The Best Budget Eats in Berlin
Last updated: August 9, 2024
Although Berlin is steadily growing in the trendy restaurant department, the city still offers a wide range of excellent and inexpensive eateries that can fit into most Berliner’s budgets. These are some of my favorite budget eats in the city that I think generally provide both quality and affordability.
BTW — Want to see budget eats in Berlin being put to the test? Read this post next, where I attempt to spend a whole day eating in Berlin for just €10.
Magic John’s
Come here for hands down the best New York-style pizza in Berlin. You can enjoy pizza by the slice, starting at €2.50, plus a serving of four garlic knots for an added €2. Although it’s an extra buck, their truffle pizza is totally worth the slight splurge. They offer a few types of flavor combinations and styles including a butternut vegan variation and Detroit deep-dish pizza. Finish off with a slice of Key Lime Coconut Smash for €3.
Oranienburger Straße 48 | Mitte
Panda Meister
Panda Meister is a tasty little Chinese street food stall parked behind Berlin’s east station (Ostbahnhof). You can enjoy 15 dumplings for €7.50, and have the option between getting them steamed or fried. I prefer the steamed version and top it with chili sauce, Chinese vinegar, and hoisin sauce. Delicious! There are typically a few meat (pork, chicken, and beef) options and one veggie option for sale. Baozi will set you back €2.50 each.
Their menu now also features other relatively affordable items like noodles, rice dishes, and bubble tea. I like to add chili oil, hoisin sauce, and Chinese vinegar for even more flavor. They now have new locations in Moabit and Halensee, but I prefer their F’Hain spot.
Hermann-Stöhr-Platz 9-11 | Friedrichshain
Alt-Moabit 73A | Moabit
Westfälische Straaße 46 | Halensee
Leylak
Leylak is a homey Turkish spot around Kotti with a few solid deals that are hearty enough to be a full meal. My top choice there is their lahmacun which will set you back just €2. For €3 you can get it with a side of greens. Other solid deals include their börek which costs €3.50 for a half portion. Get it to go and enjoy it along the canal for a tranquil and thrifty meal.
Kottbusser Straße 25 | Kreuzberg
Libanon Falafel
Libanon Falafel is home to some of the best street food deals you can find in Berlin (if not the best). All three of the signature wraps will set you back just a few coins, literally. For €2 you can enjoy their falafel, shawarma, or kafta wrap. That’s also their price with recent inflation. Their falafel wrap can be done vegan too, just let them know so they add the preferred sauces. The wraps are pretty good too! They’re not too big so you might need to get two to be properly full, but they really hit the spot. There are a few outdoor tables around the stand or you can take your wrap a block over to enjoy at Hasenheide Park.
Flughafenstraße 34 | Neukölln
Café Bäckerei Süss
This Hermannplatz bakery has a pretty good price-quality ratio. Find Pfannkuchen for €0.50, sandwiches for €2 to €3, and plenty of satiating pastries for under €2. Their cinnamon rolls are hearty and just €2, and their Schnitzel baguette is about average and just under €2.
Sonnenallee 5 | Neukölln
Backery & Coffee
Although there are many great Turkish cafés in Berlin where you can get reasonably priced and tasty food, Backery & Coffee is my favorite. It’s not the fanciest café, but it truly has a lot of heart, and is such a hidden gem. The staff is so sweet and the homemade Turkish bread is incredible. You’ll find plenty of good Turkish pastries here for €1.50 to €4. My favorite has to be their potato or meat gözleme (the potato one especially has my heart). They’re both really hearty and delicious. My partner, Dan, typically goes for a cheesy item like their cheese and spinach börek. Each gözleme costs €3.50, and I believe the börek are €3. The Pogača are €1.80 each.
Whatever you decide on, be sure to enjoy it in-house and take them up on their offer to warm it up. Their lahmacun is on the smaller side, but also very good and just €1.50, although they don’t make them every day. Be sure to pair your breakfast with a small Turkish tea for €1.50.
They also carry some German baked goods too, although I believe the Euro desserts and sandwiches are not made in-house. Get there earlier in the day to have your pick of baked goods, as most of their best items run out by early afternoon.
Kommandantenstraße 31-32 | Kreuzberg
The Gözleme are those rolled up items on the right. Delicious!
Zora Supermarket
At this Indian, Asian, and African supermarket, you can enjoy some tasty samosas and chutney at fair prices! They claim to be the best tasting homemade samosa in Berlin and I would agree that they’re very tasty. At the very least I’d say they’re the best priced in Berlin. You can get one samosa for €1.70, with prices slightly decreasing with each additional samosa purchase. This caps out at ten samosas for €14 or €1.40 per samosa. The samosas are filled with potatoes, onions, peas, and plenty of spices, and also come with complimentary chutney. You can get a fresh glass of Masala Chai for €2.40, plus find plenty of other harder-to-find South Asian and African products in their grocery store. I’ve been to their Kreuzberg branch, and they now have a newer location in Friedrichshain.
Kottbusser Damm 93 | Kreuzberg
Boxhagener Straße 80 | Friedrichshain
Hamy Cafe
Every dish at this Vietnamese cafe is just €6.90, which makes for a pretty solid deal considering their large portions and traditional table service. They have only a handful of items on their menu which includes a mix of hearty soups and salads, as well as a couple of daily specials which typically involve a classic menu item with a slight twist (ie different protein) and a curry. Although not written on the menu, most of their dishes can be made with tofu. I’ve tried their chicken pho, beef pho, and chicken glass noodle salad and enjoyed all the dishes. To be fair, the price-quality ratio probably made the food even tastier.
You can also find a few budget-friendly drinks here including their house cocktail which has banana, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and white rum for €3.20. The size of the cocktail is also bigger than the menu indicates, and very refreshing.
Hasenheide 10 | Neukölln
Puffer-Imbiss
Just around the corner from Hamy lies Puffer-Imbiss, a German food stall selling tasty Kartoffelpuffer (fried potato pancakes similar to latkes) and Eierkuchen (eggy pancakes). The basic version of both is €3.50, but you can add toppings like apple sauce, herb cream, Nutella, jam, and vanilla sauce for an additional 50¢ or €1. My favorite is Kartoffelpuffer with Krauterquark (herb cream), but they’re tasty enough to enjoy on their own too! The food is simple but totally tasty. I’m used to only enjoying Kartoffelpuffer at Christmas markets so it was a real treat to find this snack shop.
Hasenheide | Neukölln
Want more Neukölln recommendations? Read The Best Brunch Spots in Neukölln, Berlin next.
Fadi Food
Fadi Food is also a great place in town for enjoying manakish, which ranges in price from €1.50 to €3 and has many choices for toppings. My current favorite combinations are egg with potato or sucuk. Their hummus plates are hearty and served with a stellar combination of flatbread and pickled vegetables. Their hummus plates start at around €5, with a couple euros added if you want to toss in some additional toppings like halloumi, shawarma, köfte, falafel, or sucuk. I also like their halloumi wrap which is €3.50.
Potsdamer Straße 117 | Schöneberg
Zia Maria
Zia Maria has become well known around town for having super thin and crispy pizza. Their pizzas can be quite budget-friendly depending on what you pick, with pizzas ranging from €3.50 to €5.50 per pizza. Despite being a fast-casual restaurant, each pizza is made to order guaranteeing a fresh snack at a reasonable cost.
Pappelallee 32A | Prenzlauer Berg
Neue Bahnhofstraße 32 | Friedrichshain
Örnek
Come here for €1 - €1.50 lahmacun and some of the best kebabs in the city. Lahmacun is sold throughout Berlin at many döner shops and is commonly referred to as ‘Turkish pizza.’ In reality, it’s much more than that, and one of my favorite more traditional Turkish dishes. Their Adana kebab is about €4 or €5, and my favorite food they offer. Their meat is so juicy and all the flavors come together so well; it’s hard to find better quality for the price. I’ve only visited the Wedding location.
Prinzenallee 80-82 | Wedding
Karl-Marx-Straße 109 | Neukölln
Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 56 | Charlottenburg
Alano Pizza
If you’re in the area, Alano Pizza is the perfect place for a cheap snack. Their mini pizzas aren’t as traditional as some of the rest of their menu, but they’re full of flavor and much more thrifty. A mini pizza will set you back €2 and comes with a bit of mushrooms, pepperoni, salami, yellow pepper, and optional sauce.
Windscheidstraße 20 | Charlottenburg
Thai Park
Thai Park is the place to go for great Thai food in Berlin. It’s affordable enough that you can shop around and try a bunch of food, especially if you have friends to split items with. Most of the prices are displayed so it’s easy to find food that fits your budget.
There’s so much to try! I typically like to order a mix of sweet, savory, and fresh. So like sticky mango rice, savory dumplings, and Thai papaya salad. There’s so much food to try, just head over to Preußen Park on a weekend between late April and early October. Keep up with their Instagram to double-check if they’re currently open for the season. Don’t forget to bring cash and a picnic blanket to sit on! You can also bring your own reusable bowl and cutlery to avoid using single-use plastic.
Preußen Park | Wilmersdorf
Pane e Vino
Okay, so. . . I’m not going to pretend like the food here is anything beyond average, however, if you’re looking for a filling Italian meal at an endearing table service trattoria for a reasonable price then Pane e Vino might just be the place for you. All of their pizza and pasta main courses are €5.90 (I remember when they were €3.90 but I digress) and the glasses of wine are around €4 so you can enjoy a dinner out with wine at just under €10 per person.
The price-to-performance ratio is pretty solid and in the evenings the candlelit tables look quite cute so it’s an overall pleasant spot for a nicer evening out on a budget.
Kastanienallee 2 | Prenzlauer Berg
Scheer’s Schnitzel
Trying German (and Austrian) food in Berlin is possible without breaking the bank! I think Scheer’s is potentially the best place in Berlin you can go to try quality Schnitzel while staying in a reasonable budget. Their Schniposa and Schnitzel mit Kartoffelsalat plates come with a generous serving of Schnitzel, plus hearty sides. You also get your pick of sauces, a few which are homemade, at no additional cost. Definitely try the curry and chili sauces — yum! Plus, you can exchange the classic pork Schnitzel for a vegan seitan one at no additional cost. That’s what I ordered and I was honestly impressed, a lot of flavor is packed in!
Their Schnitzel plates start at around €8, while their burgers begin at around €6.
Warschauer Pl. 18 | Friedrichshain
Domke Nino Fleischerei
Not too far from Scheers lies Domke Nino, a butcher shop that serves up an array of mostly German and Eastern European dishes at a pretty reasonable rate. You’ll find very meaty dishes here like Bratwurst, Goulash, Kasslerbraten, Schnitzel, and even Blutwurst (blood sausage). Most dishes range from €6 to €9. The meat served is naturally pretty high quality as well, since it’s sourced at this 30+ year old quality butchery. Overall, it’s such a nice casual spot for homestyle food and totally worth a visit. Keep in mind the seating is a little more limited, with a few tables both in and outside.
Warschauer Straße 64 | Friedrichshain
LAP Coffee
Although Life Among People (LAP) Coffee is home to less on the budget food front, their coffee is a pretty fair price for the third-wave quality. I'd be hard-pressed to find this good of a flat white or cappuccino for €3 in Berlin. Their stamp card system only requires you to buy five coffees to receive a free drink as well. They’re also quite an aesthetically pleasing, albeit small, spot. I’ve got to include them in this post because they’re a nice spot for experiencing a bit more of a lush vibe without breaking the bank.
Rosenthaler Straße 62 | Mitte
Schönhauser Allee 75 U-Bahnhof, U2 | Prenzlauer Berg
Kastanienallee 47 | Mitte
Bir-Tat Ferdi Temür
Handmade yufka, manti, and gözleme to enjoy in-house, take away, or make at home! Although there are thriftier Turkish bakeries in Berlin, the baked goods here are guaranteed to be made in-house, very fresh, and wholeheartedly made with love. They offer meat, potato, spinach, and cheese variations of gözleme for €4 and I think it’s a nice deal for the quality, especially if you’re around in the morning. It comes hot off the grill in a thick stack of sliced dough with the filling of your choice. Delicious!
Ohlauer Straße 30 | Kreuzberg
Marafina
For a filling falafel sandwich topped with fresh veg and tasty peanut sauce, look no further than Marafina. Although my favorite falafel spot is probably Tutti Island, I think Marafina is probably top three for me. Their falafel is crispy and moist on the inside, and the value is pretty good too. Their sandwiches range from €4 to €6, and their falafel sandwich in particular is €4 (as of August 2023) and comes with crispy falafel, tasty peanut sauce, creamy aubergine sauce, and fresh vegetables — all inside a warm pita.
Zossener Straße 17 | Kreuzberg
Dilan - Orientalisches Fladenbrot
I came across Dilan by just zooming in on Google Maps and seeing what looked good. This bakery sells just a few types of bread each day, all freshly baked in-house in a clay oven. I tried their pita, which comes in a huge size and is just 50 cents! There’s no available seating, but I enjoyed mine on the spot. It was airy and soft at the center and more crispy and thick at the edges. It’s simple but enjoyable on its own, but you could always bring it home to turn into a wrap filled with whatever you have in your fridge or find a dip to eat it with at the bi-weekly Turkish market down the street.
Kottbusser Damm 5-6 | Kreuzberg
Rüyam
Who doesn’t love Rüyam? If you live in Berlin and haven’t visited yet, there’s no time like the present. There’s no shortage of döner in Berlin, but Rüyam is in its own tier. Every bite of their döner is a special mix of flavorful sauces, meat, vegetables, spices, herbs, and cheese. I recommend you order the #1, but the vegetarian version is just as nice. I’ve tried many döner spots around the city, and for me, the only ones that come close to the same quality are K’Ups and Söner.
Anyway for €6.90, it’s all yours. I prefer the P’Berg location, but both are top-notch. Plus, they have complimentary Turkish tea.
Hauptstraße 133 | Schöneberg
Schönhauser Allee 44A | Prenzlauer Berg
Roll Inc.
At this casual establishment, you can find delicious and fresh Indian food at a reasonable price. I first discovered this place on Wolt and instantly loved their Chana Masala and Butter Chicken rolls. Last I visited, their vegetarian rolls were €5, chicken rolls were €6, and their lamb rolls were €7. I’m also a fan of their Indian bowls which come with salad, onions, and flatbread on the side. They only deliver Indian food, but in person, you’ll additionally find pizza and pasta plates ranging from €5 to €8.50.
Körtestraße 30 | Kreuzberg
Banh mi Stable
Their menu is straightforward: only three types of bánh mì (grilled pork, herby tofu, and peanut chicken), all priced at €6 or less. I have tried all three and tofu is my favorite, followed by chicken. All three have everything you could possibly want in a bánh mì: crusty baguette that’s soft on the inside, flavorful and tender protein, sauce, crunchy fresh veggies, and pickled ingredients. The portion size is pretty decent too, plus the interior is decorative and relaxed. What’s not to like? Cash only.
Schendelgasse 9 | Mitte
Steinofen-Pizza to Go
This pizza-by-the-slice stand sells slices for €2.40 apiece, three slices for €6.50, or four slices from €8.50. They might not be anything to write home about, but they certainly hit the spot. You’ll also find individual 33-centimeter pizzas that start at €6.50.
Schönhauser Allee 123 | Prenzlauer Berg
Wurstpate
Wurstpate is a solid snack shop! If you like sausages you’re in luck, although the quality isn’t the best in town, I still think it’s worth the visit if you’re in the neighborhood, plus the price and variety are excellent. Hot dogs start at €2, currywurst and fries are €4.40, currywurst and bread are €2.60, and a Kettwurst is €2.90. They also offer vegan sausages for €1 more. I’d say they serve some of my favorite currywurst in Berlin.
Köpenicker Straße 58 | Mitte
Curry Baude
If you find yourself at Gesundbrunnen station (which you might as there’s a direct train to Berlin Hbf and BER from here) Curry Baude is a pretty solid currywurst stand. Currywurst with fries and a soft drink will set you back €6.30, while Kartoffelpuffer with apple sauce costs €3 and Bratwurst is €2.70.
Badstraße 1-5 | Wedding
Rolls - Asian Street Food
Rolls will not disappoint! They’re one of my favorite comfort food spots in Berlin. The rice paper rolls and nori hand rolls are €3.50, and the bánh mì ranges from €6.50 - €8.50 for a very generous portion. My favorite variation I’ve tried of theirs so far is the tofu saté, which has been consistently fantastic.
Prenzlauer Allee 176 | Prenzlauer Berg
