German Food Is Terrible — You Will Actually Adapt

The Worry

"I cannot eat that German food. Sausages and potatoes every day? Where is the ugali? Where is the sukuma wiki?" If this is you, relax. You are not the first Kenyan to panic about food in Germany, and you will not be the last. But the reality is much better than you think.

German food is different from Kenyan food. Different does not mean terrible. And more importantly, you have far more options than you imagine.

African and International Shops Are Everywhere

Here is something most people do not tell you: Germany has African grocery shops in almost every major city. We are talking shops that stock:

• Ugali flour (maize meal)
• Sukuma wiki (kale — which Germans also eat, by the way)
• Chapati flour
• Pilau masala and other spices
• Dried omena
• Coconut cream
• Cassava
• Plantains
• Palm oil

In cities like Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, you will find multiple African shops. Even medium-sized cities usually have at least one. Turkish and Asian shops also carry many ingredients that work for Kenyan cooking — ginger, garlic, chillies, rice, lentils, and beans are available everywhere.

You will not starve. You will not even miss out. You just need to know where to look, and our city guides can help with that.

Learn to Cook (If You Have Not Already)

This is genuine advice: if you do not know how to cook Kenyan food, learn before you leave. Call your mother, your grandmother, your auntie — whoever makes the best food in your family — and learn their recipes. Write them down. Take videos.

Cooking your own food in Germany is:

• Cheaper than eating out (you can feed yourself for EUR 150–200 per month cooking at home)
• Comforting when you are homesick
• Social because cooking for new friends is the fastest way to build relationships

Many Kenyans in Germany become better cooks than they ever were at home. Necessity is a great teacher.

German Foods You Will Actually Love

Now let us talk about German food itself. Before you dismiss it entirely, here are some things you might genuinely enjoy:

Bread (Brot). Germans take bread very seriously. There are over 3,000 types of bread in Germany. Fresh bread from a Baeckerei (bakery) is genuinely incredible. You will become a bread snob.

Doener Kebab. Technically Turkish-German, but it is everywhere and it is delicious. Grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and sauce in warm bread. This will become your go-to fast food.

Currywurst. A sliced sausage with curry ketchup. Sounds strange, tastes amazing. Berlin's unofficial national dish.

Spaetzle. Soft egg noodles, often with cheese and onions (Kaesespaetzle). Comfort food at its finest.

Fruits and vegetables. Germany has excellent produce, especially in summer. Strawberries, cherries, asparagus season — you will discover foods you never tried in Kenya.

Christmas markets. Gluehwein (hot spiced wine), roasted almonds, Bratwurst — winter eating in Germany is an experience.

The Supermarket Situation

German supermarkets are well-stocked and affordable. Aldi, Lidl, REWE, and Edeka will become part of your weekly routine. A few things to know:

• Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest. Great for basics.
• REWE and Edeka have more variety and international products.
• Turkish markets (Tuerkische Maerkte) often have the best prices on vegetables, fruits, and spices.
• Weekly markets (Wochenmaerkte) in town squares sell fresh local produce.

A typical weekly grocery bill for one person in Germany is EUR 35–50 if you cook at home. That is very manageable on an Ausbildung salary.

What About Eating Out?

Eating out in Germany is more expensive than Kenya, but there are affordable options:

• Mensa (university cafeteria): EUR 3–5 for a full meal if you are a student
• Doener shops: EUR 5–7 for a filling meal
• Asian restaurants: EUR 8–12 for generous portions
• German restaurants: EUR 10–18 for a main course

You will not eat out every day on a training salary, but occasional meals out are definitely within budget.

The Truth About Adapting

Here is what actually happens: for the first two weeks, you miss Kenyan food intensely. By month two, you have found your favourite African shop and you are cooking at home regularly. By month six, you have a mix of Kenyan and German meals in your rotation. By year one, you catch yourself craving Doener Kebab when you visit home in Kenya.

Food is about adaptation, not deprivation. You will not lose your Kenyan taste — you will expand it. And honestly, that is one of the best parts of living abroad.

Use our salary calculator to see how much you will have for food and groceries in different German cities. And check the city comparison tool to find places with strong African communities and shops near you.

Your stomach will be just fine. Promise.