Ich bin ein Berliner! Nein? Hm.
Welcome back to Street Eats, the series where we discover tasty street foods from around the world. Today, we venture to Berlin, home to the Reichtstag, the Brandenburger Tor, the East Side Gallery – what remains of the Berlin Wall – and Checkpoint Charlie, the former border that once divided Eastern from Western Germany.
A city abundant in history, culture, and an unrivaled night life, Berlin is a “must-see” for any open-minded traveler. Jam packed with museums, markets, parks and a pretty nice zoo, this city is worth the stopover, and while the food in Berlin isn’t globally renowned, there is one specialty that has left quite the impression on backpackers, tourists, and locals alike… which is my vote goes to…
#1 Street snack in Berlin: Currywurst
What is it?
Currywurst is a dish that dates back to 1949 when Herta Heuwer started selling boiled sausages, which were then fried and garnished with a sauce of tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, curry powder and a few other choice ingredients. Today, the snack is popular in the downtown core of Berlin, Hamburg and the Ruhr and is usually accompanied by a side of pommes frites or bread rolls. Variations in the type of sausage used, the ingredients of the sauce, and the inclusion of paprika or onions are common from region to region. Served up on a paper plate with a two-pronged fork, it’s the perfect bite sized snack to keep you going throughout the day.
Where can you find it?
You can find Currywurst within 100 yards of any train station and on just about every corner that constitutes a tourist hot-spot throughout the city. Trust me, you don’t Currywurst, it finds you.
Want to read more about street snacks from around the world? Check out:
Street Eats, Thailand: Mango Sticky Rice or Dried Crickets?
Street Eats, Cambodia: Mangosteen or Rat-on-a-stick?
Street Eats, Malaysia: Bullfrog or Durian Fruit?
Street Eats, Toronto, Canada: Simply Street Meat
Street Eats, Ottawa, Canada: Beaver Tail or Poutine?
Street Eats, Tanzania: Chipsi Mayai
Oh Arden, You brought back so many great memories! We lived in Berlin a few years ago and Currywurst was our go-to meal for fun. But I never knew the history behind it! Thanks for the enlightenment. All the best, Terri
You’re very welcome Terri, so glad you liked the post! My husband and I were looking to move at one point to Berlin as well, we love the city – it didn’t work out… yet, but it’s definitely on the radar in the not-so-distant future! What an incredible city!
Looks so good! I have been in Germany 3 times now, but never had the chance to go to Berlin!
Oh, you have to go! It’s really an amazing city! My favourite after Munich 🙂 Especially if you’re a lover of history, it’s so worth the trip!
Currywurst was invented by Herta Heuwer in Berlin in 1949 as an affordable but filling meal for the people of Berlin at a time when food was in short supply.
When you order your Currywurst you can ask for it skin on “Currywurst mit Darm” or without skin “Currywurst ohne Darm”. Sausage casings were in short supply in the Soviet-controlled side of the city. If you grew up in East Berlin, you like sausage without skin; if you grew up in West Berlin, you probably prefer sausage with skin.
I’m not from Berlin, I prefer Currywurst without skin and in my opinion the best place to get it is from Fritz & Co (a Currywurst stall) on Wittenberg Platz in the Schöneberg area of Berlin.