In 1949 a Berlin cook named Herta Heuwer struck up an unlikely friendship with a British soldier. This soldier, in some manner of barter, provided her with his modest ration of tomato ketchup and curry powder. Clearly a genius, Heuwer combined the two and slathered the resulting sauce over the German grilled bratwurst. The rest is delicious history, and ‘currywurst’ has become arguably Berlin’s most celebrated culinary invention. Here’s a rundown of our sauciest faves.
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Curry 36
Curry 36 – Tom Hanks just out of shot / Image: Curry 36
The deal here? Superior sausage meat – those in the know ask for it ‘ohne darm’, meaning ‘without skin’, just so you know – and impeccably gloopy sauce that’s not-too-spicy, not-too-mild. Small wonder Tom Hanks, no less, is said to adore the original Mehringdamm 36 branch of this wildly popular Berlin chain, renowned for its ace fries and, latterly, its canny incorporation of a vegan option and rather respectable craft beer selection.
36 Mehringdamm
Metro: Mehringdamm
curry36.de/de/
Wittys
Stellar sourcing is key at Wittys / Image: Helen Nicolai
If you’re at all concerned about whether or not your meaty, saucy drunk food is organic, then you’re in luck. Wittys takes sourcing seriously, so alongside it’s goody-two-shoes breakfast porridge option – popular with diet-conscious commuters on the go – the currywurst is not only rigorously selected based on organic principles and welfare standards, but it’s also snappy of skin and delicious. There’s not much room inside, so takeaway is your least wurst option here.
141 Friedrichstraße
Metro: Friedrichstraße
wittys-berlin.de
