{"id":16488,"date":"2025-04-24T14:43:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T12:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=16488"},"modified":"2025-04-24T15:09:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:09:30","slug":"currywurst-without-the-wurst-berlins-shifting-food-culture-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/16488\/currywurst-without-the-wurst-berlins-shifting-food-culture-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Currywurst without the wurst: Berlin’s shifting food culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Currywurst and D\u00f6ner, foods that are part of Berlin’s identity are getting a plant-based makeover. All over Berlin you can find vegan versions of traditionally meat based dishes.\u00a0<\/b>Vegan currywurst and plant-based d\u00f6ner are quickly becoming part of Berlin\u2019s food identity.<\/b><\/p>\n\n

Berlin is often called the vegan capital of Europe, and not without reason, with over 116 completely vegan restaurants, and thousands more offering vegan options, there are plenty of options to choose from. Unlike other cities, veganism in Berlin is often considered mainstream. Plant-based food is widely available and socially accepted. The city has seen a major rise in the number of vegan friendly food options, both in street food and in higher end restaurants. This trend reflects a cultural shift, as local foods are reimagined to align with modern values like animal welfare and sustainability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”16491″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

In the centre of Berlin, near the Hackescher Markt you can find the popular currywurst restaurant \u2018Curry61\u2019. Alongside the traditional currywurst made from pork, there is a plant-based alternative made from soy and seitan. Served in the same tray, covered in spiced ketchup and curry powder it looks almost identical to the meat version.<\/span><\/p>\n

The vegan variation has only been available for about 2 years. The owner Andreas explains that creating this version was a response to the growing demand. \u201cI do not think it is a trend that will pass, it will only increase in the coming years\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His customers are a mix of both tourists and locals. \u2018Some days the people are only asking for the vegan currywurst\u2019. It is clear that plant-based options are becoming a standard part of Berlin\u2019s food culture.<\/span><\/p>\n\n[aesop_gallery id=”16494″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Berlin has been known for its changing food culture through influences of immigration, subcultures and political shifts. The punk and queer scene embraced veganism early on, using it as a political statement. This created the perfect environment for the rise of veganism, which aligns with Berlin’s values like openness to new ideas and inclusivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This shift isn\u2019t just visible on the streets, it is supported by numbers. According to a report by <\/span>HappyCow<\/span><\/a> from 2023, the number of vegan restaurants has risen by forty percent in the last three years. When there were around 80 vegan restaurants before, currently there are approximately 116 restaurants that exclusively offer plant-based options. <\/span>Another <\/span>study by AOK<\/span><\/a> found that almost half of the children in Berlin rarely or never eat meat.<\/span><\/p>\n

While restaurant owners respond to demand, it is everyday Berliners and tourists which are driving the change. For many Berliners being vegan is not just a diet, it is part of their lifestyle. Pauline, a student living in Berlin says the city makes it much easier to eat without animal products. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter where you go, there is always a vegan option that isn\u2019t just salad or fries\u201d. She never feels like she is missing out, being vegan is not a restriction for her in Berlin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She agrees that a vegan currywurst can still be authentic, for her it is mostly the spices that make it feel original. And even if it does not taste exactly like the meat version, for her the most important thing is that no animal has to suffer.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Another restaurant that reimagines a popular street food in Berlin is Zer\u00f6 Kebab. This is a completely vegan d\u00f6ner restaurant. Here the plantbased d\u00f6ner is served in the traditional style with fresh vegetables and different sauces. The seitan \u201cmeat\u201d is grilled and spiced just like regular d\u00f6ner.\u00a0 Instead of demand, this restaurant was started from an ideological motivation. To rethink the current fast food options to options that are plant based and future looking. \u201cFood can be sustainable and still taste amazing\u2019\u2019. For him it is about proving that plant-based food isn\u2019t a compromise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”16485″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

The customers here are a mix of vegans, vegetarians and also many non-vegans. For the owner Mert the popularity of the restaurant is a sign of a shifting food culture in Berlin. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be vegan to enjoy our food. Berlin is really open-minded when it comes to food, people come here to try something different\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Despite the popularity of these vegan fast foods, there remains a group of people that is sceptical of the developments. For some, the rise of vegan alternatives feels like a loss of Berlin’s culinary identity. One owner of a currywurst stand in Berlin Mitte explains: \u201cCurrywurst is a meat dish, a vegan version simply can\u2019t replace it\u201d. For him and many others food is tied to identity and memories. They fear that these meat based comfort foods and thus their memories will be spoiled by the vegan interpretations.<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”16497″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Berlin’s food culture is in motion, and open to reinvention. The rise of vegan versions of iconic dishes like the currywurst does not only reflect a change in eating habits, but also a shift towards more sustainable and inclusive options. While some people remain attached to the traditional versions, many Berliners welcome these developments with open arms. In a place known for its openness and experimentation the classic recipes are not immune to change, but perhaps change is the most authentic tradition in Berlin.<\/span><\/p>\n\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2025\/04\/IMG_3712.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”Curry36″ captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Currywurst and D\u00f6ner, foods that are part of Berlin’s identity are getting a plant-based makeover. All over Berlin you can find vegan versions of traditionally meat based dishes.\u00a0Vegan currywurst and plant-based d\u00f6ner are quickly becoming part of Berlin\u2019s food identity. Berlin is often called the vegan capital of Europe, and not without reason, with over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3747,"featured_media":16474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acls","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCurrywurst without the wurst: Berlin's shifting food culture - International Journalism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Currywurst without the wurst: Berlin's shifting food culture - International Journalism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Currywurst and D\u00f6ner, foods that are part of Berlin’s identity are getting a plant-based makeover. 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