• Categories
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hot Tips
    • Inspiration
    • Itineraries
    • Must-Haves
    • News
    • Our L.A.
    • Planning
    • Unique Stays
  • Home
  • VLOGS
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Support Our Work!
Travel Matters | by Stephen & Andie
  • Food

12 Must-Try Foods In Bavaria

April 19, 2021 3
plates of German food, including schweineshaxe and wienerschnitzel with French fries

Bavaria is the southern-most state in Germany, and home to the Romantic Road and Oktoberfest. But atop the many reasons to visit (or even live there, as Andie’s family did when she was a child) is the food. Here is our list of the must-try foods in Bavaria:

1. Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten is one of Germany’s national dishes. It’s basically a pot roast and its name translates as “sour roasted meat.” While that may not be the most flattering of translations, make no mistake – it is mouthwateringly delicious! Most commonly made with beef, the meat is heavily marinated in a base of sour vinegar, broth, spices and a bit of sugar. It is served in a rich, sweet and sour gravy, and the result is one of the most flavorful and fork-tender meats you’ll not soon forget. 

2. Rouladen

Rouladen, a.k.a. “beef rolls,” is another traditional German dish. It features long, thinly sliced strips of meat which are covered with mustard and filled with bacon, onion, and pickles. The meat is then rolled up into roulades to enclose the filling, and then browned and slow-simmered in a rich gravy. It is so delicious, that even our very own mustard-fearing Stephen was impressed when he “took one for the team” and gave it a try!

3. Schintzel

Schnitzel with potatoes

Schnitzel is probably one of the most popular foods in Bavaria. There are many varieties such as pork, veal, chicken and turkey. But regardless of the meat, the end result is the same. Nothing too fancy, just a thinly-hammered, boneless meat cutlet which is breaded and fried to perfection. Simplicity at its finest, it is deceivingly delicious. 

4. Weisswurst

We’re going to hazard a guess that you’ll be having bratwurst while in Bavaria. But don’t sleep on Germany’s iconic “white sausage!” Weisswurst is most commonly enjoyed before noon, as a breakfast or brunch favorite. And it’s also widely purported to be the ultimate hangover cure! A mix of veal, pork, and spices, this tender sausage is cooked in a large pot of boiling water, rather than being grilled or fried. And rather than eat the skin, it is customary to slice it down the center and remove it before eating. A side of sweet mustard is practically required, if you’re keeping it legit. Enjoy along with a pretzel and a beer, and you’ve got yourself a classic German breakfast.

5. Spaetzle

Spaetzle is one of Germany’s best comfort foods. It is made of chewy egg noodles and you’ll find it as either a main course, or as one of Germany’s many carb accompaniments to meat dishes. Alternatively, if you douse spaetzle in cheese sauce and top with crunchy fried onions you’ve got Käsespätzle, which is right up there with mac and cheese!

6. Schweinshaxe

Schweineshaxe

Photo by sofia lyu on Unsplash

Say what? Schweinshaxe is pork knuckle, and one of the most quintessential foods in Bavaria. It is marinated for a few days and then roasted “low and slow.” The result is a crispy skin with a very tender meat, and it is often served with the famous, large potato dumplings (we’ll get to those in a sec). The knuckle is massive, and will usually arrive at your table with a knife sticking straight up out of it! This adds an almost comical, barbaric effect. But don’t be shy, roll up your sleeves and conquer your fears!

7. Bavarian Pretzel

Bavarian Pretzel

This bite may seem obvious but it should not go without mentioning: Overlooking the pretzel while in Bavaria would be criminal. You’ll see them everywhere, and you can buy them plain, or enjoy with mustard, butter, or a ridiculously delicious cheese dip called obazda. A true Bavarian pretzel is chewy on the outside, soft on the inside. With its distinctive, twisted shape, this simple and cheap snack is one of the most delicious things to eat in Germany!

8. Kartoffelknodel

Kartoffelknodel is the wonderful, large potato dumpling we mentioned above, as being served along with schweinshaxe. This is a very common side that accompanies many different meat dishes. There are variations that may consist of cooked potatoes, raw potatoes, or a combination of both. Some versions call for filling the dumplings with croutons, sauerkraut, or ham. No matter which variation, this is an old fashioned comfort food that will surely please your taste buds and fill your belly.

9. Hendl 

Roast Chicken

Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

A crispy and juicy roast chicken, Hendl is traditionally seasoned very simply with salt and sometimes parsley. Grilled to (magical) perfection, it is sold as a half or whole chicken. It is often doused with melted butter during the roasting process and can be found in most beer gardens throughout Germany, especially during Oktoberfest. 

10. Prinzregententorte

“Kuchen,” or cake, is one of the most popular of the dessert foods in Bavaria, but prinzregententorte is quite possibly the most magnificent of all. It is a Bavarian torte consisting of six or seven thin layers of sponge cake with chocolate buttercream between layers, and topped with apricot jam. The exterior is covered in a dark chocolate glaze. Need we say more???

11. Kaiserschmarrn 

Kaiserschmarrn, or “scrambled pancakes,” is an Austrian dessert that is also very popular in Bavaria. These sweet, fluffy pancakes are made with rum-soaked raisins and torn into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with apple sauce and preserves, they are absolutely addicting! 

12. Schneeballen 

shelves of the popular sweet treat from Rothenburg, Germany called Schneeballen

©Andie Mills

Schneeballen literally translates to “snowballs,” and if you want the real deal, you have to get them in Rothenburg. It’s a magnificent town on the Romantic Road that is most often associated with Christmas. Schneeballen are simply fried balls of dough strips that are coated in powdered sugar, chocolate, cinnamon sugar, or a number of other yummy sweets! Pretty much every bakery in town offers them, and there are even entire shops dedicated to the sweet treat.


It’s worth mentioning that you also can’t go wrong with sauerkraut and potato salad (Kartoffelsalat) as options. The Germans have perfected these seemingly basic side dishes. What have you tried and loved from this list? What would you add to it? Share your favorites in the comments below. Prosit!


If these delicious foods in Bavaria have made you hungry for more eats from around the world, click these links for a taste of Japan and Italy:

  • Must Try Foods In Japan (That Aren’t Sushi)
  • The Top 7 Pizzerias You Must Try In Naples, Italy

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
3 Comments
Tags:BavariaEuropeGermany
Previous Post Unique Stay: The Tiny House On A Farm In Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Next Post3 Hot Tech Tips For Traveling

You Might Also Like

purple grapes hanging on the vine, illuminated by the sun

Le Vigne Di Raito: Organic Winery On The Amalfi Coast

May 24, 2021
Stephen with a margherita pizza at Sorbillo in Naples, Italy

Top 7 Must-Try Pizzerias In Naples, Italy

March 20, 2021
overview of a table in a restaurant in Tokyo with fish, tempura, rice, and sushi

11 Must-Try Foods In Japan (That Aren’t Sushi)

February 21, 2021

3 Comments

  1. Maria LaBarge says:
    April 20, 2021 at 12:08 pm Reply

    The German food article not only made me hungry but also gave the strong urge to go for a visit again! A couple of my faves are the semmeln? (Little bread rolls, crispy on the outside and soft inside) and the various wursts at the Viktualian (sp) Market in Munich!

  2. Shireen says:
    May 13, 2021 at 3:02 am Reply

    All sound like good choices to try but for me Kartoffelknodel and the snowballs are top of my list when I visit Bavaria! I’ve only been to Berlin but hoping to see more of Germany this summer.

    1. Stephen & Andie says:
      May 14, 2021 at 7:11 pm Reply

      We hope you get to go, and we’re so jealous if you do! The snowballs are so fun, and a perfect treat if you’re driving the Romantic Road. Have an amazing trip!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Our Monthly Newsletter

We'll send you all of the inside scoop: where we are, what we're working on, and our latest posts and vlogs!

We're all about sharing the love and knowledge when it comes to travel, but we respect your privacy and we'll never share your info.

Our Latest Vlog:
Today we explore the Amazon jungle by night. Our flashlights reveal plenty of creepy crawlies, including unusual insects, cute frogs, a variety of spiders – including a bizarre one that looked like a robot, and Andie got her wish when we saw not one, but two tarantulas! Stephen was relieved to not run into any snakes, but later that night he was jolted awake by an an uninvited “guest” in our bed!

Only 2% of the #Amazon Jungle is in Ecuador, and part of that is in the #Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, which is where we visited during our Ecuador trip. It was our first visit to the world's largest rainforest, and we already can't wait to go back and see more!

This is the sixth video in our first-ever international series! Quito, Ecuador was the first international trip we took together back in 2011. Eleven years later, it’s where we filmed our first international series and first drone footage for our channel! 

We spent two weeks in Ecuador this time, including Quito, day-trips to Mindo and Cotopaxi National Park, the Amazon, and one of our top-3 bucket list destinations: the Galápagos Islands! 

If you’ve missed our previous Ecuador videos, you can catch up on the series here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbuSS3LLcHKhYj7iiXC3xGbaeGl3sS0zf

A very special thank you to our travel agents, Angelica and Christian, @TerraSurTravels!  
https://terrasurtravels.com

VLOG no. 69

*Please note that all info is based on our own experience and we do our best to be accurate. However any details may (and often do) change at any time, and you may find differences in your own travels. Please research all schedules, fees, rules and regulations, and other details by contacting the responsible agencies directly prior to your own patronage. Thanks!

📍LOCATION: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador, South America

✦ PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG: 

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge
https://www.cuyabenodolphinlodge.com/

**this video is not sponsored, nor have we received any product or in-kind consideration. We just like to provide the info and especially shout-out the small businesses we patronize.

PREVIOUS VIDEO ▶ The Amazon Rainforest | Travel Vlog | Ecuador Series, ep. 5
https://youtu.be/dU_CH0HwZHE

📷 OUR GEAR: https://tinyurl.com/ourvloggear

✔ TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: https://tinyurl.com/travelssentials

NOTE: Some of the links here may be affiliate links, which means when you buy something we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you, and it really helps to support us as creators, so thank you!

☕️ NEW! Sponsor one of our local coffee stops via our Buy Me A Coffee campaign, and we'll shout you out in a future vlog!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stephenandandie

🕺🏻 SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/StephenAndie?sub_confirmation=1

💃🏻 SUPPORT OUR WORK: https://www.stephenandandie.com/how-to-support-our-work-as-creators/

We are so grateful for your support. Thank you for watching, subscribing, and clicking!

________________________________

💌 NEWSLETTER
Get our weekly newsletter for all the latest and to help us plan our adventures! 
https://mailchi.mp/stephenandandie/newsletter

________________________________

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:28 Lagoon Swimming
01:00 Caiman Search
01:38 Baby Snake
02:30 Claustrophobia
02:43 Night 2
03:58 Venus & Sunset
04:18 Nightwalk in the Jungle
04:54 Big Creepy Spider(s)!
04:29 Nocturnal Bird & Frogs
05:57 Tarantula!
06:27 Another Tarantula!
07:03 IT WAS IN OUR BED!

________________________________
♫ MUSIC: EPIDEMIC SOUND

Like our music? We use Epidemic Sound! If you use this referral link and end up subscribing, we get a free month. It's a great way to support our channel, help us keep creating, and get something for yourself, too!

https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/b6kdl8/a
________________________________

ABOUT US:
Married in 2008, we love to #travel and explore whenever possible. Fast forward to 2020 and the global pandemic that left us "safer at home" and without jobs. In need of something to do, we quickly learned about videos and editing and started to #travelvlog! Some of the places we visit are old faves, most others are new discoveries, and we're excited to take you along with us as we share them all. Thank you for watching, and don't forget to subscribe! 

✈️ WANT TO SUPPORT OUR TRAVELS AND CONTENT? 
There are many ways you can help keep us on the road, and most of them are FREE!
https://www.stephenandandie.com/how-to-support-our-work-as-creators/

★ Check out our TRAVEL BLOG!
https://travelmatters.stephenandandie.com

Connect with us on the socials for behind the scenes, real-time travel, video previews, and other fun stuff!:

📸 INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/stephenandandie/

🐦 TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/StephenAndAndie

👱🏼‍♂️ FACEBOOK:
https://facebook.com/StephenAndAndie

©2022 Stephen & Andie | Travel Matters
THE JUNGLE at NIGHT | Ecuador Travel Vlog | Ecuador Series, ep. 6
Subscribe
Find Us On Instagram

stephenandandie

TRAVEL, FOOD, CULTURE, CLIMATE
Follow Our Mission to See ALL 50 STATES! 🇺🇸 🚐

Stephen & Andie | Travel Stuff
Oregon’s got #mood for days! Oregon is state no Oregon’s got #mood for days!

Oregon is state no. 22 in our mission to see ALL 50 STATES (plus DC & Puerto Rico)! Our first sleep and first morning of #vanlife was in Astoria, then we headed to Cannon Beach and were bowled over by the foggy views of majestic Haystack Rock. 

👉 LINK IN BIO 👈 to see more of the beautiful Oregon coast in our latest vlog, “First Night In Our Van!”

•

•

•

#traveloregon #cannonbeach #oregoncoast #cannonbeachoregon #oregon #haystackrock #travelmatters #all50states #vanlife
We fell in love with Oregon! Swipe 👉 to see why We fell in love with Oregon! Swipe 👉 to see why!

After buying our Sprinter in Portland we headed for the Oregon coast to spend our first night in her in Astoria. The next day we explored town and also made our way to Cannon Beach. Both were nothing short of stunning! Our drives through the state just got more and more beautiful and we couldn’t stop thinking how grateful and excited we are to be new #vanlifers. 

This is going to be an amazing year!

📷 Our first coffee on our first morning after our first night sleeping in our campervan. 📍Astoria.

📷 Isn’t she lovely? 😍 That’s Haystack Rock behind Andie. You might recognize it from movies like Point Break and GOONIES! 📍Cannon Beach.

📷 Having too much fun watching a pile of giant sea lions sleeping peacefully. 📍Astoria

📷 Loving our lives! 📍 Cannon Beach

👉 Link in bio 👈 to see all of this and more in our latest vlog “First Night In Our Van!”

•

•

•

#oregon #oregoncoast #astoria #cannonbeach #haystackrock #lewisandclarkrvpark #vanlife #sprintervan #sprintervanlife #all50states
Hello #vanlife! 🚐 We’re so excited to finally Hello #vanlife! 🚐 We’re so excited to finally share this news with you – we bought a camper van! *Join us at 12:15pm EST today (Monday)* for a live chat during the Premiere of our new vlog, where we spill the tea.

After months of behind the scenes planning and hunting, we settled on this beauty at the end of October: a 170” wheelbase, high top Sprinter, located in Portland, OR. In this video we fly to the Pacific Northwest to make the purchase and begin our two and a half week, cross-country journey from Portland back to North Carolina. But not before grabbing a rainy day lunch at one of Portland’s food cart havens – Cartlandia. Some hot grits from Grits Gone Wild warm us up to send us on our first outing in our new home on wheels.

We couldn’t be more excited, and this trip already kicks off our mission to see all 50 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico!). You’ll be seeing this cross-country trip, plus another month-long run in her over the holidays –  all in our upcoming vlogs!

Now — any guesses what we named her? 
Hint: any fans of the movie Role Models? 😜

PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG:

@gritsgonewildpnw 

#cartlandia

•

•

•

#sprinter #sprintervan #sprinter2500 #campervan #vantravel  #vanlifers #roadtrip #roadtrippers #travelmatters #travelvloggers #UStravel #USAtravel #youtubers #DIY #Ace #kissmyvanthia #vanlifeusa
$150 train ticket from New York to… New York? $150 train ticket from New York to… New York? 

We REALLY loved our first time doing some train travel in the U.S. together! We rode the Hudson River Rail aboard the 20th Century Limited – the last two remaining, fully restored, 1940s train cars from what was “The Most Famous Train In the World” in its day. 

Our journey took us from Penn Station in Manhattan up to Albany and back. 

Sit back and enjoy the views! 👉 Link in bio 👈 to see the vlog!

📷 1: on the platform in Albany

📷 2: Penn Station, NYC

🎥 3: enjoying the VIP lounge at Penn Station pre-boarding

•

•

•

#newyork #traintravel #hudsonriverrail #20thcenturylimited #1940s #vintagetrain #hudsonriver #travelmatters #travelvloggers #youtubers
California sunsets just hit different. 🌅 We we California sunsets just hit different. 🌅

We were Angelenos for literal decades and we still can’t believe how many iconic places in California we took for granted and never visited! Morro Bay is just one of them, and we’re SO STOKED that a recent cross-country road trip (big announcement on that front soon!) took us right past the area. Naturally, we looked at each other, said “Morro Bay?,” and turned the 🚐 around to head back just in time for a gorgeous sunset. 

Now we’re even more determined to hit all the spots that we took for granted and we’ll always find excuses to make our way back through Cali! Yosemite, Redwoods, Death Valley – we’re talking to you! 

What other spots do we need to hit? Shout ‘em out in the comments!

•

•

•

#morrobay #sunset #centralcoast #SLO  #SanLuisObispo #california #southerncalifornia #daytrip #roadtrip #californialandmarks
We saw ALL THE MANATEES today! This was our second We saw ALL THE MANATEES today!
This was our second attempt at @bluespringstatepark within a couple weeks. We saw zero manatees the first time, and committed to returning after spending some time in Southern Florida. Turns out, we happened upon some manatees in the marina @evergladesnps, but the water was so murky we could only see parts of them… if they surfaced. 

Today was the day we got to return to Blue Spring. The weather was much cooler this time (great conditions for spotting manatees in the springs), and when we pulled up to the entrance, the sign read “MANATEE COUNT *288*” For context, there was no count on the sign for our previous visit, so… YAY! 

Can’t say exactly what OUR manatee count was, but we easily saw dozens in a short amount of time – from adorable little babies to giants! The water was crystal clear. It was so serene – watching them graciously glide through, only occasionally making a splash. Hearing that beautiful sound when they surfaced for air. Today was an AWESOME day, and we’re so thankful that we had the flexibility to come back and spend some quality time with these beautiful, unique creatures. 🥰

•

•

•

#manatees #bluespringstatepark #centralflorida #orlando #florida #therealflorida #wildlife #statepark #bluespring #bluesprings #manateestatepark #bluespringmanatees #travelmatters #travelvloggers
Is this seat taken? Nothing says “classic New J Is this seat taken? 
Nothing says “classic New Jersey” like Asbury Park! We visited the boardwalk for the first time this summer as part of our DIY food tour of New Jersey. 

A killer coffee roastery? ✅
Cereal pancakes? ✅
Disco fries? ✅
$27 milkshake??? ✅

LINK IN BIO to see all that, plus a unique Jersey twist on “the slushee” in our latest vlog, now live on YouTube! 

This is state #20 in our mission to visit all 50 states (plus DC & Puerto Rico) - join our adventures! 

PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG:
@buddysjc
@roastd.coffee
@thetopsdiner
@coneywaffleasburypark

•

•

•

#newjersey #asburypark #newjerseyfood #foodtour #jerseycity #fortlee #jerseyshore #travelvlog #travelmatters
As you set your goals for 2023, don’t be afraid As you set your goals for 2023, don’t be afraid to be the orange fish. If an idea or dream scares you or feels too different, it’s probably the one you should go for!

We spotted these guys while snorkeling in the Galápagos Islands. See the full vlogs on our YouTube channel. LINK IN BIO!

•

•

•

#fish #schooloffish #galapagos #galapagosislands #ecuador #travelmatters #travelvloggers #wildlife #conservation #underwatervideo #snorkeling🐠 
#newyeargoals #lifegoals
We saw so much cool wildlife in the Galapagos! See We saw so much cool wildlife in the Galapagos! See the full vlogs on our YouTube channel. LINK IN BIO!

•

•

•

#galapagos #galapagosislands #ecuador #travelmatters #travelvloggers #wildlife #conservation #sealion #bluefootedbooby #tortoise #frigate #iguana #crab #fish
Follow on Instagram
Popular Posts
  • 13 Packing Essentials for a Trip to the Amazon
  • Quito Itinerary: 7 Essential Things To Do And See
  • 22 Amazing Gift Ideas For Travelers
  • We’re on a MISSION to see ALL 50 STATES (+ DC and Puerto Rico)!
  • 14 Gift Ideas For Artists And Creators

©2022 Travel Matters by Stephen & Andie