The German sandwich is built on the Brötchen and a single decisive topping. The roll has a hundred regional names, Semmel in Bavaria, Schrippe in Berlin, Weck in the southwest, Rundstück in Hamburg, but the idea is constant: a small, crusty, plain wheat roll split and given one thing that matters. A slab of warm Leberkäse, a grilled Bratwurst, a fan of cold cuts, a smear of raw Mett, a fried fish fillet. The roll is the frame and the one topping is the argument.
The catalog of 276 sorts along those toppings. The largest single force is the Döner and its Turkish-German relatives, the country's genuine everyday street food. Around it sit the butcher-counter classics: Currywurst, the baked Leberkäse loaf, the sausage in a roll, the breaded Schnitzel, the controversial raw Mett. The north answers with the Fischbrötchen, the herring and shrimp and smoked-fish rolls eaten standing at a harbour kiosk. The bakery supplies the bread itself and the sweet rolls, and the pub supplies the open Strammer Max and the broiled Toast.
The categories below capture how the catalog actually sorts. The two giants are the Döner family and the sausage-in-a-roll; the cold-cut and cheese and bread anchors carry the everyday Pausenbrot. Below the anchors, the full filterable catalog lets you browse every entry by name or category.
Browse by family
Der Döner & die türkisch-deutsche Theke
Germany's real fast food: spit-roasted meat shaved into Fladenbrot or a roll with salad and sauce, plus dürüm, lahmacun, gyros and the Turkish bakery. · 38 sandwiches
Die Currywurst
Sliced grilled or boiled sausage under curry ketchup and curry powder, eaten with a roll on the side or in it. · 11 sandwiches
Die Leberkässemmel
A thick warm slab of baked Leberkäse meatloaf in a Semmel, the Bavarian butcher-counter staple, with sweet mustard. · 12 sandwiches
Das Fischbrötchen
The North German harbour roll: matjes, herring, brown shrimp, fried or smoked fish in a crusty roll, eaten standing at a kiosk. · 29 sandwiches
Die Weißwurst
Bavaria's mild veal-and-pork white sausage, traditionally with sweet mustard and a pretzel, here in a roll. · 4 sandwiches
Die Bratwurst im Brötchen
A grilled or boiled sausage in a crusty roll with mustard: Germany's most iconic street food, from Nürnberger to Bockwurst. · 28 sandwiches
Das Schnitzelbrötchen
A breaded, fried pork, veal or chicken cutlet in a roll, simple and satisfying, from the butcher or snack bar. · 12 sandwiches
Das Mettbrötchen
Seasoned raw minced pork spread on a halved roll with raw onion rings, salt and pepper: beloved at home, alarming to outsiders. · 9 sandwiches
Leberwurst, Teewurst & Schmalz
The spreadable cured sausages and rendered lard: liverwurst, Teewurst, Mettwurst, Griebenschmalz on bread or roll. · 8 sandwiches
Blutwurst, Sülze & Presskopf
The blood sausage and aspic shelf: Blutwurst and Rotwurst, head cheese and Sülze on rye with onion. · 6 sandwiches
Toast, Croque & Bauerntoast
The hot broiled sandwich: Toast Hawaii, ham-and-cheese toast, Bauerntoast, croque monsieur and madame. · 10 sandwiches
Strammer Max & das Eierbrötchen
The open egg sandwich: ham or liverwurst under fried eggs on buttered bread, plus egg-salad and scrambled-egg rolls. · 7 sandwiches
Schinken, Salami & Aufschnitt
The cold-cut roll: ham, salami, mortadella, Fleischwurst and the cured-pork shelf, the everyday German Pausenbrot. · 21 sandwiches
Käse & das vegetarische Brötchen
Cheese and the meat-free roll: sliced cheese, Obatzda, Handkäs, quark, and the vegetable toppings. · 18 sandwiches
Fleischsalat & Wurstsalat
The mayonnaise and vinegar deli salads in a roll: Fleischsalat, Wurstsalat, poultry, potato and pasta salad. · 6 sandwiches
Burger & internationale Sandwiches
The American and international imports: hamburger and cheeseburger, club, BLT, Reuben, Philly, bagel and wrap. · 13 sandwiches
Süße Brötchen & Bäckerei-Ikonen
The sweet roll and the bakery icons: Nutella, honey and jam rolls, plus the Amerikaner, Berliner and Franzbrötchen. · 6 sandwiches
Die Brot- & Brötchensorten
The breads themselves: Laugen and Brezel, Kaisersemmel, rye and whole-grain and seeded rolls, Pumpernickel and Schwarzbrot. · 29 sandwiches
Das belegte Brötchen
The German topped roll itself and the everyday catch-all: belegtes Brötchen, Butterbrot, Stulle, Bäckerei-Sandwich. · 9 sandwiches
