2 Best Restaurants in Berlin, Germany

In a city that's unfortunately full of mediocre pseudo-Asian restaurants that serve bland versions of curries, noodles, and rice dishes, Hot Spot stands out for its daring and authenticity. The menu features recipes from the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, and the freshest ingredients are guaranteed; mala dishes (numbing and spicy) are a specialty here, and the excellent selection of German wines—particularly Riesling—goes well with the spicy food.

Although there's a full menu of Chinese dishes at this nondescript local favorite, it's the jiaozi you want: juicy, perfectly wrapped dumplings with vegetable, pork, or lamb fillings, to be dipped in a sour black vinegar and spicy chili paste. Start with addictive appetizers like tofu with crispy shrimp, cucumber with garlic, or Kaofu—silky tofu skins with bean sprouts and soybean—then dive into the dumplings, which can be ordered in batches of 20 or 40.