What's the most popular German food?!

I agree with those that say if he's coming from Germany, he'd appreciate food from your culture - after all, he's visiting you.

However, if this is a friend who's German, but lives where you live, then perhaps he'd like something that you make special for him that is German. A special meal like rouladen (http://www.quick-german-recipes.com/beef… and potato dumplings (http://www.quick-german-recipes.com/pota… and red cabbage (http://www.quick-german-recipes.com/red-… would surely be appreciated. There are lots of quick and easy recipes at the site below.

How do I know? Well, I was born in Germany, but don't live in Germany (and haven't for 50 years). I'm totally touched when I go to my friend's house and she makes me something special - a German meal.

However, when I go to another country, I want to eat whatever that culture eats.

http://www.quick-german-recipes.com

well, first of all, there is no most popular german food, because every area in germany has its own specialities. and apart from regional specialities, we eat the same things as people in other western societies. in a globalized world, certain food doesn′t relate to just one country anymore, those times are long gone. what one prefers depends on everyone′s individual taste.
what people in the US consider typical german food, and think we eat it every day, was maybe popular about 50 or 60 years ago. today there is such a large variety of so many foods and dishes which simply makes it impossible to guess what an individual person may like most. so don′t stick on stereotypical food, it would be rather awkward and unimaginative than much appreciated. that′s like assuming all americans eat nothing but hot dogs and burgers every day and serving it to every american who visits germany.

native german

When your friend visits you he will probably want to experience your family and what it is like to be with you and your likes and dislikes. Sometimes when we are catered to as visitors we become uncomfortable. So, best to make your friend, who has traveled far to see you and your family, feel like he is part of the family and welcome him with meals which are your family's specialties. Part of the fun of traveling is eating the regional food. That is why most people travel.

When I was younger I loved to go to my neighbor's house for dinner and have the mother's specialty meals. She made wonderful fried chicken. My parent's had a friend who would have our family over for their family's special Clambake every summer. Now I am an adult I still have these memories of family and their special family recipes.

You could ask his preference once he arrives and I am sure he does not want to eat "German" food from the US.

Anthony Bourdain

Yeah, no offense, but your German friend is not going to like to eat Americanized, watered down German food. He eats that all the time at home. Make him something regional to your area, like I bet he'd be stoked to eat local seafood or even something simple and basic, like a roast chicken with root vegetables and apple pie for dessert.

If you want to impress him with your knowledge of German food, then I agree with Sauerbraten Spaetzle, and Rotkohl (red cabbage). The dishes can all be somewhat tricky, so you might want to practice them first. They are not for the inexperienced cook.
If you're not an experienced cook, then I agree that your guest may much prefer to see some of the dishes that you would normally eat and prepare at home.

If you visit a friend in Japan for one day and the person fed you burgers, would you be thrilled? How would you feel if you were fed pot roast while visiting China? I don't know about you but I'd rather have local foods instead of foods from home. I do not need to travel this far to eat foods that I eat on a regular basis. Besides, those 'foods from home' might not be as good as the foods from home. Show the person something else please.

I agree with James W.
If I were visiting another country, I want to eat what their food is, not what I eat all the time.
Prepare for your friend the food that you always get rave reviews from others you've fed. You simply will not go wrong.

Unless you count beer, schnitzel, which is basically fried chicken. But "Wienerschnitzel" is a Texas/California hot dog stand chain.

Sausages!

Take your friend to Der Wiener Schnitzel and have German chocolate cake for dessert. Hope this helps

sauerbraten, spatzle und rotekohl

sauerbraten, spatzle