Doing Groceries in Berlin
Overview
Executive Summary
GroceryGermany's shoppinggrocery in Germanylandscape is very different from the Philippines. Stores close early,on Sundays are(by sacred,law), you bagneed to bring your own groceries,bags, produce often needs to be weighed by you, and therebottles iscarry refundable deposits (Pfand). The good news: groceries are affordable if you shop at discounters (Aldi, Lidl), and Berlin has a wholesolid bottlenetwork depositof systemAsian supermarkets where you can find most Filipino staples. This guide covers everything you need to learn.know.
But
once
you get the hangTable of it,Contents
you
willGerman 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
Sunday & Holiday Shopping
Money-Saving Tips
Key Differences from the Philippines
Online Grocery Delivery
Monthly Grocery Budget
Research Journey
1. German Supermarket Tiers
YouGerman won'supermarkets fall into clear tiers. Understanding them is the first step to shopping smart.
Budget Discounters
These are your go-to for everyday groceries. A full weekly basket costs 20-30% less than at full-service supermarkets.
ChainWhat to ExpectKey Notes
Aldi
Bare-bones layout, limited selection, excellent prices. Two separate companies: Aldi Nord (Berlin) and Aldi Sud (southern Germany).
Slightly cheaper than Lidl on average. In-store bakery. Store brand products regularly match or beat premium brands in blind tests.
Lidl
Similar to Aldi but with broader selection and better fresh produce sections. Single national chain.
Best bakery section among discounters. Weekly rotating non-food specials (Mondays and Thursdays) can be great deals.
Penny
Owned by REWE Group. Budget-friendly but quality can be inconsistent.
More locations in inner-city Berlin than Aldi/Lidl. Good for quick stops. Slightly more expensive than Aldi/Lidl.
Netto
Similar tier to Penny. Found in many neighborhoods.
Two different Netto chains exist (Marken-Discount vs. Stavenhagen). The red-yellow Netto Marken-Discount is more common in Berlin.
Mid-Range Full-Service Supermarkets
ChainWhat to ExpectKey Notes
REWE
Wide selection including international products. Good for specialty items you can't find
calamansi,at patisdiscounters.
Best for international ingredients among mainstream chains. Has a loyalty program (
fishREWE sauce),Punkte). Online ordering and delivery available.
Edeka
Cooperative structure means each store varies. Generally premium quality and the most expensive mainstream chain.
Best fresh produce and deli counters. "Gut & Gunstig" is their budget store brand. Individual stores may carry regional specialties.
Kaufland
Hypermarket model -- huge stores with everything. Prices between discounters and Edeka/REWE.
Often open until 10 PM (later than most). Good for one-stop shopping including household items. Accepts the widest variety of Pfand bottles.
Premium Organic & Specialty
ChainWhat to ExpectKey Notes
Bio Company
Berlin-based organic supermarket chain. Everything is organic (Bio).
30-50% more expensive than discounters. Good quality but not necessary for daily shopping.
Alnatura
National organic chain with wide selection of organic products.
Also sells at dm (drugstore) at lower prices for some items.
denn's Biomarkt
Another organic chain. Several locations at Berlin train stations (open Sundays).
Useful on Sundays when located at train stations.
Strategy for Filipinos: Do your weekly bulk shopping at Aldi or KnorrLidl Sinigangfor mixstaples (rice, oil, eggs, vegetables, bread, milk, pasta). Go to REWE or Edeka only for specific items you can't find at Aldi.discounters. Here'sVisit whereAsian supermarkets monthly for Filipino-specific ingredients (see Section 2).
2. Where to look:Find Filipino & Asian Ingredients in Berlin
Berlin has a robust network of Asian supermarkets. While there is no dedicated large-scale Filipino supermarket in central Berlin, several Asian stores carry Filipino products (Mama Sita's sauces, coconut cream, calamansi, ube, fish sauce, shrimp paste, etc.). The go asia chain is particularly well-stocked.
Major Asian Supermarkets in Berlin
Dong
Xuan
Centergo asia Supermarkt (Lichtenberg)Multiple —Locations) HugeFilipino Vietnamese/AsianItems
wholesaleThe market. Best prices for rice, noodles, soy sauce, fish sauce,largest Asian vegetables.supermarket Worthchain thein trip even if far.
Asia Markt at Leopoldplatz (Wedding) — Smaller but well-stockedGo Asia (multiple locations) — ChainBerlin with good6+ selectionlocations. ofCarries Southeast Asian products
including Filipino brands. Known for stocking ube (purple yam), coconut products, fish sauce, and Mama Sita's mixes.
Vinh-LoiMoabit: Turmstrasse 29, 10551 -- Mon-Sat 9-21:00
Charlottenburg: Kantstrasse 101, 10627 -- Mon-Sat 9-21:00
Schoneberg: Hauptstrasse 132, 10827 -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Tempelhof: Tempelhofer Damm 120, 12099 -- Mon-Sat 9:30-20:00
Alexanderplatz: Alexanderpl. 8, 10178 -- Mon-Sat 9-22:00
Friedrichshain: Frankfurter Allee 89, 10247 -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Potsdamer Platz (Charlottenburg)Station): —Bahnhof PopularPotsdamer Platz -- Open Sundays 8-20:00
Kurfurstendamm: im UG GALERIA, Kurfurstendamm 231 -- Mon-Sat 10-20:00 (10% off first Saturday monthly)
Asia Market Lee GmbH
Dircksenstrasse 101-103, 10179 Mitte (under the S-Bahn arches) -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Highly rated (4.5/5, 1765+ reviews). Stocks Indian, Korean, Southeast Asian groceryproducts including frozen items and Asian sauces. Good variety of spices.
VINH-LOI Asien Supermarkt (2 Locations)
Thai Park area shopsWedding: Mullerstrasse 141, 13353 -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Schoneberg: Ansbacher Str. 16, 10787 -- Mon-Sat 9-19:00
Vietnamese-owned but carries pan-Asian products. Good for fresh vegetables, frozen seafood, sauces, and prepared foods.
Asia Mekong Supermarket
Henriette-Herz-Platz 1 & Wichertstrasse 72 -- Opens 10:00
Well-stocked pan-Asian store. Multiple locations.
Hoa Mai Asia-Supermarket
Frankfurter Allee 104, 10247 Friedrichshain -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Good for spices, condiments, fresh vegetables, herbs, and sushi-making supplies.
Timi Asia Supermarket
Kieler Str. 4, 12163 Steglitz -- Mon-Sat 9-20:00
Known for fresh herbs, rare Asian vegetables, and homemade kimchi.
Filipino-Specific Online Stores (Wilmersdorf)Ship —to SeveralBerlin)
Filipino Asian Store Filipino Focus
Physical store in Basdorf (near Bernau, ~40 min from central Berlin) -- Mon-Fri 9-18:00, Sat 9-18:00
1,500+ items with emphasis on Philippine products. Online store with free shipping on orders over 100 EUR. Same-day dispatch available.
filipinoasianstore.de
Nica's Pinoy Store Filipino Focus
Schillerstr. 24, 68753 Waghausel (ships Germany-wide)
Filipino-owned. Carries Filipino desserts, fruits/vegetables, ready meals, fish/meat, beverages, spices, canned goods, rice, sauces, snacks, and frozen products. Free shipping on orders over 65 EUR. Chilled items ship Mon-Wed only (+3 EUR thermal packaging).
nicas-pinoy-store.de
Pinoy Food Store Filipino Focus
Siegtalstrasse 206, 57080 Siegen (ships Germany-wide via DHL)
1,000+ Asian products, 90% Filipino. Includes an "Ube Corner" specialty section. Ships nationwide Mon-Sat. Loyalty points program.
pinoyfood.de
Filipino Ingredients Cheat Sheet -- Where to Find Them:
Rice (jasmine, sticky): Any Asian supermarket (much cheaper than REWE/Edeka). Also available at Aldi/Lidl (basic long-grain).
Fish sauce (patis), soy sauce, vinegar: go asia, Vinh-Loi, Asia Market Lee, or any Asian store.
Coconut milk/cream: Aldi and Lidl carry canned coconut milk. Asian stores
nearbyWhathave Youwider Can Find
Fish sauceselection (Patis)Gata —brand etc.).
Calamansi: Frozen at go asia or Filipino online stores.
Ube (purple yam): go asia carries frozen ube and ube extract/powder. Online Filipino stores for more variety.
Mama Sita's mixes: Filipino online stores, occasionally at go asia.
Bagoong (shrimp paste): Asian supermarkets (look in the Filipino/SEA section) or online stores.
Lumpia wrappers (spring roll): Any Asian
store, brands like Squid or Three CrabsSoy saucesupermarket (
Toyo)frozen —section).
AvailablePancit evennoodles: atgo REWE/Edeka (Kikkoman)Rice — Jasmine rice atasia, Asian stores (
~€15-25look for
10kg)bihon, canton, sotanghon).
German supermarkets have it too but more expensive and smaller bags.Coconut milk/cream — Available at most supermarketsBanana ketchup, KnorrJufran: seasonings — Dong Xuan Center orFilipino online
Calamansi —stores. FrozenOccasionally at
somelarger Asiango stores,asia otherwiselocations.
useDried limesVinegarfish (
Sukang)tuyo, —dilis): SpecialtyFilipino online stores
orare ordermost onlinereliable.
3. Sunday & Holiday Shopping
— Stores Are Closed!In Germany,
shopsImportant: Almost all supermarkets in Germany are closed on Sundays and public holidays by law (Ladenschlussgesetz). This is one of the biggest culture shockshocks for Filipinos. Plan ahead!your shopping for Saturday at the latest!
What'sWhat StillIS 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)Supermarkets at premiumTrain prices
BerlinStations
HauptbahnhofAn — The REWEexception in the mainlaw allows shops at major train stationstations isto open on Sundays. These are your best bet for a proper grocery run:
StoreLocationSunday Hours
REWEHauptbahnhof, Europaplatz 1, Moabit8-22:00
REWEOstbahnhof, Am Ostbahnhof 9, Friedrichshain6-24:00
EdekaFriedrichstrasse Station, Friedrichstr. 142, Mitte8-22:00
EdekaSudkreuz Station, Hildegard-Knef-Platz 1, Schoneberg8-22:00
EdekaLichtenberg Station, Weitlingstr. 229-22:00
PennyOstbahnhof, Am Ostbahnhof 9, Friedrichshain7-23:00
HIT am ZooKantstrasse 7, Charlottenburg8-22:00
go asiaPotsdamer Platz Station8-20:00
denn's BiomarktHauptbahnhof, Bahnhof Zoo, Gesundbrunnen, Ostkreuz7/8-22:00
REWEBER Airport Terminal 1Open 24/7
Warning: Sunday grocery stores at train stations are extremely busy. There are often queues outside. Go early in the morning for the best experience.
Other Sunday Options
- Spatis (Spatkauf/Spatverkauf): Corner convenience stores unique to Berlin. Most are open on Sundays
until(technically 10in PM.a Lifesaver!gray legal area). They sell basics: drinks, snacks, bread, cigarettes, some frozen meals. Prices are higher than supermarkets. Hours vary, most open by 10:00.
Gas stations (Tankstellen): Shell, Aral, and others sell basic groceries, bread, milk, and snacks. Open 24/7 but expensive.
Bakeries (Backereien): — Open
Sundayon morningsSundays. Good for
breadfresh bread, rolls (Brotchen), pastries, and
pastriessometimes sandwiches.
Restaurants and deliverycafes: —All Lieferando,open Wolt,on FlinkSundays.
forSome foodAsian stores: A few small Asian markets operate on Sundays (e.g., Asia Markt at Osloer Strasse, 11:00-21:00 Sundays; Nguyen Asian Market near Spittelmarkt).
Pro tip: Do a big grocery shop on Saturday. Keep your pantry stocked with rice, canned goods, and frozen items so you're never caught off-guard on a Sunday. Also note: grocery delivery services (REWE, Flink) generally do NOT deliver on Sundays.
4. Money-Saving Tips
Store Strategy
StoreShop discounters for staples: Aldi and Lidl for rice, eggs, milk, butter, pasta, bread, vegetables, cooking oil, canned goods. You save 20-30% compared to REWE/Edeka.
Buy store brands (Eigenmarke): —German Aldi'sstore brands are excellent quality. Key ones:
"GutBio"Ja!" (REWE) -- cheapest tier
"Gut & Gunstig" (Edeka) -- cheapest tier
"Milbona" (Lidl dairy), "Milsani" (Aldi dairy)
These regularly match or outperform premium brands in independent tests
Use drugstores for non-food: dm and
Lidl'sRossmann "Bioland"sell aretoiletries, cleaning supplies, and baby products 8-12% cheaper than supermarkets.
Check bottom shelves: Supermarkets place budget items low and premium brands at eye level.
Compare by price per kg/100g: German law requires stores to display the per-unit price on the shelf label. Use this, not the package price.
Shop before closing: Produce, meat, and dairy counters often
identicalmark todown expensiveitems brandsnear closing time.Weekly
flyers
(Prospekte)
KaufDAappAppWhat orIt MarktguruDoesCost
forweekly discountsToo Good To Go
—Buy App for "surprise
bagsbags" of
surplus food from
bakeriesbakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants at 1/3 the price.
WorksVery greatpopular in Berlin.
Free app; bags typically 3-5 EUR
REWE/LidlMarktguru
apps — Digital couponsBrowse and
cashbackcompare offersBuyweekly seasonalflyers produce(Prospekte) —from Asparagusall insupermarkets. spring,Set berries in summer, squash in autumn. Much cheaper than imported out-of-season produce.Discount stickers — Lookalerts for
yellow/redspecific "Reduziert"products.
stickersFree
KaufDA
Similar to Marktguru -- digital weekly flyers and store finder.
Free
Smhaggle
Cashback app -- scan receipts to get money back on
itemsspecific nearproducts.
expiry.Free
Up
to50% off.Payback
cardLoyalty — Free loyaltypoints card accepted at REWE, dm, and many
stores.others. CollectAccumulate points for
cashback.Thediscounts.
PfandFree Systemcard/app
DeutschlandCard
Loyalty card for Netto, Esso, and other partners.
Free
Lidl Plus
Lidl's own app with weekly coupons and digital receipts.
Free
Other Tips
Weekly specials (Angebote): Every supermarket has weekly specials displayed in paper flyers (available at the entrance) and in their apps. Aldi and Lidl rotate non-food specials Mon/Thu.
Seasonal produce: Buy fruits and vegetables in season -- they're significantly cheaper and better quality. Asparagus (Spargel) in spring, berries in summer, root vegetables in winter.
Visit weekly markets (Wochenmarkt): Berlin has many weekly farmers' markets. Produce can be cheaper (especially at closing time) and is fresher than supermarkets. Try the Turkish Market at Maybachufer (Tue/Fri) for affordable produce.
Bulk rice at Asian stores: Buy 5-10kg bags of jasmine rice at go asia or similar -- much cheaper per kg than the small 500g packets at Aldi/Lidl.
Collect Pfand: Always return your bottles! 25 cents per bottle adds up. Some people collect extra bottles from parks/events for additional income.
5. Key Differences from Philippine Grocery Shopping
Coming from the Philippines, here are the things that will surprise you most:
Bags Bring Your Own
There are no free plastic bags. You must bring reusable bags (Stoffbeutel/Jutebeutel) or buy bags at the checkout (0.10-0.50 EUR each). Paper bags are sometimes available. Keep bags in your backpack so you're never caught without one.
Pfand Bottle Deposits)Deposits
In Germany, mostMost bottles and cans have a Pfanddeposit (deposit)Pfand):
includedinSingle-use theplastic price.bottles & cans: 0.25 EUR
Reusable glass/PET bottles: 0.08-0.15 EUR
Beer crates: 1.50 EUR
Return at any supermarket's Leergutautomat (reverse vending machine). 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 bottleReturn bottles at Pfand machines (Leergutautomaten) in any supermarketThe machine prints a receipt —(Bon) to redeem it at thecheckout. checkoutKauflandBottles machinesmust acceptbe theuncrushed widestwith varietyreadable ofbarcodes. bottles
KeyNo DifferencesPfand fromon PHwine, Groceryspirits, Shopping
BringWeighing Produce Scales
At some stores (especially Edeka, sometimes REWE), you must weigh 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
in the produce section, select the item number on the screen, and print a price sticker
BEFOREto goingattach to
the bag. At discounters (Aldi, Lidl), this is handled at the checkout.
BagCheckout Speed Pack Fast!
German checkout cashiers scan items extremely fast. There's no bagging area -- items go into a small space and you're expected to pack quickly or move to a separate counter to bag. This is the #1 source of stress for newcomers. Have your ownbags groceries — Cashiers are fast. They scanready and youopen.
pack.
Be
preparedCart Deposit Coin for Cart
Shopping carts require a 0.50 EUR or you1.00 willEUR holdcoin upas a deposit (insert into the line.
chain lock). You get it back when you return the cart. Keep a coin ready or buy a plastic chip (Einkaufswagenchip) for this purpose.
Sunday Everything Closed
Unlike the 24/7 Philippine sari-sari stores and malls open daily, almost all shops close on Sundays. See Section 3 for exceptions. Even on weekdays, most supermarkets close by 20:00-22:00 (not midnight).
Payment Cash is stillStill kingCommon
—Germany Manyis more cash-dependent than the Philippines' GCash/Maya culture. While card payments (EC-Karte/Girocard) are accepted everywhere, some smaller storesshops preferand cash.weekly Largermarkets chainsare cash only. Aldi and Lidl accept cards.
cards and contactless. Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted at most supermarkets now but not universally.
No tingi-tingiRecycling —Waste YouSorting
cannotGermany buyhas individuala sachetsstrict of5-bin shampoorecycling system. Your building will have separate bins for: paper (blue), packaging/plastic (yellow), organic waste (brown), glass (sorted by color at street containers), and residual waste (black/grey). Incorrect sorting can result in complaints from neighbors or single-servelandlord.
items
like
Things you'll miss and where to find substitutes:
Sari-sari convenience: Spatis are Berlin's version -- small, informal, open late.
Wet markets: Weekly farmers' markets (Wochenmarkt) are the closest equivalent, but much more organized. Meat/fish comes pre-packaged at supermarkets; you won't find live fish or custom-cut meat at a counter in
sari-sarithe stores.Philippine style.
Tingi (single-serving sachets): Not common in Germany. Everything comes in
standardfull-size sizes.packaging.
Palengke-style bargaining: Prices are fixed. No negotiation at any store.
Delivery from sari-sari: Use Flink or REWE delivery instead (see Section 6).
Typical6. Online Grocery Delivery Options
ServiceTypeDelivery TimeDelivery FeeNotes
REWE Delivery
Full supermarket
Next-day / scheduled slots
Varies (free slots available but rare)
Full REWE selection. Order online, choose delivery window. Best for large weekly shops. Not available on Sundays.
Flink
Quick commerce
Minutes (10-30 min)
~1.80 EUR (higher for small orders)
Now partnered with REWE. 2,600+ products. Great for forgotten items. Operates from dark stores across Berlin.
Picnic
Scheduled delivery
Next-day, fixed time slots
Free (min order applies)
Milk-run model (like a delivery route). Very reliable. Competitive prices. Highly rated (4.0/5 on Trustpilot).
Knuspr
Same-day/next-day
Same-day possible
Varies
Czech-origin service. Good selection including fresh items. Available in Berlin.
Amazon Fresh
Full grocery + Amazon
2-hour windows
Free with Prime (min order)
Requires Amazon Prime. Good selection but not the cheapest.
Getir
Quick commerce
Minutes
~1.80 EUR (min order 10 EUR)
Good for quick top-ups. Daily promotions.
For Filipino ingredients online: Use the dedicated Filipino online stores (filipinoasianstore.de, nicas-pinoy-store.de, pinoyfood.de) for items you can't find locally. Stock up monthly to meet free shipping thresholds.
7. Monthly Grocery Budget
HouseholdBudget Range
(EUR/month)Strategy
Single person
€200-350/monthCouple€350-500/monthFamily (
2frugal)
adults150-200 +EUR
1-2Discounters kids)€500-800/monthShopping primarily at discountersonly (Aldi/Lidl), canstore cutbrands, thesemeal byplanning, 20-30%.
Onlineseasonal Groceryproduce
Delivery
What Costs More vs. Less Than the Philippines
Cheaper in GermanyMore Expensive in Germany
Bread (excellent quality, from 0.69 EUR/loaf at discounters)
Rice (2-3x more than PH prices)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
Tropical fruits (mangoes, papayas -- seasonal and expensive)
Pork and chicken (often cheaper per kg)
Fish and seafood (much more expensive)
Potatoes, carrots, onions (very cheap)
Filipino specialty items (imported = premium prices)
Pasta, flour, eggs
Eating out /
Gorillas — Quick deliverytakeout (10-15
min)EUR forper smallermeal orders,minimum)
slightly
higher
pricesAmazon
Fresh8. —Research AvailableJourney
in
Berlin,Search goodQueries for& bulkSources buyingConsulted
PicnicSearch: —"Berlin Nosupermarket guide expats comparison" -- housinganywhere.com, liveingermany.de
Search: "cheapest supermarkets Berlin Aldi Lidl Penny" -- Reddit r/germany, iamexpat.de, tripadvisor.com, welcome-center-germany.com
Search: "Asian grocery store Berlin Filipino ingredients" -- Yelp (top 10 Filipino stores Berlin), berlin10.com, filipinoasianstore.de, nicas-pinoy-store.de, pinoyfood.de
Search: "Filipino store Berlin Asian supermarket" -- planforgermany.com, pinoyfood.de
Search: "grocery shopping tips Berlin expat save money" -- thelocal.de (10 ways to save), instagram expat guides
Search: "Berlin supermarket Sunday closed where to buy food" -- berlin.de, allaboutberlin.com, theberlinlife.com, helloberl.in, berlinwalk.com
Search: "Pfand bottle deposit Germany expat guide" -- settle-in-berlin.com, liveingermany.de, simplegermany.com
Search: "grocery delivery
fee,Berlin scheduledFlink deliveriesKnuspr Picnic 2025 2026" -- expatrio.com, reddit, globalfoodhub.com
Search: "Too Good To Go Germany supermarket apps save money" -- thelocal.de, reddit
Search: "monthly grocery budget Germany family" -- welcome-center-germany.com, housinganywhere.com
Search: "Filipino expat Berlin grocery shopping experience" -- pinayingermany.wordpress.com, Philippine Embassy Berlin Facebook
Search: "Berlin grocery weighing produce self-service scale" -- Reddit r/germany (multiple threads on self-checkout and produce weighing)
12 searches across 3 SearXNG nodes (bitmagnet-lax, bitmagnet-nl, bitmagnet-de). 11 pages fetched and analyzed via WebFetch. Key sources: housinganywhere.com, liveingermany.de, berlin10.com, allaboutberlin.com, helloberl.in, thelocal.de, settle-in-berlin.com, expatrio.com, filipinoasianstore.de, pinoyfood.de, nicas-pinoy-store.de.