Throughout the city, you’ll have no problem finding delicious meal deals, like a döner kebap piled with fresh toppings for under €3! Armed with a €1 beer from the next-door “Späti,” you’ll enjoy every bite and look like a local while hunched over your food on the nearest bench.

So grab some extra napkins and belly up to the bar. Here’s a primer on Berlin’s best street food.

Döner

Döner is ubiquitous in Berlin, and most Berliners’ “favorite” döner shop is either the one closest to where they spent their evening partying or the most convenient to the tram, train or bus stop on the way home. While plenty of döner are enjoyed during normal daytime hours, for an authentic döner experience try ingesting one on any random street corner at 2 AM. Don’t feel the need to over plan your döner purchase, as döner will always, always come to you when you least expect it and most need it.

That said, if you prefer to flock to your döner, you can join the long lines forming at:

Mustafas Gemüse Kebap
Kreuzberg, right outside the U6/U7-Mehringdamm station.

Grill and Schlemmerbuffet
Located in Mitte at U8-Rosenthaler Platz.

Hasir
Six locations across the city.

Tadim
Located in Kreuzberg at U8/U1-Kottbusser Tor.

Know before you go: With/out onions “mit/ohne Zwiebeln,” with/out garlic “mit/ohne Knoblauch,” with/out chili sauce “mit/ohne scharfe Sauce.”

Currywurst

If you get to Mustafas (above) and decide the line is simply too long to wait, luckily relief is just up the block: Curry 36 serves up some of Berlin’s best currywurst virtually all hours of the day and manages to handle its line a lot more quickly than Mustafas. The Kreuzberg location is its most popular, but you can get the same food at its Zoologischer Garten outpost (U9, S-Bahn, and trains).

Konnopke’s is your currywurst destination in Prenzlauer Berg (U2-Eberswalder Str.).

Wittenbergplatz, located at the junction of the U1, U2, and U3 lines and at the foot of KaDeWe, is a handy place to grab a currywurst, as there are kiosks on each of its four corners serving up traditional or organic varieties (as well as, you guessed it, döner!). Nearby Dolores offers fresh, delicious, made-to-order California-style burritos.

Know before you go: With/out natural casings “mit/ohne Darm.”

Falafel

While Berlin isn’t as famous for its falafel as, say, Paris, fans of the food will greatly savor the offerings at DaDa Falafel (U6-Oranienburger Tor) or Habibi (two locations in Schöneberg, either U7-Eisenacher Str. or U1/U2/U3/U4-Nollendorfplatz).

Eating your way through Berlin’s markets

Like many European cities, Berlin hosts a variety of weekly indoor and outdoor markets with a wide selection of traditional and ethnic options on offer.

Winterfeldtplatz market has open stalls specializing in local cheeses and produce, perfect for an afternoon snack. Photo: Apler C

Winterfeldtplatz

This open-air market is recognized for fresh local produce and locally-crafted, high-quality meats, cheeses and other specialty foods. It’s held Wednesdays 8 AM to 2 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to 4 PM, a short walk from U1/U2/U3/U4-Nollendorfplatz or U7-Kleistpark.

Maybachufer

This market has the feeling of a Turkish bazaar, with as many cheap things as foods for sale. It’s held Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 AM to 6:30 PM and can be reached from U8-Schönleinstr.

Markthalle Neun

Popular with foodies from the slow food movement, the covered Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg offers a weekly market of locally-produced and high-quality foods on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM, and a daily lunch special in its canteen from 12 to 4 PM (closed Sundays).

Every Thursday night between 5 and 10 PM, the hall hosts “Street Food Thursday,” where an ever-changing cast of cooks offers up tacos, BBQ sandwiches, dumplings and everything in between! Markthalle Neun can be reached from U1-Görlitzer Bahnhof.

Streets with great outdoor dining

Friedrichshain is a popular area for al fresco cafes and eateries. Photo: La Citta Vita

Friedrichshain’s Simon-Dach-Str.

If it’s restaurant dining en plein air you’re looking for, there are two Berlin streets where you can’t go wrong. First is Friedrichshain’s Simon-Dach-Str. The atmosphere here is lively—even celebratory, as scores of stag and bachelorette parties seem to have an obligatory evening stop here. Weekend brunching is also popular in the area, which is easily reached from U5-Frankfurter Tor or S-Warschauer Str.

Related: A Walking Tour of former East Berlin: Hanging out in Friedrichshain

Kreuzberg’s Bergmannstr.

Second go-to address is Kreuzberg’s Bergmannstr., equally as visited on summer evenings as the Simon-Dach-Str., but by a more relaxed crowd. Cafes, bars and restaurants line both sides of the streets between Mehringdamm and Zossener Str. The popularity of both Simon-Dach-Str. and Bergmannstr. have led to similar development in neighboring streets, so feel free to wander a bit till you find the right place to sit.

Schöneberg’s Akazienstr.

A third option with a plethora of restaurant styles and comfortable places to enjoy a drink (but avoid tourist crowds) is Schöneberg’s Akazienstr. It has plenty of options including Vietnamese food, falafel and relaxed outdoor cafes perfect for hanging out for an afternoon.

And for dessert?

Caffe e Gelato at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden shopping center serves up a tasty bowl of ice cream. Photo: Olivier B

Within a stone’s throw of many of these establishments are some of Berlin’s most popular and delicious homemade ice cream shops.

For more information, read our previous post on the scoop on Berlin’s best ice cream options.

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Air conditioning is virtually unheard of (including in hotels in Berlin), and the subways and buses start feeling more like saunas. When the thermometer starts rising, try these popular ways to cool down, local style.

1. Bathing: Au naturel

When summer rolls around, half the city heads to the lakes that dot Berlin and its surrounding area. Consult this Berlin swimming map and head out to nature.

And by “nature,” I mean that clothing is optional.

2. Bathing: To see and be seen

But if you’re more the type to lounge than lunge into the water, a quiet lake in a rustic forest just won’t do. Slip into something sexy and head to Badeschiff (pictured, top), a small bathing platform floating in the river smack in the middle of the city.

This is where “scenesters” come to strut their stuff and check out one another. Evening concerts and parties are especially popular. A ticket is only €8, but you have to reserve your time slot online in advance.

Look out for ice cream trucks. “Ice cream makes you happy.” Photo: Scottog

3. Ice cream

You can’t seem to walk a few blocks without walking past an ice cream parlor in the German capital. Homemade, all-natural ice cream is the norm, not the exception — there are countless independent shops that serve frozen treats in all shades and flavors. Here’s a list of some of the best.

Also, keep an eye out for ice cream trucks. On a hot day, you might just come across one for a quick and cheap cool down!

4. Fight fire with fire: Hot Currywurst

Sometimes you need to warm up to cool down. Case in point: currywurst. But where can you find currywurst in Berlin that really turns up the heat?

A glaring omission in my past post about currywurst was Curry & Chili, which has the hottest wieners in the city.

5. When all else fails: Street water pumps

Berlin sits on a huge underground water reserve, and until the 1930s Berliners used hand-operated pumps on the streets to clean, put out fires and even drink. Some 2,000 pumps remain functional today, and though they deliver untreated water straight from the ground underneath, 2/3 of them deliver drinkable quality water. (Berlin’s tap water, by the way, is excellent.)

So pump out some water, splash it on yourself and go on your merry way. It won’t cost you a thing.

The post Berlin in summer: 5 easy ways to cool down appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are five weekday lunch deals that won’t set you back more than €5:

1. W – Der Imbiss
Kastanienalle 49, Prenzlauer Berg
Open noon-midnight
Web site

Since we’re on the topic of fast food: The tiny restaurant’s symbol, a W, may look conspicuously like an upside-down McDonald’s emblem—for a legitimate reason. W is a bizarro-world Mickey D’s: Everything served here, including the naan, is freshly prepared and complimented by seasonal ingredients. An artichoke/chipotle wrap will set you back €5, but it won’t cost a dime to stare out the window at Kastanienalle, also known as “Casting Alley” for its fashionable denizens.

2. Marheineke Markthalle
Bergmannstraße 102, Kreuzberg
Open: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun
Web site

Ideal for the indecisive, this market hall in Kreuzberg’s picturesque Bergmann neighborhood has dozens of food stalls offering everything from German to Greek, Thai to Tibetan. Popular among locals, the newly renovated hall is bright, spotlessly clean, and best of all, has plenty of seating. Think food court, except with that old European charm. There are also plenty of cheese and fruit vendors.

3. Esstaurant
Michaelkirchstraße 17-18, Mitte
Open: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Web site

Esstaurant’s German and Mediterranean cuisines are popular among nearby office workers—so popular, in fact, that DaimlerChrysler’s employees are known to have their meals delivered. Situated between Mitte and Kreuzberg, the restaurant has a constantly changing roster of offerings like gnocchi with vegetables, which goes for €4.95.

4. MS Hoppetosse
Eichenstraße 4, Kreuzberg
Web site

Pull into port at MS Hoppetose, a boat/restaurant that used to ferry passengers across the Nordic Sea. Today, it stays afloat by the popular Treptower Park and serves vegetarian and meat dishes for €5 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday, by the way, is “Schnitzel Day.” (Closed through April 2011.)

5. Istoria
Kollwitzstrasse 64, Prenzlauer Berg
Open: Sun-Thur 9 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat 9 a.m.-3 a.m.
Web site

Right on the trendy Kollwitzplatz, Istoria serves Italian feasts. Penne, farfalle, spaghetti… whatever your fancy, every plate of pasta and pizza costs €4.90. Or, for an extra euro, you can treat yourself to a meat dish. Buon appetito!

Extra cheapo tip: Berlin boasts excellent tap water, so don’t be shy about asking for “Leitungswasser” (LIE-toongs-vah-sir).

The post Berlin: 5 delicious lunch deals for under €5 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

These days, you can’t throw a stone without hitting a Currywurst stand in Berlin. Just follow the sweet smell of a deep fryer and you won’t be disappointed. But if you want an extra special experience, here are a few picks:

Krasselts
Steglitzer Damm 22
Web site

Leave the likes of Konnopke’s to the amateurs. Get off the tourist circuit and get yourself to Steglitz. If not for the Turmkunst, a stop at Krasselts is well worth the trek to the residential district. Instead of the common ketchup, the owner uses a tomato sauce made from a “secret” recipe.

For those of us who like to eat on the go, there’s also a far less messy option: pork on the stick. If there’s a line, it’s not because the place is conveniently located (it’s not). It’s because Krasselts’ Currywurst really is all that.

Bier’s Ku’Damm 195
Kurfürstendamm 195

When you’re done sweeping through the department stores and boutiques of Charlottenburg, head down to Bier’s. Better yet, go there late at night—and you might see society folks in tuxedos and evening gowns. Don’t act all surprised. It’s Kurfürstendamm—naturfürlich you can order champagne with your Currywurst or shish kebab. (This being Berlin, of course, everything’s still affordable.)

Curry 36
Mehringdamm 36
Web site

I know, I know, every guide book mentions this place—and for a good reason. Open into the wee hours, this snack bar, nay, “legendary institution” serves up fresh-off-the-grill sausages smeared with plenty of sauce. The brusque Berliner service is part of the charm.

A magnet for club-goers and bar-hoppers, this lively joint is the perfect place to eat, chat with strangers and watch the sun rise after a long night out. Don’t forget the sauteed onions and fries. You need some veggies and carbs for a balanced meal.

Currywurst Museum
Schützenstraße 70
Web site

Just steps away from Checkpoint Charlie, this compact museum is perfect for the diehard fans. While the admission fees are steep (€7-€11), they do include a complimentary serving of Currywurst. You can watch a documentary called “The Best of Wursts” (rim shot, please), listen to Herbert Groenemeyer’s 1982 rock tribute, browse a 3-D map of Currywurst stands in the city, or trace the history of snacking back to 4,000 BC (popcorn, if you must know). It’s Teutonically thorough fun.

Mobile Wurst

It’s technically not a Currywurst place, but this innovative business model deserves a mention. Men sporting a grill like a backpack hang out on the street, serving pipin’ hot brats for around €1.20. You’ll see them moving about across Mitte, but you can always count on running into one outside the Friedrichstrasse and Alexanderplatz stations.

The post Berlin: The best Currywurst in town appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

——-

Berlin bursts with street food kiosks specializing in Cheapo-friendly treats. It’s easy to snack on anything from Turkish Döner kebabs to vegan cheeseburgers here. But one speedy snack has been around the longest: the currywurst.

Invented in 1949, currywurst is a colorful concoction of sliced sausage, ketchup-like tomato sauce, and curry powder, served on a ridged cardboard plate with a pile of fries (or a roll) is one of the city’s most iconic meals. The high-fat, high-calorie snack is hardly health conscious, but that doesn’t stop Berliners from snarfing down 70 million currywursts each year!

A grand opening for one hot dog!

This street food standby, available at “Bude” (kiosks) throughout the city (and country) made national headlines this past weekend when the Deutsches Currywurst Museum (Schützen Strasse 70, one block east of Friedrich Strasse, U-bahn: Stadtmitte, open 10 AM to 10 PM daily), nestled on a quiet street around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie and the Mauermuseum, opened its doors.

The low-key grand opening, which featured a dancing sausage and free samples, attracted about 1,500 visitors and a gaggle of pro-vegan protesters dressed in pig and cow costumes (see photo).

Vegan protesters get riled up at the opening.

I was one of the first in line to visit the small museum, which charges a decidedly Cheapo-unfriendly admission of €11 (€8.50 for students). Furnished with a sausage-shaped couch, oversized “drips” of tomato sauce suspended from the ceiling, and a life-sized model of a sausage “Bude,” the museum covers every imaginable aspect of the Currywurst, from its 1949 invention by the Berliner snack stand owner Herta Heuwer to the ecological lifecycle of the snack’s cardboard serving plates. (It even acknowledges—but ultimately dismisses—Hamburg’s rival claim that it is the Currywurst’s true birthplace.)

The privately run museum, which cost €7 million to realize, is full of bells and whistles (including a “prepare-your-own Currywurst” computer game) and fun factoids, but it ultimately disappoints with superficial exhibits (in German and English) that stretch the theme too far.

It takes less than an hour to make your way through the entire museum. Some displays, including four model refrigerators representing the eating habits of different Berlin households, are only loosely linked (at best) to the currywurst.

A bit of currywurst history—for free

The museum’s most interesting display provides a brief history of the snack. Heuwer invented currywurst on September 4, 1949, during the lean, post-World War II years, when food was strictly rationed and Germans had to be creative in the kitchen. Based on the national staple—sausage—and ingredients introduced to the city’s residents by British occupying troops, currywurst struck a cord and became a Berlin institution. She went on to patent her “Chillup” sauce in 1959.

The snack eventually traveled to the rest of the country—and the globe. A map in the museum shows that currywurst is available in Bali, Bangkok, Oklahoma, and New York City, where the German-run sausage shack Hallo Berlin! doles out the Berlin export.

Because of the high admission price and superficial exhibits, I don’t recommend a visit to the museum. But I do encourage you to sample the storied street food at one of the city’s countless currywurst stands. Keep in mind that you may be asked to choose between mild or “scharf” (spicy) sauce or a sausage with or without “Darm” (casing) when ordering.

Where to get a currywurst in Berlin

The two most famous “Bude” are Prenzlauer Berg’s historic Konnopke’s Imbiss (Schönhauser Allee 44a, at the base of the Eberswalder Strasse U-bahn), which has been around since the 1940s, and Kreuzberg’s up-all-night Curry 36 (Mehringdamm 36, U-bahn: Mehringdamm), a draw for the city’s club-goers and bar-hoppers.

Vegans don’t have to miss out: tofu-based varieties are available at the sister vegan eateries Yoyo Food World (Gärtner Str. 27, U-bahn: Frankfurter Tor) in Friedrichshain and Yellow Sunshine (Wiener Str., U-bahn: Görlitzer Bahnhof) in Kreuzberg. Don’t expect to pay more than €5 for your own personal taste of Berlin history.

The post Berlin Museum Review: The best of the (curry)Wurst appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.