Pannfisch is Hamburg's pan-fried fish plate, traditionally yesterday's roasted fish or fresh white fish from the harbour, served with fried potatoes, mustard sauce and chopped pickle.
Pannfisch began as a frugal Hamburg fishmonger's dish in the 18th century, made from leftover roasted fish reheated in a hot pan with butter, potatoes and a mustard cream. By the 19th century it became a staple of the Imbiss and Hanseatic tavern menu, made fresh from cod or plaice with herbs and a sharp mustard sauce. Landhaus Scherrer in Altona is the canonical fine-dining Pannfisch; Old Commercial Room and Fischereihafen Restaurant serve the standard tavern version with Bratkartoffeln.
3 editor picks for Pannfisch in Hamburg, ranked by editorial score. All Hamburg signature dishes · Pannfisch across every city.
Landhaus Scherrer ★ 4.5
altona · Elbchaussee 130, 22763 Hamburg
Heinz Wehmann's Michelin-starred Landhaus Scherrer on the Elbchaussee in Hamburg-Altona cooks modern North German with a bistro wing for lunches.
Old Commercial Room ★ 4.4
neustadt · Englische Planke 10, 20459 Hamburg
Old Commercial Room opposite the Michel in Hamburg has cooked Hanseatic harbour food since 1795 and is the city's canonical Labskaus address.
Fischereihafen Restaurant ★ 4.3
altona · Grosse Elbstrasse 143, 22767 Hamburg
Fischereihafen Restaurant on Grosse Elbstrasse in Hamburg-Altona has cooked classical Hanseatic seafood since 1981, with daily catch from the harbour below.