Hallo, escapaders! A visit to Munich is not complete until you've visited at least a couple of beer gardens or beer halls. They are an essential part of the German culture; beer gardens and beer halls are effervescent places to socialize and drink either outdoors or indoors. When in Munich, it's quite easy to overdo it with the beer garden culture while chatting over a few beers here and a few bratwursts there, and before you realize it, you've probably had one too many for the day. Traditional German food is an exceptional cuisine, but much to the dismay of us health conscious escapaders: many popular dishes are quite "meaty" to say the least. Beer and greasy food are the crazy married couple that everyone loves; they're bad for you, but yet they are irresistible. They are the guilty pleasures that one must indulge in when needing to experience some good ol' beer hall food. Just a warning - although everything looks absolutely enticing on the menu, don't get too excited and order more than what is reasonable; especially don't order more than 1 meat dish in a single setting (unless you plan on sharing) and perhaps order a side green salad to complement the meal. With that said, below are my 10 favorite beer garden foods in this charismatic and rowdy Oktoberfest city:
#1 Bratwurst (German sausage typically made from beef, veal, and/or pork)
It's a carnivore's paradise. Beer + sausage = Germany. Here are just a few bratwursts in the Bavarian capital:
This is one savory link: a large grilled pork sausage with my favorite sour delight, the ultimate sauerkraut. A sausage is hardly ever a lone wolf as fermented cabbage accompanies it as usual.
Woof Hoo! They're MY size! Would you call them "toy" sausages? 9 Nürnberger Bratwursts: mini pork bratwursts served on homemade sauerkraut.
Nürnberger Bratwursts: succulent grilled sausages served with sauerkraut and boiled potatoes. The luscious potatoes topped off with parsley are worth begging for. Mmm.
Fränkische Bratwurst: flavorful sausages over moist mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. The Franconian region sausages are longer and thicker than the norm, which means more MEAT!
Can't get enough sausage? Lick your chops right here, right now. Try the Würstl Teller: a sausage sampler plate!
Just in case you don't get the point by now, a Munich beer garden is like a land of the sausages. And, sauerkraut (sour cabbage) is the sausage's much needed and beloved sidekick.
#2 Bavarian Potato Salad
Germany is hailed as the origin of potato salads, so you'd better get one here. Creamy potatoes made with mustard, onions, and vinegar (garnished with parsley).
#3 Krustenschweinebraten
This is one heck of a fatty meal! Roast pork with dark beer gravy and one huge tender potato dumpling. So juicy and so stunning. Downright marvelous. It's that hot date that stood you up 5 years ago (and you still haven't gotten over it).
#4 Gekochtes Rindfleisch
Are you homesick? Well, this dish tastes like a home-cooked meal when you visit your Auntie Maggie's house for Christmas. A huge slice of mildly seasoned boiled beef shoulder served with diced veggies, kickin' horse radish, and splendid boiled potatoes.
#5 Munich Schnitzel
Arrrgh! I've never been too big on deep-fried food, but I had to try the Munich schnitzel. Why? Because it's pretty darn good! OK I lied, it's beyond good. I can't believe the Bavarians are outdoing the Austrians at their own game. So this is their version of the wienerschnitzel: breaded pork cutlet (made with horseradish before coating) served with no other than the Bavarian potato salad. Don't forget to squeeze that lemon wedge for a refreshing balance.
#6 Käsespätzle
SCREAM for mac n' cheese! Wow, I feel like a kid again. Well, I am only 4 yrs old (or is it 28?). I guess you can never be too old for the tasty German mac n' cheese - it's homemade soft egg dumplings with melted cheese and crunchy fried onions. Served with pickle slices.
#7 Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
Ahh, I'd be dreaming about this one over beef jerky treats any day. Although it's originally Swiss, this sliced veal (you can also find other meat variation) dish with mushrooms in cream sauce served with spatzle is an appeasing delight to lick your plate clean in Munich.
#8 Leberkäse
It may look like spam, but it's not! This is the famed Bavarian meatloaf! It's a baked loaf made with finely ground corned beef, pork, and onions. It's one FINE piece of meat. The inside is soft while the outside is slightly crunchy. Best scarfed down with mustard to give it a kick and, again, the Bavarian potato salad for a balance.
#9 Pretzel
Freshly baked and straight from the oven. I can smell it from 5 miles away (in case you don't know, I'm quite a good sniffer). You haven't been to Germany unless you've had a pretzel there. It's true. And yes, this is one GIANT salted pretzel! CAUTION: VERY FILLING.
#10 Pfennigmuckerl
All right, I know what you're thinking, but don't underestimate these mundane pull apart rye rolls; they make a fun complementary snack while drinking big beers and talking too loudly with friends.
Need help balancing your beer garden visits? Read my original post for 5 Simple Ways to Balance (or Recover from) Beer Garden Visits - just scroll down the page. Have an extraordinary time experiencing the beer garden culture in Munich!
Markin’ it up,
Roger Wellington a.k.a. The Doob
*This is an abridged version of the original post, which can be found on Wet Nose Escapades: A yorkie’s guide to healthy travel.
Roger Wellington is a yorkshire terrier from California. He is a beef jerky & veggie lover, 7 lb. athlete, and world escapader. He writes about balancing health and travel on his blog Wet Nose Escapades.