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.
Address: Schoenhauser Allee 44B, 10435 Berlin
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
Rogacki's standing counter in Charlottenburg serves an eel sandwich and a hot Aalsuppe at prices that make it one of the city's best-value fish lunches since 1932. No seats; eat at the rail counter.
Try: Eel sandwich and Aalsuppe (eel soup)
