Berliner’s Vegan Life — A Vegan Journey to Berlin
In Berlin, trendy restaurants, famous cafés, and even student cafeterias all offer vegan or vegetarian options. Here are five places that offer a glimpse into the everyday life of vegan Berliners.
Berliner’s Vegan Life — A Vegan Journey to Berlin
In Korea, eating plant-based often means hunting for the right place. In Berlin, Germany, you can find vegetarian options wherever you go. If you’re a plant-based eater planning a trip to Berlin, why not spend one day of your itinerary living as a vegan Berliner?
Words & Photos Ryu Sunwoo
A Berliner’s Latte, Explained
Concierge Coffee
This roastery café sits in the wall of a tunnel-like passage between two buildings, in front of a lush green walking path that follows the Spree River. A single window and a single green door set into the white facade, accented with red brick, give it a secretive feel, like Platform 9¾ in Harry Potter. The space inside is just as tiny, barely big enough for a single desk. Concierge Coffee may be small, but it is beloved by the neighborhood. You place your order through the open window, and you can watch the barista pull your shots in the open kitchen. When your drink is ready, it’s handed over with a warm look in the eye. With a coffee in one hand, take a leisurely stroll along the Spree, and you’ll feel like a true Berliner.
Why we recommend it This neighborhood café has held its spot for more than a decade. Compared with Korea, German café menus tend to be short and simple. If you’re tired of the same black coffee and lattes throughout your trip to Germany, or you want to try something different in Berlin, Concierge Coffee is the place. Order the iced dirty chai latte, where the house-made chai syrup and well-pulled espresso strike a perfect balance, and swap in organic oat milk.
Noodles Worth Lining Up for, Beloved by Gen Z and Millennial Berliners
Wen Cheng
This noodle shop has won over the palates of Gen Z and millennial Berliners so thoroughly that it has expanded to three locations. Biang Biang noodles, which originated in China’s Shaanxi Province, are the signature dish at Wen Cheng, and the line out front is almost always long. The wide, hand-pulled noodles have a chewy texture reminiscent of sujebi (hand-torn dough soup), and they soak up a homemade stew, fresh chili, Sichuan pepper, garlic, cilantro, and other Asian spices for a deep, savory flavor. The seasoning is bold yet subtle, the kind of taste you start craving again as soon as you turn away. If you prefer a street-side vibe, head to the first location.
Why we recommend it When you travel in Europe, there are days you miss using chopsticks. Wen Cheng is a great place to go on those days. Order the Biang Biang noodles with tofu and shiitake mushroom topping, or choose the eggplant and minced soy-meat option. The smashed cucumber salad, tangy pickled cucumber dressed in chili oil, is a treat too. Even the side dishes are delicious, which says it all. There’s a reason the long line never seems to end.
Vegan Sausage? The Diversity of Germany, Land of Sausages
Curry 36
Currywurst is the street food that comes to mind first when you think of Berlin. It is Wurst, the German word for sausage, topped with a tomato sauce seasoned with curry spices. The word “curry” may make you think of Indian-style curry, but the curry powder is subtle, just a passing hint, so it’s better to imagine a slowly simmered, sweet-and-tangy ketchup sauce. Curry 36 conquered Berlin with its currywurst, and its Original Curry 36 Ketchup is so popular that it’s sold in supermarkets across Germany. The shop in front of Berlin Zoologischer Garten station also has standing tables. Pick up a beer at a supermarket to go with it, and the pairing is heavenly.
Why we recommend it If you’re wondering, “How can a sausage be vegan?”, try Curry 36’s vegan currywurst. Its texture and flavor are so close to a regular sausage that you may not even notice it’s vegan. There’s also a Curry 36 inside Berlin Hauptbahnhof, which makes it a handy stop on a train trip. Be sure to add fries. German fries are better than you’d imagine. When you order, ask for vegan mayonnaise on top. Mayo, fries, and currywurst make a combination that never disappoints.
One Scoop of Gelato That Came to Ruin Me
Eispatisserie Hokey Pokey
This brand was created by Niko Robert, a seasoned pastry chef who spent years working in five-star hotels around the world. Eispatisserie is a compound of “Patisserie,” the German word for a fine pastry shop, and “Eis,” meaning ice cream. True to its name, the gelato at Eispatisserie Hokey Pokey is made with the finest ingredients and a touch of craftsmanship. The brownies used as toppings are baked in-house, and the lemon and lime juices are squeezed by hand, so the results are bound to be excellent. French Valrhona chocolate, Sicilian pistachios from Italy, and vanilla beans from Madagascar or Tahiti keep the flavors outstanding, and the menu shifts with the seasons according to what’s freshest. One bite, and the smile that spreads naturally across your face will prove both the effort and the taste.
Why we recommend it The playful mood the name suggests carries over into the shop itself. Bright, warm lighting and an elegant interior touched with gold put you in a good mood. Standing before the case filled with around 20 kinds of gelato, even the time spent deciding on a flavor feels sweet. Try the vegan fruit sorbets, which leave no cloying aftertaste. There are rich, chewy sorbets that preserve the pulp of fruits like cherry, raspberry, and Indian mango, as well as ones that pair spices such as cinnamon or basil with lemon or apple for a crisp texture and distinctive aroma. With one bite, the corners of your mouth lift all on their own.
The Cafeteria Life of a Berlin College Student
Universität Potsdam
Mensa, the German word for a student cafeteria, serves affordable meals to students on tight budgets. You don’t have to be a student to eat there, so if you’re planning a campus visit, stop by a Mensa at lunchtime. The cafeteria at the University of Potsdam, in Berlin’s Zone C, holds a vegetarian day every Wednesday. On other days, too, one or two of the four or five menu options are vegan or vegetarian.
Why we recommend it The University of Potsdam’s Neues Palais campus sits inside Park Sanssouci, a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the palace buildings completed during the reign of Frederick II of Prussia now serves as part of the university campus. A campus tour also lets you see Park Sanssouci and the old palace. Every dish at the University of Potsdam’s Mensa costs under 5 euros. Why not drop by for a casual meal?
