9 American Style Fast Food Favorites of Germany

1. McDonald's

No matter where you go, you just can't escape this clown. While McDonald's is no longer the most popular chain on the planet, it is far and away the most popular one in Germany. Due to its popularity, the McDonald's company brews its own beer just for German (and select other European) locations. Yes, you can get a Royal Cheese (our Quarter Pounder with Cheese) and a pint of beer at the McD's at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin (pictured). The only better reason to celebrate America winning the Cold War would have been to build a statue of Ronald Reagan punching Khrushchev in the face at that location.

2. Subway

Going by the number of locations, the second most popular fast food place in Germany is the American Subway chain, like this spectacular location in Erkelenz. Surprisingly, Subway is actually one of the most popular restaurants in the world, with nearly 45,000 locations! There are almost 750 in Germany, which ranks it between Australia and Brazil for number of shops. Eating a 6" or Footlong sandwich while driving is pretty easy, too, as long as you don't get anything too sloppy. Be careful when you unwrap it, and keep the paper around it to hold it together and you can even drive a manual while feeding your face.

3. Doner Kebab

There is no huge chain supplying this Turkish imported street food to Germany, but there are more mom and pop shops and little chains than McDonald's and Burger King put together. If you are familiar with the Gyro or Shawarma, then Doner Kebab will be familiar. It is a big rotating cone of meat carved off and served in flat bread with lettuce, tomatoes and sauce. Forty years ago, when they opened their borders to Turkish immigrants, they also got this new favorite food, which is more popular than pizza in Germany. The closest thing to a fast food chain-eque Doner Kebab (or Kebap) is Imren Grill with several locations all over the country.

4. Burger King

Where ever the red-headed clown goes, the creepy plastic king can't be far behind, and Burger King has been in Germany since the 1970s. Pictured is a location in Hamburg in a building that was once a library, and probably dates back to just after WWII. There is also a famous location next to the former Nazi parade grounds, with the ghost of the eagle still on the side. There is not much drive thru food available in Germany (they take driving way too seriously), but most McDonald's and Burger Kings offer it if you are in a serious hurry.

5. Nordsee

Nordsee is a chain of fast food fired fish restaurants, but it is also a company with a more than 100 year tradition of fishing and selling fish in Germany, specifically since 1896. There are about 200 Nordsee fast food locations where you can get batter-dipped, fried fish much like a British fish and chips shop, or Long John Silvers in America. This may be the most popular home grown fast food option in Germany.

6. Starbucks

They are everywhere, and they are growing. Resistance is futile. Germany loves their fancy coffee drinks just like we do here in America. If you visit Stuttgart to pick up your new Porsche in the winter, you will be happy to have a warm, venti cup to warm your hands if you didn't spring for the heated seats and steering wheel.

7. Currywurst

Currywurst is a typical German sausage, grilled, sliced and served in a curry and tomato sauce. There is no major chain that has cornered the market for this dish, but there are shops everywhere and everyone has their own favorite; even McDonald's has sold a version. Currywurst was created by a woman in Berlin who traded with some British soldiers for curry powder in 1949, and whipped up a dish that became a national sensation. There is even a museum dedicated to it in Berlin. 

8. Kentucky Fried Chicken

The rolling hills of Germany are not all that different than the rolling hills of Kentucky, and Germans have a tradition of breaded, deep fried schnitzel so it figures that they would go for KFC. It really is amazing how popular Col. Harland Sanders' secret recipe is all over the world, more popular even than in the USA. Get yourself a bucket and have a picnic lunch while you watch the cars race by on the Nürburgring.

9. Pizza Hut

The world likes to complain about American corporate fast food culture ruining the world, but without it pizza would generally be awful everywhere (except Italy). Pizza Hut is one of the most popular fast food chains in Germany, and before they came to Europe there were not many places that would deliver. Pizza in Germany was so strange that Pizza Hut offers tuna as a topping to try to fit in. The native variety of pizza consists of a cracker-thin crust, with meat and veggie toppings and a cream cheese sauce.

If your 944, 911 or 928 is rumbling and grumbling like an empty stomach, you should read up in the Rennlist How-to section and find out how to get it back into proper tune.