How I ate on a budget: Berlin

I was planning to spend the most €50 on food, but had actually ended up only spending €15.50 on foods.

When doing my research prior to traveling to Berlin, I came across various different sites and blogs that listed things to do or eat when on a budget. Although helpful in many ways, I actually ended up not utilizing the information as I had thought I would. One page I came across, had a list of restaurants to eat at under €10. This page gave me a ballpark estimate of how much I would most likely spend while in the city. I was planning to spend the most €50 on food, but had actually ended up only spending €15.50 on foods. The significant difference in amount was not only shocking but made me realize that although one can put much time and effort into research, it is completely different to go to the actual place and experience it for yourself.

...although one can put much time and effort into research, it is completely different to go to the actual place and experience it for yourself.

How was I able to spend such a small amount on food? Well, for starters I had planned to eat at the restaurants I researched, but was too tired and too far away from them to eat at. So, I ended up paying €1.50 for a hot dog that was being grilled off of a man’s body. I also spent €3 for a sandwich at the metro station and €2.50 for a giant kebab. These may not seem like a sufficient amount of food to even be considered a meal, however, I generally have a small appetite so I don’t usually eat very much when travelling around. Moreover, even if I was hungrier, I could have easily purchased a second helping and it still would have been cheaper than the restaurants I was planning to dine at.
So, when I first arrived at Aleksander Plätz I noticed many different men with grills attached to their bodies. I found it fascinating but wasn’t sure about ordering something from them. I felt strange if I were to eat a hot dog that was grilled off a man. Just the thought makes me laugh. However, the smell of the grilling meat peaked my interest and curiosity. Also the “€1.50” sign attached to their grills made me realize that this could be the best option for a meal or snack. I walked up to the man, unsure if he spoke English. I showed him my single index finger, to indicate I wanted one. He then asked “ketchup, mustard?” I asked for ketchup and he handed it to me. The entire interaction took about one minute. This was probably the fastest food experience I have ever had. I tasted the meat of the hot dog. It reminded me of the breakfast sausages I would eat at restaurants from back home (California). Although cheap, it was very delicious. The bread of the hot dog was also very unique in that it had a similar consistency and flavor to pretzels. It felt like I was eating a pretzel hot dog without the salt and butter. Regardless, this was the perfect lunch for me.

It felt like I was eating a pretzel hot dog without the salt and butter.

Later in the evening I walked down Karl-Marx-Alle. I decided to get dinner here but was unsure exactly where and what I should eat. I came across a small restaurant with images of foods and their prices. Unfortunately for me, all the names and ingredients were in German. I saw something that I could not pronounce but looked good, not just in price but also in the image. It was a typical kebab with pork meat, costing only €2.50. The man I ordered from asked if I wanted salad and a particular sauce. I went with everything and a spicy sauce. When my food was ready, I was shocked at the size. Wrapped in foil, it reminded me of the burritos that are served at taquerias in California. It was giant. In fact, it was so big I could only eat about ¾ of the entire kebab before feeling so full my stomach would explode.

It was giant. In fact, it was so big I could only eat about ¾ of the entire kebab before feeling so full my stomach would explode. ​

The next day as I was preparing to return to my hostel in the evening, I decided to pick up something from the metro station. I came across a small shop that sells sandwiches, breads, drinks, etc. It somewhat reminded me of a 7/11. I ordered a sandwich that had French bread, mozzarella, tomatoes, pepper, and lettuce. It was simple but very filling. I didn’t like that the sandwich was cold, but it wasn’t a problem to eat. ​

These are just some examples of my food experiences. Saturday morning, I had purchased breakfast from the hostel I was staying at and later I got a coffee to wake me up. The Sunday of my trip I had purchased a hot dog then later a pretzel. I honestly did not eat very much during this trip, however it wasn’t because I was starving myself, but it was because I felt I didn’t have much time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Also, I wanted to use my money on other things and not food. The places I researched to eat at did look good, but I decided to take my food decisions into my own hands and figure it out for myself.
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I suppose I just want to remind you that although you can make all these plans for things to be done and seen, you may or may not be able to do all that you had been planning for.

Keep in mind that I am not saying researching different websites for advice or help is a bad thing, because I knew exactly where I wanted to go during my trip thanks to this research. However, one can never really calculate the time it takes to go between different areas or the amount of time spent at each area. I suppose I just want to remind you that although you can make all these plans for things to be done and seen, you may or may not be able to do all that you had been planning for. I ended up eating at none of the restaurants I had planned for, but it worked out for the best. I hope you find this information helpful for your traveling plans. Thank you for reading !

Eggs, ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, jams (peach, raspberry, strawberry), toast, and coffee (not pictured)