German food - 25 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: May 2026 | German food – what is it really? We list 25 German dishes and delicacies, and at the same time tell you about our experiences with German food. Everything from schnitzel and bratwurst to sauerkraut and flammkuchen. It's time to taste Germany!

What to eat in Germany? - a quick overview

We have previously written about Austrian food and Swiss food, and now let's turn our attention to German cuisine! German food is often rustic, filling and full of classics. Here are some typical examples of what to eat in Germany:

• Meat: Schnitzel, bratwurst and pork dishes
• Accessories: Potatoes, sauerkraut (sauerkraut) and red cabbage
• Bread: Pretzel (pretzel) and different types of rye bread
• Simpler dishes: Potato pancakes and soups like Potato soup
• Drinks: Beer is an important part of food culture

We have travelled long and far in Germany and we can appreciate everything from a hearty schnitzel to a luxurious asparagus meal.

Typical German food - 25 classic dishes

Here we list German dishes that are interesting to try, including side dishes, simple dishes and sweets.

1st cutlet

Schnitzel is a Central European dish that is extremely popular in Germany. 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

A classic German dish, sometimes described as the national dish of Germany. This dish is made with 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. 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!

4. stew

A typical German soup or stew, it's one of those classic German dishes 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.

5. rennet sauce

A speciality from northern Germany, particularly from 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.

6. 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 often differs from Sweden, mainly by being less sweet.

7. asparagus

Asparagus, as the delicacy is called in German, is often referred to as the ”white gold”. The season for white asparagus in Germany starts in mid-April and lasts until the end of June.

During this 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.

8. Spätzle

This type of pasta is popular in countries such as southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria. 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 käsespätzle.

9. potato pancakes

Small round potato pancakes, made from grated potatoes with eggs and onions, reminiscent of what is called rösti in Switzerland. 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!

10. potato salad

German potato salad often differs from Swedish potato salad, and it can also vary from region to region. Potato salad can be eaten as a side dish with meat or fish, and sometimes it can be topped with bacon.

11. 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.

12. pretzel

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

13. bratwurst

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.

14. 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.

15. 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
• white sausage
• Thuringian rostbratwurst
• Nuremberg Rostbratwurst

16th Flammkuchen

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'.

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. kebab kebab

What does this dish 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!

19. 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!

20. 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!

21. apple strudel

Perhaps primarily associated with Austria, 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

These 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

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:

• Restaurants in Hamburg - our top 7 tips

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. Some beer brands you will find:

• Oettinger (the best-selling beer brand in Germany)
• Beck's
• Erdinger
• Löwenbräu
• Pauline
• sturgeon beaker

A special occasion to familiarise yourself with beer in Germany is Oktoberfest in Munich, which is considered to be the world's biggest folk festival.

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 other things, you can try:

• cherry (cherry liqueur used for Black Forest cake)
• Jägermeister
• Berliner Weisse (a mixture of beer and juice)

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• French cuisine - 25 French dishes
• Belgian food – 20 Belgian specialties
• Polish food - 25 Polish dishes
• Swiss food - 15 Swiss specialities
• Austrian food - 15 Austrian specialities