Cheap eats guide to Hamburg
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
I am a huge fan of Authentikka which I would consider as Germany’s best Indian restaurant at the moment. We first discovered Authentikka at their Winterhude branch back in the time of Covid and fell in love with their food. On our last 2 visits, we visited their new Hamburg Mitte branch and besides the food, I love the minimalist, classy interiors here.
The menu here is a mix of classics- butter chicken, dosas, dal makhani plus street food classics like chaats and kebabs. Usually I don’t go for cocktails at an Indian but they were so good here. Sabrina had a Dirty Mango Lassi (€10.50 )— mango lassi, coconut rum and Bailey while I had their Chai Whisky Sour ( €11.50 )- so tasty.For starters we went for Aloo Tikki chaat (€9.50 ) – a crispy potato patty topped with yogurt & chutney. OMG. 10/10. Then the Hara Bhara Kebab ( €9.50) which is a spiced spinach potato pea patty which you dunk in a green chutney. Again, fab.
Mains. Given they have a proper tandoor oven, we plumped for the classic Chicken Tikka Masala ( €18.70 ) which we mopped up with tandoori roti -so tasty, followed by Kashmiri Aloo Dum ( €16.50 ) which is baby potatoes stuffed with paneer, cashews, raisins and coriander that simmers in this creamy yoghurt gravy.So so good. Loved everything we tried here. Plus prices are not cheap but for the quality, worth it. If you are on a budget, come here for lunch. The veg lunch thali deal which starts at €12.50 ( 11.30-2pm, €13.80- Non Veg Thali ) is incredible value.
Also, love to give a shoutout to Mahadosa in Reeperbahn district that does South Indian food really well, especially ( Address: Hein-Hoyer-Straße 60, 20359 Hamburg ) their fantastic Dosas ( starts from €12.50 ) , a South Indian savoury crepe made from a fermented batter of ground black gram and rice that you enjoy with spicy lentil soup ( sambar) and a coconut and tangy chutney
4. Franzbrötchen from Junge Bakerei or Der Kleine Konditorei
Another piece of fluffy sugary goodness you must try in Hamburg is Franzbrötchen. Literally named “the French roll,” its origins hark back to the Napoleonic occupation of the city from 1806 to 1814, when Hamburg was introduced to the croissant. Made with lots of sugar and cinnamon, the modern Franzbrötchen comes in a few varieties: raisins, chocolate or macadamia. One of my go-to spots is Junge Bakerei, a chain of bakeries originating in nearby Lubeck. Der Kleine Konditorei, which has outlets in Langenfelder Damm, Lutterothstrasse and Osterstrasse, is another local favourite famed for theirs.
5. Shiso Burger
Address: Bugenhagenstrasse 23, 20095 Hamburg
Tucked away on Bugenhagenstrasse just behind the lively Mönckebergstrasse is Shiso Burger, a gourmet burger experience with a difference. Picture a classic gourmet burger joint but with high quality Angus beef, lamb’s lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers served with an Asian twist in a bao-style bun. Simple industrial design, muted colours and small details like the colourful origami cranes set a relaxed and unpretentious vibe.
My favourite is the Bulgogi Burger: not made from a minced patty but with Angus fillet pieces marinated in a Korean chilli paste. I also recommend the Chili-Lemon Burger: Asian spices, lemon mayo, Korean chilli paste and teriyaki sauce over tender beef fillet, topped with strong cheddar. For sides, choose from their delicious sweet potato fries, edamame or lotus chips. Top tip: if the weather is good, grab a seat outside on one of the shared tables on the sidewalk.
Update: Shiso Burger has expanded since this guide was first written and now has multiple locations across Hamburg.
6. Brücke 10
Address: St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken 10, 20359 Hamburg
No trip to Hamburg is complete without enjoying one of their hugely popular freshly filled fish sandwiches, the Fischbrötchen. My favourite place to enjoy one in Hamburg is the bistro Brücke 10, located directly on the pier in Hamburg’s historic harbour at Landungsbrücken. Watch the harbour ferries and catamarans sail past the historic waterfront while savouring either Nordseekrabben, little shrimps folded into a crisp bread roll, or my favourite, the classic Matjes: a slightly sour fish topped with crunchy onions. Don’t forget to wash it down with an ice cold local Astra beer. There are plenty of Fischbrötchen vendors along the harbour, some cheaper than Brücke 10, but in terms of quality and location this place is unbeatable.
7. Kleine Haie Grosse Fische
Address: Querstrasse 4, 20359 Hamburg (St Pauli)
Brücke 10 is the Fischbrötchen spot I go to for the harbour view, Kleine Haie Grosse Fische is the one I go to when I want a nice bite at the end of the night, especially if you do not want a kebab or McDonalds 🙂 A short walk from the Reeperbahn in St Pauli in the raucous Hans-Albers-Platz, this tiny, hole in the wall place serves some of Hamburg’s best Fischbrötchen. Interiors have been made from reclaimed materials including wood from St Pauli’s Millerntor Stadium. It opens almost all night, they have live music too. Easily one of the most colourful spots in the city.
8. La Casita (Tacos, Empanadas & mehr)
Address: Neuer Kamp 30, 20357 Hamburg, Germany
For the best tacos in Hamburg look no further than La Casita. Owners, Ernesto and Juan serve delicious tacos, empanadas ( €4.50) plus do a mean margarita. Vegan tacos start from €15.50 ( 3 tacos) while their Tacos Suadero with beef is €16. Pricey but really amazing quality.
9. Erika’s Eck
Address: Sternstraße 98, 20357 Hamburg, Germany
A Hamburg institution for over 40 years, Erika’s Eck in the hear of Schanzenviertel is popular with the after hours crowd ( They are open for 21 hours, from 5pm to 2pm! ) who come for their enormous Schnitzel , beer and gruff service. Not cheap but at around €21 ( They do a pretty decent Bauernfrühstück, a traditional German one-pan cooked breakfast of bacon, potatoes and scrambled eggs for €15 ) , you are tasting a slice of local history. celebrities, locals, night owls and early risers have all passed through the same door. Cash is advisable and sharing tables with strangers is completely normal.
9. Oma’s Apotheke
Address: Schanzenstraße 87, 20357 Hamburg, Germany
If you are on a stricter budget , then I would recommend Oma’s Apotheke which is another hamburg institution, also in Schanzenviertel. It has a rustic, nostalgic charm , the beer is good and decent priced plus do a decent schnitzel too. The star of the menu is their affordable student breakfast which includes unlimited coffee. ( Nothing spectacular but does the job )
10. Zuckermonarchie
Address: Taubenstrasse 15, 20359 Hamburg
Welcome to the most innocent sin in Hamburg’s Reeperbahn district. Just off Taubenstrasse lies Hamburg’s queen of cupcakes: Zuckermonarchie. Choose from pretty pastel cupcakes to champagne-flavoured macarons and cake pops in a pink candy-box interior worthy of any Disney fantasy. Besides beautifully crafted coffee and a range of flavoured teas, the cafe also offers delicious homemade lemonades. Everything is made from scratch with no artificial flavourings or preservatives, and they use organic eggs. If you’re in Hamburg at the weekend, come with an empty stomach and order their special breakfast Katherina die Grosse (€12.95 per person): a mixture of sweet and savoury delights. You will not be disappointed.
11. Nord Coast Coffee Roastery
Address: Deichstrasse 9, 20459 Hamburg
Germany loves its coffee, so much so that it is rumoured to have a higher consumption than beer and water combined. Nowhere is that love more evident than in Hamburg, which has had a long-standing affair with the bean thanks to its access to the world’s major shipping and trade routes. Coffee was one of the reasons that helped create the warehouses of the Speicherstadt district at the end of the 19th century, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
So it is appropriate that in the heart of the Speicherstadt you can enjoy some of the city’s best coffee at the Nord Coast Coffee Roastery. Besides the coffee, customers flock here to buy their pre-packaged beans and they uphold a proud reputation for having the best homemade waffles with cream in the city and possibly Germany (from €4.70). Other popular favourites include freshly pressed juices, homemade granola (€5.90), banana bread pancakes (gluten free, €7.50) and avocado and poached eggs on toast with homemade green pesto and baby leaf spinach (€7.50).
12. Milch
Address: Ditmar-Koel-Strasse 22, 20459 Hamburg
Worth checking out the beautiful minimalist cafe Milch in Hamburg’s Neustadt just for its dreamy interiors alone. They serve a fantastic flat white, have a great selection of pastries and the staff are friendly.
IF YOU WANT TO SPLURGE
13. Haebel
Address: Paul-Roosen-Strasse 31, 22767 Hamburg
Unfussy but genuinely spectacular dining in an intimate setting, right in the heart of St Pauli. Haebel has come a long way since this guide was first written. Chef Fabio Haebel’s restaurant is now a Michelin-starred restaurant and has also been awarded the Green Star for exceptional sustainable practices, making it one of Hamburg’s most celebrated and yet most unpretentious fine dining destinations. Only 16 seats, an open kitchen where you can watch every dish being prepared, and two menus: Fauna (omnivore) and Flora (vegetarian), both changing regularly to reflect what is seasonal and local. The space has an urban feel with simple yet stylish interior design, large windows looking out onto the street and an open kitchen, surrounded by the vibrant street life and graffiti of St Pauli. This is expensive but an extraordinary experience for a special occasion. Book well in advance via their website.
14. Cafe Paris
Address : Rathausstrasse 4, 20095 Hamburg
Strictly not budget but for me this cafe is an unmissable Hamburg experience: an authentic piece of Paris right in the heart of the city. Just a hop, skip and jump from the Alster and Hamburg’s majestic city hall, the classic Cafe Paris evokes the charm and elegance of turn-of-the-century Parisian cafes. This is for me the perfect place to start any day in Hamburg. There’s a beautiful stillness in the morning hours when the cafe is not too busy and you can linger over your coffee and enjoy the beautiful art nouveau interiors. Grab a seat at the bar, enjoy your coffee with one of their crisp buttery croissants and if budgets permit and you’re a sucker for oysters like me, order half a dozen of their delicious oysters and wash it down with a glass of cremant. Later in the day, feast on classic French dishes like Bouillabaisse, Steak Frites or Poulet Citron.
Further reading
If you are planning a trip to Hamburg, checkout my introduction to Hamburg and also my review of Superbude St Pauli, Hamburg’s best hostel
