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What to eat in Germany

Five dishes to try in Germany, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.

Five dishes to try in Germany

  1. Bratwurst

    Street food

    Grilled pork sausage served in a bread roll with mustard.

    How to have it: Every region has its own; try Nuremberg's small ones or Thuringia's from market stalls.

    Read about Bratwurst on Wikipedia

  2. Currywurst

    Street food

    Sliced pork sausage covered in curry ketchup and curry powder.

    How to have it: A Berlin snack-stand classic; order it with fries (Pommes) and mayo.

    Read about Currywurst on Wikipedia

  3. Schweinshaxe

    Main dish

    Roasted pork knuckle with crackling skin, served with dumplings and sauerkraut.

    How to have it: A Bavarian beer-hall meal; pair it with a litre of Helles in Munich.

    Read about Schweinshaxe on Wikipedia

  4. Brezel

    BreadVegetarian

    Soft lye-dipped bread knot with a salted brown crust.

    How to have it: Eaten in Bavaria with Weißwurst, sweet mustard and wheat beer before noon.

    Read about Brezel on Wikipedia

  5. Black Forest cake Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

    DessertVegetarian

    Chocolate sponge layered with cherries, cream and kirsch.

    How to have it: Order a slice with coffee during Kaffee und Kuchen, the mid-afternoon break.

    Read about Black Forest cake on Wikipedia

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Questions

What food is Germany famous for?

Bratwurst (grilled pork sausage served in a bread roll with mustard) comes first on our list, followed by Currywurst, Schweinshaxe, Brezel and Black Forest cake.

What is the national dish of Germany?

Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Germany is Bratwurst: grilled pork sausage served in a bread roll with mustard. Every region has its own; try Nuremberg's small ones or Thuringia's from market stalls.

Which dishes in Germany are vegetarian?

Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Brezel and Black Forest cake. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.

What street food should I try in Germany?

Bratwurst (grilled pork sausage served in a bread roll with mustard) and Currywurst (sliced pork sausage covered in curry ketchup and curry powder).

How reliable is this list?

The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.

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Dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.