Do you like to explore cities through your stomach? Great. You’re reading the right blog. You should definitely consider Hamburg as the venue for your next foodie short break. Nicknamed the “Gateway to the World” (Tor zur Welt ), the port city of Hamburg enjoys the rich presence of over 180 nationalities from across the world, which has resulted in a cornucopia and melting pot of culture, traditions and flavours. With over 104 districts to explore, each neighbourhood offers a reflection of the city’s multicultural vibe, with cafes and restaurants serving up dishes from all four corners of the world. Whatever your budget, trust me, you will never be bored or be hungry in this city.
I love Hamburg. It feels like a second home to me. Over the years I have had the good fortune of spending time in Hamburg discovering some of the city’s amazing food hotspots: from local classics like Fischbrötchen with a view of the city’s iconic harbour to freshly roasted coffee in Hamburg’s hippest coffee joint to sampling Nordic flavours in a modern, stylish restaurant. So, to help plan your trip to Hamburg, here are 14 iconic dining experiences that would form the perfect culinary safari of Hamburg.
A note: Not all the food experiences listed here are by no means budget friendly. However, I truly believe that you save money on certain things to spend money on the stuff that really matters to you. For me, that is food and drink. PS: At the bottom you can download my free Google Maps guide to all the places in this food guide to Hamburg.
1. Restaurant Teheran
Address: Adenauerallee 70, 20097 Hamburg
Teheran is one of the few Hamburg restaurants serving traditional Persian cuisine. I’m a huge fan of their kebabs. The food is delicious, well presented and the prices are fantastic. Whenever I dine here the place is packed with local Persian families, which is always a good sign.
Top tip: try the Mirzaghasemi (€5.50), baked eggplant with garlic, steamed tomatoes and eggs, as a starter, followed by their Fesenjan (€9.90), chicken in pomegranate sauce with roasted walnuts and basmati rice. Food heaven.
2. Imbiss bei Schorsch
Address: Beim Grunen Jager 14, Hamburg
While Berlin is the home of the currywurst, in my opinion Hamburg can claim to be home to probably the best currywurst in Germany thanks to the fantastic Imbiss bei Schorsch. From the outside this little imbiss in the heart of St Pauli looks quite unremarkable but do not be deceived by its looks. Pop inside and order their currywurst (around €3), served with a generous portion of their super-secret, spicy tomato sauce so revered amongst locals that people travel from far and wide just to buy tubs of it. Also order the delicious potato salad (around €2.50) and wash it all down with an ice cold Astra beer.
3. Authentikka
Address: Lilienstraße 5, 20095 Hamburg, Germany