As I carried out in my blog article “Culture shock on a plate” before, it’s fun trying something new and discovering new Swabian favorite dishes. But sometimes you just feel the need to push yourself back home and enjoy the taste of your home country. This guide shows where you can eat like at home or cook your own country’s food with ingredients from the many international stores.
Eating like at home (and sometimes better) …
Cook with friends: The cheapest, funniest, and most international dinner party you’ll ever host. Everyone brings one dish from their country and boom, instant world buffet in your WG kitchen. Pro tip: label allergens so your Italian friend doesn’t cry after accidentally eating chili. YouTube chef mode: Don’t know how to cook? No excuses. YouTube is basically a free culinary school. I went from “burns water” to “semi-decent curry chef” in one semester. Try it—it’s cheaper than Lieferando.
German BBQ: Forget fancy grills. Here, a tiny disposable grill plus a pack of sausages = official German summer. Bring potato salad, some buns, and you’ve unlocked level 100 “local student.” Temples = mini India: Feeling homesick? Stuttgart has both a Gurudwara and the Vinayaka temple. You’ll find community vibes, delicious langar or prasad, and sometimes even that comforting smell of chai that instantly feels like home.
Restaurants worth exploring
Indian: Biryani so good you’ll forget you’re in Germany. Vietnamese: Fresh summer rolls and that magical pho broth. Thai: Mango chicken rice = happiness on a plate. Indonesian: Fried rice with a spicy kick. Turkish: Baklava sweeter than your crush’s texts. Döner shops: The unofficial student fuel of Stuttgart.
Chinese: Hakka noodles, wok-fried and wallet-friendly. Milaneo Mall & Stadtmitte: Food paradise under one roof. From McDonald’s and KFC (yes, sometimes you just need fries at midnight) to sushi, burgers, ramen, or bubble tea—it’s all here. Basically, Milaneo is where diets go to die, but in the happiest way.
Shopping tips (a.k.a. where students actually live)…
Aldi Süd & Kaufland: These two are basically student HQs. Need cheap pasta, frozen pizza, or snacks for an all-nighter? Aldi is your hero. Want a supermarket where you can find everything from bread to Bluetooth speakers? Kaufland is your next home. Seriously, half of student life happens between its aisles.
Rewe: The “posh cousin” of Aldi. Prices are a bit higher, but the food looks fresher, the stores smell nicer, and—bonus—you can shop late (some are open till midnight). Perfect for that 11 p.m. “oops I forgot milk” moment.
Indian store (Stuttgart): The lifeline for curry cravings and spice emergencies. Recently, they even opened a small food stall—so now you can grab fresh samosas, papdi chaat, or a steaming cup of masala chai while shopping. I went “just for cumin seeds” and left with a plate of chaat and a happy stomach.
Khan Market: No, not Delhi—this one in Stuttgart! Packed with South Asian spices, lentils, and pickles. It’s the place where you suddenly realize you can cook like at home.
Tedi: The fun, cheap store for decorations, stationery, and random stuff you didn’t know you needed. Enter for a pen, leave with fairy lights, a giant mug, and Halloween napkins. Don’t ask.
Action: Not as famous among students, but definitely worth it. Think of it as Tedi’s cousin—household goods, cleaning stuff, decorations. Honestly, sometimes it even beats IKEA for small finds.
IKEA: Yes, furniture exists. But let’s be real: Most students go for hot dogs and soft-serve ice cream, not the shelves. I once left with zero furniture but three hot dogs. Priorities.
Final bite
You see, there is no need your family and friends send you packages full of good stuff from back home. Everything you desire for is ready to be picked up in regional stores just around the corner. But think about this survival tip: Never—never—forget to buy groceries on Saturday!
Satya
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