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David Rickerson-Seidel
While it is true that German cuisine is not exactly the most famous in the world, it does have several culinary gems that manage to captivate even the most demanding palate.
We have prepared for you a selection of those star dishes that you should try, at least once, if you are passing through Berlin.
Below, we will detail the best of Berlin traditional food and we will also mention some recommendations of the best places where you can eat it, so you can be sure not only to try these dishes, but also to do it in the hands of authentic professionals of German gastronomy.
Have you ever heard of currywurst sausage? If you are a fan of international cuisine, you probably have tried this type of sausage that is quite typical at street food stalls in Berlin and other places in Germany.
They are made of pork and are cut into slices. They are served with a mixture of curry and tomato sauces, which gives them a very appetizing flavor. Being a typical food, it is quite easy to find it in almost any restaurant. However, the recipe may also vary because this specific food is present in so many different places at the same time.
For example, in some places, ingredients such as bell peppers or onions are added. Likewise, the accompaniments vary, the most common are French fries and bread. In any case, you can be sure that, despite the variations, the characteristic flavor that has made them famous always remains.
If you are not interested in eating at a street food stand and are looking for a more select option, we recommend you go to the restaurant Zur Gerichtslaube, famous for preparing a high-quality Currywurst.
The Königsberger Klopse, also known as Soßklopse, is another delicacy of German gastronomy that you won't want to miss during your visit to Berlin. This German specialty is a combination of meatballs with capers and a juicy white cream.
Although it is typical of Germany, its origin goes back specifically to East Prussia. The meat used to prepare the meatballs varies, but it is most commonly beef, pork or veal. Due to its great popularity, it is considered a classic dish.
Zur Gerichtslaube, the restaurant we mentioned above, is also a good option to try this dish, as it is focused on traditional Berlin food.
We continue answering the question of what to eat in Berlin. The third dish on the list is a typical one that is shared with Austria, where it is also considered a traditional dish. It is fried and breaded veal milanese. In fact, the translation of Wiener Schnitzel is "Viennese Milanese".
In contrast to other dishes, where more freedom in preparation is offered, here it is strictly necessary that the Milanese be made with veal. If this principle is ignored, the resulting dish cannot be considered an authentic Wiener Schnitzel.
It is worth mentioning that the Milanese is breaded using breadcrumbs. In addition, it should be fried to the exact point where it reaches a crispy texture and a golden exterior. As accompaniments, the most common is to use French fries, potato salad or cucumber salad and a slice of lemon.
To eat it, we recommend that you visit any restaurant in Berlin specialized in typical food, since it is a more elaborate dish, and you will not be able to get it in street food stalls.
Eisbein is a real delicacy, which brings together the best of German cuisine in a single dish. It is a lightly cooked pork leg seasoned with sauce. Its peculiar name is also a reflection of German culture, as it is associated with the practice of using the pork leg bone in ice skating.
In fact, beyond Berlin, in southern Germany it is known as Schweinshaxe, where it tends to be roasted rather than cooked. However, focusing on the Berlin version, which is the one that competes on this occasion, it is often sold smoked and almost always already salted.
It is also considered a quite versatile dish since it can be used in both hearty and simple dishes. Likewise, the preparation can vary greatly from one region to another. In Berlin you will most commonly find it accompanied by mashed peas, but in other areas such as Franconia, it is commonly served with sauerkraut or mashed potatoes.
In Austria the preparation is a bit more peculiar, as it is served with mustard and horseradish, which causes an interesting variation in its flavor. In any case, we are sure that the German capital's version will be to your liking, as it brings together the best of the characteristic flavors of Berlin traditional food. In fact, it is worth mentioning that it also stands out as one of the most requested dishes by tourists in all typical food restaurants.
When deciding what to eat in Berlin, the doner kebab is a must-try. This peculiar dish, although not originally German, is considered a typical food in the city. Its roots trace back to Turkey, which is why it is prepared with pita bread, sauces, and salad. It also incorporates meat, which can be beef, chicken, lamb or a mixture of these, all thinly sliced and served with fresh vegetables such as onion, tomato and lettuce. For sauces, tahini or yogurt is usually used.
As a real delicacy, it is known all over the world. However, in Berlin it is especially appreciated. This is because in this city it is not prepared in the same way as in the rest of the world, but with a variant that gives it a distinctive flavor that will surely please you.
In this case, the sauces vary and the amount of vegetables and salad is notably higher, making it a more complete dish. You will be able to taste it in almost any street food stall in the city, so finding it will not be difficult.
However, if you want to go to a more select place, we recommend Döner Kebab Restaurant TERAS Berlin, a restaurant whose specialty is the Döner Kebab, so you can be sure that it will be prepared in the best possible way.
Kartoffelpuffer, also known as Reibekuchen, is a simple, but quite delicious dish. It is basically pancakes accompanied by French fries.
They are characterized by being soft on the inside, but crunchy on the outside. In addition, it is also a versatile dish, since they can be savory or sweet, so they adapt to all tastes. It all depends on the accompaniments and ingredients chosen for their preparation.
Regarding where you can find Kartoffelpuffer, the good news is that due to its popularity you can find it almost anywhere, such as restaurants, street food stalls, festivals and even at the Christmas markets that take place in Berlin.
This is one of the dishes that you will most like to repeat, as it comes in handy as a side dish, appetizer or main course. In other words, it works to satisfy your hunger in the best possible way for any occasion.
Another great classic of German cuisine is the Senfeier. It is a combination of hard-boiled eggs with a creamy mustard sauce that bathes them, giving them their characteristic flavor.
Since it is very easy to prepare, it is quite popular as a homemade dish among Germans. However, this does not mean that there are no restaurants where they prepare it, since, due to its good taste, it is highly valued as a meal. In your position as a tourist, the best thing to do is to try it to understand why Germans love it so much.
So, head for any German restaurant that offers traditional cuisine. Our personal recommendation is the Prater Gaststätte, a restaurant famous in Berlin for its homemade food with quite pronounced flavors, just what you need to appreciate this classic dish in the best possible way.
It's time to talk about the typical sweet dishes. The Berliner Pfannkuchen, sometimes simply called Berliner and sometimes called Krapfer, is a fried sweet yeast dumpling containing jam filling, so as you can imagine, it is quite sweet.
To prepare it, the dumplings are fried in oil and then sprinkled with sugar or, failing that, covered with icing. The taste of these dumplings is so good that they are quite popular throughout Germany and not only in Berlin. This can be seen especially during the carnival season, when they are most frequently consumed, to the point that they are plentiful in the different street stalls.
As a peculiar detail, the Berliner recipe dates back to the 16th century, specifically in northern Germany. Due to their great taste, they quickly became popular and soon spread throughout Germany.
To sweeten your life with some good Berliner, you just have to go to any bakery, pastry shop or cafe in Berlin. In case you travel to this city at Christmas, it will be much easier to find them, as they are usually sold in the markets that take place in Berlin at this time.
Bretzels are often the first answer for many people when they ask themselves what to eat in Berlin. This should come as no surprise to anyone, as these fluffy rolls are popular all over the place. In fact, they are probably the typical Berlin food that has transcended its borders the most.
Traditionally, the bread is prepared with water and baking soda. This peculiar way of preparing the dough is responsible for its characteristic flavor and texture. Its crunchy exterior and salty flavor represent a real delicacy.
It is also one of the many versatile foods of German gastronomy. The most typical version is the bretzel sprinkled with coarse salt, but there are also sweet versions with icing or sugar coating. There are even some more bizarre versions, such as those filled with nuts, chocolate and even cheese.
That is, if you venture to any street stall or bakery in Berlin, you will easily find a variety of different versions of bretzels to satisfy your hunger.
The Berliner Weisse is a sour and cloudy beer with a content of 5% alcohol by volume. It is perhaps the city's most representative drink.
It is a beer quite full of history, since its creation dates back to the XVI century. It is brewed with wheat and consists of a regional variant containing malted barley as an aggregate.
With respect to fermentation, this is achieved by mixing yeast with lactic bacteria. Hence it has a characteristic lactic acid flavor, being this what most distinguishes it from other beers. This flavor is highly valued by the people of Berlin, to the point that there are more than fifty breweries dedicated to its production.
Commonly, it is served with a bowl-shaped glass, accompanied by automated peach or raspberry syrups. Some venues vary this and use artificial St. John's wort flavoring.
In conclusion, Berlin has a lot of delicacies waiting for you, so you will never again have to wonder what to eat in Berlin. If one caught your attention, we invite you to investigate more about it. That will improve your knowledge the next time you go to taste the food of this city.
Guest Relations Manager at NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse
My name is David Rickerson-Seidel and I have been part of the NH Hotel Group since September 2015 when the first NH Collection Hotel opened in Germany. After 16 years of hotel experience, I was offered a great chance to meet people from all over the world and each time I was able to learn from them – this is one of the reason why I love my position as a Guest Relation Manager. My daily task is to fulfil our guest’s needs before they actually asking for it. With my passion for my job it is always a great pleasure to see our guests happy and smiling before they leave the hotel and I know that we have done the job right. I always say that the only thing that a guest can’t buy and book in advance is our smiling receptionist with a warm welcoming, the friendly breakfast host who would like to know if you slept well, and our elusive room maid, who is preparing the room so that it feels like home – our employees make the difference – this is why you are not checking into your room at a terminal. Whatever you need – we are always there for you.
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