There are many reasons to visit Frankfurt — the museums, the business, the parks, the views, the restored old town. But one that came out of left field for us? All the delicious Frankfurt food.
It’s not that we had anything against German food, but we just hadn’t been wowed by it in the past. And Frankfurt was pretty much unknown. We’d spent more time in the Frankfurt airport on layovers to research in Italy, France, or Switzerland than in the city itself.
But that all changed on a recent trip when we spent a week exploring the classic, the new, and everything in between, including the legit Frankfurt food scene.

9 Types Of Frankfurt Food To Try On Your Next Trip
From the iconic local Frankfurter Kranz cake to the beloved drink of apfelwein, plenty of noteworthy Frankfurt food exists. Then, add that more than half of Frankfurt’s population comprises immigrants, and there’s no wonder there’s such culinary diversity and creativity.
From all that to the unexpectedly outstanding green salads and spritzes, here are 9 types of Frankfurt food to try now:
Apfelwein
There’s much to discuss regarding the German hard cider known as apfelwein. Suffice it to say apfelwein is the German version of hard cider made with German apples, and you should try it at least once in Frankfurt, where it’s the unofficial drink of the city (as locals drink almost 12 liters per person annually).
We recommend heading to one of the uber-classic apfelwein restaurants in Frankfurt’s Sachsenhausen district, like Lorbasher Thal, where there are pages upon pages of apfelweins to choose from.

Bratwurst
If we say German food, you most likely think sausages, right? Well, it’s for good reason since there are nearly as many sausages as there are regions in Germany.
And of the popular German sausages, bratwurst reigns supreme. This sausage has a profound history dating back over 700 years in the nearby Franconia region. Though the recipes vary greatly, they’re primarily made of pork or beef and can be served as part of a sit-down meal or by any street vendors. Our favorite place to get it was at the Honeing stand at the Erzeugermarkt Konstablerwache.
Frankfurter Kranz
This cake (known as “crown cake) is a local Frankfurt specialty dating back to 1735 when Frankfurt was the crown city of Germany. Traditionally, it’s made with layers of sponge cake, buttercream, currant jam, brittle, candied cherries, and gold leaf.
These days, you’ll find the traditional version and seasonal variations like the spring one pictured above from our pick of where to try it, ConditCouture pastry shop in the city’s old town district.

Gummy Candies
We know you’re probably thinking of those mass-produced HARIBO candies, and you’d be spot-on because those are everywhere. But we’re much bigger fans of the local shop Bears & Friends, which also makes all-natural gummy candies with nothing but fruit juice and pectin. We tried some berry gummy candies and went back for more!
Handkäse Mit Musik
This dish’s star is handkäse, an aged, pungent, cylindrical cheese that hails from Germany’s Hesse region (i.e., where Frankfurt is located) and is made with curdled milk. The “mit Musik” bit is a preparation for marinating the cheese with onions and caraway seeds.
We know it may not sound very appetizing, and we’ll admit it’s an acquired taste. Trust us that it’s tasty when it’s made well (like at Lorsbacher Thal).

Hugo Spritz
One thing is sure: when the sun’s out in Frankfurt, the cafes pull out their sidewalk set-ups, and everyone fights to get a table outdoors. And the accessory of choice is a low-alcohol cocktail like a Spritz.
At bars across the city, we saw variations on the white Spritz, aka The Hugo, and pretty much tried everyone we came across. For the ultimate riverside dining experience on a sunny day, head to Oosten and, of course, order a Spritz!
Green Sauce aka Grie Soß
Known as Grie Soß in the local dialect, Grüne Soße (aka green sauce) is a sauce that’s hard to find outside Germany, and, in our opinion, that’s a shame because it’s delicious.
Green sauce is an uncooked cold sauce made with eggs and sour cream and blended with seven herbs (parsley, chives, watercress, borage, chervil, and burnet). It’s frequently served with veal, beef, boiled potatoes, or eggs and is a specialty of Frankfurt and the broader federal state of Hessen.
It’s so revered that it has EU-protected geographical status, meaning the herbs can only be grown in a specific area for the sauce to be the real deal. You can find it on the menu at most of Frankfurt’s traditional taverns, but we also loved the version served at the chic brasserie Stanley Diamond.

Green Salads
One thing we’ve found to be true? Northern Europeans seem to have a unique talent for leafy green salads. Maybe it’s because it’s so cold there for most of the year that they make the most of it when there’s good weather.
Still, on our travels, we’ve found that Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands, and Germany have a panache at making a not-too-complicated but fantastic salad. From high-end restaurants to classic taverns and healthy cafes, we found a ton of leafy green salads at almost every spot we dined in Frankfurt.
Weinerschnitzel
Yes, you’re right: this dish originates in Vienna. However, it’s served in pretty much every classic restaurant in Frankfurt. There are a lot of places you can get the dish, so it’s more about what to look for: traditionally, it should be veal, not pork; you want the breading then but even and golden brown and the meat should be juicy and evenly cooked. One of our favorites was at the classic spot Lorsbacher Thal.
Got any additional foods to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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