12 Things Everyone Must Eat In Berlin

Berlin’s dining scene has evolved over the years, and today, it is a delicious melting pot of diverse food cultures from different ethnic communities that have made the city home over the decades, such as Turkish, Arabic, Vietnamese and Italian. From food halls and hipster pop-ups to gourmet street food and Michelin-starred restaurants, eating here can be an exciting experience. I paid for a food tour and got a great foodie Claudia who is a Berliner to bring me around to hunt for the best food joints in town. Be prepared to expand your waistline when you travel to Berlin.

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The Barn
Address: Auguststraße 58, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 1512 4105136

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Since the opening in June 2010, The Barn has gathered a growing coffee community in Berlin. The coffee menu is very reduced and put together for adults who would like to slow down and enjoy their cup of coffee in a quiet environment. I was extremely impressed with the baristas who made some great recommendations. They were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and unpretentious. Total professionals who genuinely love coffee and gave the whole experience a really great vibe. Freshness is important when serving a perfect cup. They carefully observe the maturity profiles of their coffee beans. Brew coffee beans are being served as close as possible to their roast date. They also offers a variety of cakes, scones and sandwiches that are all handmade and fresh. Their famous carrot cake should not be missed.

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Curry Mitte
Address: Torstraße 122, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 1520 1069559

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Curry Mitte is said to serve one of the best Currywurst in Berlin. You won’t see any tourists with long queues as I did in others. Honestly, I am really not a big fan of sausages, but decided to give it a go anyway. We had the “special” order which consists of 1 curry wurst with a portion of fries and a drink for €4.50 only. The items were cooked ala minute so I was served a piping hot fries and sausages. I had the standard sauce, which was tasty and had enough curry to make it interesting without spoiling the flavour, but they did offer me an additional saucer of his chilli sauce if you wish to go spicier. Thick fries and mayo rocks man! And we washed it all down with a nice bottle of local beer.

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Bun Bao
Address: Kollwitzstrasse 84, Berlin Germany
Tel: +49 30 23495641

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Started from Street Food Thursday, Bun Bao has became so popular that they opened a shop at Kolluuitzstrasse in May. 34-year-old owner Anh Vu came from Saigon and studied healthcare. But he was really keen in F&B and has created an interesting menu of asian burgers with Vietnamese influence. We tried Bangkok Soi 2 (€8.50), a quality beef patty marinated with lemongrass, cilantro and thai basil, served with crunchy Japanese radish, tomatoes, sesame, cucumber, baby spinach and their homemade chili mayonnaise. They make their own buns which is really soft and pillowy! A good place to check out if you are nearby!

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W Der Imbiss
Address: Kastanienallee 49, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 44352206

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I first noticed the logo of this street food institution in #Berlin’s Kastanienallee – McDonald’s Upside Down. Owner of W Der Imbiss is originally from Canada who was intrigued by Indian cuisine during his trip to India. When he came back to Berlin, he opened this eatery which combine elements from Indian, Mexican, Californian and Italian cuisines. We had the naan pizzas which are baked in a truly authentic Tandoori oven and topped with different toppings. The Green Goddess (€8 naan pizza came with fresh toppings like avocado, chipotle drizzle, rucola, sun-dried tomato. Their healthy drink is very tasty. Try the Apple Grass (€4) featuring fresh wheat grass with apples. Love it!

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Cafe Anna Blume
Address: Kollwitzstraße 83, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 44048641

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Took a break at Cafe Anna Blume with a good high tea selection. It is named after a poem by Kurt Schwitters, and has been offering culinary and floral specialties since 2005. The wonderfully fragrant coffee and tea specialities and the homemade gateaux and cakes have transformed the Café to one of the most popular locations in the Prenzlauer Berg.

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Chutnify
Address: Sredzkistraße 43, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 44010795

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I was told that Berlin is lacking in good Indian food until Chutnify opened three years ago. Owner Aparna Aurora used to stay in Singapore before moving to Berlin. Having been in design business for many years, Aparna turns this South Indian eatery of hers into something bright and fun! We had a thali lunch platter (€7.90), which lets you sample three dishes, two chutneys, rice and a salad in a metal tray. The curry chicken was towards the sweet side to cater to the diners here but the lentil dal and potato-okra combo was hearty. Knowing that I came from Asia, Aparna specially offered me their spicy chilli sauce to pair with my meal!

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Daluma
Address: Weinbergsweg 3, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 20950255

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I am learning to appreciate vegan after coming to Berlin. In recent years, sustainable green market is booming and everyone is going for quick and healthy food options here. Daluma is a good example. The “vegan and raw food” only café serves cold pressed juices, green smoothies, healthy meals that’s vegan, organic, superfood-filled and even raw, if you like. Their menu lets you choose combinations of a base like lentils, quinoa, rice, pasta or raw vegetables with a topping like hemp, tomato, almond-lime or herbs. I had a plate tasty quinoa with earthy mushrooms and almonds, balanced with tangy lime. It may be a turn-off to some of you but trust me, it’s really tasty! I have started to incorporate a vegan meal thereafter, and now my body feels cleaner.

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Habba Habba
Address: Kastanienallee 15, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 36745726

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Hummus makes a wonderful snack and its simplicity means the popularity of this dish extends far beyond its home of the Middle East, and is now enjoyed across the world. I went lighter by just ordering the hummus (€4) – a chickpea-based dip to go with flatbread. The hummus here is really smooth and tasty. Habba Habba also serves one of the best Halloumi wraps in town, one bite and you are hooked. Coincidentally, I met a Singaporean here!

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Zur Haxe
Address: Erich-Weinert-Straße 128, 10409 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 4216312

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I met a friend who studied in Germany and we travelled all the way to Northern Prenzlauer Berg to have German pork knuckles at Zur Haxe. It’s a beautiful German Gaststube out of the middle of nowhere and the place is stuffed with teddybears, dolls, pictures and many decorative items. I felt like I entered into a Disneyland house because the ladies always dress up in Dirndls and the gents in Lederhosen. It’s a pork heaven here, we were served by Bavarian ladies serving beers. I had a massive plate of boiled cured knuckle of pork with sauerkraut, pea puree and parsley potato. Boiled knuckle seemed to be a favourite among many Berliners. I kinda regret later when I saw the crispy version being served to the table next to me. The skin was so thick and crispy. It hides the juicy and tender meat that just falls of the bone the moment you start touching it. Ok lah, mine is great as well, just a milder version of it. We also ordered the veal liver with apples and massive amount of onions. It was quite well done and made me miss home. Great place to go for pork knuckles!

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Hasir Turkish Restaurant
Address: Adalbertstrasse 10, Berlin
Tel: +49 30 61659222

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Mehmed Augün is the founder of this Berlin institution. And it is said that he was the one to invent the Berlin-style doner kebab. The Hasir family owns half of Berlin’s Turkish restaurants and it is always packed with patrons lusting after grilled meats, velvety hummus, lentil soup and other tasty morsels. I visited the outlet in Adalbertstrasse which is like a Turkish town. The menu is quite extensive and can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with Turkish dishes. Well, I picked the obvious – Doner Kebap (€13) which is served with rice and mixed salad. It is simply delicious, plus the place opens 24 hours.

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Monsieur Vuong
Address: Alte Schönhauser Str. 46, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 99296924

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Monsieur Vuong is said to be one of the most hyped restaurant locations in Berlin. No reservations allowed and it’s always packed no matter what time you visit. Their small menu offers the classic Vietnamese food but the excitement is their daily specials which you will find on the blackboards. Their Pho Bo (€8.50) comes with thin strips of beef, fresh Vietnamese herbs in flavour-packed soups, delicately seasoned with cinnamon, anise and coriander. They can also do vegetarian version for all the dishes by replacing meat with tofu. Plus, it’s not expensive at all, you can have a filling meal under 8 euros! Located in Mitte and open from midday each day, this is the perfect place to come for a scrumptious lunch with a lively atmosphere. The service is friendly and helpful, food comes quite quickly.

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Kauf Dich Glücklich
Address: Oderberger Str. 44, 10435 Berlin Germany
Tel: +49 30 46905572

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It’s always good to end the meal with a dessert. We popped by Kauf Dich Glücklich to satisfy our sweet tooth. You will find not only original fashion and great accessories but also homemade ice cream, pancakes and waffles. Nothing much to shout about their ice cream honestly, it’s creamy and comes with unique flavour. But the star is definitely the waffles. The thin version is super fragrant and slightly chewy.

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Hope I have made you hungry enough. Do let me know what you feel about these stalls when you have tried them! 🙂