Your Berlin food recommendations for a college kid?

August 29, 2024 9:50 PM

This previous question’s vegetarian Berlin recommendations are excellent. What are additional places good for a college-age long term visitor and their friends without dietary restrictions? Late night döner, wurst, or really anything else appropriate for a younger crowd.
posted by migurski to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

Two warnings: 1. NEVER under ANY circumstances eat currywurst sober and 2. there are exceptions (Maria Bonita! Taquería El Oso!) but sushi and Mexican/Tex-Mex are usually of lower quality than the US.

Try both gemüse döner like Rüyam (just as good as Mustafa's without the hour+ line) and a traditional meat-forward döner like at İmren. After, partake of the free çay but don't forget to water it down.

It is mandatory to explore Sonnenallee for Arab street food, including hot-pressed sandwiches like at Al Faisal and plated dishes in the lovely chaos of Azzam. When it comes to falafel, strongly prefer Syrian/Lebanese to Turkish — the former makes it fresh to order. Turkish breakfast is a nice slow event to arrange for a medium-size group.

The sabich at Goldadelux is worth it. My late contribution to that veggie thread is Saravanaa Bhavan.

A little dose of French food and/or café culture is nice at either La Maison (hip, crowded), Pas Normal (excellent, under-the-radar hole in the wall), or a Le Bretagne location. If visiting the latter at Marheineke market hall may I recommend a snack of boulette mit Senf from the Freiland butcher. (The sit-down Greek options in that neighborhood are also quite nice (Nonne & Zwerg more cozy, Restaurant Z more upscale).)

It's a bit off to the side for your question but if the kid and their crew can drink without being noisy boors I highly recommend drinking like a local with a Wegbier (aka Laufbier, Fußpils): buy a Sterni at a Späti (bodega) and wander the streets sipping. It is so joyfully civilized. Also learn the "German carry" to share the load of a case of beer on the way to a park.

Lastly, if they arrive before mid-October it's worth trying German ice cream culture, especially for American males. I love Vanille & Marille, Tanne B (especially combined with the luxurious open street at Lausitzer Platz), and any place serving Duo or Rosa Canina.
posted by daveliepmann at 1:24 AM on August 30

The local pizza was amazing.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:54 AM on August 30

I will try to find the name of the schnitzel place I went in 2018 - I was visiting Berlin with a longtime long-distance friend, and we both met up with one of my high school classmates who lives there. She brought us to a local joint where I asked for the "little" schnitzel and got something the size of my head.

My LDF and I also really dug Feinberg's, an Israeli restaurant near our hotel.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:44 AM on August 30

I'd echo a lot of what daveliepmann noted, and add Falafel Oase and Sahara for well-priced and delicious wraps, Ketels Curry is actually very good meat *and* vegan Currywurst, Villa Wow for big NY-style pizza slices at a good price, Sammy's >>> Brammibal's for donuts (not cheap though), and Formidable for big sandwiches if they happen to be up in that part of town. If they're here when it's cold out, this is the best spot for affordable Turkish comfort food - manti and gözleme. Hope they have a great time!
posted by PaulaSchultz at 10:29 AM on August 30

Ooooh, I've got to check out that mantı spot, thanks Paula! Def an overlooked Turkish dish.

You also reminded me of Magic John's, which is the NY pizza place that quenches my thirst for home food.
posted by daveliepmann at 11:45 AM on August 30

The best African food I have ever had was at Bantabaa Food Dealer in Berlin (from the Gambia); highly highly recommend. BYOB from a nearby Späti. Also seconding Turkish food in the Sonnenallee area.
posted by demonic winged headgear at 1:39 PM on August 31