first-timer, ask for a little help.
