Döner kebab, a marriage between Germany and Turkish cuisine, started out as one of Turkey’s national dishes. It was introduced to Berlin in the 1970s by Turkish immigrants, one of the largest minority groups in the city, and was put on Turkish flatbread (fladenbrot) for a quick and easy meal. Döner is the undisputed favorite fast food in Germany today.
You’ll find döner kebab in every German city (and beyond), but the capital of döner is still in Berlin’s Haupstadt. The city is home to more than 1,300 doner stalls, even more than Istanbul! Everyone has their favorite, often based on convenience, but there are some döner restaurants that offer a kabob that is clearly better than the average food they drink.
What is Döner Kebab?
The traditional döner consists of lamb, but chicken or veal or a mixture of veal and lamb is also common and the best is much discussed. The meat is loaded onto a large rotisserie, thinly sliced while roasting vertically, then packed in fladenbrot and topped with salad / cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and a sauce of your choice (yogurt / yogurt , spicy / scharf or garlic) / knoblauch ).
Hasir
Legend has it that the doner was born in this restaurant in Kreuzberg. In 1971, Mehmet Aygün put the döner meat and salad, which had been served on a plate until then, on a baked flatbread and offered it to him as an appetizer to go.
Today, Hasir is a popular sit-down restaurant in the bustling heart of Kreuzberg. In addition to Döner Kebab, the menu offers traditional Turkish food, such as grilled lamb, stuffed wine leaves, and hummus.
Address : Adalbertstr. 10, 10999 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
Imren Grill
My favorite Döner stall checks all the boxes of convenience with multiple locations, authentic extras like free Turkish tea, and superior meat. Just don’t count on great service. Like I said, all the things a great döner stand should be.
What really sets Imren apart is that they make their own skewers, which is a dying art. They lovingly layer layer upon layer of milk-marinated beef for 24 hours before grilling to make it super tender.
If you want something else to go with your döner (don’t even dream of ordering something else) their delicious Linsensuppe (lentil soup) sells daily and they serve a variety of cashiers (plated dishes) if you want to sit and eat.
Address :
- Boppstraße 10, 10967 Berlín, Alemania (Kreuzberg)
- Wiener Strasse 11, 10999 (Kreuzberg)
- Karl-Marx-Strasse 75, 12043 (Neukoelln)
- Hauptstrasse 156, 10827 (Schöneberg)
- Badstrasse 1, 13357 Berlin (Boda)
- Müllerstrasse 134, 13349 (Boda)
Tadim
Located on the bustling Kottbuser Tor in Kreuzberg, this simple restaurant offers the perfect beef dish. Crispy flatbread, fine and tasty meat, topped with fresh salad.
Döner is a meal in itself, but you should try their famous lahmacuns or ‘Turkish pizza’. Although it looks much smaller than rolled doner, it can also be packed with meat, salad, and gravy.
Address : Adalbertstraße 98, 10999 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
satisfaction
Like many Turkish favorites, this proper Turkish restaurant is within walking distance of Kottbusser Tor and doesn’t look like much when you first see it. What they excel at is endless lines of grilled meat skewers.
While the best is served on a plate, the fine grilled chunks that make it fladenbrot are just as tasty. Topped with rotkohl (red cabbage), this restaurant has recently expanded to accommodate its booming business. Doyum is another great place to fill your ever-expanding belly with lahmacun .
Address : Admiralsstrasse 36-37, 10999 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
Vouner
It wouldn’t be Berlin without a vegetarian option. Vöner is Germany’s first vegan döner and caters to non-meat lovers with special seitan kebabs filled with roasted onions, carrots, celery, and the ever-present German potato. All items can be made vegan with plenty of plant-based soups, burgers, and sweets to round out the menu.
Address : Boxhagener Str. 56, 10245 (Friedrichshain)
Mustafa’s Vegetable Kebab
Mustafas Gemüse Kebab is today most famous for having a line. Listed in each guide, it actually serves a unique vegetable skewer, as well as a chicken doner.
But perhaps the reason for the ever-present line is that they are the most publicized with national and international coverage, their own dream commercial and a wide following on social media.
If you ever pass through busy Mehringdamm and miraculously there is no line, stop for a bite to eat.
Address : Mehringdamm 32, 10961 Berlin (Kruezberg)
