I got to thinking about my last trip to Germany and all the amazing vegan places we ate at around Berlin. Lucky for me, my other half is a native Berliner so he knew all the good spots. I was stoked when I discovered what a veg-friendly city Berlin was.

A couple of his friends own a place called Yoyo Foodworld. It’s a cute little “vegan bio-fast food” joint with burgers, pizzas, wraps, sandwiches, salads, fries, desserts, shakes and so on and so on.

It was the first place we stopped when I got off the plane and turned out to be one of the places I frequented since it was so close to where I was staying. The staff is very down to earth and speak both English and German which was a relief. There’s sort of an alternative/artsy type of vibe you get when you walk in from the art on the walls, the fliers in the windows and the tattoos and piercings covering the staff members. The deal is, you order at the counter and listen for your name or number to be read then grab your stuff and pick a seat either inside or at a table outdoors. It’s expected that you bus the table yourself when you’re finished.

One of the specials that caught my eye that night was the Käsespätzle dish. A long, thick dumpling type noodle mixed in a creamy sauce. Kinda like a German version of Mac n’ Cheese I guess. It came with a giant green salad and creamy dressing. I can’t even describe how good it was. Soft, hot, creamy, chewy noodles with a crisp, fresh crunchy salad… I could live off that stuff! The portions were a bit ridiculous though. This was the point that I learned that there’s no ‘boxing things up and taking them home’ in Germany. You eat it or you leave it. I gave it my all, but no dice that night.

The next day we stopped in for lunch. I was told (not asked) that I had to order the chicken sandwich. So, I did. The flavor was great. It even tasted like real chicken from what I can remember, but it was a little on the tough side. Maybe it was slightly over cooked? Whatever the case, it was still yummy. A side of fries with that and I was stuffed.

A few days later I was really craving a veggie burger. This thing was no burger. It was a towering mess of goodness. Once I figured out how to get around it, I dug in. Soft bun, slightly crunchy on the outside, tons of fresh veggies piled high on a patty of deliciousness. Again, I could only mow through half of it. Thankfully, I have a German to finish what I can’t.

Best known for it’s pizza, I decided to have a go at it one of the last days I was there. I met up with a friend for lunch and ordered the “salami” version (not shown). I’ll admit, I was totally impressed with the cheeze. As a vegan, cheese is one of the hardest things to substitute. Not only do most mock cheeses taste like cardboard, they don’t melt properly either. This stuff was incredible. Melted over a thin crust and covered with fat slices of “salami”, I was in cheezly heaven.

Last but not least, I couldn’t leave without trying the recent addition to the menu. The banana split! A giant banana, slathered in soy ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate and nuts. OMG. Nouf‘ said.

It’s not a top notch fancy place or even the best food I had during my stay in Berlin but it’s definitely a great vegan find for someone who wants to grab a quick meal at a place that has variety without worrying if it’s vegan or not. Overall it’s an awesome restaurant if you’re looking for fast, cheap, not-so-waistline-friendly food with a relaxed atmosphere in a super cool district.

Next time you’re in Berlin, check em’ out here: Gärtnerstrasse 27, 10245 Berlin.