Berlin has more quick and cheap food than almost any other city in the world. We sent Tom Gates out with an empty belly and asked him to eat as much as he could in one day. It turns out that the man can eat a lot.
Zad
The reason there is no picture of a falafel here is because I whoofed it in thirteen seconds. Located in the Turkish section of Kreuzberg, Zad makes some of the best food in town. Every item in the display is made fresh each morning and only served after it’s been blessed. Blessed food is still scarfed food.
€2.50 Falafel. Reichenberger Str 84, Kreuzberg
Impression: Food with soul. Mood: Ready to Go.
Kreuzburger
Kreuzburger is where the locals go to beef up. I wasted no time in ordering cheeseburger, which was exactly the size of my fist. Toasted bun, slightly spicy burger sauce, loads of pickles, white cheddar, lettuce and tomato. As close to perfection as you can get in Europe (c’mon, we all know there’s no meat in your meat).
€3.00 Cheeseburger. Oranienstraße 190, Kreuzberg
Impression: Burgers aren’t rocket science. Mood: Digesting.
Curry 36
No foodie tour of Berlin would be complete without a round of currywurst at Curry 36, the most famous wurst stop in town. For the uninitiated, the dish in question looks like an oversized hotdog that’s been dressed in curry ketchup, with a warm bun on the side.
Lines often go around the block but I was lucky, hitting some magical hour where only a few of us whoofed the best wurst. Everyone from bankers to cabbies stood around me, wolfing down some of the best mystery meat ever put to paper plate. I wasn’t the only one who licked mine clean.
€1.70 Currywurst. Mehringdamm 36, Kreuzberg
Impression: Worth the hype. Mood: Gurgly.
Pagode
Berlin is gaga for Thai and so am I. Pagode does it better than any restaurant I’ve been to outside of Thailand, probably because they fly ingredients in twice-weekly from Southeast Asia. Four irritated women whiz through dozens of orders in minutes, barking pickups through a PA system that projects towards the curbside picnic tables.
I’ve went for the Tom Yam Gai, a particularly risky post-currywurst choice. I felt my insides begging for mercy as I ladled big spoonfuls of the spicy soup into my gullet. If you ever find yourself in Berlin, point yourself to this place. It’s incredible.
€3.20 Soup Bergmannstrase 88, Kreuzberg
Impression: It doesn’t get any finer. Mood: Potty?
Solo Pizza
Berlin is filled with these little storefront pizza joints, all displaying massive pizzas that are difficult to walk past without a second or third glance. They’re all pretty much the same and are all frigging delicious.
Knowing that I had to pace myself, I skipped the spicier options (Spicy Potato, Salami) and opted for a Rucola slice – a margherita topped with shaved parmesan, tomatos and rocket leaves. One piece is enough to fill most anyone.
€2.20 Slice. Danziger Str. 7, Prenzlaeur Berg
Impression: On the money. Mood: Burpy
Kadewe
Kadewe’s sixth floor is the most delicious place on earth. This massive food hall is set up so that each counter also serves as a restaurant, where a chef can make most anything that’s in the display case. There’s food from all over the world, including an “American Section” that stocks something for every craving, from Bisquick to Thousand Island to Pop Tarts.
I opted for something German, hitting a booth that sold ten different kinds of Wurst. Dude handed me a plate with a massive sausage, homemade saurkraut and a big dollop of mustard. I wasn’t particularly hungry but I ate it all.
€5.70 Meal, Kadawe “Department Store Of The West”. Tauenzienstrasse 21, Shoneberg
Impression: Pricey but unique. Mood: Broke and ready to barf.
“Shop”
As bloated as I was, I took one for the team and grabbed a pastry-y thing on the way home. Most U-Bahn stations are good for fast food, some of them containing dozens of shops and stores. I was only able to choke down a few bites of this tasty treat.
€1.00 Streuselschnecke, U-Bhf. Kottbusser Tor
Impression: Sweet. Mood: Gone too far.
Hot Dog Man
Unwise. But how often are you going to run into a man with a full hot dog setup resting on his hips? These guys (and girls) make the rounds outside of U-Bahn stations and sport a full grill contraption, ready to serve dogs that are so big they won’t fit in a roll. Two bites later, I called it a day.
€1.20 Most U-Bahn stops, especially Alexanderplatz.
Impression: Processed meat is scary. Mood: Done. Totally done.
All Photos: Tom Gates
More Food On Matador
Not full? Be sure to check Tom’s binge in Bangkok. Feel free to also indulge your inner foodie by eyeballing Anatomy of a Smörgåsbord and Matador Nights’ ongoing obsession with carbonated beverages.
Tom Gates
Tom is a wayward writer based in Los Angeles. He has served as Editor for both Matador Nights and Life. He loves to go far, far away whenever possible. He is also pretending to be a third person right now and is obviously writing his own bio. He knows that you knew that, despite the deft maneuvering of pronouns.
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