Located in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, tiny Bavarian town Helen, Georgia, is one of the best places in the state to visit for not only its charming architecture–which is reminiscent of your favorite fairytale places in childhood storybooks–but also for its delicious and authentic German food. Living nearby and being regular visitors to this top tourist attraction in Georgia, we’ve sampled just about every restaurant you can find in town. After careful contemplation, these are the 9 Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
Hofbrauhaus
Why Hofbrauhaus is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
Hofbrauhaus is one of the cutest German restaurants in Helen and one of my two favorite restaurants to dine along the riverfront. The exterior of Hofbrauhaus features art-adorned walls, a striped blue and white sign pole, and an outdoor patio full of tables shaded by little umbrellas where you can sit an watch the river flow by. Inside, the ambience is classy, chic, and elegant.
What to Order at Hofbrauhaus Restaurant:
On the menu you’ll find German favorites like Goulash (stew made with pasta, beef, pork, and veges) Sauerbraten (a marinated meat dish), Falscher Hase (meatloaf), Schmorbraten (beef pot roast), Schweinebraten (pork roast), Schweinshaxe (slow-roasted, deep-fried pork knuckle), and Rouladen (rolled beef stuffed with bacon, onions, and pickles). There are also 6 different types of Schnitzel on the menu. This thinly pounded meat (pork, chicken, or veal) is breaded and pan fried, then served with a type of gravy or sauce. The Jägerschnitzel comes with a mushroom bacon beef gravy, and the Käse Schnitzel is topped with swiss, cheddar, and Bier cheese. There’s also a variety of burgers, sandwiches, kids meals, and desserts to choose from. You can view their full German food menu on the Hofbrauhaus website here.
The Troll Tavern
Why The Troll Tavern is one of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
The name alone makes it hard to resist this Helen restaurant. The Troll Tavern conjures up images of fairytale stories detailing scary trolls hiding under bridges while waiting to gobble up unsuspecting passersby who dare to cross without permission. So, of course, it’s no surprise at all that The Troll Tavern is indeed located just under a bridge and along a riverfront.
But its location isn’t the only thing that makes this restaurant so great. The Troll Tavern serves some of the best German food in Helen, Georgia, and you can eat it while sitting on an outdoor patio, decked out in twinkling lights, overlooking the water. The portion sizes of the food are insanely generous, and everything is delicious! We visit Helen a lot, and we almost always make sure to return to The Troll Tavern to eat at some point during our visit. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Helen! We love it that much!
What to Order at The Troll Tavern:
For a sampling of German meats, I highly recommend the Triple Platter to receive one grilled knockwurst, one grilled bratwurst, and one grilled or fried weinerschnitzel (pork cutlet). It comes with German mashed potatoes, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and rye bread. For an extra $2, you can upgrade the weinerschnitzel to a jaegerschnitzel, which basically just means adding a side of gravy for the meat, but trust me that it makes it soooooo much better! You also can’t go wrong with their Reuben sandwich (it’s so good!) and their delicious beer cheese soup!
Visit The Troll Tavern website here for more info and to see their full menu of German food options.
The Heidelberg
Why The Heidelberg is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
Whenever you see media photos of the iconic buildings in downtown Helen, The Heidelberg Restaurant is always at the center of them. Along with the little town’s beloved windmill, it’s one of the best known places to visit in Helen, Georgia. Built by German owners in 1977, the architecture resembles a fairytale German castle. Located in the main square market, it’s also the most popular place to hang out during special events like the Helen Christkindlmarkt and Oktoberfest in Helen. The town’s surrounding countryside and rolling mountains looks especially gorgeous when transformed into the vibrant colors of fall in Georgia!
What to Order at The Heidelberg Restaurant:
The Heidelberg menu consists of authentic German cuisine, and they feature a more extensive list of German food choices than many of the other German restaurants you will find downtown. Some of our favorites include Kartoffelpuffer (fried potato pancakes), Krautkrapfen (Bavarian sauerkraut and bacon rolled in a homemade dough), Sauerbraten (marinated roast beef topped with a sweet and sour sauce), Räucherlachs (smoked salmon with cream cheese, cucumbers, and capers), and Hühnerbrust with Zigeuner Sauce (butterflied chicken breast served in a sauce made of onions, peppers, and spices).
They also serve sandwiches, six different types of sausage plates, and nine different types of Schnitzel platters. Try the Schnitzel “Das-Heidelberg Art” (breaded pork cutlet stuffed with cream cheese and chives) or the Holsteiner Schnitzel (breaded pork cutlet topped with fried egg and capers). For a full list of their German food menu options, visit The Heidelberg website here.
Bodensee Restaurant
Why Bodensee is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen GA:
Bodensee is one of the highest ranked German restaurants in Helen, and they have an extensive menu of German food offerings, including many entrees (like Bauernpfaennle, Rouberspiess, and Tafelspitz) that you won’t find on the menus of any other German restaurants in town currently.
What to Order at Bodensee Restaurant:
If you’d like to start with a German appetizer, try a Bavarian Pretzel with Beer Cheese Dip. Then pick one of the house specials at Bodensee Restaurant: Tafelspitz (round beef with creamy horseradish sauce and potato dumplings), Holzfaellersteak (grilled pork topped with mushrooms, onions, and bacon), Homemade Garlic Wurst served with sauerkraut and German potato salad, Bauernpfaennle (grilled pork tenderloin with bacon and tomato cream sauce, overbaked with cheese), Hauspfaennle (grilled pork tenderloin with bacon and mushroom cream sauce), Rouberspiess / Schaschlik (grilled pork with onions and peppers on a skewer, smothered with a sweet n spicy sauce), or choose one of their various meat platters to sample different types of German sausages, pork chops, and marinated beefs.
You can visit the full Bodensee website here.
Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe
Why Hofer’s of Helen is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen GA:
Although Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe is only open during breakfast and lunch, it’s one of the best places to eat German food in Helen, GA. The owners made it their mission to recreate the ambiance of an authentic German cafe, so they imported all of their furniture directly from Germany. The interior of the restaurant also contains a hand-painted mural by world famous artist Joseph Mahler, which depicts the history of baking in Germany. Their menu is created from actual family recipes that they brought from Germany, and all of their breads are freshly baked in house daily.
What to Order at Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe Restaurant:
Hofer’s serves a variety of authentic German breakfast choices, nearly twenty different types of sandwiches, and over a dozen grill specialties for lunch, in addition to German baked goods, pastries, drinks, and ice cream.
Their Reuben is their bestseller: it contains thinly sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and dressing on freshly baked Rye bread and comes with a dill pickle slice and kettle chips. Other popular favorites are their Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll and their Schnitzel Delight (breaded pork cutlet served open faced with lettuce on fresh-baked Rye).
From their grill menu, try their Ziguener Schnitzel (breaded and pan fried pork cutlet topped with a spicy green and red pepper sauce), Rindsroulade mit Spätzle und Rotkohl (lean beef rolls stuffed with Applewood Smoked Bacon, onions, dill German gherkin, and Hofer’s spiced mustard), or Schlachtplatte “Hofer” mit Sauerkraut, Bretzenknödel und Bauernbrot (platter of smoked pork chop and assorted sausages, served with sauerkraut, pretzel dumpling, and fresh-baked Farmers Rye Bread).
If you’re an early-riser, try their German potato pancakes or their Apfelküchle (sliced, batter-dipped, and pan-fried apples, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and topped with whipped cream) for breakfast!
To see their full list of German menu options, visit the Hofer’s website here.
Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe
Why Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
This unique German restaurant in Helen is open seven days a week and offers free parking to all guests. They open early (9 AM daily), so they’re one of the best places to grab breakfast in Helen, as well as one of our favorite spots for dinner, desserts, and coffee! Their breakfast options are also served all day.
What to Order at Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe:
For German food options, try the German Schnitzel Breakfast (two eggs, roasted potatoes, and choice of pork or chicken schnitzel), Homemade Goulash Soup with Beef Chunks and Bread Dumplings, Spätzle (German egg noodles) with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Kaese Schnitzel (breaded pork tenderloin smothered in melted cheese), Pork Loin Cordon Bleu Schnitzel (breaded pork loin stuffed with ham, cheddar, and mozzarella), Holsteiner Schnitzel (breaded pork tenderloin fried and then topped with a fried egg), Jaeger Schnitzel (breaded pork loin topped with creamy mushroom sauce), Schweinehaxen (braised and roasted pork shank served with potatoes, bread, mustard, sauerkraut, and red cabbage), Schweinebraten (oven-roasted pork chunks served with bread dumplings, red cabbage, and sauerkraut), Chicken or Pork Schnitzel Sandwich, or a Grilled Bratwurst Hoagie.
If you’re a fan of cheese (and fried cheese in particular), this restaurant also specializes in nearly half a dozen different fried cheese entrees, including a fried cheese sandwich, fried cheese kebab, and your choice of either fried French brie, sharp cheddar, or mozzarella cheese stuffed with ham.
For their full menu, visit Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe at their website here.
King Ludwig’s Biergarten
Why King Ludwig’s Biergarten is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
Like The Heidelberg, King Ludwig’s Biergarten is located right in the main Helen Square, so it’s a popular place to sit, have a drink, and hang out if you want to be in the heart of all the action downtown.
What to Order at King Ludwig’s Biergarten:
In addition to their huge menu of alcoholic beverages, this German restaurant is best known for its German sausage plates. Choose between a Bratwurst (quarter pound Bavarian pork and veal sausage), Cheddarwurst (beef sausage stuffed with Wisconsin cheddar), or Frankfurter (quarter pound 100% Black Angus German hot dog). Each is served with German potato salad and special recipe sauerkraut.
They also serve an award-winning Pretzel Reuben, which consists of corned beef, Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, and their special recipe sauerkraut, served on a pretzel roll with chips. Another fan favorite is their Giant German Soft Pretzel served with their famous homemade beer cheese dip.
If you’re vegan, they even have a Vegan Veggie German Brat option just for you. It’s served with chips, but you can upgrade to German potato salad and sauerkraut for a small extra charge.
Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant
Why Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
This German restaurant is located inside an adorably cute plaza and features an extensive menu of German cuisine. If you’re looking for a lesser-known place to get German food in Helen that isn’t as crowded as some of the others, this cozy place is the place for you!
What to Order at Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant:
Some of their house specialties include Bauernschmaus (smoked pork chop, herb-roasted pork loin, weisswurst / white sausage, and bratwurst served with sauerkraut and whipped potatoes), Rinder Rouladen (beef rolled with mustard, onions, bacon, and pickle and then served with red cabbage and Spätzle, which is a type of pasta), Sauerbraten (marinated beef sirloin in a red wine sauce, served with Spätzle / noodles and red cabbage), Leberkäse (meatloaf served with grilled onions, whipped potatoes, and red cabbage), and Goulash (cuts of beef simmered in a paprika sauce, served with Spätzle and red cabbage). They also serve three different types of Schnitzels, a variety of German sausage platters, and over ten different types of sandwiches (both German and non-German).
Cafe International
Why Cafe International is One of the Best German Restaurants in Helen, GA:
Cafe International is not just a spot for getting German food in Helen; they also serve American, French, and Italian as well. If you’re dining with a group who has varied tastes, or if you’ve got any picky eaters in your family, this might be a good option for ensuring that everyone in your party has a happy tummy.
What to Order at Cafe International:
For German menu options, you can choose between a Knockwurst, Bratwurst, or Bauernwurst, which comes with a side of German potato salad, Bavarian sauerkraut or red cabbage, and pumpernickel bread. They also serve Bratwurst Im Brot (bratwurst in a bun, topped with melted Swiss cheese and sauerkraut), Kasseler Rippchen (smoked pork chops served with German potato salad and sauerkraut), and Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal served with German potato salad and red cabbage). Kids menu items consist of typical kid food favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, and spaghetti. For a list of their French, Italian, and American lunch and dinner entrees, visit the full Cafe International menu located on their website here.
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