South Indian€€bahnhofsviertelDaily 09:00-22:30
Saravanaa Bhavan brings its all-vegetarian South Indian dosa and thali cooking to Kaiserstraße 68 in Frankfurt's Bahnhofsviertel, open every day.
Order: A paper-crisp masala dosa with sambar and all three chutneys
Tip: The Bahnhofsviertel branch of the Chennai chain fills with homesick regulars at lunch; go before 12:30 or after 14:00.
Eritrean€€bahnhofsviertelMon-Thu 16:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-23:00, kitchen until 22:00; closed Sun
Im Herzen Afrikas serves Eritrean injera platters on Gutleutstraße in Frankfurt, eaten by hand at shared tables in a sand-floored dining room.
Order: A mixed injera platter for two, scooped by hand, with honey wine
Tip: Order one platter fewer than your headcount; portions are communal and the vegan side of the menu is the sleeper strength.
Burgers€€bahnhofsviertelMon-Sat 11:30-23:00; Sun 11:30-22:00
Der Fette Bulle grills Frankfurt's most argued-about burgers on Kaiserstraße, with hand-cut fries and vegan patties holding their own since 2013.
Order: The cheeseburger with chilli cheese fries; the falafel burger for the meat-free
Tip: A second branch on Oeder Weg serves the Nordend; the Kaiserstraße original is louder and closer to the station crowds.
Modern European€€altstadtMon-Fri 12:00-14:30; Mon-Sat 17:00-00:00
Margarete runs a Bauhaus-era dining hall on Braubachstraße in Frankfurt's Altstadt, cooking seasonal German plates with a strong vegan track.
Order: The weekday lunch menu, one of the Altstadt's honest bargains
Tip: The room sits inside a listed 1920s ensemble near the Römer; evening bistro service runs to midnight, late for this quarter.
Japanese sushi€€€westendMon-Fri 12:00-16:00 and 18:00-23:00; Sat-Sun 12:00-23:00
Moriki serves sushi and pan-Asian plates at the foot of the Deutsche Bank towers on Taunusanlage, Frankfurt's banking-lunch canteen of choice.
Order: The lunch sushi sets; bankers clear them out by 13:00
Tip: Book for weekday lunch or eat at the bar; the terrace facing the Taunusanlage park is the calmest seat in the district.
Modern European€€€sachsenhausenTue-Sun lunch until 14:00, dinner from 18:00; closed Mon
Emma Metzler cooks Anton de Bruyn's neo-bistro menu inside the Museum Angewandte Kunst on Frankfurt's Schaumainkai, terrace open to Metzler Park.
Order: The nose-to-tail lunch plates, then a cream puff with Due Mani coffee
Tip: Afternoons between services bring homemade cakes and cream puffs; combine with the museum, the terrace needs no ticket.