The Döner Dilemma
I didn’t think I would ever see a more ridiculous concentration of the same restaurant than Dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts but Döner places here in Bonn blow them out of the water. I really can’t complain however, because there’s not a whole lot better than a hot kebab freshly sliced off a tower of meat and stuffed in a warm wrap. They’re a local staple and it’s not uncommon to see 6 different Döner shops on the same block. Often offering the same menu, which is some variation of kebab wraps, falafel, and either a twist on the classic Döner or a few different pizzas to choose from, they’re a cheap and easy option when looking for takeout. In my time here I’ve become a regular at a few of these Döner shops however at some point enough is enough and I can’t survive on Döner four times a week wherein lies my problem. While I’ve come to love Döner in my time here there really isn’t much else in the way of takeout. Sure, you have the usual suspects in McDonalds, or Pizza Hut but there seem to be very few options outside of your typical American fast-food joints.
Why is There Less Diversity?
The simple answer seems to be that Germans have less interest in takeout than Americans do. In my limited time here, I would agree that “the culture in Germany is people that are not in a hurry like in the US, it is rare to see a German even walking while eating” (Josey, 2015). While I may see the odd person having a bite while they walk to their destination I often feel like a foreigner as I enjoy my breakfast or lunch on the go. Your typical American mom and pop made to order takeout place doesn’t really seem to exist here. According to the MinnPost “the average American eats out five to six times a week” (Akubue, 2024) compared to 92.31% of Germans who reported to eat out less than once a week (Wunsch, 2022). This lack of demand in Germany is most likely the culprit as it seems when people go to eat out it’s seen as a more special occasion so they are typically looking to sit down and enjoy their meal.
Takeout in Germany
I was absolutely blown away when I saw a closed Dunkin Donuts at 7:00 on a Monday morning while I was waiting for a bus. I wanted to go get a coffee, spotted a Dunkin, and wanted a taste of home before starting my day. I came to find that this particular Dunkin doesn’t open until 10:00 despite being located just outside the central station in Bonn. I found this highlights the differences between German and American eating habits, at least when it comes to breakfast. Most of the takeout style breakfast places have all the food premade where you can walk in, get a sandwich and a coffee, and be on your way in two minutes. A place like Dunkin where although it is fast food, still takes time to heat up the food and get it to you has much less demand here. It seems many Germans see their takeout, especially in the morning, to be a last-minute option that must take as little time as possible. The cultural differences regarding food make it very hard for takeout places to survive here where in the States the demand is so high it can support a very diverse and high quantity of options.
-Ryan C
References
Akubue, A. (2024, June 4). Why so many Americans are out to lunch. MinnPost. https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2024/06/why-the-average-american-eats-out-5-to-6-times-a-week/#:~:text=One%20of%20them%20shows%20that,billion%20eating%20out%20every%20month
Josey, C. (2015, August 22). Find out the fast food differences in Germany compared to the US. WorldThruOurEyes. https://worldthruoureyes.com/2015/02/26/fast-food-in-germany/
Wunsch, N. G. (2022, June 14). Statistica. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085317/dining-out-habits-in-germany/#:~:text=Dining%20out%20habits%20in%20Germany%202019%2C%20by%20frequency&text=From%20the%20study%2C%20it%20emerged,out%20several%20times%20per%20week
