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Germany’s culinary traditions offer you a look into the nation’s values and history. The German people connect deeply with their food through time-consuming preparation methods that can take weeks or even months to produce the German foods that have become popular worldwide. Learn about the cultural influences behind these famous meals and sides, along with a few tips for navigating German cuisine and what German phrases to use at restaurants as we explore the bold but comforting flavor pallet of the traditional German kitchen.
What counts as traditional German food?
German foods are traditionally built around elevating simple, quality ingredients through careful, lengthy preparation to bring you bold flavors and help precious foodstuffs last longer on the shelf. The German people are known for their practicality and craftsmanship, which you’ll see reflected in their cuisine as you peruse the different German foods below. These dishes encourage you to slow down and enjoy the moment as you savor a crisp Brezel (pretzel) at a market stall or sip a warm, comforting glass of Glühwein (mulled wine) around the holidays.
1. Brot und Brötchen (bread and bread rolls)
The Germans love their Brot (bread)—a typical household in Germany eats around 123 pounds of bread in a given year, according to the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade. Brot und Brötchen made with a combination of rye and wheat flour are the most popular type of bread in Germany, filling warm kitchens with the savory scent of fresh-baked goodness.
The most popular forms of bread in Germany include:
- Roggenbrot (rye bread): a dense, moist bread with a sourdough flavor
- Pumpernickel (pumpernickel): a dark, heavy bread made with 100% rye
- Weißbrot (white bread): a classic white loaf bread
- Brötchen (rolls): an often-crispy exterior that’s served cut open and spread with butter or topped with cold cuts
Did you know? The Central Association of the German Bakery Trade estimates that there are 3200 unique recipes for bread in Germany. Talk about dedication to the craft!
2. Sauerbraten (sour roast)
Considered the national dish of Germany, Sauerbraten (sour roast) is the golden standard of comforting German food recipes. The star of this dish is a heavily marinated cut of tougher beef such as rump roast or bottom round, although other meats such as chicken, lamb, mutton, and pork may be used instead. Be sure to plan this dish well in advance! Before you cook this traditional German food, you’ll marinate your choice of meat in a mixture of wine or vinegar, water, herbs, spices, and seasonings for anywhere from five to 15 days!
Your Oma (grandma) from Germany would typically pair this with a spread of Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) or Kartoffelklöße (potato dumplings) to round out this time-honored classic.
3. Bratwurst
Perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Würstchen (sausages) applies to minced and seasoned meat such as beef, pork, or veal encased in a skin. The name “Bratwurst” comes from the German words Braten (to roast) and Wurst meaning “sausage,” referring more to the cooking method for the preparation of the dish than the ingredients of the sausage itself. Enjoy a traditional Bratwurst on a warm summer day with the smell of the grill on your nose, topped with Senf (mustard) and Sauerkraut for that authentic German feel.
Some famous examples of German Würstchen include:
- Blutwurst (blood sausage): made from congealed animal blood along with beef or pork
- Frankfurter: parboiled pork sausage, similar to a hot dog
- Leberwurst (liver sausage): sausage made with liver
- Weisswurst (white sausage): unsmoked sausage with veal, usually enjoyed for breakfast
4. Brezeln (pretzels)
A common street food in America, Brezeln (pretzels) have been featured as emblems for bakers’ guilds in southern German regions since at least the 12th century. They’re a comforting form of baked dough, wrapped in an iconic knot shape, treated with lye to form their traditional skin, and sprinkled with salt for flavor. You can top this iconic German food with cheeses or Senf (mustard) for a savory experience or sweeten it up with Schokolade (chocolate) or Zimt (cinnamon) for a gratifying dessert option. Today, Brezeln come in many shapes, textures, and flavors, but the original German soft Brezel (pretzel) is the most commonly enjoyed to date.
The age of the German Brezel makes it hard to nail down where exactly the name comes from, but it is thought to originate from the Latin term “bracellus,” a medieval term for “bracelet.”
5. Stollen
Your holiday sweet tooth can be satisfied in Germany by Stollen, a cake-like bread made with Zitronat (candied citrus peel), Rosinen (raisins), and Mandeln (almonds), and various spices like cinnamon or cardamom. If you like your Stollen extra sweet, you can add other dried fruits and marzipan into the mix before baking. To help this tasty German dessert stay fresh longer, it’s recommended to slather it in melted butter and roll it in sugar. Delicious and practical—what a wonderfully German approach!
6. Fischbrötchen (fish roll)
Taste the Baltic and Northern Seas with a Fischbrötchen (fish roll), popular in Northern Germany. The plentiful fishing available in this region gave rise to a sandwich commonly prepared with herring or other fish native to the waters touching the north coasts of Germany. You can find these hand-held morsels being sold from fast food stands or take-out restaurants topped with components such as pickles, dried onions, horseradish sauce, remoulade, cocktail sauce, and more. It’s a highly customizable German street food that accommodates a wide range of flavor preferences.
7. Rotkohl (red cabbage)
If you want a healthy side dish to pair with your popular German food, then Rotkohl (red cabbage) will be the nutrient-packed, sweet and sour flavor profile you need to accent a heavy slice of meat like Sauerbraten. This red cabbage dish is braised with apples, vinegar, sugar, and spices at a low temperature for around two hours to achieve a deeply nuanced flavor. Pairing this side dish with a fatty cut of beef will give you the perfect palate cleanser to cut the richness of red meat.
8. Spätzle (Swabian noodles)
One of the best German foods from the Swabian region of Southern Germany, Spätzle (Swabian noodles) is a type of egg noodle or dumpling. Since this dish is generally mild in taste, you can jazz up this dish like a true German by combining them with such ingredients as your favorite cheeses, meats, and caramelized onions. Käsespätzle is a popular dish you can order at restaurants and many Christmas markets to satisfy your need for cheese and carbs. It’s an easy, fool-proof dish that’s sure to make your kitchen smell like an authentic German restaurant.
9. Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes)
Don’t be fooled by the name—Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) aren’t only for breakfast! In fact, these shallow-fried pancakes are often enjoyed as a side for other German foods for any meal of the day or at fairs, Christmas markets, and festivals as a fun snack. You can mix grated potato, flour, and a binding agent like an egg to make this fun German side dish. If you prefer a vegan diet, simply substitute the egg for applesauce and you won’t miss out!
10. Bier (beer)
You can hardly take 10 steps inside a celebration of Munich’s Oktoberfest without seeing an array of traditional German Bier (beer) for sale. An alcoholic drink brewed from wheat, barley, and hops, this icon of German culture and craftsmanship was first standardized in 1516 A.D. by the Reinheitsgebot (German beer purity law). Many pubs and bars in Germany offer a Biergarten (beer garden) to their guests—a lovely outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your Bier under the shade of trees and appreciate the weather on a nice German spring day.
If you take a trip to Germany, be on the lookout for these most popular types of Bier:
- Pilsner or “Pils”: a light-golden beer with a dry, hoppy aroma
- Weißbier (wheat beer): a pale beer with a long-lasting white head. It has a dry finish with flavors of banana and clove
- Lager: known as “Bavarian light beer,” and generally less “hoppy” and sweeter than other German Bier
11. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (black forest cake)
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (black forest cake) is a cultural gift from the Black Forest region of Germany, which is where the dessert unsurprisingly gets its name. This Nachtische (dessert) is a layered chocolate cake soaked in cherry liqueur and topped with a light whipped cream to balance out the sweetness. If you’re used to the extremely sweet desserts common in America, you may be pleasantly surprised by the lightness of this less-sweet cake that won’t leave you reaching for your toothbrush once you’re done.
12. Schnitzel
If you don’t have the time or patience for some of the more time-intensive dishes offered in traditional German foods, then embrace the simplicity of the schnitzel. Simply take a thin slice of your favorite meat, usually veal, pork, or beef, and pound it with a meat tenderizer. Once the cut of meat is thin enough to your liking, all that’s left is to bread it, fry it, and serve it with a lemon wedge! This dish began as Wiener Schnitzel (veal cutlet) in southern Germany and is often served with lemon for zest and mashed potatoes or Kartoffelsalat (potato salad) for a hearty meal.
13. Rouladen
If you’re not fully confident in your cooking skills, but want a dish that makes a lovely presentation, then consider making Rouladen for your next traditional German meal. This German food consists of a cut of meat, such as flank steak, filled with veggies, cheeses, or other meats that’s rolled up into a spiral shape. Once you’re done slowly braising this dish with stock or cooking wine, cut the Rouladen into serving portions to get an aesthetic cross-section of the rolled dish. It’ll look like it was made by a German chef!
Rouladen is an example of German foods that are elevated by the cultural influence of other nations—in this case: France. The name “Rouladen” comes from the French word “rouler,” meaning “to roll.”
14. Currywurst (curry sausage)
Currywurst is a convenient, fast-food favorite in Germany, with around 800 million of them being eaten in Germany every year. If you have places to go and things to do while on vacation anywhere from Hamburg to Munich, you can grab this dish of grilled pork sausage with curry ketchup from food stands or off children’s menus at restaurants to satiate your young, picky eater. Currywurst is usually served with french fries or bread rolls and seasoned with paprika or flavored with chopped onions.
15. Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a flavorful side dish of finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented in vinegar and other acidic liquids for weeks or even months. You can serve this traditional German food as a side with many other kinds of German food like Sauerbraten or Schnitzel to elevate the dining experience and get a taste of authenticity. It’s a simple, healthy side dish that perfectly accents the hearty, rich meats around which most traditional German meals center.
In the centuries before electric refrigeration existed, housewives made fermented Sauerkraut as a way for families to store cabbage for long periods without spoiling. This process made the Sauerkraut shelf stable. Not only was the taste of the food important in traditional German food, but the method of preparation was also carefully considered to ensure lasting storage of food during the harsh winters.
16. Glühwein (mulled wine)
Few German words elicit the nostalgic feelings of Weihnachtsfest (Christmastime) from a German quite like Glühwein (mulled wine). It’s a spiced wine served warm and enjoyed around the holidays and the coldest times of the year when you need to be heated—and satisfied—from the inside out. The term “Glühwein” literally translates to “glowing wine,” which refers to the glühend heiß (glowing hot) temperature at which this festive German drink is intended to be served.
Many countries have a version of a mulled wine, but European law states that anything sold as Glühwein must follow a few rules:
- made with either red or white wine
- spiced primarily with Zimt (cinnamon) and Gewürznelken (cloves)
- contains at least 7% alcohol
- made without any water added to it
17. Apfelstrudel (apple strudel)
Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) is a beloved dessert with deep roots in German and Austrian cuisine. It consists of a thin, flaky pastry filled with a combination of fresh apple slices, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and breadcrumbs. Making traditional Apfelstrudel like your dear Oma (grandma) used to make takes skill, particularly in stretching the dough to a nearly transparent thickness without breaking the pastry itself.
“Strudel” means “whirlpool,” referring to the swirling layers that make up this dessert’s unique look. Whether you’re in Cologne or Vienna, stopping in a cafe or authentic German restaurant for an Apfelstrudel is almost obligatory—and worth it.
18. Mettbrötchen (raw pork roll)
If you’re feeling adventurous, then consider trying out a Mettbrötchen (raw pork roll) consisting of raw pork! This German food favorite is served open-faced, often with paprika, pepper, and raw white onion. Raw meat isn’t something we get a lot of in the western diet, so many newcomers to this German food are wary of trying it. Fortunately, Mett (raw pork) is highly regulated in Germany and is very safe to consume. As this dish is a small one, usually eaten in just a few bites, you can enjoy Mettbrötchen as a snack while you explore the streets of Berlin or Munich.
19. Senf (mustard)
This gem of German ingenuity may be more of a condiment than a proper food, but you’d be missing out if you don’t order a dish with a mustard accompaniment during your vacation to Germany! Senf (mustard) is a staple condiment in Germany, accenting rich dishes of meats and veggies with a bold, vinegary finish.
You’ll usually find this sauce made from ground mustard seed, vinegar, and other liquids and seasonings organized according to how scharf (spicy) the chef prefers. If you’re not one to tangle with spicy foods, consider trading in that bottle of scharfer Senf (spicy mustard) for some mustard labeled mittelscharfer Senf (medium-spicy mustard) or even süßer Senf (sweet mustard).
20. Kasseler (cured pork)
Slow-smoking a lovely Kasseler (cured pork) is an excellent way to spend a warm spring day outside next to the barbecue. Take a cured cut of pork such as pork neck or loin and let it bathe in a cloud of smoke from hickory or apple wood to make this German food. Pair a nice, thick cut of this German tradition and serve it with mashed potatoes or Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) for an authentic German meal.
21. Lebkuchen (sweet cake)
For the gingerbread lovers out there, Lebkuchen (sweet cake) takes this familiar sweet to the next level. They’re honey-sweetened cakes or cookies similar in flavor to gingerbread but softer and sweeter, often baked with candied fruits, nuts, and a blend of warm spices. It’s traditionally enjoyed with a cup of steaming tea, cider, or Glühwein (mulled wine) during the holiday season, embodying the festive spirit of German Christmas markets.
Tips for ordering the best German food in a German restaurant
You can really put your knowledge of German food to use in Germany once you understand how to order German food in a German restaurant. Firstly, you are widely expected to remain standing until a host or hostess shows you to a particular seat, much like in American restaurants. You’ll then be handed a Speisekarte (menu) to try to narrow down which of the delicious German foods you want to order. It’s perfectly fine to ask the server about any dish with which you are unfamiliar!
Do not expect Germans to ask you if there is anything you prefer to eat or cannot eat. Since Germans are widely known as direct communicators, they’ll expect someone to speak up when they want something, disagree with a meal choice, or don’t like something.
Finally, when you’re ready to pay, simply ask for the check by saying “Die Rechnung, bitte” (The bill, please). Typically, each person will pay for their own bill, rather than the host paying for everyone’s meal. Do not assume your meal will be paid for when you’re invited out to eat unless the host specifically says otherwise.
Now you’re familiar with German food from the nation’s traditional past! Try making a new dish in your home to enrich your language learning journey, make German easy to learn, and provide yourself with a rewarding experience.