There’s a shift in the light, a bite in the Bavarian air that murmurs of changing seasons. And when that chill begins to settle, nothing warms better than a clay pot dish (shāguō 砂锅) – an ancient, humble culinary alchemy that makes the toughest meat cuts soft and every broth drop deeply infused.
The porous clay distributes heat evenly, cradling ingredients over a gentle flame for hours, coaxing out flavors and nutrients. The food is robust but delicate, hearty but easily digestible.
So, if you’re ready to escape the cold? Let us take you inside – our new favorite comfort food spot in Munich: Brutzeln & Blubbern (小魚砂鍋).
Restaurant Profile
🏷️ Name of the Restaurant: Brutzeln & Blubbern 小魚砂鍋
📍 Adress: Amalienstraße 39, 80799 München
🍜 Style: Chinese Cuisine – clay pot, rice dishes, stir-fries, small sides, noodles, vegetarian options etc.
💰 Price: around 15 – 25 EUR per Person (incl. Drinks and Tips)
Starter: Bamboo Shoot Salad (油焖春笋)
Paper-thin slices of bamboo shoot, chilled to a pleasant crispness, glistening ever so slightly with a light, savory oil.
The bamboo shoots are crunchy with a slightly tender heart. The flavor is very delicate: a fresh, vegetal sweetness, followed by a very subtle, sour marination. It’s not heavy or greasy; the light oil dressing simply enhances the bamboo’s natural fragrance. This dish is a crisp, clean overture that gets you ready for the hearty mains to come.
Main Course:
Classic Beef Brisket with Tomatoes (番茄牛腩)
The dish arrives steaming, filling the air with a hearty aroma of ripe tomatoes and rich beef. You see chunks of fall-apart tender brisket in a crimson sauce flecked with green onion.
This classic dish is a perfect example of umami synergy. The robust, beefy flavor of the brisket (牛腩) is softened and accentuated by the bright, tangy-sweet tomatoes. The tomatoes break down into a lush, lightly sweet and sour sauce that seeps deep into the meat.
Simmered for hours until the beef is unbelievably tender yet still has a satisfying chew, its juices bursting in the mouth. The marinade is a blend of soy sauce and a hint of sweetness, melding with tomato. A hint of bay leaf adds complexity. It’s paired with steamed rice to soak up the delicious sauce, while being ladled over with smooth brisket that glides over the tongue.
Braised Chicken with Chestnuts (板栗鸡块)
A rustic, aromatic dish, featuring golden chicken, skin-on for extra richness, nestled with chestnuts in a dark, glossy sauce.
The savory, soy-based sauce is the foundation—deeply flavorful with a gentle ginger warmth, a subtle spice, and a light sweetness that caramelizes the ingredients.
The chicken is incredibly tender, with the cartilage cooked down to such a soft, gelatinous texture that it’s delightful to eat.
The chestnuts absorb the savory sauce while maintaining their distinct earthy, starchy sweetness. Their unique flavor — a mix of a sweet potato and a nut, with a dense, creamy texture – makes this dish cozy and richly satisfying.
While chestnuts may be a rare ingredient in other cuisines, they’re a classic in savory braised Chinese dishes, especially as the weather cools. They are seen as a warming food, believed to harmonize rich, savory flavors, for a comforting, rounded dish.
Beyond the warming clay pots, their menu opens up into much more, such as hand-pulled noodles (like the chewy daoxiaomian刀削面), tangy-spicy Sichuan noodles (suānlǎfěn酸辣粉), and a full spread of classic stir-fries alongside Sichuan specialties like shuǐzhǔ yú水煮鱼 (fish in fiery chili oil) or the robust shuǐzhǔ niú水煮牛 (boiled beef).
Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or gathering a group for a feast, Brutzeln & Blubbern fits the bill. It’s like a neighborhood canteen: reliable, delicious, and affordable.
The lunch set here is only €8.90 and the portions are insanely generous.
We saw your blog and decided to give it a try, but dishes like the chestnut chicken weren’t on the menu anymore.
The soup noodles are a bit of a letdown, pretty mild in flavor. Heavy-flavor lovers might want to give them a pass.
I can’t recommend their Shui Zhu Beef(boiled-in-chili-oil) enough. This style is really hard to do well, so I usually avoid ordering it outside China. But theirs is great. Huge portion, super tasty, and totally worth it!
If you like sweeter flavors, go for the braised chicken with chestnuts; if you prefer something savory, the tomato-braised beef is a great choice.
The mango pomelo sago is amazing. This place has great value and food is really delicious. €20 covered two meals for me.
I tried their new dish — pork ribs with preserved vegetables. At first, I was a bit skeptical — can “preserved greens” and “ribs” really go together?! Turns out, it’s quite an interesting combo.
The flavor is a bit salty, but since it comes with rice, it balances out nicely. Pretty tasty overall. The portion size sits right between “just enough” and “a bit more would be nice.” It’s not spicy, actually, there’s even a hint of sweetness. A salty-sweet kind of flavor.
The photos made me so hungry that I had to try the chestnut chicken clay pot. It’s made with chicken drumsticks and chestnuts. I’m not sure why, but the combo just didn’t quite work for me. It was filling, but not particularly impressive.
The clay pot dishes at this restaurant are really worth it! The portion is just right for one person and quite filling. It comes bubbling hot, and even toward the end it stays warm. Absolutely perfect for autumn and winter!
I’ve tried some of the other dishes at this restaurant. The deep fried chicken and sweet and sour pork were just so-so, a bit dry. But the spicy boiled fish fillet bowl was actually quite good.
This restaurant offers a crab pot for just 23.9 EUR. The flavor is pretty good. It comes with two crabs, two shrimp, two chicken feet, three pieces of rice cake, and some mushrooms. The portion isn’t huge, but the crabs are very fresh and the meat is nice and plump.
This restaurant actually has quite a few options. They also feature daily specials at the entrance. I tried the lamb and noodle clay pot, and it was pretty good!
This restaurant serves spicy and sour noodles(/suan la fen), and flavor is actually quite authentic. They add a whole small bok choy, lots of cilantro leaves, and plenty of peanuts. I’ll definitely come back again!
The noodles here are great too! I highly recommend the wide knife-cut noodles with braised beef brisket, tomato, egg, mushroom and tofu. I was honestly amazed. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the sauce was absolutely delicious!
The pork burger (forgot the exact name 😆) at this restaurant is really tasty. The green peppers and cilantro in the meat perfectly balance the richness of the fatty pork, so good!
I tried the tomato beef clay pot, but I didn’t like it. The broth wasn’t as thick as I expected. There wasn’t nearly enough tomato.
The soup noodles at this restaurant are quite mild in flavor, so they might not be the best choice for those who prefer stronger tastes…
This restaurant is a bit like a cafeteria-style setup. They prepare large batches in advance and serve them in individual portions. It reduces waiting time, and the food tastes pretty good, definitely acceptable.
The clay pot dishes here are definitely the highlight.
I highly recommend the chicken drumstick and pork intestine pot, and the chestnut braised chicken pot you mentioned! The chicken is tender, the chestnuts are sweet and fragrant, and the broth is perfect with rice. You can easily finish a whole bowl!