Must-Try German Food and Drinks for the Foodie Traveler
Traveling just for the love of food? Oh yes! Sure, I love to explore foreign countries and cultures, but there is just something about getting to know a country through their food and drinks. I can’t be the only one whose first stop is a local supermarket?
Germany is WildBum’s place of the month so we thought of a little goodie for all the fellow foodie travelers out there! We will present you must-try German food and drinks: Sweet, salty, boozy, refreshing, and delicious. That way, you’ll have a list ready when you go and will be able to recognize some of the items on the restaurant’s menus. We have excluded some of the famous dishes like Schnitzel on purpose to make space for the lesser-known, even more, delicious meals in Germany!
Salty German dishes you have to try
Maultaschen
Every country I’ve visited has its own kind of dumplings. The Japanese have Gyoza, the Polish have Pierogi and the Germans have Maultaschen! There are two ways of eating them: Either in a hearty broth or pan-fried with onions. Both are worth trying! The traditional dumplings contain pork, but many restaurants will offer a veggie option that is just as delicious!
Reibekuchen
The German version of a hashbrown is called Reibekuchen, which literally translates to “grated cake”. They are softer than the hashbrowns known in the United States, but still crispy on the outside. Traditionally, they are served with applesauce. Sounds weird? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Currywurst
A classic Berlin street food: The Currywurst with a side of fries. This chopped sausage in a tomato-curry sauce is the best hangover cure. You will find it throughout Germany, either in food trucks and also in many German restaurants and breweries.
You can’t leave Germany without trying these desserts
Spagetti Eis
Don’t be afraid to order this at an ice cream shop. You won’t be disappointed! It’s basically vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce and white chocolate chips (and sometimes whipped cream). But the beauty of it lies in the presentation: The vanilla ice cream is pressed through a machine similar to a potato ricer forming the ice cream into spaghetti noodles. Topped with the strawberry sauce it makes for a fun, sweet version of the Italian classic.
Kaiserschmarren
Kaiserschmarren: My favorite dessert in the world! These delicious pancake pieces are pan-fried until caramelized on the outside, served with applesauce or fruit compote, and sprinkled with icing sugar. If you are not sharing it with your travel buddy, I would recommend ordering it as a main dish as the portion size will exceed the traditional dessert size. And the good thing is: No one will judge you for it!
Käsekuchen
The German version of a cheesecake is creamier and sweeter than the American version and wouldn’t be served with a coulis. It comes with a crumbly, delicious crust often made out of crushed cookies.
Need inspiration on what to drink? Here are must-try German staples:
Radler
I’m not going to dive into the German beer tradition as it would need a separate blog article. If you’re traveling to Germany, I would expect you to try all the different kinds of German beers. Don’t miss out on trying a Radler, too! A Radler is half beer, half soda. Depending on the region you are traveling to, a Radler will be prepared with lemon or orange soda (Fanta or Sprite). Perfect on a hot summer day! We also like to mix beer with Coca-Cola, which would be called “Diesel”, “Colabier” or “Dreckssack” depending on the region you’re in.
Mexikaner
My go-to shot on a night out Mexikaner! Literally translates to “Mexican” and is a delicious blend of tomato juice, vodka (or other liquor), and tabasco. If you love spicy food, this is your drink! You are most likely to find this in the Hamburg area, but bars and clubs around Cologne started serving it as well.
Apfelschorle
Instead of drinking soda, Germans will opt for an Apfelschorle: A blend of apple juice and carbonated water. We grow up drinking it as kids and it’s still a delicious, thirst-quenching drink if you’re looking for something other than water. You can also find this drink bottled at kiosks and food trucks.
Is your mouth watering yet? If you make it to Germany and manage to have all of our must-try German food and drinks, you will be so satisfied and truly have the German food experience!
Traveling just for the love of food? Oh yes! Sure, I love to explore foreign countries and cultures, but there is just something about getting to know a country through their food and drinks. I can’t be the only one whose first stop is a local supermarket? Germany is WildBum’s place of the month so…