Feasting to your heart’s content and sampling delicacies from the other side of the world —that’s just part of the Berlin experience. Whether it’s matcha cake straight from Hong Kong, dishes at the new Mediterranean restaurant on the Spree, or street food at Berlin’s largest Thai market: the selection is huge and the list of international food spots seems endless. But where can you find all of this in one place without driving all over town? Every Thursday, Markthalle Neun invites you to Street Food Thursday for tastings from around the world.
Amid steaming food stalls, long wooden tables, natural wine, craft beer, and open kitchens, an atmosphere emerges every week that is more reminiscent of international food capitals like Copenhagen or New York than a classic Berlin market. The market hall itself dates back to 1891 and is one of the few preserved historic market halls in the capital. It is precisely this mix of Wilhelminian-era architecture and modern street food culture that makes the event so special. Under old steel beams and brick arches, a wide variety of cuisines, cultures, and food trends come together.
Street Food Thursday has been celebrated there for 13 years now—deliberately imperfect, loud, authentic, and full of energy. The motto “Open your mouth, in comes the world!” fits the concept perfectly. This isn’t about polished, staged fine-dining experiences, but about food as a cultural encounter. Week after week, the entire hall sizzles, steams, and smells delicious, while chefs and small food concepts serve up their stories right “into your hands.”
The market is particularly well-known for the fact that many of the stalls are run by independent chefs, pop-ups, and young culinary entrepreneurs. Food trends often emerge here before spreading throughout Berlin. That’s exactly why Street Food Thursday is considered not only a tourist attraction but also a meeting place for Berlin foodies and culinary insiders.
The culinary offerings change regularly. Typically, however, you’ll find fresh tacos and Mexican street food, dumplings and Asian specialties, Korean fried chicken, Japanese sandwiches or ramen, Georgian khachapuri, Italian focaccia and pasta, Spanish tapas, modern vegan concepts, creative desserts, as well as natural wine and craft beer.
Especially in the evening, a very special atmosphere develops there. Crowded aisles, music, open kitchens, international visitors, and that typical Kreuzberg mix of creatives, locals, and travelers make the event one of the city’s most popular after-work and date spots. Especially between spring and summer, Street Food Thursday is a fixed part of the weekly routine for many Berliners.
