JULIAN TRAUTWEIN RECOMMENDS: NOM NOM — INDULGENT SANDWICHES AND BOWLS

Nom Nom is the sound you make when your food tastes really good. And Nom Nom the restaurant, near U–Bahnhof Eberswalder Strasse, lives up to its moniker. Founders Julian Holland and Oliver Thiel, two foodies formally in the advertising and marketing sector, have now turned their passion into reality, though cuisine is left to head chef Ranchi, who previously worked at the Michelin-starred Weinbar Rutz. The menu itself combines amazingly good and affordable food in three styles. First are the Itsy Bits, small tapas including the addictive corn tempura with soy mayo and the ceviche with mango in maple-lime juice. Then, there’s the unique NomNoms: slightly sweet brioche roasted in butter, sliced and packed with diverse fillings: tender pork belly, peanuts and hoisin mayo, sous-vide flank steak with pickled onions, rocket and cheese sauce, or silky tofu with hazelnut vinaigrette. And lastly, if you’re really hungry, there are bowls such as “Beets ‘n’ Cheese”, with fresh beetroot, grated feta, pomelo, veggie chips and crema di balsamico. You can enjoy all of this among Tom Dixon lamps and abstract photographs by Berlin artist Marius Glauer, ideally among enough friends to try a little of everything. (Text: Julian Trautwein / Photos: Johanna Rademacher-Flesland)

Hamburger Julian Trautwein has been living in Berlin for over 10 years. Previously at Airbnb Germany, he will now join Berlin travel startup Tourlane.

Nom Nom, Schönhauser Allee 44, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Mon–Fri 12–15h30 & 17h30–21h30, Sat–Sun: 13–21h30
@nomnom.berlin

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Restaurants

SINGH — INDIAN STREET FOOD FROM MIDDAY TO MIDNIGHT

If you find yourself hungry in Wrangelkiez, you don’t have to go crazy making a choice – the best thing to do is to just make a detour into the culinary world of India, at Singh. Pali, the owner, comes from the Indian state of Punjab, and he and his wife Antje opened this restaurant in 2018. Even at first glance through the window, Singh will pique your curiosity. In addition to the red rickshaw in front of the door, the furniture inside all comes from India, with colorful paintings on the tables and walls illustrating the roots of its street food culture. Tradition and authenticity are taken so seriously that even the Cola (“Thumbs Up”), Fanta, and Limo (“Limca”) are imported from India in beautiful, retro bottles. Besides the classics, like Palak Paneer or Butter Chicken, you can also find rich, traditional Thalis and authentic street food you won’t find anywhere else in Berlin. Perhaps you’ve heard of Mumbai Patri Chaat, Waga Wala Kulcha, or Delhi Chole Bhatura? Well, all of these dishes are prepared here in the open kitchen with lots of love and delicious spices. Especially recommended: the Punjabi Puri Chole, a fried wholemeal bread with chickpeas. (Text: Jasmin Tomschi / Photos: Johanna Rademacher-Flesland)

Singh Indian Street Food, Oppelner Straße 45, 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; Map
Sun–Thu 12-23h, Fri–Sat 12-24h

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Restaurants

PAOLO PINKEL: ONE PLACE, THREE KITCHENS FOR DINNER AND DRINKS

Three independent kitchens in one restaurant? Impossible? Not in Paolo Pinkel, where Chinese food meets both Cypriot and Peruvian cuisines, and where you can choose a favorite dish from each kitchen and taste it all. The concept is simple: Once you’ve ordered and paid directly at each kitchen, the dishes will be served straight to your table. Our particular favorites: the vegan ceviche from the Peruvian kitchen, the Cypriot lamb chops with eggplant cream and the Ran Mian, a wheat noodle dish by Koch Wing, the chef behind Burnin Noodles. If you’re wondering what the name is all about, perhaps you remember the sex and drugs scandal involving German politician Michel Friedman, or the 80s musician Falco with his slicked back hair. It’s an association that’s a little sleazy, wicked, and punk, but it’s implemented with passion. The restaurant’s bar is just as attractive, offering tasty cocktails to wash the food down with. And Paolo Pinkel are widening their concept: from a weekly Sunday brunch, to “Late Night Munchies” to musical spectacles, the three owners Kubilay Akkaya, Nick Kapros and Sebastian Schwendner are just bursting with new ideas for their restaurant. So bring along all your friends – there’s something for everyone to try. (Text: Rosa Künzler / Photos: Johanna Rademacher-Flesland)

Paolo Pinkel und das Schnabulat, Karl–Marx–Str.55, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map

Kitchen: Daily 18–23h, Sun Brunch 10–15h

Bar: Daily from 18h

@paolopinkelberlin

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Guests, Restaurants

CHANYU XU RECOMMENDS: DINNER DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN AT CAFÉ BOTANICO

I discovered Café Botanico last summer when strolling around Neukölln. As with anything great in Berlin, the outside frontage of the cafe doesn’t look like anything special. But inside lies a 1000 sq. m magical wild garden where herbs, fruits and vegetables are grown and a beautiful cafe which cooks up the ingredients into homemade, Italian-inspired plates. The garden there is said to be the only one in the city with an organic certification. With over 200 edible plants, there’s plenty of room for creativity in the kitchen. Dishes change with the seasons and are mostly plant-based, vegetarian or vegan. The fresh pasta with wild herb salad is one of the best meals I’ve had in Berlin. Guided tours of the garden can be arranged too, if you want to deepen your botanical knowledge. When you visit, make sure to drop in on the bee colonies which feed on the flowering herbs. Their mild and sweet honey is used in the kitchen and is available to buy in the cafe. Sustainable, seasonal and local food doesn’t get much better than this. (Text: Chanyu Xu / Photos: Johanna Rademacher-Flesland)

Chanyu Xu has been living in Berlin for over a decade. She is the founder of female-focused natural nutrition and beauty company Her1.

Café Botanico, Richardstr.100, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Tues–Sun 12–22h
@cafebotanico

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Guests, Restaurants

MARWAN FAKHEREDDIN RECOMMENDS: KHAO TAAN FOR FRESH, FAMILY-STYLE THAI FOOD

Berlin’s food culture has been given new nourishment by Khao Taan, an authentic Thai restaurant that opened in February 2019. Nestled in a quiet street in Friedrichshain, it resembles a dining room and your experience there is akin to a laid-back dinner with a Thai grandmother. After several stints at food markets like Bite club and Markthalle Neun, Gaan, a lawyer turned cook, decided to open up his own restaurant. The concept is based on successive courses, including dishes you select from categories including canapés and relishes. Each guest takes samples from plates and no one gets their own individual portion; everything is shared. Don’t expect to see Pad Thai on the menu, rather be ready for novel items such as guinea fowl, young green chilli and Chinese plum. Expect succulent flavours that will dazzle you while you converse with friends and family over hand-picked wine. Khao Taan merges contrasting flavours that turn complementary, and implements distinct textures that stimulate your taste buds, showcasing the extent of Thai cuisine. The abundance of love is evident, and with Gaan’s family style offering, you are guaranteed a complete culinary journey. (Text: Marwan Fakhereddin / Photos: Khao Taan)

Marwan Fakhereddin owns and runs Simsim levantine restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg alongside his brother Jusuf. Since 2015 Berlin has been his home.

Khao Taan, Gryphiusstr.10, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain; map
Tue-Sat, 18h-23h
@khaotaanberlin

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JULIAN TRAUTWEIN RECOMMENDS: NOM NOM — INDULGENT SANDWICHES AND BOWLS

SINGH — INDIAN STREET FOOD FROM MIDDAY TO MIDNIGHT

PAOLO PINKEL: ONE PLACE, THREE KITCHENS FOR DINNER AND DRINKS

CHANYU XU RECOMMENDS: DINNER DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN AT CAFÉ BOTANICO

MARWAN FAKHEREDDIN RECOMMENDS: KHAO TAAN FOR FRESH, FAMILY-STYLE THAI FOOD