Our first night in Berlin Will was on the lookout for a Döner, a German street food specialty.

We had a tip from one of his clients on a great Lebanese spot, Grill Maaroush and assumed we’d find one there. But as soon as we approached the door, a gentleman approached us. “You have to get the chicken schwarma; it is SO, SO good. It’s my favorite here.” 

So when a local says “get the schwarma,” you get the schwarma. And it’s maybe the single best homemade pita situation I’ve ever encountered.

The pita itself was warm and pillow-y and clearly made by someone who knew what he/she was doing. The schwarma seasoning on the chicken was perfection, along with the tahini, crunchy vegetables, and the real surprise of it all, a few French fries tucked in.

Were they always part of the pita or simply a gesture to make the Americans feel at home? I’m not sure, but this schwarma kicked off an awesome 12 days of eating in Germany.