German cuisine is always something that attracts people all over the world when they have the chance to try it. Therefore, on your journey to study in Germany, you should really experience a “food tour” of German cuisine from North to South to understand more about the unique cultural features here!

And this article will give a list of typical dishes worth trying when coming to Germany, let’s learn about these “tongue-tipping” delicacies  with My Career !

1. Brot & Brötchen ? German culinary bread

Bread, in the form of loaves ( Brot ) or small rolls, usually shortbread ( Brötchen ), is an important part of German cuisine, used throughout the country and served with most German dishes. 

Banh mi is enjoyed at most meals, especially breakfast and dinner, but also at lunch (often considered the main meal of the day), usually served with banh cuon on the side.

Germans enjoy a variety of breads including multigrain, Pumpernickel , rye and white bread. German bread tends to be heavier and more crumbly than Italian, Spanish or French bread.

2. Cheese spaetzle

A dish from the southwestern regions of Germany, Käsespätzle is made from small Spätzle pasta layered with grated cheese and topped with fried onions. It is often served with salad and sometimes with apple sauce.

This dish is somewhat similar to Macaroni Cheese , a familiar dish in the US and UK, but shows more depth and flavor than the homeland dish of expatriates.

3. Currywurst? German street food

Currywurst is sold from stalls and fast food restaurants in many towns and cities, and if you want to know what the capital Berlin is famous for, you will quickly discover it is Currywurst . 

It is not a dish that Germans eat at home, but rather something that is eaten ?on the spot?. Its nutritional value is negligible, but this plate of chopped sausages, fried potatoes and spicy tomato sauce is an extremely popular German dish, especially at some parties.

Currywurst Museum

Did you know there is a Currywurst museum in the heart of Berlin (Berlin-Mitte)? It is a great place for kids and adults alike and offers a surprisingly in-depth look at the significance of this beloved German snack.

4. Potato pancakes & fried potatoes

Kartoffelpuffer is similar to the Swiss “ Rosti ”: a shallow fried pancake made from grated potatoes, eggs and flour. It is sometimes eaten with eggs and bacon for breakfast in Germany, as an accompaniment to meat at lunch or dinner, or alone with apple sauce.

Bratkartoffeln, on the other hand, is like a pan-fried or hash brown, where small pieces of potatoes or hash browns are boiled and then fried with onions and sometimes bacon. Again, Bratkartoffeln can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

5. Roulades

Rouladen is a German main dish that typically consists of pickles and bacon wrapped in thin slices of beef or veal. It is often served with gravy, dumplings, mashed potatoes, and cabbage.

Rouladen is often enjoyed when families get together for a holiday or celebration and is not native to any particular region. In fact, it is believed to have originated in France ? hence the name.

6. Schnitzel

Schnitzel is made by tenderizing a piece of meat (such as chicken, beef, veal, or pork) and then coating it in egg, flour, and breadcrumbs before frying it in oil. Schnitzel actually originated in Austria.

This dish is a typical example of a typical German dish served in bars, restaurants and fast food restaurants. Schnitzel plus fries is a very popular and satisfying choice.

7. Stew

Eintopf is a one-pot stew that can include a variety of ingredients. It is a meal in one that will usually include broth, vegetables, potatoes, and meat. It can sometimes include legumes such as lentils, and it is often served mit Brot (with bread).

Enjoyed across many regions, there are major regional variations in the flavour and ingredients used to make Eintopf . Often enjoyed at home as a family meal, this is one of the simplest German recipes. Those new to German cooking may also choose this to start with, as it is probably one of the easiest German recipes to make.

8. Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten is a German pot roast that literally translates to “sour roast”. The sour part involves soaking meat in a sauce similar to a sweet and sour sauce, then slowly roasting it in a dish.

The meats tend to be veal, beef or pork that are marinated for days or even weeks at a time. It is found throughout Germany and German-speaking countries.

9. Pretzel

Brezel is the German term for ?cookie?, although you may find them sold under either name. Available in bakeries and street stalls, Brezel is made by folding a long strip of dough into a knot and then boiling it before baking. This results in a chewy brown crust and a soft, fluffy interior.

It is then often seasoned with salt, nuts or cheese and served with a mustard dipping sauce. The origins of the Brezel are hotly debated, but they have long been associated with Christian celebrations, with many seeing the knotted shape as a symbol of the holy trinity.

10. Black Forest Cake

One delicious cake you might know is the Black Forest Gateaux . This layered chocolate sponge consists of cherries, jam, and cream. As the name suggests, it originated in southwestern Germany, where the Black Forest is located.

Eating cake in the afternoon with coffee, an activity known as Kaffee und Kuchen , is a big tradition in Germany, especially on weekends with family. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is often enjoyed at this time.

11. German Beer – German Culinary Culture

If we talk about German cuisine, we cannot miss the soul of both family meals and parties? German beer, an extremely familiar drink to Germans. With excellent quality because Germans are very meticulous in beer production. In order to achieve the highest technical requirements, German beer is produced from malt, water, and hops. 

People are happy to invite tourists to enjoy German beer because this country also imports beer, but people here think foreign beer is far inferior to German beer.

Beer is a delicious and typical German beverage, so the beverage industry is very developed with over 1,600 beer brands and over 1,000 different types of beer. 

Two special beer festivals in Germany you can visit are Cannstatter Volksfest and Oktoberfest, this is the beauty of German culture, the pride of German people as well as famous cuisine in Germany.

You can also enjoy German food with Berliner Weisse, because this is a delicious drink, a light beer originating from Berlin with a slightly sour taste and mixed with things like strawberry syrup, waldmeister to balance the taste of the beer, soften the alcohol content in the beer so it is very suitable for everyone.

12. Wine – a delicious drink in Germany

Germany is a major wine producer in the world, mainly in the Rhineland. German wine is white wine but mostly sweet wine. Wine is a delicious drink for Germans, Germans eat wine as much as bread.

Wine is divided into many types such as daily meals, premium wine, high quality wine, accordingly the price of wine also has many different levels, German wine is not taxed. You can enjoy this drink at German wine bars right in the restaurants.

So, have the top 12 typical dishes of German cuisine appeared on everyone’s food tour list? Why hesitate to explore German cuisine with somewhat familiar ingredients but with this unique recipe!

The top delicious and famous dishes of German cuisine will bring you interesting and useful moments during your trip to this civilized European country. The dishes have been spreading inspiration to many lands as well as the cuisines of many countries in the world: sausages, wine, fresh beer, … 

Follow My Career now to learn more interesting information about German culture as well as the journey to the “German Dream” and very practical sharing from students living in Germany!

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