Berlin and currywurst – an unbeatable duo! Berlin is perhaps THE capital of currywurst. The origin of the currywurst remains controversial: While Berlin refers to Herta Heuwer, who patented her recipe as “Chillup” in 1959, Hamburg legends are based on Uwe Timm’s story about the fictional inventor Lena Brücker. One thing is certain: the currywurst is an integral part of German food culture and is known worldwide as typically “Berlinish”.
Legend has it that Herta Heuwer invented the currywurst on a rainy evening in Berlin. Her recipe remained secret, despite attempts by large companies to buy it. To this day, a plaque in Kantstraße commemorates her first “currywurst fry-up”.
With around 800 million portions sold in Germany every year, 63 million of them in Berlin alone, the currywurst is unbeatable. It is popular from Ku’damm to the VW canteen in Wolfsburg. The sauce, which is traditionally homemade, is crucial to the taste. Regional differences characterize the varieties: In Berlin, people prefer boiled sausage with or without casing or even vegan, while in the Ruhr region it is bratwurst, often accompanied by “Pommes Schranke”.
Celebrities and politicians also love the cult snack: from Harald Juhnke and George Bush to the Cologne “Tatort” detectives – the currywurst is a symbol of enjoyment and conviviality across all generations.
Whether in the chip shop, on the shopping street or in the nightlife – the currywurst is more than just a snack, it is a piece of lifestyle and a cultural asset. Its popularity will not wane in the future, and the best snack bars will continue to be recommended in city guides.
In short: the currywurst combines taste, tradition and cult status – an everlasting highlight of German cuisine and we’ll now show you where to get the best in Berlin with these 10 tips:
1. CURRY 36
A classic that delights tourists and Berliners alike. This is where tradition meets taste. The sauces range from classic to extra spicy, and the relaxed atmosphere is ideal for a quick snack between meals. Try the legendary chips with homemade sauce. The currywurst is available classic, veggie or organic.
📍Curry 36, Mehringdamm 36, 10961 Kreuzberg and other locations in Berlin
2.KONNOPKE’S IMBIS
A must for currywurst fans since 1930 – directly under the subway line on Eberswalder Straße. The snack bar is known for its special blend of spices and crispy sausages. A piece of Berlin history with cult status in a vibrant area of Prenzlauer Berg. It’s always a topic of debate among Berliners, for some it’s by far the only true currywurst, for others it’s long outdated. It’s best to see for yourself 🙂
📍Konnopke’s Imbiß, Schönhauser Allee 44b, 10435 Berlin – Prenzlauer Berg
Organic currywurst for everyone! And for all those who love sustainable enjoyment. The sausage comes from species-appropriate farming and the side dishes are completely certified organic. Perfect for conscious eaters who don’t want to compromise on taste. The name Witty’s is no coincidence, as the restaurant is located directly on Wittenbergplatz opposite KaDeWe. However, there are also two other locations on Friedrichstraße and at BER 🙂
📍Witty’s Organic Food, Wittenbergplatz, Berlin – Charlottenburg
4. CURRY-BAUDE
This snack bar in the listed entrance area of the Gesundbrunnen subway station in Wedding is a real insider tip with a large fan base. The homemade sauce is both fruity and spicy, and the portions are generous. The authentic atmosphere makes this snack bar a highlight in Wedding, which has been run by Reina Lehmann since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
📍Curry-Baude, Badstraße 1-5, 13357 Berlin – Wedding
5. KRASSELT’S IMBISS
Here you can get currywurst with a pinch of nostalgia. Krasselt’s has been impressing customers for decades with its traditional recipe and friendly service. The spicy sauce, which makes every sausage an experience, is particularly popular.
📍Krasselt’s Imbiss, Steglitzer Damm 22, Berlin – Steglitz
6. TIM RAUES CURRYWURST IN DER SPHERE BAR
Top chef Tim Raue shows how gourmet and cult go together. With a sophisticated sauce and high-quality ingredients such as organic meat from the regional Landhof Ralf farm, he takes currywurst to a whole new level. You can also enjoy an unbeatable view over the capital. We particularly recommend booking the package online at the best price, which includes admission to the TV tower and Sphere Bat and the snack package “P’N’P! PRICKELNDES & PIKANTES BERLIN” BY TIM RAUE with Tim’s spicy currywurst with ribs and a refreshing drink (BRLO beer or a glass of sparkling wine).
📍Sphere Bar im Berliner Fernsehturm auf 203m, Panoramastraße 1A, 10785 Berlin – Mitte
7. VEGANE CURRYWURST BEI „VÖNER“
Perfect for anyone who loves the taste but wants to avoid meat. The vegan version impresses with a spicy note and is often praised as the best alternative to the classic sausage. Vöner also offers other classics in a plant-based version, but you can enjoy your vegan currywurst to the full here!
📍Vöner, Boxhagener Straße 56, 10245 Berlin – Friedrichshain
8. CURRY WOLF
With a view of the Brandenburg Gate, the Curry Wolf snack bar is a classic in the capital. With homemade ketchup and the spicy OPIUM sauce made to its own recipe, the sausage here is a winner. Curry Wolf can also be found at four other locations such as Ku’Damm, Lichtenrade, Steglitz and Potsdam.
📍Curry Wolf, Unter den Linden 77, 10117 Berlin -Mitte
9. CURRY & CHILI
This currywurst is not for the faint-hearted. At Curry & Chili, you can get currywurst with the hottest sauces in the world! That’s right, THE WORLD. What at first seems like an absolutely harmless and unspectacular snack bar in the middle of Wedding turns out to be a fiery undertaking! Although you can also eat a standard sausage here with or without casing, vegan or vegetarian, you can also choose between 12 different levels of spiciness and select extra toppings. We’ll leave it at that – one of the sauces is called “shorty before death” . . .
📍Curry & Chili, Osloer Straße Ecke Prinzenallee, 13359 Berlin – Gesundbrunnen
10. CURRY 61
This family business has two branches in Mitte and relies on freshly cooked sauces several times a day, the best frying oil and meat straight from the Berlin butcher. To top it all off, they add an extra dose of love, as they say themselves. You can find Curry61 near Alexanderplatz or Hackescher Markt.
📍Curry 61, hinter der Weltzeituhr oder Oranienburger Straße 6, 10178 Berlin – Mitte
