Dada Falafel on Linienstrasse in Mitte has served the city's reference falafel pita since 2002. The balls are pressed fresh, the pita stuffed to overflowing, and the whole meal comes in under EUR 9.
Address: Linienstrasse 132, 10115 Berlin
Konnopke's Imbiss under the Eberswalder Strasse arch has cooked East Berlin's historic currywurst since 1930. A plate costs under EUR 5 and the standing counter is the authentic cheap lunch of Prenzlauer Berg.
Try: Currywurst plate
Monsieur Vuong on Alte Schoenhauser Strasse has cooked Berlin's reference pho since 1999 at prices below EUR 14. The chalkboard menu changes daily; the pho bo with rare beef and the summer rolls are the constants.
Try: Pho bo and summer rolls
Zum Schusterjungen on Danziger Strasse in Prenzlauer Berg serves unchanged Berlin tavern cooking: Buletten with potato salad, Gulaschsuppe and Eisbein. The Kneipe atmosphere dates to 1958 and the prices are unapologetically honest.
Try: Berlin tavern classics: Buletten, Gulasch, Eisbein
Maroush on Adalbertstrasse in Kreuzberg has wrapped Berlin's benchmark chicken shawarma in flatbread since the 1990s. The price stays under EUR 7 and the counter is open until 02:00.
Try: Chicken shawarma sandwich
Hummus and Friends on Oranienburger Strasse runs a kosher-certified Israeli vegetarian kitchen with hummus, falafel and sabich at lunch prices under EUR 13. Counter-order, no tipping required.
Try: Hummus plate and falafel pita
Cocolo Ramen on Gipsstrasse serves an 18-hour tonkotsu broth with fresh-pulled noodles and chashu pork from a counter with 30 seats. One of Berlin's best fills under EUR 17; no reservations.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
