This Saturday, we hopped in our car and drove to Düsseldorf to check out the food spots in Carlstadt. And because I have absolutely zero self-control when it comes to trying new food (especially food advertised on Instagram, TikTok and literally everywhere else), we didn’t pick one place. We picked four. The most Instagrammable, most hyped-up ones. Obviously.

Let me walk you through it. 😄

⏰ A small timing tip

We arrived around 10 in the morning. On one hand, great: it wasn’t crowded at all. On the other hand, a little sad, because a few of the spots didn’t open until 11:00 or 11:30, so we had some time to kill. If you go, plan your route around the opening times. It’ll save you some waiting. But if you want to check out the other foods on the market, like get some veggies and fresh fish, it is perfect timing. Also, the earlier you come, the better chance for you to secure the parking spot (provided you come by car). When we were going away (around 14:30 – 15:00), that turned into literal parking spot hunting grounds. No free spots sign was on and huge line of cars desperately waiting for somebody to finally leave.

🥐 Stop 1: Pure Pastry

We started here because it opened earliest. It was already quite full, but the atmosphere was so cozy and cute, and the smell of desserts and coffee was incredible. We took two desserts: Pistazie (9,20 euros) and another one (which name I do not quite know, but it is kind of square shape).

And now, a small disclaimer. I’m new to content creation, and my husband still hasn’t understood that he has to wait while I take nice photos and videos before he can touch his food. So, you’ll probably see a lot of half-eaten, already-bitten pieces in my posts and reels. I’m sorry in advance, babe. 😅

The verdict? Super tasty, super sweet, and totally worth the hype. A tad bit on the expensive side, but so worth trying on a special occasion.

🥟 Stop 2: U Mamy

Around 11, we moved to U Mamy, Eastern European place with a great menu: pelmeni, vareniki, manti, chebureki, syrniki, and even small classics like Olivier salad. We went for cheburek, which my husband loves (especially since our trip back in Ukraine), and manti, which I really wanted to try.

It was so good. You could really taste the meat, but the seasoning came through beautifully too, and I had a few sauces on the side that went perfectly with everything. I’d happily go back and try something else next time.

🥩 Stop 3: Steakschmiede

Next stop was Steakschmiede. We ordered the classics, because we didn’t want to overthink it, we just wanted to taste the meat itself. You order via a digital screen, then wait until your name appears on the display when your food is ready. The staff also call it out loud, which I loved.

And this was my favorite part: our baby kept trying to get the attention of the people working behind the glass, and they kept waving back at him. Super cute. At some point I started feeling a little guilty that he was distracting them from their work, but they were so friendly about it.

And the meat? Really nice, with really good flavors. I wish we could have tried more options, but they just wouldn’t fit in our stomachs, and we definitely didn’t want to bring cold meat home.

🥪 Stop 4: Maison Sando

Our last stop was Maison Sando, a Japanese place serving sandwiches, both savory and sweet. And oh my goodness. It was so good. This is one of those spots where I’d absolutely go back and try something else. First time we ordered Yakiniku Beef Sando to try something salty and for desert we had Lotus Cream Sando. This one we saved for home because having a kid on the food tour means not that much time to consumer the food before it gets snatched out of your hands, obviously. I will be returning to try more desrt sandos until I have had them all (muhaha – evil genius laughter).

My husband loved it so much that he started eating before I got to take any photos or videos. Again. Second time in one day. But okay, I’ll just let it go, babe. 🤍

🏆 My ranking

The whole trip took about three to three and a half hours for four spots (without drive time and parking), and we loved every minute of it. Here’s how I’d rank them:

• 🥇 Maison Sando and U Mamy share first place. I genuinely can’t choose.
• 🥈 Pure Pastry and Steakschmiede share second.

So, go check it out! And tell me: have you been to any of these spots? Which one should I try next? Share your opinion in the comments. 💛

And if you want to see more images and videos, check out my Instagram or TikTok!