How many Kebab Shops are there in Berlin?

When you stroll through Berlin, you quickly notice that you can never be far from a place to buy a kebab. No wonder: Berlin has been considered the stronghold of this street food classic for decades. But how many kebab shops are there really in Berlin? And how has the number of kebab stands changed over the years?

📊 Current figures: This is how many kebab shops Berlin has

The answer depends on how you define “kebab shop” and which data sources you use.

According to current information (as of 2025), the estimated total number of kebab shops in Berlin is

• approx. 389 kebab shops officially registered as “kebab shops” (restaurants + snack bars) in Berlin.
• A larger number of around 653 kebab shops (including smaller snack bars and shops), depending on the data source, with a precise distribution by district.

👉 Realistically, the number of kebab stands, kebab shops, or similar snack bars in Berlin is likely to be somewhere between approximately 400 and over 600, if all types of shops are counted.

🗺️ Distribution of kebab stands by district

From a detailed analysis listing Berlin kebab shops by district:

👉 Neukölln and Kreuzberg are particularly popular, which is due to both their population density and their multicultural gastronomic scene.

🧠 Why are there so many kebab shops in Berlin? A brief look at the street food universe

Kebab is not just a snack. In Berlin, kebab has been firmly established as a cult food since the 1970s:

• The original form of the German kebab originated in Berlin, where Turkish guest workers sold the first kebab sandwiches.
• According to a source in the tourism industry, Berlin has more kebab shops than Istanbul, even though Istanbul is a much larger city.
• As a result, Berlin is often referred to as the “kebab capital” of Germany, unofficially but rightly so.

📈 Development of kebab shops over the years

It is impossible to say exactly how many shops there used to be in Berlin because different lists and databases use different criteria. However:

• In the early 2000s, kebabs dominated the fast street food segment for the first time.
• Since the 2010s, the number of kebab shops has been growing steadily, partly because of the emergence of new concepts such as “vegetarian kebabs” and premium kebabs (e.g., vegetable kebabs, special beef or lamb varieties).
• Many shops have been regular haunts for night owls or lunch break classics for years.

➡️ Overall, the trend has been upward for decades in terms of variety, quality, and selection.

📍 Comparison with other cities (in Germany)

The kebab boom across Germany can be classified as follows:

➡️ This means that Berlin has more kebab shops than any other German city, even though smaller cities may have a higher density per capita.

🇩🇪 How many kebab shops are there in Germany overall?

Germany is kebab country: depending on the data source, there are around 1,600 to over 4,700 kebab shops across the country (depending on the definition of “kebab shop” or “dönerladen”).

👉 Berlin alone thus accounts for a considerable share of Germany's total kebab market.

🍢 Fun and interesting facts

• Döner kebabs have long been more than just fast food. They have become part of Berlin's identity and stand for cultural diversity.
• In Berlin, döner kebabs are often a late-night snack after a party, an inexpensive lunch for students, or a classic meal for tourists.
• Döner prices have risen in recent years, which doesn't always please Berliners. Currently, the average price of a döner in Berlin is over 7 to 8 euros (compared to 3.50 to 4.50 euros 10 years ago).

🥙 Berlin is the kebab capital of Germany

✦ How many kebab shops are there in Berlin?
Between 400 and 650 in total, depending on how you count them. Realistically, there are several hundred kebab shops across the city, with a high concentration in districts such as Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Charlottenburg.

✦ Why so many?
Because kebabs are not just food, but a piece of Berlin history and culture, and the most popular street food of all.

✦ Compared to the rest of Germany?
Berlin is clearly the kebab capital. Berlin leads the way in terms of numbers, while other major cities such as Hamburg and Cologne lag far behind.