Berlin has a delicious diverse culinary scene that will have foodies in dreamland! From fine dining delights to street food classics, you'll find an array of fantastic dining spots throughout the city.
With just an eclectic offering, including a huge influence from international cuisines, knowing what to eat in Berlin can be tricky. So, I've used my experiences from my time in the city as a culinary guide, to give you an insight into the best Berlin cuisine.
10 Best Foods to Try in Berlin
German food comes in so many delicious forms and flavors, especially in its eclectic capital, Berlin. There's everything from quick bites and big comfort dishes to irresistible desserts and famous drinks.
So, let's delve into the delicious detail for an insight into German cuisine and specifically the best Berlin food that you simply cannot miss when visiting the German capital.
1. Currywurst (Most Famous Food in Berlin)
One of the most traditional dishes in Berlin and Germany as a whole, currywurst is a typical fast food item served at a restaurants and cafes across the city.
Traditionally, currywurst consists of steamed or fried sausages, flavored with ketchup and curry powder, and often served with a portion of fries on the side.
Curry 61 in the center of the city is the place to be for the best currywurst in Berlin. It's a huge hit with locals and visitors alike – they even do a vegan option!
Curry 61
Address: Oranienburger Str. 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +493040054033
Website: https://www.curry61.de/
2. Döner kebab
Although döner kebabs are traditionally a Turkish food favorite, they are also a staple food of Berlin and were actually invented in Berlin. The story goes that the modern form of döner kebab originated in the city and was popularized in the 1970s in West Berlin by Turkish immigrants.
This delicious dish consists of seasoned meat, slow cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served with salad, sauces and other ingredients, then served in an open pitta bread.
You'll find all kinds of excellent spots throughout the city to enjoy an authentic döner kebab. My personal favorite is Kebap with Attitude, which has a great outdoor terrace, funky interior decor and amazing döner kebabs!
Kebap with Attitude
Address: Gipsstraße 2, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +493035529966
Website: https://www.kebapyourlife.de/
3. Vietnamese food
The Vietnamese food scene is huge in Berlin and you'll find an array of wonderful restaurants throughout the city, particularly Lichtenberg to the east of the city, where people of Vietnamese origin make up almost 12% of the local population.
The most popular Vietnamese dish in Berlin is pho – a lip-smackingly delicious dish that consists of bone broth, rice noodles, and thinly sliced beef. You'll also find the likes of bun cha, Vietnamese grilled pork noodles and goi cuon, fresh spring rolls.
Head to Banh Xeo Saigon for the best Vietnamese cuisine in Berlin, particularly the eponymous banh xeo – a crispy spiced pancake stuffed with rice.
Banh Xeo Saigon
Address: Greifswalder Str. 41, 10405 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +493074392987
Website: https://banhxeosaigon.de/
4. Polish food
Another hugely influential cuisine in Berlin is Polish food. You'll find lots of comfort food classics in Polish cuisine, together with fresh salads, cabbage rolls, pancakes and, of course, the number one Polish dish, pierogi – irresistible dumplings filled with rich savory fillings.
There are lots of great Polish restaurants in Berlin, which is no surprise when you consider the fact that there are 100,000 Poles living in Berlin.
Polish Dainty is the undisputed champion when it comes to the best Polish food in Berlin. Their homemade dumplings, or pierogi, are a must eat in Berlin. The follow a 120-year-old family recipe – you can taste the love and care that goes into making them!
Polish Dainty
Address: Invalidenstraße 34, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +4917631185924
Website: https://www.polishdaintysandjgmbh.de/
5. Eisbein
Eisbein is pure comfort food at its finest. This classic Berlin dish consists of cured ham hock, typically served with peased pudding, mashed potatoes or saurkraut. The Berlin version is boiled, as opposed to the baked version that was popularized down south.
A traditional local food in Berlin, eisbein is best enjoyed on a cold winter's day in Berlin. Serve with a large stenier beer and don't forget a few dollops of German mustard on the side!
Head to Nikolaiviertel, Berlin's oldest residential quarter, for the best eisbein in Berlin. We went to Gasthaus Krombach, a wonderfully homely eatery, who served an incredible Berliner eisbein with pea puree, sauerkraut, boiled potatoes and horseradish.
Gasthaus Krombach
Address: Meinekestraße 4, 10719 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49308818602
Website: https://www.gasthaus-krombach.de/
6. Germknödeln
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These sublimely fluffy Austrian dough dumplings are traditional in Austria and Bavaria, typically filled with plum jam and enjoyed as a sweet snack.
However, at one inventive Berlin restaurant, creative foodies have put a modern twist on this old fashioned dish.
At Häppies in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, they serve savory vegetarian dumplings, with a variety of wonderful flavor combinations such as miso-mushroom. I recommend the bärbel, which has a goat cheese, honey and walnuts filling. Simply sensational!
Häppies
Address: Dunckerstraße 2, 10437 Berlin, Germany
7. Berliner Weisse
A fruity cloudy beer with a pleasing sour punch, Berliner Weisse is relatively mild – clocking in at 3.5% – with a taste that's refreshingly tart, with a subtle fruitiness.
Its's the perfect drink for a hot summer day in Berlin, preferably to wash down one of the city's many fabulous street food dishes.
Head to the excellent brew pub Schneeeule Salon, who brew their own Berliner Weisse, and grab an outdoor table in the sun.
Schneeeule Salon
Address: Ofener Str. 1, 13349 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +493098437323
Website: https://schneeeule.berlin/de/berlin/
8. Club Mate
Mate is practically a cultural institution in Argentina, yet since the 1990s, this carbonated caffeine drink has been hugely popular in Berlin.
The story goes that, after 50 years of struggling to gain a hold on Berliners, mate became a favorite in the German Hacker scene in Berlin due to its high caffeine content. From here, it took off in the city's rave scene and then among college students.
You'll find the branded Club Mate in cafes across the city. The best way to enjoy a refreshing mate is in glorious outdoor surroundings at Café Eule in Gleisdreieck.
Café Eule in Gleisdreieck
Address: Erster Garten Weg nach links, Bülowstraße 69a, 10783 Berlin, Germany
Website: https://www.cafe-eule-berlin.de/
9. Berliner
Otherwise known as a Krapfen, a Berliner is a German jam-filled donut, lightly dusted with a powdered sugar finish.
It's one of Berlin's best desserts and one of the most traditional foods in Berlin, having been a staple sweet snack in the city for over 200 years.
If you find yourself with mid-morning hunger while sightseeing in Berlin, stop for a Berliner at any of the city's bakeries. I recommend Siebert Bakery, a classic family-run bakery and one of the oldest in the city.
Siebert Bakery
Address: Schönfließer Str. 12, 10439 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49304457576
Website: https://www.baeckerei-siebert.de/
10. Schnitzel pork
This famous fried dish is typically made from a thin slice of veal that's covered with flour, egg wash and breadcrumbs, before being deep fried until deliciously golden brown, then served with new potatoes.
Nowadays, schnitzels can come in many different forms. Aside from the popular wiener schnitzel, you'll also find schnitzel made from chicken breast, pork or even soya meat.
Head to industrial-chic hideaway Scheers Schnitzel, a punky little snack bar on the north bank of the Spree. I ordered mine with french fries and a beer and it was glorious.
Scheers
Address: Warschauer Pl. 18, 10245 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +4915788948011
Website: https://www.scheers-schnitzel.de/
Food Tours in Berlin
If reading about all the fabulous food on offer in Berlin has whet your appetite, take a walking tour with the experts and find out more about the best food in Berlin. Fork & Walk Tours takes you around all the best places to eat in Berlin, while giving you insights into the culture and the history of this wonderful city.
Must-Try Foods in Berlin FAQs
What are the most traditional foods in Berlin?
Street food favorites such as currywurst and döner kebab, as well as traditional comfort classics like eisbein.
What's the most popular food in Berlin?
Most probably currywurst. It's practically a Berlin institution and a major source of culinary pride in the German capital – there's even a currywurst museum!
What is a typical breakfast in Berlin?
When it comes to breakfast in Berlin, baked goods are king. You'll find cafes and breakfast bars all over the city serving Brot (breads) and Brötchen (rolls), served with fruits, honey, jam and all kinds of sweet treats.
For savory treats, you can enjoy thinly sliced meats and cheeses.
Which area is best for food in Berlin?
Nikolaiviertel, known as the old quarter of Berlin, is home to some excellent traditional and typical German restaurants. Meanwhile, Alexanderplatz in the center is home to some great street food destinations, while the hip districts of Neukölln, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg have some of the city's coolest eateries.
Is Berlin known for street food?
Yes! Grilled sausage, particularly currywurst is hugely popular, as is the likes of döner kebab. You'll find numerous restaurants and street vendors dedicated to street food classics.
In Conclusion
From traditional German delicacies to street food sensations, multicultural marvels to heavenly desserts, Berlin offers a whole range of wonderful dishes to delight even the most discerning foodies.
This is a city with a whole load of eclectic influences, from Turkish and Vietnamese cuisine, as well as a rich vein of culinary traditions, all of which are enhanced by the city's famously creative approach to just about every aspect of life.
Go to Berlin with an open mind and a healthy appetite. You'll be richly rewarded!
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