Where to get the best Currywurst in Berlin
Photo by Jonathan Whitlam
What is currywurst? Where does it come from? Why?!
Most people seem to agree that a woman named Herta Heuwer invented the sweet, delicious currywurst sauce we know and love today in West Berlin in the early 1950s. There’s even a plaque outside of her old house honouring her gift to humanity!
Currywurst is a skinless sausage, sometimes boiled, sometimes grilled, covered in a curry-ketchup sauce, often served with fries. It is a rich, delicious street food you can find all over Berlin. Berliners mostly enjoy their currywurst standing up, outside. Great food on the go!
1. Curry 36
The most famous currywurst in town! They have multiple locations, but the classic one is outside Mehringdamm U-Bahn. It’s packed! I should know, I used to live across from it. The fries here are especially excellent, and like most places there’s a vegan alternative available, too!
But wait, there’s more
Look out for their locations at Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) and Zoologischer Garten (zoo station), which is of course right next to the Berlin zoo!
2. Konnopke’s Imbiss
The East Berlin classic! Beneath the train tracks next to Eberswalder Strasse station you’ll see a long line of hungry Berliners patiently waiting for their favourite currywurst. This one is actually my personal favourite. I love the kitschy East Berlin design, and I’ve brought a few private tour groups here and everybody loves it!
TOP TIP
Once your stomach is full why not wash it all down with a beer from Berlin’s oldest beer garden, Prater? It’s just around the corner from Konnopke’s!
3. Curry Baude
Outside of the Gesundbrunnen train station in the district of Wedding is the fantastic Curry Baude. Not only popular with locals, some people come all the way up here just for a taste of their delicious currywurst! Curry Baude has a proper Berliner atmosphere, so if your service comes with a side order of sassiness don’t take it personally, that’s just how Berliners roll!
Afterwards you can burn off the excess calories by climbing to the top of the hill in the park over the road (Volkspark Humboldthain). From the top you get a view all over Berlin! Also, little secret, you’re not standing on a natural hill, it’s actually an old flak tower from World War Two! You can find out more about WWII on our World War Two and the Third Reich in Berlin walking tour.
4. Curry 61
Smack bang in the middle of town is Curry 61! This one is very popular amongst our guides as it’s right around the corner from our meeting point. Here you’ll get service with a smile, which is rare enough in Berlin! Inside there’s also a really cool painting of the famous “Brother Kiss” from the East Side Gallery. In my opinion these guys serve up the best vegan currywurst in town. I dare you to order both and guess which one is the “real” one.
Did you know?
When the soy sausage was invented in 1918 by Konrad Adenauer. In 1949 Adenauer would go on to become the first ever Chancellor of West Germany!
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
5. Witty’s
Do you like your street food a little more upmarket? Check out Witty’s! They have three locations, one beneath the train tracks at Friedrichstrasse station, and another right by the world-famous KaDeWe department store. If you really need food on the go then they can also be found at terminal 5 of the BER airport. Worth arriving early for! In my experience Witty’s is a bit pricier than other options on this list, but they’re super tasty so by the time I’m eating it all is forgotten!
TOP TIP: Tried currywurst already? Extra hungry? Go for the “boulette” for the really authentic Berlin experience. Boulette are like giant meatballs, often served with a soft bread roll and deliciously sweet mustard.
6. Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry
In the northern district of Prenzlauer Berg is the relatively little-known Ziervogel’s! Just because many traveller’s haven’t heard of it, doesn’t mean it’s not one of the absolute best ways to get a wurst in town! Sit on the red benches out front and watch the world go by as Berliners comes and go for a delightful munch on a sweet, salty, delightful currywurst.
FUN FACT: The founder, Mario Ziervogel, is actually the grandson of Max Konnopke, namesake of the famous Konnopke’s listed above, which you can find a little ways up the very same street!
Bonus: Take it Home!
So you’ve come to Berlin, you’ve tasted the delights of currywurst, and you’re coming to terms with the fact that it will be a long time until you get to try it again? Fear not, my friend! You can pick up the delicious “curry ketchup” in most supermarkets in Berlin. You can even go gourmet and pick up an artisanal, locally produced currywurst sauce at Eat Berlin. They have have two outlets, one in the Hackescher Höfe by Hackescher Markt, and the other in the East Side Mall by Warschauer Strasse station.