Hungry in Hamburg? July Edition

So July was a washout and judging by the weather reports, August isn't looking much better. We all know that Hamburg is best when the sun is shining, so what do you do when it's bucketing down.

You go out to eat.

Here's a rundown of my recent favourites.

KOMBÜSE - find it here on Google Maps.

This is great little Mexican restaurant, hidden between St Pauli and the Elbe. It's situated on a pretty residential street, away from the noise and crowds of the Reeperbahn. Yet, it is almost always full.

I have a theory about restaurants situated away from the bustle of main streets. As they can't rely as consistenly on casual foot traffic, they're either crazy, or, really good. And KOMBÜSE is really good.

The prices are still pretty reasonable. You're looking at between 8-12€ for a main meal, and you can get a good range of burritos, enchiladas and tacos. I have to confess that I have thus far only eaten the burritos but dinner-mates have been more adventurous and spoken really well. The portions are large and MOST importantly - there is a good sauce-to-bulk ratio. I'm talking, guacamole AND sour cream. And enough of it.

There is definitely a more casual vibe to this restaurant - great for a mid week bite to eat, or to line stomachs before going out on the Reeperbahn. It's NOT the sort of place where you'll find an extensive cocktail list. However, if you are in the mood for a cocktail or two after, you can continue to the Mexican vibe at Chug Club, just off Spielbudenplatz.

They also have a fab fab selection of Mexican hot sauces, which I love testing. I can't speak to how authentic the food is otherwise, but it's yummy, reasonably priced, with large portions. What more are you looking for?

SEOUL 1988 Karolinenviertel - find it here.

One of the coolest restaurants I've been to in Hamburg for a while. The place is fitted out like the inside of a Metro station in Seoul - even the outside just looks like an entrance to the subway.

And the food... BLOWN AWAY.

The fried chicken was truly the best I have ever eaten. All mains come with an array of sides (kimchi etc) and dippy sauce. We also went for the grilled pork, which was truly truly heavenly. The prices are definitely on the more expensive end, but the portions are ginormous, so if you're on a budget, you can easily get away with one main between two, plus an extra side.

Me at Seoul 1988 Karolinenviertel

MOMO Ramen - link here

This place is no secret in Hamburg, but just in case you've been living under a rock (or are new to the city!), I have to recommend this. This restaurant hasn't just been praised by Hamburgers (and Hamburgerinnen!), but has also been recognised by Bib Gourmand, which is a branch of Michelin Guides.

They have a great seleciton of Ramen "with a twist". I would also really recommend the Szechuan Gyozas which come in the most incredible oily and spicy sauce. We were literally drinking it out the bowl by the end. The MoMo buns are also worth a shout out - just two, but really good!

And that's all folks

As you know, I've been focusing on saving for the upcoming trip, so haven't been able to empty my bank account with as much gusto as normal. This is just a round up of some places I recently visited in Hamburg that were especially worth the shout out. Stay tuned, because not even my saving needs can keep me from a restaurant for too long!