Street food is, quite literally, hot, hot, hot! Pulled pork, Banh mi and Pad Thai have practically ousted the usual fast food favourites and street food trucks and markets have become permanent fixtures on the food scene in many cities around the globe.
The people of Cologne are fond of their local fare and Cologne wouldn’t be Cologne if some of the city’s own dishes hadn’t managed to claim a place at the top of the city’s street food menus. The result is a mixture of international delicacies and wild garlic sausage from the nearby Eifel region, Eifel steak burgers and ginger ale brewed in Cologne.
But where exactly can the ravenous find really good street food in Cologne?
1. Los Carnales: Echte mexikanische Lebensfreude
Looking for a little bit of Mexico in the middle of Cologne? Welcome to Los Carnales! Run by brothers Andrés and Adrian, this vibrant restaurant is all about authentic Mexican cuisine, cool drinks and a laidback vibe.
Whether you’re in search of Cologne’s best tacos, want to try the house-made salsa or just looking to end the day with a mezcal in your hand, this is the perfect place to meet with friends and work your way through the menu. After all, the best way to eat tacos is in good company. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too, using oyster mushrooms instead of meat.
For many years, Andrés and Adrian only sold their tacos from a food truck. Now they’ve finally got a permanent sales outlet in Cologne too – their taqueria, right on the bank of the Rhine.
Where? Agrippinawerft 30, 50678 Cologne
When? Monday – Friday, 5-10pm; Saturday & Sunday, 12 noon – 10pm
Find out more at: www.loscarnales.de
2. Rievkoochebud: traditional Cologne potato fritters
Rievkooche (or Reibekuchen as they’re known in other parts of the country) are a special type of potato fritter that has a culinary cult status in Cologne. They’ve even had a song dedicated to them by local band Bläck Fööss. And there’s a highly recommendable place in the middle of the Altstadt district where spud lovers can get their fix: Rievkoochebud. From this small takeaway, owner Christina serves up homemade, freshly fried fritters with garlic sauce, herby quark (a type of soft cheese), apple sauce, smoked salmon or a honey and chili dip. Not too greasy, crunchy on the outside and moist inside – exactly how true Cologne Rievkooche should be!
Where? Salzgasse 6, 50667 Cologne
When? Wednesday to Saturday, noon-8pm, Sunday, noon-6pm. It’s best to google the current opening hours before you go
Find out more: on Instagram
3. Bambule’s Chili: hot creations
Bambule’s Chili serves chilli creations from around the world. Apart from the classic version, bean junkies can lick their lips at Anatolian beef chilli with sucuk and chick peas or Balinese satay chilli with soya mince and satay sauce. The “chilli of the week” is often a crazy concoction like Irish chilli with potatoes and toasted soya chunks marinated in Guinness. The usual suspects are here too, of course: nachos, jalapeños, sour cream and homemade habanero salsa in varying degrees of spiciness. From a street food truck back they started in 2018, cousins Jacques and Lukas have grown their bean business and now also have two chili bars in Cologne. Bambule’s is big on sustainability, with tableware made of biodegradable materials, reusable containers for takeaways and meat produced ethically by regional farmers.
Where? Belgian Quarter branch: Gladbacher Str. 9, 50672 Cologne
When? Monday – Wednesday, 11.30am-8pm; Thursday, 11.30am-4pm; Friday, 11.30am-3pm
Find out more at: www.bambuleschili.de and on Instagram
4. Cologne Street Food Festival: a feast full of food and foodies
Cologne’s Street Food Festival has long since claimed a permanent seat at the city’s dining table. Held in the Ehrenfeld district and with a summer edition at Fühlinger See lake, it has everything a street food lover’s heart could desire. Many of the stalls give away samples to try, there are burgers sizzling, fair trade coffee specialities crossing counters, Oreo cookies being deep-fried in batter and masses of products to take away. It’s important to get there early though – and forget about breakfast!
Where? Oskar-Jäger-Straße 192, 50825 Cologne
When? The next Street Food Festival in Cologne will be held in the Ehrenfeld neighbourhood from 26 to 28 September. Friday, 4-10pm; Saturday, noon-10pm; Sunday, noon-8pm
Find out more at: www.street-food-festival.de
5. Eat Play Love: a Cologne street food event with a festival flair
In summer, Fühlinger See lake is transformed into an oasis of food, music and sport when Eat Play Love arrives – a festival?? that gives street food culture a starring role. Embark on a voyage of culinary discovery as you watch the wakeboard championships or bop to electronic music. And there really is a lot do discover here: fried plantains from Afrofusion Kitchen, colourful Indian bean salad and Peruvian tamales filled with chicken are just a few of the delicacies on offer. Dig in – this Cologne food festival has top-class street food galore!
Where? Oranjehofstraße 103, 50769 Cologne, Fühlinger See lake
When? The next Eat Play Love Festival is from 4 to 7 September, noon-10pm daily.
Find out more at: www.eatplaylove.de/ and on Instagram
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