The Best Vegan Tapas in Berlin
Vegan. Tapas.
Two types of food that you don’t ordinarily see mix past patatas bravas. Such a shame because these next three spots do vegan tapas so well, each with their own distinctive take on the unique combination of small plates and plant-based delights.
Let’s get into it!
Alaska Bar
Alaska Bar is quite possibly my favorite vegan spot in Berlin. They probably serve the most traditional tapas on this list, with many of their dishes being Spanish or Spanish-inspired, like their Sichuan patatas bravas, Spanish olives, and chorizo with kimchi.
Their menu changes seasonally, with typically only a handful of items staying constant. I’ve only had great food here, but for first timers I’d definitely recommend trying one of their cashew or almond based ‘cheese’ dishes, a Spanish-inspired dish, and a veganized dish that is traditionally made from animal protein. What’s nice about this place is that these dishes aren’t trying to imitate any kind of animal product, but rather they’re inspired by them. For example, their almond feta doesn’t taste exactly like feta, but rather stands alone as its own delicious and authentic plant-based dish with serious depth of flavor.
From my experience you can’t really go wrong here, but I remember particularly appreciating their carrot lachs on toast (my favorite plant-based lachs in Berlin!), almond ricotta with grissini, and Sichuan patatas bravas. Bring a friend because you’ll want to try everything! There’s a lot I haven’t tried yet, so please leave a comment if there’s something you think I should order on my next visit!
Their prices range from €3 to €11 per dish for pretty hearty portions.
Reuterstraße 85 | Neukölln
Li.ke Serious Thai Vegan
Li.ke serves up some tasty Thai food in Berlin, vegan or otherwise.
Their Pad Thai (#27) is a must, and their smaller dishes are just as palatable. Their Dim Sum (#6) is a classic choice, and served with a tasty sesame soy sauce. For tofu and peanut lovers, the Tau Hu Thod (#14) is a must, and their Crazy Crispy (#12) is ultra flavorful, fried in sesame oil and stuffed with pumpkin, green onion, and seitan. I’ve also heard good things about the Phad Grapau (#28) which features a vegan fried ‘egg.’
At time of publishing all their tapas are €4.50, and their larger plates are €9.90.
Grünberger Straße 69 | Friedrichshain
Element 5
Element 5 has a wide range of Asian tapas to choose from. They have so many great versions of plant-based meat, and I especially like their duck and shrimp. Be sure to order a side of rice and one of their signature sauces for more flavor and satiation.
My ideal meal there would likely include:
Peking Duk: Soy duck served with plum hoisin sauce
Grüne Tigerkralle: Crispy avocado fried with green rice flakes and paired with a tasty raspberry chili dip
Golden Shrimp: Seitan shrimp that tastes very similar to traditional shrimp, served with a tamarind sauce
Konfuzius Schriftrolle: Soy strips, leek, and cucumber rolled inside a pancake, and served with plum hoisin sauce
Peanut hoisin sauce
A side of rice
After revisiting their menu, I can easily point out another half dozen tapas I’d like to taste, so I’m sure whatever you order you’ll end up seriously enjoying. The only dish I didn’t like were their soy balls, which to me tasted quite bland.
The only downside with this place is their plates are on the smaller side, so you might not leave feeling full unless you order a lot, which your wallet might not like, but it’s totally worth doing at least once. After all, there are just so many interesting dishes to choose from.
Tapas are €4, rice is €1.50, and sauces are €1.50. You can keep up with their current prices and dishes via the link in their Instagram bio, here.
Skalitzer Straße 46B | Kreuzberg
