You cannot come to Berlin and not eat a currywurst. Seriously, it’s the law (well, it should be!). Even the fussiest teen or tween will love it (and vegetarian versions are available).
So what is a currywurst and where should you try one?
What is currywurst?
The currywurst is German fast food and is ideal for a quick pitstop to refuel hungry teens or tweens (and hangry dads). It’s a budget-friendly option for lunch on the go.
It consists of smoked German-sausage, fried and sliced, with spiced and curry flavoured tomato sauce on top. You can have it served with chips or with a bread roll.
History of the currywurst
The dish was invented just after World War II and is now a Berlin Institution.
There are several stories as to how the currywurst came to be invented. One version is that Herta Heuwer invented currywurst in 1949 after she had been given ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and curry powder from British Soldiers stationed in Berlin following the end of World War II. Herta then mixed these new ingredients with other spices, poured it over sausages, and started selling the snack to construction workers in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin.
We didn’t get chance to visit but there is a whole museum dedicated to the currywurst, just near Checkpoint Charlie. i think this may now be closed.
Where should I try currywurst with my teens and tweens?
Probably the most famous (and arguably the oldest) currywurst stand is Konnopke’s Imbiss. The stand is situated under the subway overpass at Schonhauser Allee in Prenzlauer Berg. Konnopke’s Imbiss is an easy walk from the Mauerpark, or you can reach it by underground or bus.
Started in what was then East Berlin in 1930, Konnopke’s is a family business. Despite its humble location, this stand has been visited by many famous people over the years.
We also ate currywurst at Curry61 (Oranienburger Strasse 6, near Hackescher Markt). Curry61 offers vegan currywurst and vegan mayo. We first visited Curry61 as part of our foodie tour of Berlin (read my review here). However, my vegetarian tween begged to be taken back here for the lunch the next day!
