Berlin Food Tour
One thing I noticed while walking around Berlin for the first time in 15 years was that English was being spoken everywhere. This is probably because the number of foreigners in the city is increasing, and people who do not speak German as their first language choose English for conversation. Apart from language, the diversity of food also adds a strong international atmosphere. Like London, it seemed that Berlin has seen a growing number of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Last time, I walked around the north of the city, mainly in Mitte, so this time I wanted to go around the Kreuzberg district, and a friend who works in Berlin recommended some restaurants to me.
Contents
Onigiri specialty store popular in Europe
The most popular is pistachio gelato
An Israeli restaurant with excellent hummus
Taiwanese cuisine also available
I also enjoyed the seasonal flavours
Onigiri specialty store popular in Europe
In the morning, I went to Charlottenburg Palace, so from here I took the subway line 7 and travelled all the way to Südstern station. As I left the station and walked along the road, I could see the linden, plane and chestnut trees growing tall, making it a very pleasant walk.
The first place I went to was ‘Tokyo Gohan’. Onigiri has recently become popular in Europe, and here you can eat authentic onigiri as a single item or as a set meal. Eating rice balls outside reminds me of childhood school trips. Some people were coming to pick up their pre-orders, so it was very busy.
The most popular is pistachio gelato
From here, we crossed the bridge over the canal and headed further north. Like London, Berlin still has many canals, and the waterside makes it feel more calming and naturally draws people.
The elevated railway that came into view in front of us carries subway lines 1 and 3, which somehow reminded me of the above-ground section of Paris’ subway line 6, but looking around, there are high-rise apartment buildings and Turkish restaurants. It’s a typical Kreuzberg scene.
After walking east along the path of the elevated railway for a while, we saw a long queue of people. People were waiting to order at Duo, a Sicilian gelato shop.
I used to joke with my German friends that they’d never go out of their way to line up for food (meaning they’re not interested in food), but the line was so long that it made me question that! Following the recommendation, I ordered pistachio. The flavour of the nuts was concentrated, making it perhaps the best gelato I have ever eaten.
An Israeli restaurant with excellent hummus
I was pretty full after eating the gelato, so I only had tea at the next restaurant I went to, but Cafe Mugrabi, which serves the best hummus, also looked really good. Hummus itself is a classic bean dish in Middle Eastern cuisine along the Mediterranean Sea, but this restaurant serves Israeli food.
Taiwanese cuisine also available
I went back to the hotel to rest, and then went out again around dinner time. I heard that there was a popular Taiwanese restaurant called ‘Lon Men’s Noodle House’ within walking distance of the hotel, so I went there, and, again, there was a line even though it was only an hour before closing time. Berlin is completely different from other German cities in many ways, and I think that this is also true when it comes to food.
We ordered wonton noodles, majiang noodles (noodles with sesame and peanut sauce, and pak choy with oyster sauce. Sitting outside and eating with a beer, I felt like I was at a Taiwanese food stall. As an aside, I happened to find these majiang noodles in dried form at a supermarket in London, so I bought them without hesitation.
I’m a German bread lover
Lastly, no matter what anyone says, bread is a must-have when it comes to Germany. I found a bakery called ‘Zeit für Brot’ on the way to ‘Lon Men’s’ and went there the next day. I’m such a big fan of German bread that I bought a Laugencroissant and a cheese pretzel at the bakery in the airport as soon as I arrived. The German cakes I bought at ‘Zeit für Brot’ were also very delicious and, since it was my last day in Berlin, I bought a few slices and enjoyed them with tea at the hotel before checking out. Of course, I also bought some rye bread that will keep for a few days when I return to the UK.
I also enjoyed the seasonal flavours
I was surprised that I was able to enjoy the food so much in Germany. I was busy eating international cuisine and thought I would have to give up on spagel (white asparagus) this time, but at the very last moment, I found it at the buffet in the airport lounge. I returned to the UK with a feeling of satisfaction and no regrets.
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