What to eat in Berlin: the 12 must-try dishes

Have you ever wondered what a Berliner craves at the dinner table? You'll soon find out. Learn about what to do in Berlin and what to eat with this guide to local cuisine and famous foods. From humble currywurst stalls to the city's favorite, the döner kebab, get to know Berlin's history by tasting its most popular food.

The best food in Berlin will depend on when you visit. If you're in Berlin in summer, it's all about street food and picnics with classic bagels or a Vietnamese salad. In winter, mouth-watering and soul-warming dishes of kartoffelpuffer are combined with a mug of feuerzangentasse, a hot punch with red wine.

Watch now: Berlin's must-try food and drink

1. Chow down on classic German currywurst

What food is Berlin known for best? Sausage, particularly a version known as Currywurst. The Berlin staple of curried sausage was born in 1949 when a maverick server added curry powder and Worcestershire sauce to a bratwurst (sausage). The result turned into a regional sensation that's often served with pommes (fries).

How to eat the best currywurst in Berlin?

Put your currywurst into context with a guided tour through Kreuzberg's food and art scene. Learn about how to eat your currywurst the classic way, sliced and absolutely swimming in sauce.

2. Dine on Germany's answer to the pizza, flammkuchen

Originating in Germany's southwest and France's Alsace region, flammkuchen (flame cake) is reminiscent of a pizza. Its dough base is rolled out and sprinkled with cheese, onions, and lardons before being cooked in a wood-fired oven.

How to eat the best flammkuchen in Berlin?

Get an insider's perspective of food in the city with a tour of Berlin's hidden gems. A food tour allows you to access sumptuous flammkuchen and other treats that you simply must eat while here, accompanied by German wine and beer.

3. Enjoy Berlin's spin on meatballs, königsberger klopse

Traditionally made from veal meat and served in a creamy white sauce with capers, königsberger klopse is an East Prussian favorite. Nowadays, the meatballs can be made from cheaper beef and pork and served with potatoes and beetroot salad.

How to eat the best königsberger klopse in Berlin?

Königsberger klopse is a mainstay food to eat in German brasseries and pubs. For an authentic experience, try out Restaurant Marjellchen in Charlottenburg, a cozy space focusing on traditional East Prussian recipes.

4. Grab a schnitzel and beer

Germany's most popular dish worldwide is required to be eaten on a trip to Berlin. Crispy breadcrumb-coated veal is fried to perfection for the perfect food to eat with a cool beer.

How to eat the best schnitzel in Berlin?

Schnitzel is always best accompanied by a refreshing German lager and crispy potatoes. Top spots include chains like Schnitzelei or the casual Scheers Schnitzel in Friedrichshain. For those who prefer to go meat-free, plant-based options are also available at joints like Försters.

5. Get Turkish with a döner kebab

Germany's thriving Turkish population has melded this iconic dish into a Berlin classic. It's ubiquitous across Berlin and a strong favorite with revelers and tourists alike.

How to eat the best döner kebab in Berlin?

Berlin has its own kebab festival, Kebabistan, in summer. If you're not lucky enough to visit during these festivities, head to Izmir Köfte in Kreuzberg for one of the oldest kebab joints in Berlin.

6. Nibble on a moreish kartoffelpuffer

Made from grated potato that's fried like a pancake, this crispy, addictive treat is beloved across Berlin and is among the top foods to try. They're particularly popular during the colder months when they'll pop up on street corner vendors and at seasonal Yule markets. This private Berlin Christmas market tour takes you to the right places for mulled wine and seasonal snacks.

How to eat the best kartoffelpuffer in Berlin?

Enjoy year-round kartoffelpuffer at vendors like Puffer-Imbiss, a popular diner close to Volkspark Hasenheide. You can also check out Kartoffelkeller for sweet potato variations alongside schnitzel and fine German beer.

7. Start your day with a Berlin breakfast

From simple muesli to a hearty bauernfrühstück (farmer's breakfast), breakfast sets you up for an epic day of sightseeing in Berlin. Berliners often start the day with fresh bread, butter, and jam, with more extravagant options also available.

How to eat the best German breakfast in Berlin?

Enjoy a traditional experience at the Wintergarten Café, where you can pick up a hearty garden breakfast of eggs, salami, and bread. Go veggie with mountain cheese, tomatoes, and fig chutney, or keep it simple with muesli and honey.

8. Explore the world of German beer

German beer is beloved, from Berliner weiße, which originates in Berlin to the world-renowned favorite Helles lager. Get to know these traditional styles alongside more modern, American-influenced concoctions on a brew hunt.

How to drink the best German beer in Berlin?

Book a Berlin craft beer tour to visit the capital's blossoming micro-brewery scene. You'll sample 7 different beers with food pairings in the historic Friedrichshain district.

9. Sweeten things up with a Berliner pfannkuchen

Berliner pfannkuchen are a local institution. This classic jelly donut was invented in the 16th century and has gone on to take over the donut-eating world.

How to eat the best pfannkuchen in Berlin?

Work yourself up for this sweet treat with a walking tour of Berlin. Berliner pfannkuchen are available at most donut and crêpe stalls across the city.

10. Grab a comforting bowl of spätzle, German noodles

This Swabian specialty akin to egg noodles is often layered with cheese to become käsespätzle and topped with herbs. Spätzle is naturally vegetarian and an excellent comfort food that's loved in Germany, much like mac n' cheese is in the USA.

How to eat the best spätzle in Berlin?

While it owes its origins to Stuttgart rather than Berlin, Germany's capital is still a top spot to grab a bowl of spätzle. Die Feinbäckerei serves up reliable käsespätzle alongside other South German classics.

11. Toast your trip with a glass of German wine

German wine is a thing of beauty, from sweet or dry Riesling to rich and red Dornfelder. Learn the basics of German wine in the capital from trendy wine bars and old-school wineries.

How to drink the best German wine in Berlin?

Treat yourself to a wine tasting tour of Berlin with a private sommelier. You'll be taken through the bars of the Old Town to sample wines paired with German appetizers and visit a local winery.

12. Enjoy a serving of traditional Berlin buletten

Berliners have been enjoying buletten long before currywurst. This 19th-century Prussian food remains a mainstay of street stalls as a moreish pick-me-up. Take minced meat, onions, garlic, parsley, and caraway, shape them into patties, and fry them in oil until browned.

How to eat the best buletten in Berlin?

Look for street stalls selling buletten for an authentic Berliner experience. Otherwise, check out Boulette und Bohne for a serving with all the trimmings close to the East Side Gallery.

FAQs

What are the must-try traditional dishes in Berlin?

Most visitors keep things classic with tender and crispy schnitzel or market favorites like pretzels. You also can't go wrong with currywurst from a classic stall like Curry 36.

What are the best food tours in Berlin?

The best food tours stick to a district like Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg. Food tours will allow you to taste dishes and leave you with some knowledge of the area, its culture, and its culinary history.

What are the top local food markets in Berlin to visit?

Berlin's markets are diverse and cover street food stalls and fresh market produce. Markthalle Neun's Street Food Thursdays (every Thursday) is home to the city's most venerated vendors. Then, there's the perennial favorite, Mauerpark, which combines street food with flea market shopping. For something unique, head to Thai Park in Preußenpark, an open-air weekend market just for Thai food.

What is the best time of year to visit Berlin for food lovers?

Berlin is a foodie haven all year round. If your goal is to chow down in the sun, then summer offers the best weather and market variety. However, winter is also a food lover's dream with Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets) packed with kartoffelpuffer, bratwurst, and glühwein. Your choice depends on whether you want to try hearty winter foods or summer street snacks washed down with a cool glass of beer.

How much should I budget for food in Berlin?

Berlin is a versatile city with cheap eats like currywurst for just €3 and world-renowned haute cuisine pushing €150 per head. An average sit-down meal at a mid-scale restaurant should cost about €20-€30 per head, with a three-course meal at €50.