Being a relatively diverse European city, there was no shortage of dining options while we were in Berlin. From traditional German dishes to Asian cuisine, we ate very well on this trip. Perhaps the most difficult decision was what beer to order with our dinners.
German food:
As we were literally in Germany, there were many restaurants serving up foods we tend to think of when we think of German fare. Our first night in Berlin, we walked over to Kiezgaststätte “Zum Nudelholz,” which translates to ‘The Rolling Pin.’ This restaurant has been serving up traditional German dishes since about 1909. We arrived at the restaurant about a half-hour prior to the kitchen closing, and we were thankful to have been able to order. I went for the vegetarian creamy noodles, while the kids had the currywurst and Michael tried the schnitzel. Of course, the grownups had dinner with generous mugs of beer. The food was delicious, and though it was close to closing time, the host was really friendly and gave us plenty of time to finish our meal. It was a perfect start to our stay in Berlin.
Michael really wanted to visit a real German beer hall, so on our third night in, we ended a full day of sightseeing with dinner at Hofbräu Wirtshaus Berlin. This tavern serves up Bavarian-style food and beer in an enormous hall that is said to be able to seat up to 4000 guests. The place is definitely a bit touristy, as would be expected being in Alexanderplatz in Berlin; the hall felt like Oktoberfest with the live music. We were seated outside, which the girls appreciated. The food was flavorful and the portions were large. I had the vegan currywurst, which I thought was pretty fantastic. We also split a pretzel and some apple strudel. While the pretzel was not as good as a Mickey-shaped one at Disneyland, the strudel was good.
Asian cuisine:
While not as prevalent as in the 626, there were plenty of eateries that served Asian dishes. Emily and I were able to get pho at a popup not far from Olympiastadion, and we passed by a number of Asian food places while walking around town.
For dinner one evening, the girls wanted dumplings. We headed over to Ni’s Restaurant near Hackescher Markt. We shared their One Meter Noodle, a hand-pulled noodle that looked to be literally one meter long, topped with veggies, chili oil and vinegar. It was absolutely delicious and pretty filling on its own. Though that was not the only thing we ordered. Sami went for a Veggie Lover Bao, which was huge, and we all spilt the chocolate buns. The drink selection was also good.
Brunch:
For most of our visit, we ate breakfast in our AirBnB. There were many places- from grocery stores to local cafe bakeries- where Michael could pick up pastries for our breakfasts. However for our last full day in Berlin, we brunched at a restaurant Emily dined at on her prior trip: Spreegold Mitte. Located in Alexanderplatz, the cafe is easy to get to via the tram. The breakfast and lunch favorites are made with fresh ingredients and a dash of creativity. On the menu are egg scrambles and lighter breakfast options, such as porridge and protein bowls, as well as ‘cheat day’ pancakes. I went for the ‘cheat day’ London Lemon Layer pancakes and an oatmilk macchiato, which looked so pretty.
Dessert:
We ate so many desserts while in Germany, but one dessert house that took the literal chocolate cake was the Rausch Schokoladenhaus in Mitte. We scootered over for an afternoon snack after touring the Berlin Wall. We dined in at the cafe on the top floor, which was pretty decadent. We split the menu for two options, which came with two drinks, two chocolate tortes, and a selection of cookies. The girls shared the fondue for two, and had fun dipping a variety of fruits and pretzels in dark and milk chocolate fondue. This was definitely a special treat especially for a snack, but at 29 euros for two, it was about what I would have expected to pay.
This is just a hint of what food adventures can be had in Berlin. There is something for just about every taste and mood, from light and ‘healthy’ to traditional comfort foods. It is also fun to explore new flavors, and learn about ourselves in the process. I learned that vegan currywurst can be really delicious, and that I really like fries with mayo. Cheers!
The Cranky Camper 