Although Germans are known as “Krauts,”  you will find more than just the flatulence-triggering cabbage stuff. There is a big variety of traditional food but it’s not just sausage and meat. Comparing southern german food to northern german food you can see how diverse the german cuisine is.

 

For example, in the south you will get high-fat food, heavily seasoned, rich in taste, plenty of meat, and it’s “heavy.” In the north, close to the sea you will get a lot of dishes with fish. 

 

But let’s start with the most common food in Bavaria/Munich, which you definitely should try:

 

Traditional Dishes:

 

• Bratwürst / Grilled Sausage
• Bratwurst is a sausage made with ground pork, veal or beef. They are usually pan-fried or roasted until crispy. Try it out with mustard and sauerkraut or potato salad!

 

• Schnitzel (Breaded Cutlet)
• Schnitzel is a thin piece of meat, pounded into a flat slice. After breading it, it will be deep or pan-fried. Originally from Austria, it made its way into the Bavarian food chain quickly.

 

• Bread
• Germany is known for their excellent bread coming in a lot of different styles. Don’t be mistaken – the German bread has very little to do with what you find in other parts of the world apart from the ingredients: varying kinds of flour being baked. There are traditional bakeries with loaves of farmers bread, Semmeln (special kind of buns) or other kinds of baked goods. 

 

• Brezeln (Pretzels)
• If you ever wondered where the tasty, twisty Pretzels, which George W. Bush choked on, originate from, you have come to the right place. Munich/Bavarian Brezeln are famous and really good!

 

• Potato Dishes (Potato Salad, Fried Potatoes, …)
• Germans love to cook with potatoes as a side dish. You can find it cooked, fried, mashed, etc. Try out potato salad, fried potatoes or potato dumplings and find your favorite side dish.

 

• Braten und Klöße (Roast and Potato Dumplings)
• Especially in Bavaria, different kinds of cooked meat with special sauces and potato dumplings are common dishes for special occasions like visiting your grandparents. It’s usually roasted slowly on low heat, and served with sauce, potato dumplings, and sauerkraut or blaukraut (cabbage). The most famous roasts you can find in almost every Bavarian-style restaurant are Sauerbraten, Schweinebraten or Rouladen.

 

 

Desserts and Sweets:

 

• Apfelstrudel
• Apfelstrudel is a swirled pastry with an apple filling. It is buttery, light, and sweet. Strudel usually is served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

 

• Kaiserschmarrn
• Kaiserschmarrn is a caramalized pancake made from a sweet batter. It’s served as a dessert or as a light lunch provided with applesauce and contains raisins or dried cranberries. Bavarian-style restaurants will have it! Secret Tip: While hiking in the Bavarian alps, eat Kaiserschmarrn at an “Alm” (traditional restaurant in the mountains) – it’s so good there you can die in peace after!

 

• Cakes and Pies
• There are a lot of different famous cakes and pies from Germany. You should try the Black Forest Gateau Cake that contains a few layers of chocolate sponge cake and whipped cream. Kirschwasser, a liquor made from tart cherries, is poured over the top. It is a succulent dessert that combines chocolate and fruit flavors.