The Atlas · Nº 10 ·Germany

Most Popular German Food

German food is sausage, bread, and cake, built for the cold: a Bratwurst hot off the grill, a soft pretzel with mustard, cheese spätzle from the Alps, a whole goose roasted for Christmas. It runs deep on pork and potatoes, and pauses every afternoon for Kaffee und Kuchen, coffee and a slice of Apfelkuchen.

237 dishes ranked·13 in the global top 1,000 ·9,294 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 352

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 237 ranked german dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked German dishes, by global position.

Eierkuchen, pancake from Germany
Plate IIPancake · Germany

1 Nº 352 worldwide

Eierkuchen

Pancake · Pfannkuchen

German pancakes, thicker than a French crêpe and thinner than an American stack, cooked in butter and served rolled around jam, apple, or sugar. Berliners call them Eierkuchen while much of the south says Pfannkuchen, and the argument over the name is half the fun.

★ 4.2|88% positive |56 ratings

Mett, ground meat dish from Germany
Plate IIIGround Meat Dish · Germany

2 Nº 419 worldwide

Mett

Ground Meat Dish · Hackepeter

Seasoned raw pork mince, spread thick on a bread roll and topped with raw onion, eaten fresh and uncooked. A fixture of German bakery counters and party buffets, it has to be strictly fresh, seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and sometimes caraway.

★ 4.2|88% positive |63 ratings

Franzbrötchen, sweet pastry from Germany

3FranzbrötchenNº 428

Sweet Pastry

Hamburg's answer to the cinnamon roll, a small flaky pastry of buttery dough rolled with cinnamon and sugar, then pressed flat so the middle stays gooey and the edges crisp. Served with coffee, it began as a local specialty and spread across the north.

★ 4.2|72 ratings

Bratwurst, sausage from Germany

4BratwurstNº 495

Sausage · Also Thüringer Rostbratwurst

The classic German grilling sausage, with centuries of history in Franconia and dozens of regional styles, from Nuremberg's finger-sized links to Thuringia's long, spiced version. Best eaten hot off the grill with mustard and a crusty roll.

★ 4.2|375 ratings

Weihnachtsgans, goose dish from Germany

5WeihnachtsgansNº 538

Goose Dish

The German Christmas goose, roasted whole with a stuffing of apples, onions, and mugwort until the skin turns deep and crisp. Served with red cabbage and potato dumplings, it is the centerpiece of the holiday table, tied by tradition to St. Martin's Day and Christmas.

★ 4.1|27 ratings

Apfelkuchen, cake from Germany

6ApfelkuchenNº 558

Cake

German apple cake, a dense buttery batter or shortcrust studded with sliced or diced apples, baked until golden and dusted with sugar or cinnamon. It is the cornerstone of Kaffee und Kuchen, the afternoon coffee-and-cake ritual, and every region bakes its own.

★ 4.1|148 ratings

Hendl, chicken dish from Germany

7HendlNº 646

Chicken Dish

Bavaria's beer-garden roast chicken, seasoned simply with salt and parsley and grilled on a spit until the skin is crisp and golden. Sold by the half at Oktoberfest and summer gardens, it is eaten with a giant soft pretzel and a liter of beer.

★ 4.1|67 ratings

Gänsebraten, goose dish from Germany

8GänsebratenNº 677

Goose Dish

Roast goose in the wider sense, a whole bird brined, stuffed, and slow-roasted until the fat renders and the skin crackles. A festive autumn and winter dish, it is the classic thing to order for St. Martin's Day, served with dumplings and braised cabbage.

★ 4.1|52 ratings

Käsespätzle, noodle dish from Germany

9KäsespätzleNº 781

Noodle Dish · Also Kässspätzle

The Alpine comfort classic, soft egg spätzle noodles layered with melting cheese and crowned with crispy fried onions. From Swabia and the south, it is Germany's heartier, homelier answer to macaroni and cheese, rich enough to be a meal on its own.

★ 4.1|176 ratings

Käsekuchen, cheese dessert from Germany

10KäsekuchenNº 840

Cheese Dessert · Also German-Style Cheesecake

German cheesecake, built on a thin shortcrust base and a creamy filling of Quark, the fresh curd cheese, which bakes lighter and less sweet than the American kind. Tall, pale, and gently tangy, it is a Kaffeetafel staple across the country.

★ 4.0|142 ratings

Mettwurst, sausage from Germany

11MettwurstNº 846

Sausage

A soft, cured German sausage of finely minced pork and beef, flavored with garlic, pepper, and marjoram, some versions firm and sliceable, others soft enough to spread on bread. A northern specialty, smoky and deeply savory.

★ 4.0|70 ratings

Frankfurter Grüne Soße, sauce from Germany

12Frankfurter Grüne SoßeNº 886

Sauce

Frankfurt's famous cold green sauce, a blend of sour cream and seven fresh herbs, among them borage, chervil, cress, and parsley, whipped smooth and served chilled. Traditionally poured over boiled eggs and potatoes, it is the taste of a Hessian spring.

★ 4.0|53 ratings

The Departments

Every German dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 237 German dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

237 entries
  1. 352 Eierkuchen Pancake Berlin ★ 4.2
  2. 419 Mett Ground Meat Dish Germany ★ 4.2
  3. 428 Franzbrötchen Sweet Pastry Hamburg ★ 4.2
  4. 495 Bratwurst Sausage Nuremberg ★ 4.2
  5. 538 Weihnachtsgans Goose Dish Germany ★ 4.1
  6. 558 Apfelkuchen Cake Germany ★ 4.1
  7. 646 Hendl Chicken Dish Bavaria ★ 4.1
  8. 677 Gänsebraten Goose Dish Germany ★ 4.1
  9. 781 Käsespätzle Noodle Dish Baden-Württemberg ★ 4.1
  10. 840 Käsekuchen Cheese Dessert Germany ★ 4.0
  11. 846 Mettwurst Sausage Germany ★ 4.0
  12. 886 Frankfurter Grüne Soße Sauce Frankfurt am Main ★ 4.0
  13. 968 Bratkartoffeln Side Dish Germany ★ 4.0
  14. 1,014 Spanferkel Pork Dish Germany ★ 4.0
  15. 1,015 Bayerische Breze Bread Bavaria ★ 4.0
  16. 1,236 Bavarian Cream Custard Bavaria ★ 4.0
  17. 1,276 Strammer Max Sandwich type Berlin ★ 4.0
  18. 1,325 Zwiebelrostbraten Beef Dish Bavaria ★ 3.9
  19. 1,331 Schneckenkuchen Sweet Bread Germany ★ 3.9
  20. 1,385 Braunschweiger Sausage Braunschweig ★ 3.9
  21. 1,386 Thüringer Klöße Dumplings Thuringia ★ 3.9
  22. 1,403 Quarkbällchen Snack Bavaria ★ 3.9
  23. 1,444 Bregenwurst Sausage Lower Saxony ★ 3.9
  24. 1,461 Bergische Waffles Dessert Bergisches Land ★ 3.9
  25. 1,551 Steckerlfisch Fish Dish Bavaria ★ 3.9
  26. 1,726 Ostfriesentorte Cake East Frisia ★ 3.9
  27. 1,786 Thüringer Rostbratwurst Sausage Thuringia ★ 3.9
  28. 1,791 Jägerschnitzel Meat Dish Germany ★ 3.9
  29. 1,966 Herrencreme Custard Germany ★ 3.9
  30. 1,970 Rahmschwammerl Side Dish Bavaria ★ 3.9
  31. 2,052 Schwenkbraten Pork Dish Saarland ★ 3.9
  32. 2,091 Mohnkuchen Cake Germany ★ 3.8
  33. 2,104 Schweinshaxe Pork Dish Bavaria ★ 3.8
  34. 2,110 Schäufele Pork Dish Germany ★ 3.8
  35. 2,173 Frankfurter Grüne Soße mit Eiern und Kartoffeln Appetizer Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.8
  36. 2,218 Verheiratete Dumplings Saarland ★ 3.8
  37. 2,349 Frankfurter Schnitzel Meat Dish Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.8
  38. 2,385 Quarkkeulchen Deep-fried Dessert Saxony ★ 3.8
  39. 2,455 Drei im Weggla Street Food Nuremberg ★ 3.8
  40. 2,670 Eggs and Shrimp (Rührei mit Krabben) Appetizer Germany ★ 3.8
  41. 2,691 Hoorische Dumplings Saarland ★ 3.8
  42. 2,739 Frankfurter Brenten Cookie Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.8
  43. 2,849 Münchner Schnitzel Veal Dish Munich ★ 3.8
  44. 2,956 Schwäbische Maultaschen Dumplings Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.8
  45. 3,037 Kieler Sprotten Saltwater Fish Dish Eckernförde ★ 3.8
  46. 3,159 Bremer Braunkohl Side Dish Bremen ★ 3.8
  47. 3,217 Mutzbraten Pork Dish Thuringia ★ 3.8
  48. 3,272 Schusterjunge Rye Bread Berlin ★ 3.8
  49. 3,320 Kluten Dumplings Schleswig-Holstein ★ 3.8
  50. 3,352 G Green Bean Soup (Bibbelchesbohnesupp) Soup Saarland ★ 3.8
  51. 3,383 Steckrübeneintopf Stew Germany ★ 3.8
  52. 3,495 Flädle Pancake Bavaria ★ 3.8
  53. 3,516 Kirschenmichel Pudding Rhineland-Palatinate ★ 3.8
  54. 3,547 Obazda Spread Bavaria ★ 3.8
  55. 3,557 Baumkuchen Cake Germany ★ 3.7
  56. 3,580 Serviettenknödel Dumplings Bavaria ★ 3.7
  57. 3,625 Wibele Cookie Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.7
  58. 3,636 Grießbrei Pudding Germany ★ 3.7
  59. 3,757 C Creamed Mushrooms (Gedünstete Pilze) Side Dish Germany ★ 3.7
  60. 3,762 Potthucke Potato Dish North Rhine-Westphalia ★ 3.7
  61. 3,804 Duck Stewed in Beer (Ente in Bier) Duck Dish Germany ★ 3.7
  62. 3,812 Hoppelpoppel Breakfast Berlin ★ 3.7
  63. 3,830 Schlesisches Himmelreich Pork Dish Saxony ★ 3.7
  64. 3,851 Rostbrätel Pork Dish Thuringia ★ 3.7
  65. 3,922 Helgoländer knieper Crab Dish Helgoland ★ 3.7
  66. 3,937 Luckeleskäs Spread Bavaria ★ 3.7
  67. 3,970 Chervil Soup (Kerbelsuppe) Soup Germany ★ 3.7
  68. 3,981 R Rostbraten German Beef Cut Germany ★ 3.7
  69. 3,992 White Radish Salad (Rettichsalat) Salad Bavaria ★ 3.7
  70. 4,037 Flädlesuppe Soup Bavaria ★ 3.7
  71. 4,059 Magdeburger Schmalzkuchen Sweet Pastry Magdeburg ★ 3.7
  72. 4,086 Dibbelabbes Pork Dish Saarland ★ 3.7
  73. 4,100 Regensburger Wurst Sausage Regensburg ★ 3.7
  74. 4,112 Dinnete Pizza Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.7
  75. 4,128 Meenzer Spundekäs Dip Mainz ★ 3.7
  76. 4,133 Gaisburger Marsch Stew Stuttgart ★ 3.7
  77. 4,160 Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte Cake Black Forest ★ 3.7
  78. 4,173 Potato Wurst (Kartoffelwurst) Sausage Germany ★ 3.7
  79. 4,186 Agnes Bernauer Torte Cake Bavaria ★ 3.7
  80. 4,197 Hausfreunde Cookie Germany ★ 3.7
  81. 4,235 Kartoffelsuppe Vegetable Soup Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.7
  82. 4,238 Schweinebraten Pork Dish Bavaria ★ 3.7
  83. 4,263 Knockwurst Sausage Germany ★ 3.7
  84. 4,284 Schlachteplatte Feast Bavaria ★ 3.7
  85. 4,475 Weinkraut Side Dish Germany ★ 3.7
  86. 4,497 Bötel Pork Dish Magdeburg ★ 3.7
  87. 4,591 Eisbein Pork Dish Berlin ★ 3.7
  88. 4,627 Rhine-Style Mussels (Muscheln rheinische art) Mussel Dish Rhineland-Palatinate ★ 3.7
  89. 4,649 Semmelknödel Dumplings Bavaria ★ 3.7
  90. 4,656 Kartoffelpuffer Pancake Germany ★ 3.7
  91. 4,658 Ofenschlupfer Pudding Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.7
  92. 4,726 Schnitzel Holstein Veal Dish Berlin ★ 3.7
  93. 4,823 Grünkohl Vegetable Dish Germany ★ 3.7
  94. 4,843 Knipp Sausage Bremen ★ 3.7
  95. 4,874 Prinzregententorte Chocolate Cake Bavaria ★ 3.7
  96. 4,880 Dampfnudeln Dumplings Bavaria ★ 3.7
  97. 4,900 Caramel Potatoes (Karamellkartoffeln) Side Dish Northern Germany ★ 3.7
  98. 4,909 F Frankfurter Schneegestöber Spread Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.7
  99. 4,940 Bratwurst in Beer Sauce (Bratwurst in Biersoße) Sausage Dish Eastern Germany ★ 3.7
  100. 4,967 S Siegerländer Krüstche Pork Dish Siegen ★ 3.7
  101. 5,010 Birnen, Bohnen und Speck Stew Schleswig-Holstein ★ 3.7
  102. 5,025 Wurst Sausage Germany ★ 3.7
  103. 5,044 Bienenstich Cake Germany ★ 3.7
  104. 5,062 Nürnberger Lebkuchen Cookie Nuremberg ★ 3.7
  105. 5,079 Fischbrötchen Sandwich Schleswig-Holstein ★ 3.6
  106. 5,117 Himmel und Erde Side Dish Rhineland-Palatinate ★ 3.6
  107. 5,199 Schmierwurst Sausage Germany ★ 3.6
  108. 5,285 Butterkuchen Cake Germany ★ 3.6
  109. 5,437 Venison goulash (Hirschgulasch) Stew Germany ★ 3.6
  110. 5,582 Saure Zipfel Sausage Dish Nuremberg ★ 3.6
  111. 5,683 Pickert Pancake Westphalia ★ 3.6
  112. 5,737 Plockwurst Sausage Germany ★ 3.6
  113. 5,750 Pellkartoffeln Potato Dish Germany ★ 3.6
  114. 5,765 Onion Soup from Baden (Badische Zwiebelsuppe) Vegetable Soup Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.6
  115. 5,781 Springerle Cookie Germany ★ 3.6
  116. 5,818 Kartoffelsalat Salad Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.6
  117. 5,819 Speckpfannkuchen Pancake Germany ★ 3.6
  118. 5,963 Rouladen Beef Dish Germany ★ 3.6
  119. 6,148 Mettbrötchen Sandwich Germany ★ 3.6
  120. 6,277 Westfälischer Pumpernickel Rye Bread Westphalia ★ 3.5
  121. 6,323 Frankfurter Pudding Pudding Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.5
  122. 6,391 Radi Snack Bavaria ★ 3.5
  123. 6,404 Buttermilchsuppe Soup Germany ★ 3.5
  124. 6,448 Eierschecke Cake Saxony ★ 3.5
  125. 6,490 Engelsaugen Cookie Germany ★ 3.5
  126. 6,526 Kartoffelklöße Dumplings Germany ★ 3.5
  127. 6,541 Bethmännchen Cookie Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.5
  128. 6,544 Zimtsterne Cookie Germany ★ 3.5
  129. 6,562 Anispläzchen Cookie Germany ★ 3.5
  130. 6,640 Zwiebelkuchen Savory Pie Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.5
  131. 6,672 Halve Hahn Sandwich Cologne ★ 3.5
  132. 6,725 Krüstchen Schnitzel Meat Dish Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.5
  133. 6,737 Brathering Fish Dish Germany ★ 3.5
  134. 6,740 Hochzeitssuppe Soup Germany ★ 3.5
  135. 6,749 Leipziger Allerlei Vegetable Dish Leipzig ★ 3.5
  136. 6,777 Westfälische Quarkspeise Dessert Westphalia ★ 3.5
  137. 6,886 Senfgurken Pickling Germany ★ 3.5
  138. 6,922 Bauernomelett Breakfast Germany ★ 3.5
  139. 6,949 Farmer's Breakfast (Bauernfrühstück) Breakfast Germany ★ 3.5
  140. 6,971 Meißner Fummel Sweet Pastry Meißen ★ 3.5
  141. 7,000 Berlin-Style Calves Liver (Kalbsleber Berliner Art) Offal Dish Berlin ★ 3.5
  142. 7,023 Chestnut Soup (Kastaniensuppe) Soup Germany ★ 3.5
  143. 7,025 Seele Bread Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.5
  144. 7,096 Handkäse mit Musik Appetizer Hesse ★ 3.4
  145. 7,115 Wiener Würstchen Sausage Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.4
  146. 7,126 Currywurst Sausage Dish Berlin ★ 3.4
  147. 7,161 Berliner Knüppel Bread Berlin ★ 3.4
  148. 7,189 Linsen mit Spätzle Stew Baden-Württemberg ★ 3.4
  149. 7,204 Bremer Klaben Cake Bremen ★ 3.4
  150. 7,221 Rahmschnitzel Meat Dish Germany ★ 3.4
  151. 7,278 Dresdner Stollen Sweet Bread Dresden ★ 3.4
  152. 7,311 Brotsuppe Bread Soup Bavaria ★ 3.4
  153. 7,344 Senfei Egg Dish Germany ★ 3.4
  154. 7,348 Donauwelle Cake Germany ★ 3.4
  155. 7,396 Pretzel (Brezel) Bread Germany ★ 3.4
  156. 7,454 Zungenwurst Blood Sausage Germany ★ 3.4
  157. 7,498 Buletten Ground Meat Dish Berlin ★ 3.4
  158. 7,506 Sahnehering Salad Germany ★ 3.4
  159. 7,545 Gruenkohl und Pinkel Sausage Dish Germany ★ 3.4
  160. 7,554 Pfefferpotthast Stew Dortmund ★ 3.4
  161. 7,613 Kassler Pork Dish Germany ★ 3.3
  162. 7,636 Gelbwurst Sausage Bavaria ★ 3.3
  163. 7,641 Frankfurter Würstchen Sausage Frankfurt am Main ★ 3.3
  164. 7,761 Spaghettieis Dessert Mannheim ★ 3.3
  165. 7,893 Leberkässemmel Sandwich Bavaria ★ 3.3
  166. 7,898 Gefilte Fish Fish Dish Germany ★ 3.3
  167. 7,943 Wurstsalat Salad Germany ★ 3.3
  168. 7,962 Salzwedeler Baumkuchen Cake Salzwedel ★ 3.2
  169. 8,026 Pichelsteiner Stew Bavaria ★ 3.2
  170. 8,058 Saumagen Pork Dish Palatinate ★ 3.2
  171. 8,076 Biersuppe Soup Germany ★ 3.2
  172. 8,083 Rote Grütze Dessert Germany ★ 3.2
  173. 8,102 Kohlroulade Ground Meat Dish Germany ★ 3.2
  174. 8,141 Aachener Printen Cookie Aachen ★ 3.2
  175. 8,208 Lyoner Wurst Sausage Germany ★ 3.2
  176. 8,215 Zigeunerschnitzel Meat Dish Germany ★ 3.1
  177. 8,221 Pfeffernuss Cookie Germany ★ 3.1
  178. 8,296 Matzah Ball Soup Soup Germany ★ 3.1
  179. 8,352 Nudelsuppe Noodle Soup Germany ★ 3.1
  180. 8,360 Sauerbraten Beef Dish Germany ★ 3.1
  181. 8,406 Rollmops Appetizer Berlin ★ 3.0
  182. 8,423 Leberkäse Ground Meat Dish Germany ★ 3.0
  183. 8,516 Sauerkraut Side Dish Germany ★ 2.9
  184. 8,584 Weißwürste Sausage Munich ★ 2.9
  185. 8,594 Bockwurst Sausage Berlin ★ 2.8
  186. 8,605 Labskaus Appetizer Germany ★ 2.8
  187. 8,616 Griebenschmalz Spread Bavaria ★ 2.8
  188. 8,637 Bayerischer Wurstsalat Salad Bavaria ★ 2.8
  189. 8,667 Stollen Sweet Bread Saxony ★ 2.7
  190. 8,709 Schneeballen Sweet Pastry Rothenburg ob der Tauber ★ 2.6
  191. 8,736 Leberwurst Sausage Germany ★ 2.5
  192. 8,749 Lebkuchen Cookie Germany ★ 2.5
  193. 8,763 Toast Hawaii Sandwich Germany ★ 2.4
  194. 8,798 Pumpernickel Sweet Bread North Rhine-Westphalia ★ 2.1
  195. 8,828 Blutwurst Blood Sausage Germany ★ 1.6
  196. 8,831 Weimarer Zwiebelkuchen Savory Pie Weimar
  197. 9,698 G Green Beans with Savory (Grüne Bohnen mit Bohnenkraut) Side Dish Germany
  198. 9,716 Blunzengröstl Sausage Dish Bavaria
  199. 9,719 Sailors' Beef (Matrosenfleisch) Beef Dish Bremen
  200. 9,729 C Creamed Potatoes (Niedernauer Kartoffeln) Potato Dish Bavaria
  201. 9,732 Potatoes in Horseradish Cream Sauce (Meerrettich Kartoffeln) Potato Dish Germany
  202. 9,951 W Woihinkelche Chicken Dish Hesse
  203. 9,979 Stippgrütze Sausage North Rhine-Westphalia
  204. 9,994 Kartoffelhörnchen Savory Pastry Thuringia
  205. 10,107 S Schwarzer Magister Dessert Rhineland-Palatinate
  206. 10,109 Gedadschde Potato Dish Palatinate
  207. 10,196 S Skewered Kidneys (Nierenspiesschen) Offal Dish Germany
  208. 10,213 Schwarzsauer Offal Soup Schleswig-Holstein
  209. 10,242 Welfenspeise Dessert Hanover
  210. 10,316 Semmelschmarrn Dessert Bavaria
  211. 10,336 F Flanke German Beef Cut Germany
  212. 10,355 A Appeltaat Sweet Pie Rhineland-Palatinate
  213. 10,374 H Hals German Beef Cut Germany
  214. 10,375 H Hochrippe German Beef Cut Germany
  215. 10,376 Q Querrippe German Beef Cut Germany
  216. 10,397 S Stuffed Goose Neck (Gefüllter Gänsehals) Goose Dish Germany
  217. 10,433 Schmand und Glumse Spread Eastern Germany
  218. 10,467 Snail Soup (Schneckensuppe) Soup Black Forest
  219. 10,527 P Pretzel soup (Bayerische Brezensuppe) Bread Soup Bavaria
  220. 10,538 Hamburger Aalsuppe Fish Soup Hamburg
  221. 10,572 W Wild Boar in Burgundy Wine (Wildschwein in Burgunder) Game Dish Germany
  222. 10,582 Fliederbeersuppe Soup Germany
  223. 10,583 T Tüften un Plum Soup Northern Germany
  224. 10,584 Rumford's Soup (Rumfordsche Suppe) Soup Bavaria
  225. 10,586 Sauerampfersuppe Soup Southern Germany
  226. 10,632 P Partridge with Lentils (Rebhuhn mit Linsen) Game Dish Germany
  227. 10,663 S Schulter German Beef Cut Germany
  228. 10,664 U Unterschale German Beef Cut Germany
  229. 10,665 H Hüfte German Beef Cut Germany
  230. 10,666 O Oberschale German Beef Cut Germany
  231. 10,667 S Spannrippe German Beef Cut Germany
  232. 10,668 N Nuss German Beef Cut Germany
  233. 10,669 D Dünnung German Beef Cut Germany
  234. 10,672 B Birnen im Teig Casserole Schleswig-Holstein
  235. 10,716 Berliner Schmorgurken Stew Berlin
  236. 10,830 Schnüsch Stew Northern Germany
  237. 10,833 K Kloppschinken Meat Dish Strasburg (Uckermark)
Leaf 1 of 7

Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of German Food

Where Germany's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

German food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular German food?
By ratings, the classics of the imbiss stand: the Pretzel (Brezel) leads, then Bratwurst, the grilled sausage, and Currywurst, the curry-ketchup sausage of Berlin. Our best-ranked German dish is a homelier one, Eierkuchen, the German pancake rolled around jam. All 67 German meat dishes →
What food is Germany known for?
Sausage, bread, and cake. Germany over-indexes enormously on sausages, from the grilled Bratwurst to the raw, spreadable Mett and cured Mettwurst. It is also a nation of bakers, with a deep bench of cakes like Apfelkuchen and Käsekuchen for the afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen ritual. All 49 German desserts & sweets →
What is Germany's national dish?
There is no official one, but Sauerbraten, a pot roast marinated for days in vinegar and spices, is the most-cited national dish, along with Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Regional pride runs deep. In our data the top-ranked German dish is the humble Eierkuchen pancake.
What is the most famous German sausage?
Bratwurst, the grilled pork sausage with countless regional forms from Nuremberg to Thuringia, is the icon. Berlin's Currywurst, sliced and doused in curried ketchup, is the great street-food rival, while Mett, seasoned raw pork on a roll, is the one that surprises visitors.
What should I eat in Bavaria?
Bavaria is Germany's deepest food region and its beer-garden heart. Start with Hendl, the salt-and-parsley roast chicken sold by the half, and a Bayerische Breze, the giant soft pretzel. Save room for Bavarian Cream, the vanilla custard dessert set with gelatin.
What German dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
Regional home cooking beyond the sausage stand. Strammer Max tops fried bread and ham with a runny fried egg, a Berlin snack. Swabia braises Zwiebelrostbraten, a steak under a mountain of fried onions, and Frankfurt serves its cold, herby Frankfurter Grüne Soße over eggs and potatoes.