Biting into a hefty meat-filled arepa at Kärrecho provides satisfaction to the highest degree. Shredded beef melds with black beans and cheese inside a hot “Maïs Arepa”, which hails from Venezuela — where Marina Caldera, Carlos Bonilla and Rosana Di Miele were born and raised. In 2014, they started Kärrecho (a German-tinged play on the Spanish saying “¡qué arrecho!”, meaning “wie geil!”) at the ZK/U flea market in Moabit before opening their brick-and-mortar location in 2017. If you’re yet to sample an arepa, there’s one thing you must know: Eat it with your hands! Kärrecho’s arepas are delicious renditions of the classic Venezuelan street food staple, and when paired with crispy fried cassava or tostones (fried plantains), make for a messy but fabulous eating experience. Located on Neue Bahnhofstraße, the fast casual restaurant can get quite packed during weekday lunch (hey, Zalando employees have to eat too!) There are also plenty of special events — from brunch to “Empanadas Thursday” — to get in on. (Text: Devan Grimsrud / Photos: Luke Marshall Johnson)

Kärrecho, Neue Bahnhofstr.5, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain; map
Tue-Sat 12-22h, Sun 12-16h

Kantini, a brand new food market located in the concept shopping mall Bikini Berlin, is the latest contender for Berlin’s most Instagrammable interior — and set to elevate lunch breaks in the city’s west. The prolific designer Werner Aisslinger and his studio are behind Kantini’s interior concept. Bold graphic grids meet LA-inspired flora and plush custom seating in a Hockney-esque pastel palette. Nab a prime seat in the loggia, fronted by large windows which overlook Berlin Zoo’s aviaries. Then take your pick of Kantini’s culinary offerings: Thirteen permanent stalls, plus two rotating pop-ups, represent ten different cuisines. Berlin fixtures like the Vietnamese Torstraße institution Royals and Rice are in the mix, next to newcomers such as Sons of Mana. This Hawaiian joint caught Cee Cee’s attention with its umami-loaded poke bowls — like the “Flamed Tuna”: succulent sashimi on a bed of rice, loaded with tangy tomato salsa, wakame and edamame guacamole and doused in lime-soya sauce. Fresh and zesty, it was as pleasing to the palette as Kantini’s interior is to the eye. (Text: Devan Grimsrud / Photos: Luke Marshall Johnson / Emilie Wade / Patricia Parinejad c/o Studio Aisslinger)

Kantini at Bikini Berlin, Budapester Str.38-50, 10787 Berlin-Tiergarten; map
Mon-Sat 10-20h