Berlin’s hottest food news

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE SUMMER!

Hello, fellow hungry humans! We’ve officially hit the mid-year mark, and we’d like to treat you to an XXL edition of our BFS newsletter. Because as the city gets hotter, so do all the new restaurants. Our intel-collecting team have been working extra hard to make sure we’ve got the latest openings, closings, and any restaurant rumours that might be circulating the scene. So, if you’re lost in the sauce of where to eat, where to drink, and where to cool down with an ice cream, we’ve got you covered. As usual, we’ve left no stone unturned (aka we’ve been eating a LOT) to ensure you get the freshest and finest information you can.

On our radar: Berlin’s diner renaissance! Desi Diner and Dashi Canteen set the tone with the diner nostalgia, and now the deservedly hyped Ari’s and Onette are further proving that breakfast sandwiches, filter coffee, and cultural mash-ups belong in the Hauptstadt. And because the city feels like a convection oven, we’re handing you our definitive ice-cream power list to stay cool while you eat your way through July. For this years edition we’ve remained true to the classic cool-down spots, but as an extra piece of info, make sure to pay attention to the mighty exciting rise in Asian-inspired ice cream projects popping up around town.

Scroll on, feast freely, and remember: our restaurant vouchers remain Berlin’s smartest (and tastiest) last-minute gift for all your food friends and if you’re too lazy to stand in line for the best ice cream, just order some from our friends at Uber Eats. Happy summer, folks. Stay curious, stay hungry!

OPENINGS

Ari’s: Kreuzberg’s newest luncheonette inspired by flavours from Peru is seriously worth the hype. Go for the chopped cheese and the best ceviche we’ve had so far this summer.

Wei Dao Jia: Inspired by Nanjing and Sichuan cuisine, this new Chinese restaurant on Schönhauser Allee has been causing quite the stir in our Discord community. 

Kebap With Attitude: KWA, Berlin’s self-proclaimed contemporary döner trailblazer has opened a second location in Kreuzberg on Bergmannstraße.

Puffer Imbiss: One of Berlin’s beloved Imbiss spots is back at Hermannplatz. Same menu, new owners. We haven’t been yet, so check it out and let us know how it is. 

Amatō: P’berg’s latest ice cream and pastry shop, this Asian-inspired store has taken the city by storm with flavours like matcha, miso caramel, and lychee & jasmine tea. 

The Sphere: Tim Raue’s new restaurant has got the whole city talking. Nestled in the TV Tower, Raue’s high-end restaurant has got views of the whole city.

Onette: Taking social media by storm is this German-American diner in Schöneberg. Boasting classic American diner-esque aesthetics, this restaurant has really captured the modern diner vibe. 

Crusty Slices: If you care more about food-porn posts for social media than an actually good meal, this latest sweet + savoury gourmet “pizza” slice spot on Oranienburger Str. is waiting for your visit.

Ronin: Mitte’s new Japanese comfort place, you’ll find dishes like gyoza, katsu schnitzel, and yakitori on the menu.

Common: Just in time for summer, this is the latest coffee and matcha location on Karl-Marx Str. As part of the Gozney collection, they’ll be serving up sourdough pizzas in no time. 

0086 Chinese Restaurant: A new Sichuan spot near Savignyplatz, they promise to bring spicy food straight to your lips. Early reviews are showing mighty positive signs and Bryan Inhee Lee dropped this as his fav Chinese Hotspot on his Eat like a Chef Interview.

Aether Space: Luxurious matcha in a design and goods store. Instagrammable to the max, they’ve got strawberry, ube, and blue spirulina layered matchas on offer.

Bagel Bro: Opposite Atelier Dough, this new bagel joint is becoming known for their salt-beef bagel. They also have a variety of veggie, sweet, and savoury options, plus weekend specials. 

Kōji Hand Roll: One of the first restaurants to open in the new Kalle Halle in Neukölln. Run by the former chef of November, this spot serves up freshly-made sushi and hand rolls at a bar.

Flatto Berlin: Serving up traditional Japanese tapas and dining on Reinhardtstr., they also offer lunchtime take-away bento boxes. 

Kai Bar Brasserie: The restaurant that took over the old Cordo location in Mitte. A modern Japanese-French fusion brasserie with an innovative twist. 

Bistro GriGri: Having re-opened in April under the same name but with a new young team of chefs, this Kreuzberg bistro serves small plates to share. 

Pondji: After a while of doing pop-ups, they finally has a store front in Neukölln. Specialising in Pão de Queijo, or traditional Brazilian baked cheese rolls, they also serve up different daily lunch specials. 

O Day Deli: Vietnamese brunch-style cafe in Prenzlauer Berg. Offering up different food and drink weekly specials.

Ibn Al Sham: A new Syrian shawarma joint by the Azzam crew, boasting what’s probably the biggest chicken shawarma skewer in town.

Serre Bar: Just beyond Mauer Park lies this new small-bites bar. They have a brunch, evening, and snack plates menu, with an extensive drinks list to accompany. 

YiJia: Located on Oberbaumstraße, this new fusion Chinese restaurant offers classic Chinese comfort food. 

Shaniu Market: The latest project by the Shaniu House team. A Chinese market on Uhlandstraße with a special focus on Chinese breakfast, super excited about this one.

Roll Inc: Authentic Indian food priding themselves on their famous kathi rolls. 

The Base: The latest bánh mì spot in Oranienburgerstr., you’ll find a simple menu offering a bacon, chicken or veggie sandwich. 

Modu: For those P’berg babes, a new Korean bistro has opened. A wide variety of menu items including bibimbap, fried rice, japchae, and kimchi jjigae. 

Youngheene: Korean street-food restaurant focusing on tteokbokki, hotdog, and gimbap. Vegetarian options available. 

Ya-Man Steakdöner: Joining the quality döner vibe, you’ll find this new steak döner spot in Schöneberg. 

Flatto: This unfussy and uncomplicated Japanese tapas style restaurant is all about relaxed and easy dining. 

Acid: A staple in the Berlin cool bakery offering, they’ve opened a new branch in Prenzlauer Berg on the top of Pfefferberg.

Bite: A mashup between döner and Indian bathura roll sandwiches? This crew is doing it and we’re watching from the sidelines.

Home of Dumplings: If you know and love the store in Kreuzberg, you’ll be pleased to hear that they have opened a new branch in P’berg just in time for summer eats.

Kuréme: Hello summer, hello gelato. From the same creators as The Bun Society comes this Asian-inspired gelato shop, with flavours like mango sticky rice, avocado, and corn. 

Cara: The new kid on the block, this is located in the old Frea venue and is the playground of the old Italian head chef of Frea. Cooking upscale Italian food, expect party vibes all evening long.

CLOSINGS

Tante Fichte: In a heartfelt message on Instagram, owner Michael Köhle has made the decision to close down in December of this year. Until then, they’ll continue to deliver their Balkan inspired fine dining fare. 

Pappa e Ciccia: After 20 years, this iconic Italian restaurant and celebrity watering hole closed down in April. It is said that Almi Bistro will take over the space.

Frea Restaurant: While doors closed on the 22nd of June, they are continuing with catering and events. And fear not, you can still find quality Italian food here as they opened Cara restaurant, and they still run Frea bakery.

Sugarclan Berlin: With almost six years of baking doughnuts in Grünberger Str., the crew have said goodbye to pastry making in May 2025. 

Love Deluxe: The iconic brunch restaurant in Neukölln have decided to turn their project into a catering-only project and we’re already missing the Beef Shank Curry Dip Sandwich

RUMORS & NEWS

Fleischerei: Having been closed since 2023, this dining restaurant on Schönhauser Allee is newly renovated and almost open! Get those steak knives ready.

Jollibee: While there has been no official confirmation, the news that there will be a Berlin Jollibee branch are circulating all over social media. Keep your eyes peeled. 

Nutt’s Thai Kitchen: With a recent expansion, they have taken over the space next door. This means more room to serve up their tasty meals.  

Magic John’s: Rumoured to have a new location on Heidestraße, this will be the primary Magic Johns location, as well as the new dough production location moving forward.

Tokyo Gohan: Having hinted at it on their Instagram, they’re rumoured to be opening a second location in Friedrichshain. 

Halo Bagels: After a few bagel pop ups, founders Clem and Luca will be opening up a store on Auguststraße. They’ll be serving up artisan sourdough bagels both sweet and savoury. 

What's the best

delivery food in town!?

🔥 BFS x Uber Eats = Delivery Gold 🔥

ANZEIGE - WE ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL UBER EATS PARTNER! Berlin Food Stories has teamed up with Uber Eats to help you discover top-tier takeout options!

Think Goldies’ killer burgers, Klub Kitchen’s feel-good-food, Saveur de Bánh Mì’s loaded sandwichs, and Jones Ice Cream’s cult-level scoops, all delivered to your door with Uber Eats’ state-of-the-art delivery process.

To kick off this partnership, we’re introducing a new series called Order Like a Pro, where Berlin chefs share their delivery obsessions. First up: the Goldies crew spills on their go-to orders and cheat-day cravings. Catch it now on our Instagram. 

New to Uber Eats? Use code BFS20 for €10 off your first two orders. 

Interested in more? Check out Uber One, a monthly membership which entitles you to 0€ delivery fees, up to 50% discounts on service fees, and ride credits on Uber trips. 

And guess what? The Uber Eats Awards are back and we need YOU to vote! Head on over to the Awards Page to vote for your favourite delivery restaurant - winners will be announced in September!

Food delivery that’s worth staying in for. Let’s eat!

ADVERTISE IN THIS NEWSLETTER 

BUY YOUR FOOD FRIENDS A VOUCHER!

Don’t forget: We sell the BEST last-minute gift in the city!

For those that missed it: We offer the very best foodie gift money can buy! The BFS Restaurant Voucher allows the hungry holder to dine & drink at our favourite restaurants and bars in Berlin. It’s basically a food guide and a voucher combined! Our expertly curated list includes 40+ restaurants and bars in every category and only features hand-picked places by Per and his crew of experts. Apart from classics like Goldies, Hórvath, Annelies and Gazzo, we recently also added all the restaurants from the Ming Dynastie group, which includes Aroma, Mingtastic and Han BBQ. Buy a BFS Voucher and support both independent restaurants and our work in Berlin! 

HOT TOP LIST

We know, everyone loves ice cream. This is not news. But in Berlin… we love it with a passion that borders on the fanatical. As a result of our frozen-sweet treat craze, our ice cream stores don’t mess around with quality. From impeccable artisanal scoops to silky gelato, and from funky soft serve to delicate Asian shaved ice, this city is an ice-cream lover’s dream. The ice cream loyalty in Berlin is deeply personal and everyone’s got their favourite neighbourhood spot. So this list is going to ruffle some feathers. We’ve gone back and forth on it, and we’ve decided to keep it tight. Only the top-tier spots made the cut.

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