Best Restaurants in Germany 2026

Currywurst

Berlin's most iconic street food: grilled pork sausage sliced and doused in spiced ketchup with curry powder. Invented in Berlin in 1949 by Herta Heuwer. Order at Curry 36 or Currywurst Museum for authenticity.

Where to try: Curry 36 (Mehringdamm 36, Berlin), Konnopke's Imbiss (Berlin)

Price: $3-5

Weißwurst with sweet mustard and pretzel

Munich's beloved white veal and pork sausage seasoned with parsley and lemon, traditionally eaten before noon with sweet Bavarian mustard and a Weißbier. The art is in sucking the meat from the skin (Zuzeln).

Where to try: Weißes Bräuhaus Munich, Hofbräuhaus Munich, any Munich Bäckerei before noon

Price: $8-12

Sauerbraten

Germany's unofficial national dish: beef marinated for 3-5 days in wine vinegar, then braised to tender perfection and served with gingersnap gravy, potato dumplings (Klöße), and red cabbage. Each region has variations.

Where to try: Zur Letzten Instanz Berlin, any traditional German restaurant

Price: $18-25

Schnitzel (Wiener Art)

Breaded and pan-fried veal or pork cutlet served with lemon and potato salad or fries. Technically Austrian but ubiquitous in Germany. Quality varies enormously - look for hand-pounded fresh versions.

Where to try: Most traditional German restaurants; Augustiner Bräustuben Munich

Price: $15-22

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake)

Germany's most famous dessert: layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream, and morello cherries soaked in Kirschwasser cherry schnapps. The original comes from the Black Forest and bears little resemblance to international versions.

Where to try: Café Schäfer Triberg (supposedly the original recipe), any German Konditorei

Price: $5-8/slice

Currywurst

Sliced pork sausage with spiced ketchup and curry powder served in a cardboard tray - Berlin's gift to the world. Stands open until the early hours.

Find it at: Curry 36 (Mehringdamm 36), Konnopke's (Schönhauser Allee, Berlin), across Germany

Döner Kebab

Turkish-German fusion beloved across Germany - rotisserie meat with salad and sauces in flatbread. Berlin's version is considered superior worldwide. Mustafa's Gemüsekebap adds grilled vegetables.

Find it at: Mustafa's Gemüsekebap (Mehringdamm 32, Berlin), Turkish neighborhoods in all major cities

Nuremberg Bratwurst (3 im Weggla)

Three tiny finger-length grilled pork sausages in a Brötchen roll with mustard - Nuremberg's beloved street snack sold at stands across the old town and Christmas markets.

Find it at: Bratwursthäusle am Dom (Nuremberg), Christmas markets across Germany

Fischbrötchen

Open-faced fish sandwich with pickled herring, smoked eel, or North Sea shrimp on dark rye bread - Hamburg's classic harbor snack sold at fish market stalls.

Find it at: Hamburg Fischmarkt Sunday morning, Brücke 10 (Hamburg waterfront)

Viktualienmarkt Munich

Munich's beloved 200-year-old daily open-air market with 100+ stalls selling Bavarian specialties, regional cheeses, Weißwurst, fresh produce, and a central beer garden under maypole. The heart of Munich food culture.

Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-8PM

Markthalle IX Berlin

Kreuzberg's stunning Victorian covered market hall from 1891 hosting artisan food producers, specialty coffee, organic vegetables, and the famous Thursday Street Food Thursday event attracting thousands.

Hours: Tue-Fri 12PM-6PM, Sat 10AM-6PM; Street Food Thu 5PM-10PM

Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt

Frankfurt's beloved indoor covered market with 60 stalls selling regional cheeses, freshwater fish, Handkäse sour milk cheese, Green Sauce herbs, and Frankfurt sausages. Essential food experience in financial capital.

Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM, Sat 8AM-4PM