Wechsler’s Currywurst

Currywurst, a dish so popular in Germany that it has its own museum, is essentially sliced sausage, slathered in sweet-and-spicy tomato sauce, served with fries in a paper bowl. It’s meant to be eaten on the go, likely in the middle of a pub crawl. Grub like this quietly soaks up a night’s beer-drinking and keeps you satiated for the next adventure. It’s eaten by piercing the sausage with a dainty fork, lending it a curiously exotic aspect–Americans would throw that on a bun and be done with it.

Germany’s national snack now has a base of operations in the East Village at diminutive Wechsler’s Currywurst. With just a couple of tables, a row of high stools, and several German beers on tap ($3 mini-glassed of Reissdorf Golsch, $5 pints of Radeberger, and $6 Hefeweizen), it never gets too crowded and it’s a pleasant enough drinking spot with or without the wurst. But if sausages are what you’re after, they range from bratwurst, boar, lamb, and chicken to the namesake currywurst and fries (all $6). The sides also happen to pair well with beer–sauerkraut ($3), potato salad ($3) and soft pretzels served with sweet or spicy mustard ($3). Full disclosure: I only tried the currywurst and the soft pretzel with a nostril-burning hot mustard.

Is the currywurst at Wechsler’s the real deal? Well, the owner is from Germany and certain Yelpers seem to think so. But even though currywurst’s invention can be traced to 1949 Berlin, it never McDonaldized. Every vendor makes it a little differently and you’d probably have to do a lot of sampling in Germany to get a handle on what the good stuff is. If you just want to have some German snacks and raise a glass to Oktoberfest (which runs through Oct 4th), Wechsler’s is a much shorter journey.

120 First Avenue between 7th St. and St, Mark’s Place.
Mon-Thu 12pm-1am, Fri-Sat 12pm-2am, Sun 12pm-12am
Cash only