BERLIN EATS
When choosing a destination there are few things that are negotiable. Food is one of those things where if it’s bad it can ruin a trip. Here is a list of places I ate while in Berlin. Some good, some so so, some great.
AMRIT €-€€
Multiple Locations
Website
As a toronto native I am no stranger to Indian cuisine. Is it my favourite, not really, but when it is good, it’s really good, and Amrit was fantastic. When I go to Indian restaurants I find that the portions are too big, or there’s too much rice and not enough stew, or worse too spicy for my weak tummy. At Amrit the table gets salad, a plate of naan and a bowl of fragrant rice, then everyone orders their stew. The stew comes in a small bowl and you decide your stew to rice ratio. Genius! I ordered the Chicken Tikka Marsala, and it was divine, flavourful with spice but not spicy, and not that fire red taste I usually get back home. My main and a small bottle of mineral water came to a total of 12€. A very good price for a tasty and filling meal.
BARLYS €-€€
Mariendorfer Damm 447, 12107 Berlin
Everywhere in Berlin there are Döner shops. They are as prolific as a Starbucks in Toronto or Manhattan. But not all döner shops are the same. I’ve tried a few and most were too greasy or lacked flavour and were over priced. Barlys, though completely off the beaten path and an hour (on Ubahn) outside of the city center, is the exception. A döner in bread will set you back 6€, but it will be filled to the max with meat, veg, cheese and the sauce of your choosing. It’s huge, you really have to negotiate your first bite. They also have a wrap version of the doner, baklava, drinks and beer. Take it to go or eat it in house, it will keep you filed for the day.
CURRY WOLF €-
€€
Brandenburg Gate
Website
Located at the Brandenburg Gate, Curry Wolf is 1000% a tourist trap. It’s completely overpriced but honestly it’s the best currywurst I had in the city. The sausage was flavourful, the fries were also seasoned with a spice mix (similar to Webber fries) and the ketchup-curry sauce wasn’t too sweet. The fries we great too. You can also get a beer with your snack. My Currywurst mit Pommes and water bottle was 13€.
GAFFEL HAUS BERLIN €€
Dorotheenstraße 65
10117 Berlin
Website
Berlin has pubs and Gaffel Haus is one of them. Looking for traditional German food and love pork, this place is for you. From fried pork knuckle to schnitzel to livers and onions and beyond, they got it and a beer to wash it down. I had the tarteflambée as it had the least amount of pork on it. Was it the best I had ever had, no, but the restaurant is very accommodating to large parties. If you’re a lot of people and just wanna drink and be merry and have a bit of food then I say go and have a great time. Otherwise skip it. My meal with a water bottle was 17€.
GOLDIE’S €-€€
Oranienstraße 6, 10997 Berlin
Website
Their slogan is “the best bad food in Berlin” a they live up to it. Goldie’s has two locations: one dedicated to their smash burger and the one I’m be raving about, their chip house. With eight curated experiences and options to customize, Goldie’s is the place to be for any fried potato connoisseur. Feeling basic get their Garlic Parmesan fries. Want something more adventurous try their Kimchi Fusion with miso mayo and furikake mix. Feeling fancy, indulge with The Truffle. A bed of golden fries with truffle mayo, fresh black truffles and Parmesan. Don’t worry vegans they have plenty of substitutions for you too. I had the Garlic Parmesan and a drink for 10€.
HB MÜNCHEN €€
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 30, 10178 Berlin
Website
Looking to have a party with 500 of your closest stranger? Yes, the HB München is where you gotta be. The food is the traditional fried fare and a tad overpriced, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. The place is just one massive beerhall with only picnic tables and benches, everyone squished together giving more to the experience. Arrive alone, leave with a whole new table of friends. There’s even a stage where the house band, a trio of senior men in lederhosen playing all the greats. When Sweet Caroline comes on, brace yourself to experience a strangely beautiful chorus of drunken people singing in unison. By mid evening, depending on how much beer you’ve consumed you can join the impromptu conga line or the dance circle on the dane floor. A meal and a drink will set you back about 20€.
MANIFESTO MARKET €€-€€€
Alte Potsdamer Str. 7, 10785 Berlin
Website
Located in Potsdamer Platz, this “market” is very similar to Movenpick. It has 22 different restaurants and I firmly believe there is something for everyone. From burgers to poke to Argentinian street food to typical greek dishes. There is surely something that will peak your interest. I loved Apló Greek Kitchen, their price may seem high but when you see what you get it is well worth it. For 16€ you can get the Gyro plate which is a mountain of gyro, a greek salad, fresh pita, a huge dollop of tzatziki and a side of season fries with feta. Honestly it’s too much food. For the same price you can change the gyro for souvlaki. Highly recommend!
MARKTHALLE 9 €-€€
Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, 10997 Berlin
Website
In its original form Markthalle 9 is your run of the mill covered food market. But on Thursday evenings the market hosts the Street Food Market, where a whole bunch of street food vendors pile in and you can enjoy a smorgasbord of delights from all corners of the world. Chinese crepes, arepas, tacos, mochi ice cream, manti, bao, dim sum… you name it it’s probably here. Each vendor has their price point, but you can eat very well with 10-15€.
RAUSCH €€-€€€
Charlottenstraße 60, 10117 Berlin
Website
Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Three storeys of CHOCOLATE! At street level is the store, where you’ll find 100% chocolate sculptures of Berlin sights like the TV tower and Brandenburg Gate, and a massive circular counter of truffles and other chocolate confections. I thought Godiva and Laura Secord had every truffle, but Rausch puts them to shame. If you can dream it, they probably have it. The second floor is their chocolate factory where you can custom make your own chocolate bar. The third floor is a sophisticated dim lighted cafe with cocktail tables and chairs where you can indulge in their cakes and chocolate beverages. They also have some gluten and dairy free options. Yes it’s a little pricey but 100% worth it!
UMAMI €€
Knaackstraße 16-18, 10405 Berlin
Website
Vietnamese cuisine has long evaded me, so experiencing Umami was a welcome surprise. Located in Prenzlauer Berg, the restaurant has a wonderful patio perfect for good weather. The inside decorated with Vietnamese art and style. With a varied menu there is sure to be something for even the pickiest of eaters. I enjoyed the prawn dumplings and the beef spring roll. Cooked to perfection and incredibly flavourful. My two appetizers and a drink came to under 20€.
2D ALWAYS TOGETHER €-€€
Große Hamburger Str. 24, 10115
Website
Before finding this little gem, I had never heard of Bingsu. After doing a bit of research I understood it as Korean ice cream, but it is so much more than that. Bingsu is shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk. So imagine a snow cone and ice cream having a baby. At first glance it looks like any western sundae, but as you dig in and have your first bite you realize it is much more complex. For something that has sweetened condensed milk in it, it is far more refreshing than overly sweet. We got the Oreo bingsu which had a layer a shaved ice, followed by chocolate syrup and brownie bites and Oreo crumbs, another layer of shaved ice, then a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream and an Oreo cookie to top it all off. One bingsu will set you back about 6€, but if you are looking for a new sweet treat I highly recommend.