Best Street Food Restaurants in Cologne
Cologne's best-kept kebab secret is hidden in Körnerstraße: every Wednesday, Atila Tosun personally fires up the spit in his small, iconic Ehrenfeld market hall for what is perhaps the most honest and delicious kebab in the cathedral city.
There really is no shortage of pizzerias in the cathedral city, but the Neapolitan pizzas here taste exceptionally good. Flavourful dough and super fresh, aromatic ingredients ensure pure bliss. What pizzaiolo Raffaele does differently remains his secret.
Pizza with a difference: the stylish Ehrenfeld bakery with the striking neon sign bakes crispy sourdough pizzas and rectangular Detroit-style tray bakes. The dough, dough method and baking style are a real display changer. Favourite: Double pepperoni with chilli honey. Really hot!
In this small, friendly snack bar, every dish is a firework of flavours. Excitingly spiced curries and authentic Bengali street food such as bhel puri or deep-fried lentil balls invite you on an exciting gastronomic journey of discovery through South Asia.
Burgers, fries, coffee: this trio can save many a day. It's a good thing that all three staple foods are prepared here with tangible love and a sense for the essentials. Super crispy garlic fries. The Oklahoma onion smash burger tastes seriously good.
A Rievkooche rarely comes alone. The garlic dip in particular makes you want more, and each additional dip - apple sauce, herb quark or chilli sauce - costs a mere 50 cents. But the star of the show from this small stall in the historic city centre is the deliciously crispy pancakes, which are super soft on the inside.
The sweet food truck in the city centre has a heart for vegans and serves bratwurst and currywurst in both delicious, classic and phenomenally good plant-based versions. The crispy arancini, cannoli and cornetti are also not to be missed.
A pop-up becomes a restaurant! After a successful interim year in the Bredouille wine bar, the Herbig-Krings duo have taken the plunge and have opened their own restaurant. Since April, their delicious rib sandwiches have been served in the city centre of Cologne. Pairings with select natural wines.
Hummus for the advanced. The chickpea puree flavoured with olive oil and tahini is served here with a silky-smooth texture and outstanding combinations. Shakshuka is served on Saturdays from 12 noon to 5 pm, and a "hummus of the week" provides fun, enjoyment and excitement.
Charming little noodle soup shop in Kalk on the right bank of the Rhine. The Japanese-inspired dishes, prepared with great attention to quality and flavour, are definitely worth the trip. Udon in broth with various toppings, tempura on rice with sauce - all really great.
The small, lively sister of the ITO restaurant, which is known for its upscale Japanese cuisine, has quickly transformed itself from a takeaway spot into an individual restaurant with sushi as well as creative starters and main courses. Some dishes are simple, others complex.
The Bad Ape crew has made a name for itself in recent years with its colourful and creative salads. The sandwiches - from "Slappy Joe" to "Bad Pastrami" - ensure happiness. Incidentally, the drinks are just as colourful as the food.
A modern focaccia bar in the south of Cologne - with a lovely selection for a snack or more. The yeasted dough flatbreads, baked with plenty of olive oil, are topped with the highest quality ingredients and "crisped up" warm before serving, also available: deep-fried specialities.
Japanese barbecue in all-you-can-eat and DIY style. Guests prepare their own food on a table grill and choose from a diverse and seasonally varying repertoire of ingredients: roast beef, lamb, scallops, king oyster mushrooms, enoki and much more.
The dishes served in sharing dishes bring original Peruvian classics and well-balanced fusion dishes to the table, such as "ceviche chifa" with tuna, tosazu, radish and nori leaf or rump steak with bone marrow, aji amarillo and red wine vinegar-soy sauce.
Chronic lack of fries? The jolly frittendoktor on Neusser Straße knows how to cure this deficiency. The Belgian-style double-fried potato strips are served with various homemade sauces, accompanied by burgers - vegetarian and halal.
The deli, which is part of the traditional snack bar in the Kwartier Latäng neighbourhood, brings kebab power to the Agnesviertel. The kebab is prepared according to a recipe that is over 30 years old. The bread, meat, pickled vegetables, salads, falafel etc. taste super fresh and the kebab platter is particularly good.
A must for visitors to Cologne. If you haven't eaten an Adana sandwich here, you haven't seen the cathedral city. The charcoal-grilled lamb skewers can also be enjoyed with bulgur, rice, salad and hot sauce. Another tip: try the house pide.
American BBQ paradise in a cosy, rustic restaurant with terrace and playground. Fathers' dreams come true here. While kids play on the slide, parents enjoy pulled pork, ribs, brisket, burgers, wings and bratwurst. All-you-can-eat is served regularly.
Raph's BBQ Deli, the small city cousin of the BBQ Diner in Widdersdorf, takes sandwiches out of the snack corner and turns them into a handy gastronomic delight. Former top chef Saloum Raphael Doucouré attaches great importance to quality, creativity and fun - in equal parts.