Traditional Berlin cuisine is hearty, comforting, and meat-focused. Local taverns regularly serve tender pork knuckle (Eisbein), rich split pea soup with smoked meats, Berliner-style liver with apples, and savory Buletten meatballs paired with potato salad. For a quick bite on the go, nothing beats currywurst—steamed and fried pork sausage smothered in spiced curry ketchup—with long lines regularly forming at the famous Curry 36 stalls. For dessert, treat yourself to a Berliner Pfannkuchen (jam-filled doughnut), and if you visit in spring, look out for fresh white asparagus specials.
Beer enthusiasts can sample classic local brews like Berliner Pilsner, Berliner Kindl, and Schultheiss, or try a refreshing Berliner Weiße mixed with woodruff or raspberry syrup. Soak in the historic beer garden culture at Prater, Berlin's oldest beer garden dating back to 1837. Diverse street food, from authentic kebabs to doners, is available across town, while Thursday evenings are dedicated to Street Food Thursday at Markthalle IX in Kreuzberg.