The Review
Konnopke's has operated under the elevated U-Bahn tracks in Prenzlauer Berg since 1930, surviving WWII, the division of Berlin, and four decades of Communist East Germany to remain one of the city's most argued-about food institutions. The argument is always about currywurst, and at Konnopke's it is particularly pointed.
Currywurst is a pork sausage grilled or fried, sliced into discs, and drenched in a ketchup-based sauce seasoned with curry powder. It is served with a fork pick and either fries (Pommes) or a Schrippe — a Berlin bread roll that is soft-crumbed, lightly crusty, and the correct bread for absorbing the sauce. The Konnopke version uses a sauce that is slightly more acidic and complex than the flat sweetness of tourist-facing currywurst operations.
Currywurst is not technically a sandwich. But the Schrippe version — sausage laid in a split roll, sauce over the top — occupies exactly the same role in Berlin street food culture that the hot dog bun occupies in New York. It counts.
What to Order
Currywurst mit Schrippe. Ask for the sauce scharf (spicy) or extra-scharf if you want heat. A can of Berliner Pilsner if they have it cold.
Tips
The stand is under the Schönhauser Allee U-Bahn stop — easy to find by following the sausage smell. Cold in winter; dress accordingly. Cash only.
Our Rating
★★★★☆
Price Range
$