Duc Anh, Duong Xuan Center, Berlin

First of all thank you Christiane for the recommendation. Since the GDR (East Germany) recrutied roughly 60’000 Vertragsarbeiter, Berlin has a thriving Vietnamese community. Rumour has it that the best Vietnamese food in Germany can be found in the Duong Xuan Center in the heart of former East Berlin. Riding the tram takes you into a slightly different world and the rund-down barracks next to the tram station do not instill confidence.

But behind the barracks there are a few very modern looking one-story halls. These are filled with stores selling all kind of every day items from clothes to jewelry to exotic foods. Some of these halls feature restaurants, one of them being the Duc Anh (Hall 3). It feels like Vietname with a stage for conventions or celebrations and the fact that the german language skills of the staff are not quiet perfect.

The menu is extensive featuring all kinds of dishes including frog legs and bull testicles. We tried a few dishes from the summer rolls to the Pho, the mushroom filled pancakes to the fried rice. Honestly one of the best vietnamese places I had eaten in Berlin. Slightly longer to travel to than a sleek place in Mitte, but fun and good. For 49 Euros we had a feast including beers and felt like it was well worth the trip.