From currywurst to traditional German cuisine, Berlin has a lot to offer in terms of food, but the capital’s international cuisine also has plenty to offer. A new Indonesian café has just opened—and to go along with that, we have another tip for you: ammAmma is a family-run restaurant serving South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine at Urbanstraße 28A in Berlin-Kreuzberg.
Behind the concept are the Gulasingam and Gunasingham families, who wanted to bring the dishes they grew up with to Berlin . The families’ grandmothers and their recipes, passed down through generations, play a special role in this. In keeping with this, the restaurant’s concept is “Eat like at your grandma’s place.” The name also reflects this family history: “Amma” means “mother” in several South Indian languages, while “Ammamma” is used to refer to a grandmother, depending on the language and region.
Culinary-wise, ammAmma differs from many classic Indian restaurants in Berlin. The focus isn’t on the North Indian-style cuisine—with its heavy, creamy curries—that’s particularly well-known here, but rather on the cuisines of South India and Sri Lanka. Traditional family recipes are combined with a modern and uncomplicated presentation. Early on, for example, the restaurant opted for coconut milk instead of cream and added handmade specialties like dosai to its menu.
The menu features a wide variety of breads, rice dishes, and street food specialties. These include, among others, paratha, dosai, idiyappam, and appam, as well as dishes like Hyderabadi dum biryani and kottu rotti. In 2024, after about 14 years, the menu underwent a comprehensive overhaul, with an even greater focus on authentic South Indian and Sri Lankan specialties.
Among the special dishes is kottu, for which flatbread is torn into pieces and then stir-fried with various ingredients. Kozhi kottu, for example, is prepared with chicken, egg, onions, and chili and served with Jaffna curry sauce. Also on the menu is Kozhi Biryani with basmati rice, chicken, onions, bell peppers, nuts, and various spices. Another specialty is Masala Dosai, a crispy rice-based flatbread with a spicy filling of potatoes, peas, onions, and tomatoes, served with sambar and coconut chutney.
Vegetarians and vegans will also find a wider selection. The menu features its own vegetarian and vegan dishes, including various vegetable curries and South Indian specialties. However, those following a strictly vegan diet should check individual dishes to see if, for example, ghee is used.
