Archives for “local” tag

For a sit-down dinner of real Japanese food that goes far beyond sushi, you definitely can’t miss Muku in Sachsenhausen.

Well…actually you can miss it, if you’re not paying close attention to the building’s unassuming front. The inside is just as minimalistic, which creates a relaxing atmosphere for the delicious appetizers and ramen soups to come…

Try the typical Japanese gyoza (about € 5) for a starter, and — my favorite — the fresh shrimp and pork spring rolls, dressed with a Japanese mayo-mustard sauce (around € 6).

For the main course there are, of course, a variety of ramen soups. Most are served in a thick broth like the one above, with your choice of meat being pork or beef (€ 10), complemented with a hard-boiled egg and seaweed to round off the meal. They might not look like much, but in terms of taste and portion size they will certainly leave you comfortably satisfied.

The Japanese staff is extremely courteous, and are always around to answer questions about the more mysterious items on the menu. Or, if you’re up for culinary adventure, just close your eyes and point to something randomly on the menu…I’ve played that game a few times at Muku and wasn’t ever disappointed!

15 square meters full of kitsch, a tad nostalgic but colorful interior with fresh and homemade soups makes it to one of my favorite café-bars in Frankfurt.

You have to try the famous leek-cheese-hash or cocos-curry soup (€ 5.00) served straight from the store next door: “Soupers”, Frankfurt´s oldest soup kitchen. Perfect for the winter-time is the lentil-stew with or without sausages (€ 4.50) or just grab a sandwich (€ 3-5).

A bunch of little candy boxes at the bar offer you a small selection of sweets (€ 0.10 / blue smurf). After a perfect dinner/lunch, you can digest in the old and a little bit nagged swing outside.

New since a few month: tuesday night is bottle night! Becks for only € 1.80 and prosecco € 2.50.

Not a real insider tip anymore but you won’t be disappointed. Avoid the typical German lunchtime (12:00 – 13:30) otherwise you have to queue and wait. It is very easy to find in the city center between subway station “Hauptwache” and “Berliner Straße”.

In summer and winter alike, Tante (Auntie) Muh’s milk-stand on the Konstablerwache farmers’ market offers a wide range of dairy products. The milk comes from happy cows & goats of the Odenwald – the countryside to the south of Frankfurt.

Top seller and typical German dish in the winter season is the homemade “Hefekloß” (yeast dumpling) with hot vanilla-sauce and poppy seeds or (even more traditional but a calorie bomb) only with melted butter. Some say it tastes like warm bread or nothing but for me it is a must during the winter months, as it reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen.

In the summertime Tante Muh’s ice-cream (€ 2.50) is one of the best in town! You can choose one of a bunch of toppings e.g.: raspberry, cherry, wild berries, strawberry, banana, coconut…

In addition to these seasonal products you can always get the fresh buttermilk, unskimmed milk, cheese, yoghurt and lots more (also for take away).

When I last visited Tante Muh I bought some of her fresh goat and sheep cheese. Perfect with the organic bread 2 stands ahead on the left side. Before visiting her you can get an overview about all products at the website of the dairy.

The weekly farmers market takes place every Saturday (if Saturday is a public holiday it will be on Friday) at the Konstablerwache, one of Frankfurt’s mayor subway stations at the end of the Zeil.

Summer in Frankfurt means Maincafe. Located directly along the riverside (above the “Filmmuseum”) in Sachsenhausen, it is my favorite place for a picnic with friends.

Especially in July / August when it gets too hot and noisy in the city center; Maincafé is the perfect spot to cool down and relish the view. The sunset behind the skyscraper and in front of the river is one of the nicest in town.

Next to the café is a huge sunbathing area: if no more tables are available, simply grab a beer or Apfelwein (€ 3.50 = 0.5L.) and relax in the sun. BBQ is formally prohibited by the authorities but no one really cares – usually…

If you don´t want to bring your own food for a picnic, just order some small dishes in the café like cakes, pretzels and sandwiches. Depending on the weather the opening hours are from 10:00 – until the last guest leaves or the neighbors protest!

Until 1955 Lokalbahnhof was the terminal stop of the regional railway company “Frankfurt-Offenbacher-Lokalbahn”. Nowadays it is a cozy little restaurant with a great brunch offer.

The Lokalbahnhof is located in the middle of “Sachsenhausen” one of Frankfurt’s most touristy but also most typical Hessian quarters. Just across the street of the new urban railway station “Lokalbahnhof”.

The brunch on Sundays (09:00 – 16:00) is excellent! Fresh fruits, salmon, sausages, cheese, eggs, various warm dishes etc. for only € 11.90 (excl. drinks) which is quite a good deal for a place so close to the city-center.

The little beer-garden in the backyard is a perfect place for a sunny-Sunday-morning-brunch with friends. The restaurant inside also boasts a smokers lounge and a fire place for the cold winter evenings. The beverage prices are a little bit above the average (wine from € 4.40 / 0.2L) but still value for money.

One of their most famous dishes is the Tandoori-Burger – ask for it!

You can get there from the city center by “S-Bahn” lines 2,3,4,5,6 station: Lokalbahnhof.