German food - 25 German dishes and delicacies

German food - what is it? We list 25 German dishes and delicacies, while sharing our experiences of German food. From schnitzel and bratwurst to sauerkraut and flammkuchen. It's time to taste Germany!

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What do you eat in Germany?

What to eat in Germany? We have visited Germany many times, including long journeys in our camper van. During these journeys, we have had the chance to taste a bunch of German dishes and delicacies.

The traditional food in Germany is quite hearty and often includes ingredients such as meat, sausages, potatoes and bread. The country is also known for both beer and white wine.

German cuisine

German cuisine includes dishes that are often flavoured with various herbs and spices, and sometimes mustard is used as a condiment. Germany is a big country, with a lot of people, so you can expect different specialities and food traditions in different parts of the country. Here are 25 German dishes and desserts from the German kitchen.

1st cutlet

Schnitzel is a Central European dish that is extremely popular in Germany. What German restaurant doesn't have a schnitzel on its menu? A so-called "wienerschnitzel" is made from veal, while other variations of schnitzel can be made from pork, chicken or turkey. A safe bet that almost always tastes good!

2. sauerbraten

Sauerbraten is a classic German dish, which we haven't actually tasted, but as it is sometimes described as Germany's national dish, we have to mention it. This dish is made from beef that is marinated for a long time in vinegar and spices. It is often served with boiled potatoes, spätzle or dumplings, along with gravy and red cabbage.

3. bratwurst

Bratwurst is a grilled sausage made from pork, lamb or beef, flavoured with spices such as garlic, cloves, cumin and nutmeg. It is often served with mustard, sauerkraut and bread, and is a popular dish at simple restaurants, markets and festivals.

4. currywurst

One of the most popular sausage dishes in Germany is undoubtedly currywurst. This street food is made from sliced bratwurst together with tomato sauce and curry powder. Accessories can be French fries or bread. Over 800 million portions of currywurst are consumed in Germany every year, and the dish is particularly strongly associated with Berlin.

5. More German sausages

Germany is the land of sausages, and in addition to bratwurst and currywurst, there are many other types of sausages. According to several online sources, there are no less than 1500 different types of sausages to choose from in Germany. Some examples of sausages you can try are Frankfurter, Weisswurst, Thüringer Rostbratwurst and Nürnberger Rostbratwurst.

6. knuckle of pork

Schweinshaxe, or pork shank, is also a classic German dish. This dish is cooked slowly until the meat is tender and juicy. It can be served with potatoes, sauerkraut and mustard. It is particularly popular in Bavaria, in the southern part of the country. Unexpectedly delicious!

7. stew

Eintopf is a typical German soup or stew, and is one of those classic German dishes that we can't remember trying. The ingredients can vary, depending on where you are in the country. You can expect some form of meat or sausage alongside potatoes, pulses and vegetables, for example.

8. Sauerkraut

You can't talk about German food without mentioning sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage. This German side dish is extremely popular and is served with various types of meat and sausages.

9. Spätzle

Spätzle is a type of pasta that is popular in southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, among other countries. It can be served as an accompaniment to meat or sausages, or as a vegetarian dish on its own, for example with roasted onions. Sometimes Spätzle is served with cheese, in which case the dish is called cheese Spätzle.

10. potato pancakes

Kartoffelpuffer are small round potato pancakes, made from grated potatoes with eggs and onions, reminiscent of what is known in Switzerland as rösti. This dish can be served as a side dish to meat or fish, and we have eaten it together with cold smoked salmon several times. It's delicious!

11. potato soup

Potatoes are popular in Germany and can be served in many different ways. For example, it is common to find potato soup, as a starter, on many menus. Often delicious in all its simplicity!

12. potato salad

Another way to serve potatoes is in the form of potato salad. German potato salad often differs from Swedish potato salad, and it can also vary from region to region. The potato salad can be eaten as a side dish with meat or fish, and sometimes it can be topped with bacon.

13. flambé cake

Flammkuchen comes from the border area between Germany and France, and can be described as Germany's version of pizza. A thin crispy base is topped with, for example, onions, bacon and crème fraiche. On the French side, the dish is called 'tarte flambée'.

14. kebab kebab

Döner kebab, what does it have to do with Germany? This dish has Turkish origins, but the modern version in bread was actually developed by Turkish emigrants in West Berlin in the 1970s. Today, you can find döner kebabs in fast food restaurants around the country!

15. rennet sauce

Labskaus is a speciality of northern Germany, particularly Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck. The dish is reminiscent of both Swedish stew and pytt i panna. A classic place to try it is the restaurant Old Commercial Room i Hamburg.

16. Herring and matjes fillet

Pickled herring is not only eaten in the Nordic countries. If you browse through a German grocery store, you will discover a wide range of herring and matjes fillets. You can also find these dishes in restaurants and fast food outlets around the Baltic Sea. The flavour is often different from Sweden, mainly because it is less sweet.

17. fish rolls

Another fish dish common on the Baltic coast is the 'fischbrötchen'. This is simply bread filled with some kind of fish, such as matjes herring, salmon or breaded fish. Simple and often delicious!

18. Cured meats and cheeses

Do you like charcuterie and cheeses? Well, they do in Germany! It's not unusual to order a tray of local delicacies such as hams, pickles, sausages and cheeses. Remember that the portions are often large!

19. asparagus

Asparagus, or spargel, as the delicacy is known in German, is often referred to as 'white gold'. The white asparagus season in Germany starts in mid-April and lasts until the end of June, during which time you can expect to find many asparagus dishes on restaurant menus. In addition, you can discover asparagus routes, asparagus festivals and asparagus queens! Here you can read more about asparagus in Germany.

20. pretzel

Pretzel, or Brezel as it may be called in German, is also a classic German food. These pretzels can sometimes be sweet, but it's common for them to be savoury, and the savoury version is often served as a snack with a beer. Delicious!

21. apple strudel

Apfelstrudel may be primarily associated with Austria, but this pastry is also very popular in Germany. This sweet is filled with apples and is delicious on its own, or with ice cream or cream.

22. marzipan

The German city Lübeck is famous for its marzipan delicacy, which was once reserved for kings and other powerful people. Lübeck marzipan, which is still largely produced by hand, must consist of at least 70% raw marzipan and no more than 30% sugar. On the Café Niederegger you can both shop and visit a marzipan museum.

23. gingerbread

Lebkuchen are a type of slightly thicker gingerbread that is eaten in Germany and Austria, among other countries. The cookies are often eaten at Christmas, as is Christstollen, another popular Christmas pastry. Read more about Christmas in Germany here.

24. black forest cake

Schwarzwaltårta, or Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte as it is called in German, is a cake named after the Black Forest mountain region. In Germany, this cake is a fluffy chocolate cake with a centre layer of cherries or cherry jam, garnished with cherries and cream.

25. Sea buckthorn

Another delicacy that you can find in Germany, including in the German Bundesländer Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is sea buckthorn. This vitamin C-rich berry is popular as a flavouring in many different products such as tea, juices, jams, sweets, wine and spirits.

German food in restaurants

In Germany, it is common to find German food in restaurants, while there are of course also fine dining, pizza, Asian restaurants and more. The country has no less than 324 restaurants with at least one Michelin star (2025). Find tips on restaurants in Hamburg here:

Combining German food and drink

So, how do you combine German food and drink? Both beer and wine are popular in Germany, as are various liqueurs and hot drinks.

Oil in Germany

Beer is perhaps the drink most associated with Germany. There is a widespread beer culture and plenty of small and large breweries around the country - totalling around 1 300 breweries and 5 000 beer brands.

The best-selling brand of beer is Oettinger, although it is mostly sold domestically. At the Swedish Systembolaget you can find Beck's, Erdinger, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Störtebeker, among others.

A special occasion for getting acquainted with beer in Germany is the Oktoberfest in Munich, which is considered to be the world's biggest folk festival. Read more about Oktoberfest in Germany here.

Wine in Germany

Germany has a total of 13 wine regions, 11 of which are located in the south-east of the country. The country is mainly known for white wine and the Riesling grape, but red and rosé wines are also produced. In addition, sparkling wine, known in Germany as cult.

There is an extensive wine culture in Germany and as a tourist you can experience German wines in many different ways. For example, you can visit a wine region, such as Moselle valleysor take part in one of the many wine festivals organised in autumn. Read more about Germany's wine festivals here.

Schnapps, liqueurs and more

In Germany, it is popular to make schnapps and liqueurs from various fruits and herbs. Among others, there is the cherry liqueur cherry, which is used for Black Forest cake. Other alcoholic drinks to try include, for example Jägermeister and Berliner Weisse (a mixture of beer and juice).

German food - what are your experiences with German cuisine?

What are your experiences with food in Germany? Please tell us!

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