I thoroughly enjoyed meals I had at four classic Berlin currywurst joints, but I didn’t only eat currywurst during my trip. That would be crazy. While bopping around Berlin, I also make sure to have a taste of other local street eats.
Among my favourite non-currywurst dining experiences were two that were just as authentically Berliner and equally inexpensive and tasty: Bäckerei & Konditorei Waldtraut Balzer and Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap.
Bäckerei & Konditorei Waldtraut Balzer
Just about any must-eat list of Berlin bites is apt to include Balzer – and if it doesn’t you might want to question the judgment of the compiler. Opened in 1924, this family owned bakery is the oldest in the Mitte. The humble little shop with original interiors offers affordable and scrumptious baked goods and thus a mandatory stop on any foodie itinerary intent on gobbling down the city’s famous Berliner doughnuts. I loved Balzer’s pretzel doughnut. Served with a cup of coffee I remember still having change from the €3 I handed over at the till. On its own, the coffee here is bitter and meh but when you dip your sweet Berliner in it you get a flavour combo that’s gorgeous.
Find Bäckerei & Konditorei Waldtraut Balzer at Sophienstraße 30, 10178 Berlin. There’s no website, but a quick Google will yield all sorts of informative results. Here’s the Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/B%C3%A4ckerei-Konditorei-Waldtraut-Balzer/158059254217763.
Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap
I came across Mustafa’s when I went to eat at Curry 36. I can’t say I discovered a hidden gem though. A little kebab hut next to Curry 36 with an ever-lengthening (though impressively swift moving) queue, Mustafa’s was all the gourmand rage for seemingly everybody’s late night Kreuzberg cravings. Intrigued, I went back another night, queued up and was glad to have lost a bit of time for the chance to devour the signature chicken doner with vegetable in a fluffy pita. Massive and massively satisfying, it was worth the wait and definitely worth more than the €3.20 I paid for it!
Mustafa’s is at Mehringdamm 32, 10961 Berlin. For more info go to mustafas.de.
Read all my Best of the Wurst posts.
