The Best German Food and drink: 45 must-try Foods to try in Germany!

Wondering what are the must try foods for first timers in Germany?

I fell in love with German food when I moved to Germany at the age of seven. If this is your first time in Germany you may be wondering which foods are the very best German food options.

Let me be clear, German food is my all time favorite food and there is no better place to get quality German food than in Germany!!!

I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal in Germany. Germans are by nature craftsmen, taking pride and special care in everything they do, and fortunately for our taste buds, that includes their food!

best German food to try on your next trip to Germany

I love the “when in Rome” approach to travel. I want to know what dishes a place is famous for and I want to try them all! In this article you’ll find some of my top picks for the BEST GERMAN FOOD! Give them a try! Guten Appetit!

Entrees and main dishes: what to order in a restaurant

(1) Schnitzel

Schnitzel will forever be my “favorite go to” in the land of the Deutsche. I can’t seem to get enough of it.

I personally think it is best in its purest form: a cut of meat, usually veal or pork, pounded thin, breaded and fried to golden brown perfection and served with lemon slices.

There are actually many other versions of the schnitzel: a couple of my favorites are

• Jägerschnitzel topped with mushrooms and a brown gravy sauce and
• Rahmschnitzel with a cream sauce. The list goes on, why not try them all!

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(2) Roudladen

Rouladen is another very popular German dish. Thin strips of beef are slathered with spicy German mustard then stuffed with bacon, onion and pickles, rolled up, and cooked to perfection in a rich savory brown sauce.

(3) Schweinshaxe and Schweinsbraten

These savory classic German pork dishes are popular menu items and quite delicious! Each is roasted until it’s juicy and fork tender, both are generally served smothered in a savory brown sauce which is often flavored with beer. Popular side accompaniments include potato dumplings and sauerkraut. Be prepared for a party in your mouth because these dishes are ridiculously rich and flavorful!

The Schweinsbraten is roasted pork shoulder with a top crust of pork crackling. Schweinshaxe is a roasted ham hock or pork knuckle.

Some of the best experiences in life are unplanned. One day we were needing to eat and desperately trying to escape a driving sleet in Regensburg, and so headed for the first place we could find. We stumbled into Bischofshof am Dom Hotel and Restaurant and were treated to one of the best meals I have ever had in Germany.

On the menu: Schweinsbraten smothered in dark beer sauce with fried dumplings, and bacon coleslaw.

(4) Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten is regarded as the national dish of Germany. This slow cooked beef roast has an unusual twist. Just to give you an idea of the flavor profile, many recipes for Sauerbraten call for ginger snap cookies! It’s definitely different, and something you should give a try on your next trip to Germany!

Red Cabbage (Rotkohl): Red Cabbage is a popular side dish in Germany. It’s made with sugar, vinegar, and sometimes has apple mixed in.

street Food, lunch, food on the go

(5) Pommes mit mayo and curry (French Fries with mayo and curry ketchup!)

Pommes, the German name for fries, with the addition of curry ketchup and mayo makes for a popular street food in Germany.

A lot of people I talk to seem to be put off by the thought of mayo on fries. I think it is delicious. Skip the mayo if you must but you simply have to try the spicy curry ketchup.

Don’t want to try either? well then my friend, you are left with just French fries and all together nothing special!

tip: Pick up some Curry Ketchup and Mayo at the market. They, along with many of the other items in this article make great cheap German souvenirs! (but don’t try to take any meat, it won’t make it through customs!)

(6) Doner kebab

Doners are actually Turkish and not German but regardless you’ll find these little slices of heaven all over Germany (and the rest of Europe.)

Seasoned meat (usually lamb, beef, or chicken) that’s spit roasted until it is incredibly juicy, is shaved thin and then stuffed into soft delicious flatbread. Popular toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, and a delicious tzatziki type sauce.

With the smell of roasting meat permeating the air your nose will efficiently guide you to your new late night craving!

(7) Speckbrot (bacon bread)

Speck is a smoked and cured ham. Speckbrot is an open faced sandwich. This one I got at the Fischunkelalm at Obersee.

It’s a light rye bread, creamy butter, speck and onion, cucumber and peppers. Absolutely delicious! I came home craving it so I made a similar version with prosciutto.

(8) Fischbrötchen (fish roll)

When I was a kid living in northern Germany (we moved a lot) we’d be out somewhere and there would be big cases of these, and they always made my mouth water!

Fischbrötchen is popular in the northern parts of Germany due to their proximity to the North Sea (Nordsee.) It’s usually made with pickled herring and topped with other pickled toppings like onions and pickles. The meat isn’t raw. The vinegar actually cooks the meat (think Ceviche.)

I hadn’t had one since I was a teen but recently ordered this popular sandwich at the Christmas Market in Dinkelsbühl. I didn’t recall it being so “fishy,” and have apparently lost my taste for it.

(9) Mettbrötchen

This one isn’t for the faint of heart but Germans really seem to love it. Mettbrötchen is raw minced pork served on crusty German bread rolls, usually topped with raw onion and salt and pepper. A simple but tasty quick meal if you are brave enough to give it a try! Mettbrötchen wasn’t served in my house, even when we lived in Germany. I haven’t yet worked up the courage to try it. What about you?

(10) Pretzels (Brezeln)

The soft chewy pretzel is commonly regarded as originating in Germany. Either way, they are a popular snack in Deutschland, especially in Bavaria. Pretzels are often enjoyed with Weißwürst, sweet mustard, or Obatzda, a traditional Bavarian beer cheese dip or spread, and a Beer.

(12) German cold cuts (Aufschnitt)

German Cold cuts are usually processed and different from the cuts of meat you find in the US. They are similar to bologna but better and often have add in’s like ham pieces, mushroom, or other vegetables.

Sometimes add-ins are suspended in a flavored gelatin. Different but you should try it!  They are very popular on the breakfast buffet (Frühstücksbuffet) so be sure to book a Gasthaus that offers free breakfast!

(13) Wurstsalat

For a light lunch order Wurstsalat, a delicious blend of diced cold cuts, cheese, onion, and German pickles. This German/Swiss meat salad is often served with a side of fine rye bread.

(14) Leberkäse / Leberkäse (Liver Cheese or Meat Cheese)

This dish can be polarizing but I grew up on it and so I’m quite fond of it! It’s literally a loaf of meat made with spiced finely minced or ground meat (generally beef, pork, bacon) that’s packed into a tasty loaf! (It’s not meatloaf, German’s call that Hackbraten.)

(15) Frikkadel

It’s a German meatball!

Side Dishes

(16) German potato salad

There are as many versions of German potato salad as there are days in a month and they are all delicious.

Some are served warm or at room temperature, others cold, some with a sour cream base, others oil or mustard and the list goes on.

I haven’t met a German potato salad I didn’t like yet!

(17) Spätzle / Spaetzle

Spätzle, a favorite in my house, is a tiny egg dumpling. It’s often served with butter and parsley for a simple yet delicious side dish.

Other ways to dress them are with a different sauces such as cheese sauce. Other popular ingredients are bacon, or onion.

(18) kartoffelklöße or kartoffelknödel

Potato balls or dumplings! No description needed but you should probably give them a try!

(19) Bavarian Kraut

I prefer the Bavarian version of sauerkraut. It’s milder and sweeter than what you might be used to and often has caraway seeds. It’s a very popular side accompaniment for wurst.

(20) white asparagus (spargel)

Germans love their white asparagus! Usually available in spring it is often served with a Hollandaise sauce.

(21) Kartoffelpuffer / Reibekuchen

German potato pancakes, with finely shredded potato! They are often sold at street fairs and markets, such as Christmas markets in Germany, and topped with applesauce.

everything at the bakery!

There’s something you should know about German desserts. They are less sweet than their American counterparts. I actually prefer them to the uber sweet desserts here in the US.

Apple strudel and the Black Forest cake are two of the most popular but at a German Bäckerei (bakery) you’ll find a large selection of offerings that are a veritable feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds!

Here are some of my favorite bakery items:

(22) apple strudel (Apfelstrudel)

Apples baked in a crispy light pastry, you can’t go wrong!

(23) fruit cakes and glazed fruit tarts

Every time I went into the bakery as a kid these colorfully glazed fruity delights were the first thing to grab my attention.

A fruit filled pastry shell, usually with a custard type filling and topped with mouth watering fruit, then glazed to perfection. It’s a MUST try!

(24) black forest cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte)

This is my favorite cake, whether I’m in Germany or at home. Spongy chocolate cake with a (often liquor spiked) cream and cherry filling.

(25) Bienenstich Kuchen (bee sting cake) 

Spongy cake filled with a light cream/ pudding and topped with a sticky slivered almond and honey layer. It’s what I always ordered for myself as a child.

(26) Stollen

Stollen is a fruit bread that originates from the Saxony region. It features ingredients like nuts, spices, and dried or candied fruit, coated with powdered sugar or icing sugar and often containing marzipan. Honestly, I find that this traditional German Christmas bread is a bit on the dry side. During the Christmas season the cake-like loaves are called Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen.

(27) Krapfen (Berliner Doughnut)

This yeasty fried sweet bread doughnut without a hole is filled with sticky sweet jam and dusted in powdered sugar. Delicious!

What about German Chocolate Cake???

Although in my opinion quite delicous, German Chocolate Cake is not actually German! It actually originated in Texas in 1957.

Wurst is the best!

(28) German Wurst (sausages)

German Wurst get’s a category all to itself!

Wurst Wurst Wurst! Germans are known for their Wurst as much as their beer or lederhosen. You’ll find it on fancy menus and being sold on the street. Some Wurst I like, some not so much.

If you find one you’re not crazy about just keep trying because with well over 1,000 different types in Germany, there is no shortage of Wurst to choose from.

Everyone has their own regional specialty so make sure you try the local favorites. Wursts are served in a variety of ways. Some examples are with mustard and/or kraut with a side of Brötchen or a pretzel.

note: just a little note on Weisswurst, make sure you peel off the skin. It’s chewy and ruins the taste!

German mustard (Senf): Mustard is without a doubt one of Germany’s favorite condiments! Two of the most popular of these spicy concoctions are Düsseldorf and Bavarian Sweet, but don’t forget to try the Hot German mustard! If you really want a variety of options, head to the nearest German grocery store.

One of my favorite wursts is currywurst.

breakfast

(29) German Breakfast

These huge breakfast buffets are commonly offered to overnight guests at inn’s (Gasthauses, pensions etc.)

Skip the chain hotels for a cozier option and you’ll be treated to a smorgasbord of delectable breakfast items.

You’ll find a variety of breads with butter, jams and jellies, sliced meats and cheeses, eggs, Wurst, fruit, quark, granola and more!

For me a cup of hot chocolate makes a nice compliment to this meal but you’ll usually have a selection of juices and of course coffee and tea as well.

Frozen Treats

(30) Italian ice

Italian ice is NOT gelato and while similar to a sorbet it doesn’t contain any dairy or egg like American sorbet.

Common ingredients are water, sugar and fruit flavors so it is indeed as the name would suggest a flavored “ice.” My favorite flavor is zitrone (lemon)!)

(31) spaghetti ice (Spaghettieis)

Spaghetti ice may sound a little strange but stay with me here.

Spaghetti ice is vanilla ice cream that has been squeezed through a potato ricer to form long spaghetti like strands and then topped with strawberry sauce and sometimes shaved white chocolate to resemble Parmesan shavings AND IT IS YUMMY!

It’s no mystery why it’s so popular in Germany.

Bread

(32) Brötchen

Bread is a huge part of the German diet. Brötchen are small bread rolls that come in a variety of flavors. They are served at breakfast with meats and cheeses or fresh butter and jams.

At lunch they are often an accompaniment for wurst, or various types of sandwich fixings. No matter which way you try them you’re going to love Brötchen!

how to have Brötchen at home tip:

Did you love having tasty Brötchen on your trip to Germany and want to bring it home with you? I buy these Bolillo rolls at my local Wal-Mart. I heat them in the oven till the crust crisps up again and presto! Brötchen! It’s very close to the rolls you’ll get in Germany, close enough to kill my craving. Serve them with butter and your favorite jam.

candy and other sweet treats

(33) Nonpareils

THESE are the smell of my German childhood! These delicious chocolate wafers with tiny candy sprinkles smell SO good! While their origins may or may not be German, they are popular there…and if you want can’t wait to go to Germany, they call them Snow Caps here in the US!

(34) Gummy Candy

Fortunately for us, you can get Gummies just about anywhere these days. These chewy, delightfully fruity, treats were invented in Germany.

In Germany the pronunciation is Goooogmy! (like oooh these are good!) NOT GUMmy (like a stick of gum.) And since they were invented in Germany I don’t let any of you American’s correct my pronunciation! ha ha!

Haribo and the Gummie sprung to life in the 1920’s. These are two of my favorite flavors, unless you can find the Fizzy Coke Bottles!

(35) Topkuss

A wafer thin cookie base, soft marshmallow center, and the thinnest chocolate coating. Delicious! It comes in other flavors too like coconut and dark chocolate.

(36) Lebkuchen

German Lebkuchen is a traditional gingerbread-style cookie that is popular during the Christmas season. It is a soft and chewy cookie that is often made with a variety of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, and usually decorated with icing. Find some at a German Christmas market near you! (don’t miss my Ultimate Guide to traveling Germany in winter!)

(37) Marzipan

Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal, and Germans like to fashion it into fun shapes, like these cute little pigs. You might even find these fun little fellows in some compromising positions! You just gotta love Germans!

Tip: These make great souvenirs. Looking for edible or food related German Souvenirs? Check out my guide for What to buy in Germany for more ideas! 

(38) Black licorice

Germans love their black licorice! When I was a child in Germany I was all on board, but have since decided that I don’t really like it. Black licorice has a strong anise flavor, which is quite polarizing. Honestly, is that what they flavor Jägermeister with? If you want to try some, I assure you, you will have no trouble finding it!

beverages

Germany is known for its beer. German beers are some of the finest crafted beers in the world and each region has their own specialty.

Additionally, German is dotted with wine vineyards that produce excellent wine!

I myself prefer the non alcoholic drinks. As with German desserts, sweetened drinks have slightly less sugar as they do in the US. For example, Coke purchased in the US has 39 grams if sugar (12 oz. can) in Germany it’s closer to 37 grams.

Here are some of my favorite non alcoholic drinks you should try when in Germany:

(39) Spezi

I order Spezi almost every time I sit down for a meal in Germany. It’s a good thing then that I’m walking a zillion or so miles a day when I travel! (careful, it is caffeinated)

Paulander and Mezzo Mix are popular brands of this perfect mix of cola and orange soda! and best of all, they use real orange. It’s mighty tasty and I don’t think I’ve found a restaurant yet that doesn’t serve it.

Spezi is actually a brand name but it’s used universally to order the orange cola drink. 

While the canned stuff is pretty good it’s the stuff from the tap that tastes the best!

(40) other soft drinks with real fruit juice

Something I really love about fruit flavored beverages in Europe is that they have real fruit juice in them and that makes a BIG difference! My favorites: the Orangina (actually French but widely available in Germany) and just about any flavor of Fanta (REAL JUICE!) but especially the lemon!

(41) Glühwein

This one comes in an alcoholic and non alcoholic version. Glühwein (also known as mulled wine) is a traditional warm beverage that is popular in Germany during the winter months. Hot wine is infused with spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and honey. A popular drink at German Christmas markets, it’s a great way to warm up on a chilly winter day in Germany!

(42) German Beer (bier)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention German beer since Germans craft some of the best beer in the world. Yes, German beer is indeed superior! What’s so great about it? Genuine German beer that’s been brewed in Deutschland is smooth, not bitter.

Need to know what to order? You can’t go wrong with a Hefeweizen or a Radler. I’m a firm believe that the first beer you should try in Germany should be a Hefeweizen or Weizenbier (white beer.) The Hefeweizen style is known for it’s low hop bitterness and high carbonation which helps balance the beer’s relatively malty sweetness.

A Radler commonly consists of a 50:50 mixture of beer and a lemon-flavoured soft drink.

Each region of Germany has their own special brew so be sure to ask for the regional specialty. Otherwise, popular German beer brands include: Paulaner, Bitburger Pilsner, Beck’s, Pilsner, Erdinger, Löwenbräu, Radeberger, Berliner Pilsner, Krombacher, and Hofbrau.

The budget conscious tourists rejoice, because beer is usually cheaper than soft drinks in Germany. Prost!

(43) Riesling Wine

Riesling is an aromatic white grape wine that originated in the Rhine Valley region of Germany. Riesling wine comes in sweet, semi-sweet, dry, and sparkling varieties. Make your way over to one of those castle hotel restaurants on the Rhine and enjoy a glass with second to none views! or order a glass on a relaxing Rhine River cruise!

everything else!

(44) Red Currant Jam (Rote Johannisbeer)

My favorite jam flavor of all time is red currant, and it’s very popular in Germany. This sweet and slightly tart jam is perfect on Brötchen with a big creamy pat of butter!

(45) German Pickles

German pickles are different from American pickles. They are less vinegary and a tad bit sweet. The mild sweet and sour flavors are in a word, perfect! For something different pick up a mustard flavored version at the local Aldi or Lidl while you’re out and about.

food tours and tastings

Book a food tour and try the delicious foods in this article and more! Check Get Your Guide to find the best tours.

where to find German food in the US

Can’t wait to try some of these tasty options? If you aren’t lucky enough to have a German specialty shop near you, here are some ways to get a little German food right at home.

German Grocery stores

Aldi

The Aldi chain of grocery stores as founded in Germany by the Albrecht brothers in 1946, when they took over their mother’s store in Essen. Today there are Aldi stores all over the US and sometimes they carry German food.

Check here to find an Aldi store near you.

Lidl

Lidl is another German grocery store that is becoming popular here in the US.

check here to find a Lidl Store near you.

order German food online!

Here are the top places to order German food outside of Germany:

• German Deli
• The Taste of Germany
• German Deli Store
• German Shop 24
• German Grocery Store (this one ships from California and their shipping seems more reasonable)
• One Stop German Shop (just ordered from there, very reasonable shipping, saved me a 3 hour round trip drive to the nearest European grocer!)

Hungry yet? I know I am! I enjoy eating my way across Germany and I believe you will too. If you’re new to Germany and wondering what you should eat on your first trip, give the items on this list a try because they are all delicious! Bis bald freunde, see you soon friends! and go get ya some German food!

Bavaria USA

Can’t get to Germany just yet? Check out the ridiculously cute Bavarian town in the mountains in Leavenworth Washington USA! You can find several of these tasty options in Leavenworth!