Berlin’s – Serving Doners and Currywurst In Lat Phrao!

Back in June 2020, I wrote about my experience at Berlin’s Doner Kebab. Many agreed that this joint was capturing the true taste of Berlin-style doners, and praising their freshly baked breads, quality meats, and homemade sauces. I recently learned that Berlin’s has a new location on Lat Phrao Soi 18 and they’ve expanded their menu to include another fast-food favorite of Berliners, currywurst. From this new location this new sister brand, Berlin’s Currywurst, offers a completely new menu of currywurst, sausages, and other German dishes alongside with their popular doner kebab menu.

Me being a currywurst virgin, I had to do a little research before the visit. In all honesty, my research didn’t exactly get me excited for it. I mean, chopped sausages with a curry-spiced ketchup sauce don’t exactly push my hunger button. But my gal was über excited and looking forward to the visit. Apparently, it’s a dish that has many fond memories for her.

So this was my first experience trying currywurst, and my gal’s first experience trying it sober. We were both VERY pleased with the experience. During the visit, we also tried a few other items on their new menu that are worth mentioning. But let me show you…

Currywurst: What’s so special about it?

The invention of currywurst is attributed to Herta Heuwer, a food stall operator in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district, in 1949. The story goes that she received ketchup (or possibly Worcestershire sauce) and curry powder from British soldiers and after mixing the two along with other spices started serving the sauce over boiled and fried sausages as quick but filling food for the construction workers rebuilding Germany’s destroyed capital city.

The dish that helped to rebuild a capital is now iconic to German popular culture. In Berlin, it is so ingrained into the social fabric that traditionally all mayoral candidates are pictured beside a currywurst stand!

Berlin’s Currywurst Menu

The new menu offers plenty of options for a DIY sausage fest. Berlin’s makes their own sausages with the exception of the Thai style sausage. The sausages are first boiled and then grilled over a lava stone grill (with the exception of the Frankfurter with Cheese which is smoked).

All of their links are meant to taste like what you’d get from a German currywurst stand and the sets allow you to mix-n-match your sauces and sides to your tastes. Looking at the menu there’s a lot of options!

The “Original”

But for the currywurst uninitiated like myself, the best route (and value) is to go with the CurryWurst “The Original” (170 baht). This is served with the Original Bratwurst diced up in tender bite-sized chunks and smothered in rich curry-spiced ketchup that’s dusted with yellow curry powder.

The set also comes with lightly seasoned fries and a soft drink of your choice. After trying this dish I honestly can’t imagine having it with anything but fries. Those fries are required to dip up all of that sauce. Trust me.

I admit that in my life I’ve been a bit of a ketchup snob (only using it as a condiment on hot dogs and burgers). But after tasting this curry sauce with ketchup as the base…INCREDIBLE. That being said, I will still look down on anyone drowning their perfectly good steak in ketchup (you know who you are).

I can totally see how this would be requisite dining after a night out. I can also easily see me waking up with curry dyed fingers because tipsy Paul didn’t notice the little plastic tong for eating!

But the highest praise for this Berlin’s currywurst comes from my gal who when I asked for her opinion simply said, with much Zenlike satisfaction, “It is as it should be.”

Smashed Meatballs

I noticed that Berlin’s also had a couple of other German dishes on their menu that wasn’t sausage related. I was familiar with Schnitzel (270 baht), but what the heck is a German Frikadelle Meatball (250 baht)? It was explained to me that it’s sort of a smashed meatball. If you know me, I have a special place in my heart/stomach for smash burgers. It wasn’t too far of a logical leap to see that I’d be a frikadelle fan, too!

For this special, you can choose your sauce and a side to accompany it. I chose German Potato Salad as the side and Jager Sauce for the Frikadelle. The German-style of potato salad is super creamy and contains diced hardboiled egg. The rich mushroom gravy (jager sauce) is the perfect accompaniment to this tasty “flattened” meatball. Together they make a meal that sticks to your ribs.

Got a sweet tooth?

Unlike Berlin’s doner menu, their currywurst menu offers a dessert item, Rote Grütze (90 baht).

Our meal ended very well with this medley of berry and fruit compote with vanilla custard and whipped cream. For those who like to finish their meals with something sweet, I would recommend this. Of course, this is also their only dessert on the menu so your options are pretty much limited to this.

A chat with the co-founder…

During the visit, I had the opportunity to chat with Ian, Berlin’s co-founder. I hadn’t seen him since my first visit to Berlin’s Doner Kebabs so it was nice catching up. Things have been going well with their doner kebabs, and he explained that it felt like the right time to expand their reach around Bangkok.

A space in Lat Phrao came available, and with its sizable kitchen and storage, it also enabled them to consider expanding their menu. Nico, the other co-founder, had been craving Berlin-style currywurst from home. Since the Berlin-style doners were such a hit in Bangkok, why not also introduce currywurst?

Just as he’d put so much effort into introducing a legit Berlin-style doner to Bangkok, Nico worked hard to ensure that Bangkok could enjoy an authentic Berlin-style currywurst experience. After painstakingly coming up with what he was confident were the perfect recipes for both the sausages and sauces, he was ready to reveal their new brand Berlin’s Currywurst.

On January 7, 2021, Berlin’s opened their second location on Lat Phrao’s Soi 18 featuring the popular doner kebab menu along with an exciting new currywurst menu. If you’ve been craving Berlin-style currywurst or you just want to cross it off your cultural eats list, then put this place on your radar for a visit!

I’m hungry. Where is it?

Berlin’s is located a 4-minute walk from the Lat Phrao MRT station exit 2. Once you get to the Life Lat Phrao 18 condominiums, turn left on Soi 18 and you’ll see it on the right side about 50 meters.

There are a couple of tables inside, as well as some countertop dine-in seating. Not to fret, currywurst is designed for takeaway!

I want to hear from you!

Should you decide to experience Berlin’s I’d love to hear your feedback in the comment section below, directly to me, or via message on either the Chow Traveller Facebook page or Chow Traveller Instagram (and feel free to like/follow these pages if you want to learn about more foodie gems). However you choose, I’d love to hear from you!