6 Best German Dishes Guy Fieri Ate On Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives
It's easy to see how "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" was such a big hit. Easily one of the most fun and accessible shows in foodie television, and who doesn't love seeing that low-key hometown favorite spot get a moment in the spotlight? There's just something infectious about the energy that Guy Fieri brings to the screen, and that's true no matter what kind of restaurant he's visiting. He's explored all kinds of food in his cross-country adventures, from some truly outstanding Italian restaurants to some Mexican restaurants that will leave viewers with some serious cravings for tacos, burritos, and more. But what about the oft-overlooked German cuisine?
German cuisine doesn't seem to get the same sort of widespread love as some other regions, and that's a shame. From an array of deliciously flavorful sausages to rich and hearty potato dishes, warm-you-from-the-inside stews, and all kinds of dumplings, roasts, and desserts, no one does comfort food quite like a traditional German household. Fieri found that out firsthand, and we're here for it.
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has been on since 2006, and with an almost unthinkable number of episodes, it's entirely possible you've missed some absolute gems. So, let's take a look at some of the German dishes that Fieri has sampled and raved about. We can safely say that these will definitely be giving you some ideas for the next time you're craving something hearty, rich, and wonderful.
The sauerbraten at Haus Murphy's in Glendale, Arizona
Connoisseurs of European cuisines might know that you can make an ordinary pot roast 10 times more flavorful by giving it a German-style upgrade, and it's a time-consuming process that results in a dish called sauerbraten. It's been a German staple for hundreds of years, and when Guy Fieri stopped at Haus Murphy's for a 2009 episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," he found himself at a spot where the owners didn't have to hesitate when he asked them their favorite dish. Their sauerbraten took the top spot, and making this one is a labor of love.
Hunks of beef were carefully trimmed, sliced, and bathed in a mix of vinegar, buttermilk, onions, carrots, celery, and a slew of seasonings before being sealed and left to marinate for four to five days. When the meat finally made it into a pot on the stove, Fieri was impressed to learn it took about three hours to get just right. If he was impressed by that, he was shocked to see marinade added back in, only to be cooked down, strained, and turned into a gravy that included brown sugar and raisins.
That hard work paid off, and Fieri raved about the sweet-and-sour flavor of the wonderfully textured meat. Customers have agreed, generous with praise that sees Haus Murphy's sauerbraten ranking in best-ever territory. Tenderness is always on point, and it takes some right back to grandma's old-school German cooking.
(623) 939-2480
5739 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301
The Krautburger at Lauer Krauts in Brighton, Colorado
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has featured Lauer Krauts a few times, including the 2011 episode "From Kraut to Cous Cous" and the "Best of the West" episode in 2016. Guy Fieri was quick to stress food here was all thanks to family recipes that had been passed down through the generations, including the restaurant's signature Krautburger. It's an unexpected twist, about as far from a traditional burger as you can get.
The kraut was the family's own homemade kraut, and it started with hand-slicing a literal pile of cabbage. That was layered with salt before being sealed and left to let the magic happen ... for a full 28 days. Then: the burgers, a mix of beef, onions, salt, black pepper, cabbage, and sauerkraut. Scratch-made bread dough was rolled out — while Fieri snacked on the waiting filling — to be stuffed with the beef-and-cabbage mix, then baked into handheld pockets that earned all kinds of praise for everything from the perfectly pretzel-like bread to the stellar filling.
Each batch of dough got turned into around 18 Krautburgers, and when Fieri asked how many they sold in a day, the answer — around 200 — shocked him. Given that he opted to try a second, it's safe to say he understood the popularity. Years later, they're still getting rave reviews from locals and out-of-towners alike, who say they're so good that it's the kind of meal that makes you feel like you're at home.
(303) 654-9700
26 S 6th Ave, Unit B, Brighton, CO 80601
The apple strudel at Bohemian Biergarten in Boulder, Colorado
Apple strudel is another dish that goes back a long, long way — all the way to 15th-century roots. Originally Turkish, popularly Austrian, and spreading into German cuisine, strudel became one of those beloved dishes that traveled with families as they left their homelands in search of new horizons. In 2024, it was front and center on the feature "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" did on the Bohemian Biergarten in Boulder.
Butter and apples were the backbone of the dessert, cooked down with a pile of spices and a heaping handful of rum-soaked golden raisins and walnuts. The cooled mixture was rolled into a puff pastry log that had Fieri double-checking to confirm that yes, that truly was the amount of apple in a standard slice. The dish was finished with a scratch-made glaze and salted caramel drizzle, candied walnut, whipped cream, and more apples.
Fieri called it an absolutely gorgeous thing, and it was one that tasted as good as it looked. He had only good things to say about the texture of the apples and the amount of filling, while customers have continued to make it clear that this is a total win. It still comes highly recommended as the perfect end to the meal. Colorado might have a ton of unique dining options that need to be experienced to be believed, but it's this strudel that's a Fieri-approved dessert.
(720) 328-8328
2017 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
The beef rouladen at Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe in Maui, Hawaii
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" was in Hawaii for the 2023 season, and Guy Fieri stopped in at Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe. Outstanding food had been making its way to tables for more than two decades, and in the spotlight was the beef rouladen and spaetzle. Once gracing the tables of German aristocracy, long celebrated as a winter holiday sort of meal, and the subject of countless secret family recipes, rouladen is essentially layered and rolled braised beef.
Sounds delicious, right? Fieri found this restaurant's version took sliced eye of round, layered with Dijon, bacon, pickle, and caramelized onion, then rolled, baked, and simmered with a red wine. Spaetzle was hand-made with a touch of nutmeg and paprika, in a process that had Fieri hopping in to lend a hand. Braised red cabbage was also on the agenda, and the finished plate looked like everything you could dream comfort food could be.
It was the kind of first bite that had him savoring in silence, an incredible combination of tender meat, the acidic pickle, a kick from the mustard, and ideal sides in the cabbage and spaetzle. It's easy to see how this dish has gotten celebrated for years, with diners saying that it's guaranteed to please. It's the kind of comfort food that can transport you right back to the fondest of childhood memories, and it doesn't get much better than that.
(808) 877-6000
335 Hoohana St, Kahului, HI 96732
Käsespätzle and pretzels at Mein Diner in Fairbanks, Alaska
Add cheese to spaetzle and you'll get käsespätzle, and if you're wondering whether or not you should? Guy Fieri would undoubtedly say that when you're at the Mein Diner in Fairbanks, cheese is the way to go. Even though he seemed a little doubtful as he pulled up to the trailer-turned-kitchen for a 2021 episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," what he found inside changed his mind.
Things kicked off with a surprisingly complicated gravy, a pork and chicken broth-based addition destined for some seriously outstanding spaetzle, finished with butter and a mix of cheese. It was a dish that gave Fieri pause, a burst of flavors from cheese and meats, all wrapped up in a creamy creativity. If that sounds like the perfect antidote to a frigid Alaskan winter, you would be correct — and the only time Mein Diner closes is when the outside temperature hits -15 Fahrenheit.
As delish as the käsespätzle was, it was rivaled by the pretzels. Selling pretzels was famously Fieri's very first food business, so he knows his way around these salty delights. The salted and cheesy pretzels here had Fieri making all kinds of happy noises, checking all the boxes for the right chew, the ideal crust, and the perfect texture. Those who stumble across this gem say it's the best German food outside of Germany ... and it rivals anything you can find there, as well.
facebook.com/KonradBolzTheGermanChef
(907) 699-2433
7171 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712
The sausages at Edelweiss Sausage & Delicatessen in Portland, Oregon
Edelweiss Sausage & Delicatessen is easily one of the best German restaurants in the U.S., and Guy Fieri apparently thinks so, too. "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has been there a few times, including a 2013 stop. Family recipes are behind the more than 120 varieties of sausages that are all being made from scratch, and if there's a German sausage you're dying to try, it's a good bet you'll find it here.
Fieri spoke with the second-generation owners, and on a return visit, he found one of the two brothers remaining to teach the up-and-coming third generation. Fieri got hands-on stuffing some of the freshly ground meats into casings, and even more hands-on when it came time to taste the finished product. Among the relatively small percentage of meats spotlighted were a Thai chili pepper jerky, and a slew of deli sandwiches and served-hot sausages got the nod, too. Chili cheese dogs with sauerkraut and leberkäse sandwiches made an appearance, and so did an elaborate German bologna wrapped and cooked in bacon. Another bologna — with roasted garlic and rosemary — also got the kind of speechless approval that comes with really great food.
There is no shortage of customer love for this spot, which is celebrated for everything from huge and hearty portions to the kind of flavors that transport you right to the Old Country. Even the German potato salad gets a shout-out!
(503) 238-4411
3119 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
Methodology
In choosing the best German dishes featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," we looked to the ultimate expert himself: Guy Fieri. These are the dishes that earned an overwhelmingly positive response from him on the show, and we did also take into account current reviews from the restaurants featured. The very best are continuing to serve rave-worthy dishes that keep customers coming back, even years after Fieri's visit.