The first thing you notice when you walk in the door is that this place smells awesome. I could just camp out and smell the smoked meats all day long. There’s a handful of German and Bavarian prepared goods by the door, and there’s freshly baked bread on rolling carts(grab a loaf with the provided towel and bag it yourself). But the thing that will catch your attention is the deli case and the rack of dried, cured, and smoked sausages and bacon behind the counter. Much of the deli cuts are made on site. Practically all of the sausages are. They cure and smoke their own bacon, too, and slice to order. The bacon smells incredible — like eyes roll back in your head good. I grabbed some Blutwurst(blood sausage), a loaf of Baviarian-style white bread, a jar of extra spicy Dusseldorf mustard, a half dozen Vienna-style frankfurters, a package of Weisswurst, and a pound of thick-cut bacon. Ran about $ 30. Which is impressive for fresh, locally made specialty deli. Binkert’s goes on my regular rotation list. No question. If you want old-school delicatessen, you need to make a trip. Note: not easy to see from the road until you’re almost past it. They’re right next to the Royal Farms gas station. Another note: IMPORTANT — they are cash-only. Or personal check(if you still use those). NOPLASTIC!
D. K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Potomac, MD
I never visited their store but I buy their products(Bratwurst, Nuernberger, Landjaeger etc.). Since I grew up in Germany so I can testify that this is as authentic as it gets and very flavorful. The prices are not bad for the quality. I wish they would consider selling their products at the Potomac or Bethesda farmer’s market. Balducci in Bethesda carries some of their products.
Ben H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD
As a German native I felt like I had to visit this place. The location is a bit awkward out by Essex. At first I was a bit disappointed by how hard the pretzel I got was even though they were made right. The meat products however are amazing! I already ate almost half my sliced Leberkäse in the parking lot and the liverwurst is better and cheaper than«gourmet» whole foods’. They have a good variety of meats and the place has a very small business feel to it.
Michele W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Woodbine, MD
This place has a great variety of fresh and smoked German sausages, frankfurters, weiners, etc. The prices are reasonable.
Eric S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Pulaski Industrial Area, Baltimore, MD
This was my first time here of soon to be many more visits. The lady behind the counter was very helpful and friendly and I ultimately chose to go with the fresh brats this time upon her recommendation. Prices were decent and after I went home and cooked them properly, they were some of the best I have had. Definitely reminiscent of true German sausages I have had in my travels. I cannot wait to go back and try their other selections.
Bertand E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Street, MD
Hands down the finest and most ethnic German deli from D.C. to Philly. They make all of their own sausages, wursts, weinners and various lunchmeats. I spent a few years in W. Germany and know the difference. They are the real deal. Try the weisewurst, a delicate white sausage or any of the brats. Ask to sample some smoked sausage while you’re there. And if you’re brave… try a slice of the blood wurst with tongue. Best Ive had since living in Germany.
Lauren G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Baltimore, MD
I’m enjoying finding all of the ethnic shops around town. This time I stumbled upon a strictly German butcher. So now I know where to buy authentic bratwurst. Everything is $ 5.50lb. Pretty simple. And I heard a rumor they get authentic pretzel bread in on Fridays. I’ll be investigating this and will update my review.
Andrew M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Baltimore, MD
When the Fräulein behind the butcher counter came out of the back with a huge side of smoked pig and custom cut inch thick pork chops, cupids arrow pierced the stomach. Where had this bavarian swine goddess been all of my life? The«kassler» smoked chops are an incredibly tender hammy romance. Smoked sausage rings of all shapes and sizes hang on huge drying racks behind the counter. Ja, das ist gut! Binkerts smoked meat olfactory overload clouds decision making. Too chicken to dive into the varietals of head cheese and liverwurstesque lunch meats, focus turns to the amazing fresh sausage display. Dazed and confused by the tempting huge sausage selection, lean on the expertise of the sweet and patient Germanic meat expert. Please pick out two of each of your favorites. No more. No, more. You know it is time to stop when she shoots the incredulous look and asks«Ven is your party?» Get your pork on at Binkerts, macht schnell!
Chris G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Baltimore, MD
There are a few places I go in Baltimore to get quality foods. Binkert’s is one of my favorites. You will literally smell the smoked foods from the road as you’re driving up. They smoke in the back and the store is small with a few items on the shelves and coolers along with the deli counter. What I like: 1. Their hot dogs are awesome. We used to only get the frankfurters(long/skinny) but not prefer the shorter/fatter version. They cook up great on the grill. 2. Their lunch meats are amazing especially the bologna, salami and smoked pork. They have a lot of other traditional German items that others have mentioned but I usually stick to a few things. 3. German mustard in the glass container that looks like a small glass with a handle is the best I’ve ever had. I cannot use any other mustard now. 4. Their jerky hanging to the left behind the deli counter is really awesome! Never tried their bacon but it looks amazing so gotta try some time. 5. The bread they get in(I think from Canada) is really good. 6. Their workers are very nice and will let you try a piece of lunch meat before you commit to buy it. What I don’t like: NOTHING TIP: They are cash or check ONLY p. s. Other specialty places I recommend are: Prima Foods(Greek — awesome cheese and olives), Trinacria(Italian but have not been there in awhile. Got turned off by one of the workers awhile ago), Punjab(Indian — great selection of spices) and Krakus Deli(Polish). My wife goes to some Russian stores on Randallstown Road but I could tell you the name.
Christopher F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Havre de Grace, MD
Binkert’s is the best meet market around by far! They are also the nicest people you could meet! Stop in and check the place out!
Modibo S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Baltimore, MD
I am reviewing the sausages from Binkert’s only, not the shop itself. These are possibly the best German sausages I have ever had — and I’ve had the pleasure of having versions in Cleveland, Chicago, Madison, and Germany itself. Binkert’s offers a selection of wurst to be envied — brats, of course, but also weisswurst(veal), bauernwurst(smoky!), nürnberger(w/marjoram), knackwurst(mild), and debriziner(spicy). Oh, and don’t forget the frankfurters — footlongs — which are definitely the BEST«hot dogs» I have ever eaten. These things are the real deal. An impressive selection. And according to an article on the place in the Baltimore Sun, the owner sources his meat(at least his pork) from Amish and Mennonite farmers in PA because he feels the quality of other meats is too low for his wurst. Once you’ve had Binkert’s, those Johnsonville brats will never taste quite as good again!
Nick r.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Baltimore, MD
Awesome German butcher shop with real deal sausages from the homeland. The bratwurst that we got were tasty but a little salty. The smaller nurnburger sausages were excellent. Prices are fair and ingredients are clearly labeled on all meat products. We were trying to avoid sodium nitrite and it was clearly labeled which sausages had it and which didn’t. We stocked up on vacuum-sealed packages of weiswurst and bratwurst for the freezer. They also have good lunch meats as well and a selection of very German condiments(sauerkraut, mustards, little pickled thingys). It’s a bit of a hike from central Baltimore City, but we combined a trip to Binkert’s with a trip to Holabird Sports — they’re less than a mile apart.