Doing Groceries in Berlin
Overview
Grocery shopping in Germany is very different from the Philippines. Stores close early, Sundays are sacred, you bag your own groceries, and there is a whole bottle deposit system to learn. But once you get the hang of it, you will find it efficient and affordable.
Supermarket Tiers
| Tier | Stores | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / Discounters | Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Netto | Cheapest prices. Limited selection but good quality own-brand products. Most of your weekly shopping should come from here. |
| Mid-Range | REWE, Edeka, Kaufland | Wider selection, nicer stores, slightly higher prices. Good for specialty items, international products, and fresh bakery. |
| Premium / Bio | Bio Company, Alnatura, denn's | Organic everything. 30-50% more expensive. Nice to visit but not for budget shopping. |
| Turkish/Middle Eastern | Eurogida, local Turkish markets | Great for fresh produce, spices, halal meat, and ingredients familiar to Filipino cooking (garlic, ginger, chili). |
Where to Find Filipino & Asian Ingredients
You won't find calamansi, patis (fish sauce), or Knorr Sinigang mix at Aldi. Here's where to look:
Asian Supermarkets in Berlin
- Dong Xuan Center (Lichtenberg) — Huge Vietnamese/Asian wholesale market. Best prices for rice, noodles, soy sauce, fish sauce, Asian vegetables. Worth the trip even if far.
- Asia Markt at Leopoldplatz (Wedding) — Smaller but well-stocked
- Go Asia (multiple locations) — Chain with good selection of Southeast Asian products
- Vinh-Loi (Charlottenburg) — Popular Asian grocery
- Thai Park area shops (Wilmersdorf) — Several Asian stores nearby
What You Can Find
- Fish sauce (Patis) — Any Asian store, brands like Squid or Three Crabs
- Soy sauce (Toyo) — Available even at REWE/Edeka (Kikkoman)
- Rice — Jasmine rice at Asian stores (~€15-25 for 10kg). German supermarkets have it too but more expensive and smaller bags.
- Coconut milk/cream — Available at most supermarkets
- Banana ketchup, Knorr seasonings — Dong Xuan Center or online
- Calamansi — Frozen at some Asian stores, otherwise use limes
- Vinegar (Sukang) — Specialty stores or order online
Sunday Shopping — Stores Are Closed!
In Germany, shops are closed on Sundays by law. This is the biggest culture shock for Filipinos. Plan ahead!
What's Still Open on Sundays
- Spätis (Spätkauf) — Small corner shops, technically not supposed to sell groceries but most do. Limited selection, higher prices.
- Gas station shops — Open 24/7, sell basics (milk, bread, snacks) at premium prices
- Berlin Hauptbahnhof — The REWE in the main train station is open Sundays until 10 PM. Lifesaver!
- Bakeries — Open Sunday mornings for bread and pastries
- Restaurants and delivery — Lieferando, Wolt, Flink for food delivery
Money-Saving Tips
- Store brands (Eigenmarke) — Aldi's "GutBio" and Lidl's "Bioland" are often identical to expensive brands
- Weekly flyers (Prospekte) — Check the KaufDA app or Marktguru for weekly discounts
- Too Good To Go — App for surprise bags of food from bakeries and restaurants at 1/3 the price. Works great in Berlin.
- REWE/Lidl apps — Digital coupons and cashback offers
- Buy seasonal produce — Asparagus in spring, berries in summer, squash in autumn. Much cheaper than imported out-of-season produce.
- Discount stickers — Look for yellow/red "Reduziert" stickers on items near expiry. Up to 50% off.
- Payback card — Free loyalty card accepted at REWE, dm, and many stores. Collect points for cashback.
The Pfand System (Bottle Deposits)
In Germany, most bottles and cans have a Pfand (deposit) included in the price. You get this money back when you return them.
| Type | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Plastic bottles (PET, single-use) | €0.25 |
| Cans | €0.25 |
| Glass beer bottles | €0.08 |
| Reusable plastic bottles | €0.15 |
- Look for the Pfand logo (recycling arrows with "PFAND" text) on the bottle
- Return bottles at Pfand machines (Leergutautomaten) in any supermarket
- The machine prints a receipt — redeem it at the checkout
- Kaufland machines accept the widest variety of bottles
Key Differences from PH Grocery Shopping
- Bring your own bags — Plastic bags cost €0.15-0.50. Bring a reusable bag or backpack.
- Weigh your produce — Some stores require you to weigh fruits/vegetables at a scale and print a price sticker BEFORE going to checkout.
- Bag your own groceries — Cashiers are fast. They scan and you pack. Be prepared or you will hold up the line.
- Cash is still king — Many smaller stores prefer cash. Larger chains accept cards.
- No tingi-tingi — You cannot buy individual sachets of shampoo or single-serve items like in sari-sari stores. Everything comes in standard sizes.
Typical Monthly Grocery Budget
| Household | Budget Range |
|---|---|
| Single person | €200-350/month |
| Couple | €350-500/month |
| Family (2 adults + 1-2 kids) | €500-800/month |
Shopping primarily at discounters (Aldi/Lidl) can cut these by 20-30%.
Online Grocery Delivery
- REWE Lieferservice — Full supermarket delivery, minimum order ~€50
- Flink / Gorillas — Quick delivery (10-15 min) for smaller orders, slightly higher prices
- Amazon Fresh — Available in Berlin, good for bulk buying
- Picnic — No delivery fee, scheduled deliveries