Balkan Hof in Duisburg

Stepping into Restaurant Balkanhof, the heavy red brick and wooden beam structure instantly transports you to a 19th-century rural cellar. This Croatian restaurant, located in Duisburg-Huckingen, has established an unshakeable Balkan culinary reputation in the Ruhr region since the 1970s, renowned for its generous portions, the aroma of roasted meats, and heartfelt hospitality. Inside, the space exudes an old-world charm: heavy brick walls, exposed beams, and warm, golden light filtering through red velvet benches. Antique ironware and farm tools, copper pots, decorative plates, and paintings of shepherds adorn the walls, each corner seemingly telling a story of the intertwined industrial eras of Yugoslavia and the Ruhr. There's no trendy décor here, but rather a restaurant atmosphere where "time has slowly settled"; the aroma of roasted meat and vanilla butter fills the air upon entering, while the waiters greet regulars in a mix of fluent German and Balkan accents. A pepper grinder and paper mat are always provided on the table, and when the waiter smiles and hands over the menu, he'll remind you, "The meat here is freshly grilled, so it'll take a little time." That relaxed attitude is part of Balkanhof's charm. If you want to experience one of Duisburg's most welcoming restaurants, this is definitely worth a special trip. Restaurant Balkanhof is more than just a restaurant; it's a piece of history, a flavor where northern and southern Europe meet, and a forever bright corner in the city's memory.

Delicious food and friendly service. I would recommend it! 😊

The food is fantastic – very generous portions, which you can even have packed up if you can't finish them. Friendly, attentive waiters who also try to accommodate special requests. I find the atmosphere appealing, unless you happen to have guests behind you who are talking loudly on their phones (but the restaurant can't be held responsible for that). I think the price-performance ratio is reasonable, and I'll gladly come back. We used to go there with the whole family for every occasion, important and unimportant, but now it's just my mother and me, and we treat ourselves to it about once a week.

Absolutely fantastic! I was there ages ago and was very satisfied; it hasn't diminished in quality over the years.

Special plate “Balkan Holf” for 2 people. Various steaks and the variety of salad buffet are great.

Consistently very good food at moderate prices.

I really like it and the food tastes great 😋😋😋

Consistently excellent food and very good service.

Very nice restaurant, great value for money. Reservations are recommended as it's always very busy.

Excellent value for money! The food was plentiful and absolutely delicious! Plus, there was a salad bar, which is very rare to see.

Quaint, cozy atmosphere. Good value for money and highly recommended. The service is very friendly and accommodating.

We dined here today with a group of twelve and were completely satisfied. Even the reservation process was incredibly straightforward – the staff was friendly and helpful, and everything went perfectly. The table was beautifully set, and everything was very well-maintained and inviting. We especially enjoyed the salad bar: self-service with a truly wide selection of fresh ingredients. Everything was crisp, fresh, and attractively presented – not a single wilted leaf, not a single mushy vegetable. This is what makes salads enjoyable! The menu is extensive and offers something for everyone: numerous grilled meat dishes, schnitzel, steaks, pork medallions, as well as a good selection of vegetarian options. Children are also well catered for – there are suitable dishes for them. The staff's flexibility deserves special mention. Requests for changes, such as swapping fries for croquettes, were absolutely no problem. You can tell that the customer is the priority here. The restaurant's prices are very reasonable. Of course, you notice the price increases everywhere, but here the value for money is definitely right: large portions, excellent quality, and everything freshly prepared. The service was quick, attentive, and consistently friendly. They regularly checked if everything was alright or if we needed anything else – without being intrusive. In short: We felt very comfortable, the food was excellent, the service was great – and it certainly wasn't our last visit. We'll definitely be back!

Super friendly staff. Always available to answer questions. Top!

I loved it as a child. And now, at 45, I still enjoy going there. It's a real restaurant. Polite waiters. Great food. And everything is very well organized.

A homely atmosphere, a large selection, reasonable prices, a salad buffet, and very friendly service. We love coming here. In the summer, you can also enjoy sitting outside.

Once again, I was served lukewarm food. It took less than 10 minutes from ordering to serving. I do not recommend this restaurant!

Came twice already! Great atmosphere, food and service! Great menu if you like good local food

Great restaurant. Extensive selection of food and drinks. Delicious and generous portions at reasonable prices. Friendly, prompt, and helpful service. Highly recommended.

We were there with eight people. It was delicious, everything was served together, and drinks were regularly brought to us. The selection of main courses is extensive.

Very good food, top quality, friendly staff, everything was great.

I've been going to this restaurant for over two years, but on my last visit, the older staff were extremely rude and uncultured. I'll probably never go back.

The food was beautiful, but unfortunately the service was very bad. The waiter with glasses (older) was very rude, which spoiled the overall impression.

The food prices are amazing, comparable to steakhouses in Taiwan. Add in the all-you-can-eat salad bar, and it's a real bargain. The service is excellent, too, and they don't deliberately avoid speaking English just because you're a foreigner. 👍👍 Highly recommended👍👍👍

The traditional Balkan Hof stands for fine enjoyment across the board.

This was my first time at the Balkanhof in Duisburg, and it will definitely not be my only visit.

Good value for money. Always friendly staff.

Very friendly and delicious. Thank you!

Very tasty food at a fair price and very friendly staff.

Beautiful, quaintly decorated, and cozy restaurant. Very, very friendly servers. We were constantly asked if everything was okay or if we had any other requests. We appreciated that. The food was incredibly delicious. The steak was medium-rare, the schnitzel, the croquettes... everything was simply fresh, delicious, and cooked to perfection. We had the grilled platter for €47 – highly recommended. Parking is a bit limited, but we were lucky. Reservations are a good idea.

We had a very good meal here. The portions were very large, and the meat was very well prepared.

I can no longer stand that unfriendly waiter from before, eat quickly and leave immediately, I find it a pity

Always happy to go there, highly recommended!

Great food. Service! Highly recommended!

Delicious dishes, a pleasant atmosphere, and friendly staff. I highly recommend it.

I absolutely recommend this place. The ambiance, the service, and the food were excellent. Very tasty and plentiful. For me, the price/performance ratio is absolutely right. We will go back. My husband was absolutely thrilled.

Balkan restaurant in the south of Duisburg. Unfortunately, quality varies. The last time I visited, the pork was almost raw. Good salad bar. Very friendly staff. Nice ambiance.

All in all, a good restaurant. I'd be happy to come back.

Great food for a good price. The service could be a bit friendlier and more patient.

Very tasty food, very friendly service, great prices and portions!

The meat was excellent, the fries were crispy and delicious. The menu is so varied, you'll definitely want to come back! Very important: make a reservation in advance by phone!

So I was pleasantly surprised, the price-performance ratio was right, the food tasted great, we will be back

Ein gemütliches und beliebtes Restaurant. Immer wieder gerne.

Very inviting both inside and out.

There were three of us there, everyone ate the grilled meat, the meat was very dry, we left most of it

The food is good and plentiful, but the service is abysmal. Given that there are already several reviews criticizing the service, it's hard to understand why they haven't responded. I certainly won't be going there again.

Good food at a fair price! We were there at 10:30 PM and were served hot food! We'll be back again!

The food was good value for money, but unfortunately, the waiters weren't very friendly and seemed a bit gruff. The ambiance was moderately good, but the restaurant wasn't very well-ventilated, so it's better to find a seat outside.

There were five of us there. I had the potato steak with chanterelle mushrooms and fried potatoes, along with a salad from the salad bar. Then we ordered the trout "Müllerin" style, the grilled platter, schnitzel, and half-and-half. The food was great. Now this: We waited 25 minutes for our drinks, an hour for our food, and another half hour for our next drinks. How long does it take for an old beer to be tapped, and then without foam? Okay, it was packed. The place was very busy. I think the regulars got priority, even though we were there first. The others arrived much later and all had their drinks and food before us!!! I didn't think that was so good after all. 👎👎 The dessert was two scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream with fruit. It was good; it didn't have any ice crystals. The payment: each of us tipped the waiter between €3 and €4, but when we asked for it, there was still NO liquor. Conclusion: The service was abysmally bad. The food was good, no question. I've decided I won't be coming here again. The reason is that I paid €29 for the veal steak plus two Alt 🍺 beers and €45 for the ice cream, including the tip. Next time, I'll spend my hard-earned money somewhere else. No, thank you.

The food is very good and the staff is very friendly. The restaurant is clean and I've never had a stomachache. I eat there practically every week.

Very good food and the price is right and everything tastes good, nice ambience

I was at the Balkanhof again today after a long time. I was invited to a wedding reception with about 25 people. The ambiance was good, and the service was good and friendly. But then the food arrived. I had a grilled platter. I used to go to the Balkanhof often and was always satisfied with the food. Today, however, the food was simply terrible. The fries were soft and poorly seasoned. The meat rolls were dry and flavorless. The meat skewer only touched the grill briefly. The other meat was similar. It was greasy and tough without much flavor. I'm very disappointed, as I wasn't used to and didn't expect anything like this from this restaurant.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Balkanhof in Duisburg and I loved it! I would particularly like to highlight the excellent service, especially from the young waiter who may be the owner's son-in-law. His kindness and attentiveness made our visit a special experience. The Balkan cuisine in the Balkanhof is simply outstanding. The dishes are authentic, rich and incredibly tasty. The cevapcici and the steaks in particular are an absolute must. The quality of the food and the cozy atmosphere make the Balkanhof my favorite restaurant in Duisburg. I can recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experience excellent Balkan cuisine and first class service.

Highly recommended, always delicious, always friendly, always top notch!!

Always friendly. Always delicious. Good value for money.

The food was good, as was the salad buffet. However, the service wasn't that fast, and sitting outside isn't very comfortable if you're a bit sturdier.

Best Balkan farm in the whole area. Very, very tasty food at reasonable prices. My favorite jugo for 15 years

The outside is very nice; you can sit outside when the weather is nice. The interior is appealing, with a great salad bar, including a wide variety of oils. The prices are great, the portions are generous, and you'll be filling. The service was friendly. What bothered me a bit was that some of the food seemed and tasted like it came from the refrigerator or was a ready meal. The sauces tasted like they came from a package, just warmed up, or weren't homemade. You usually have to order the sauces separately for your dishes; otherwise, there's no sauce with the dish.

Very good food, but drinks could be checked more often. Parking is limited.

There were seven of us at the restaurant. I don't understand the criticism. It's not a Michelin-starred restaurant, but the value for money is excellent. The servers are friendly, the food is plentiful and tastes truly delicious. I recommend the restaurant. Just one tip: the children's plates are much too large. They should also offer smaller portions for smaller children. If you'd asked, it certainly would have been possible. The kitchen is very flexible.

The food was very good, but unfortunately our server was a bit rude that day. The restaurant is very nice, though.

I've been going to this restaurant for over 30 years. Highly recommended. The only thing that bothers me is that the same music has been playing in the background since the 90s.

A huge selection, super delicious food, and portions that are guaranteed to fill you up. The service is incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere is truly cozy—you just feel at home. We love coming back!

A typical "Balkan Hof" restaurant. We always enjoy coming back. Very good food. Friendly and attentive staff. We like going here.

nice good foodprocessor, good staff, Quick service

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Delicious food, generous portions, and friendly service The food at Balkan Hof is really good – deliciously seasoned, freshly prepared, and the portions are absolutely generous. The prices are reasonable, and the value for money is excellent. The service is friendly and fast, even when it's busy. You can sit inside or outside, depending on the weather – both are comfortable. Parking spaces directly at the restaurant are sometimes limited, but you can almost always find space nearby. Overall, a very solid restaurant with good Balkan cuisine. We'd be happy to come back!

The price is more than reasonable. You get a lot for your money. The food came out lightning fast. Almost too fast. It seemed to be pre-cooked. That would explain the somewhat dry meat. Maybe one less piece of meat, take 10 minutes more time, and improve the quality. There's a fresh salad from the buffet. I like it.

Very friendly staff. The food was delicious too!

What we ate here was absolutely top-notch...highly recommended!

It's a very nice restaurant. The food was okay, but what surprised my wife and me was how quickly the food arrived at our table. We ordered a grilled platter for two people, and the meat had little flavor and was lukewarm. Likewise, no piece of meat had any roasted aromas! This restaurant is very busy. However, we doubt the food is freshly prepared! The meat is probably pre-cooked and then briefly reheated when ordered! Room for improvement.

I visited again after two years. Unfortunately, the quality and taste of the minced meat dishes have declined.

I've known this place for 50 years, and the food has never been this bad.

Very tasty, and the food is served very quickly after ordering. You can put together your own salads before eating.

Very affordable, rustic ambience

A truly great place. Yesterday, the three of us sat outside because we were able to get a table. The service was quick, polite, and courteous. The food arrived in about 15 minutes, even though the place was absolutely packed, and we all loved it. We'll be back soon.

Consistently delicious for years.

Mega cool and atmospheric place. Great service, classic. Interesting menu and this display case with free extras is simply a fantastic idea. I recommend everyone to visit this place.

Good food. Delicious and fresh salad.

A good restaurant always recommended.

I've rarely been so pleasantly surprised. I stopped spontaneously and was rewarded with the best steak I've had in ages. The service is old-school and excellent. I wouldn't have guessed it from the name, but judging by the number of visitors, it's definitely an insider tip. The decor is harmonious. Highly recommended.

Very tasty food and a wide selection. The service was also very friendly.

My wife and I visited this restaurant for the first time, and I was very satisfied. The food was all of good to very good quality. My steak was one of the best I've ever had. The same goes for the asparagus my wife had. Be careful, the portions are more than generous! The staff is very friendly, and the dining room has a great atmosphere. We felt very comfortable and would gladly come back.

This restaurant exceeds all expectations. It's barely noticeable from the outside, but inside it's a surprise. The food is very good, and the portions are generous for the price. All in all, I can definitely recommend it.👌👌👌

Thumbs up in every way! My favorite restaurant, where I'm now greeted with hugs 👌

I've eaten there once before, and it was a lovely evening. The staff is really friendly, and the ambiance is rustic and quaint. I felt very comfortable. The food was fantastic, very tasty, and plentiful.

Nice restaurant with an outdoor area under the trees. Great service from all waiters. Fast and friendly. Very good food.

Yes, very nice typical Croatian food with ambience and delicious dishes from Croatia

Easter Monday. The store is completely booked again. We had a nice, quiet table on the ground floor, our waiter served us very friendly and quickly. The food was great as always, you don't need to say much about it. Thank you for the lovely evening

Absolutely great! Very quick and friendly service, the food is of exceptional quality. Very nice atmosphere, whether you sit outside in the garden or inside in the restaurant. Very good!

portions were huge and a salad bar was available. not too kid friendly but i was there with my kids. a bit pricy but honestly if you want to experience the typical german cuisine this is where to go

Well, if your standards aren't as high as you are and only the low price counts, you've come to the right place - we won't be coming back

Very good food, large selection

A visit to my birthplace, Duisburg, always includes a visit to the Balkan-Hof. Always consistent quality and friendliest service.

Were thrilled again. Good portions very tasty.

The "classic" Balkan restaurant with dishes such as cevapcici, raznjici or shashlik, but also Zurich Geschnetzeltes or Wienerschnitzel is available here. Everything was very tasty and a fresh salad from the buffet was included! Service and friendliness very good! Prices reasonable!

I can't understand the bad reviews. Waiters very friendly and very attentive. Didn't have to wait long and the food was excellent. We were asked if everything was OK and we checked to see if there were any drinks at the table. Fresh salad bar and good selection, including dressings. It's definitely not the last time I've been there, it's very good value for money. Top restaurant 👍

Great food, very very good quality. It should also be emphasized that there is a salad bar. The service was okay, although we could have asked for drinks a little more often. The ambience is a bit dated but it has heart and flair

The food was fantastic and filling 👍😍👍

Very tasty food with great value for money. Nice staff on site. Unfortunately it was difficult to reach someone by phone for a table.

Great restaurant with Slavic in Flare Large portions for fair prices. A little taste trip to the Balkans.

Great restaurant, obviously very well known in the region - during the week on a normal Tuesday there was already a lot of activity here in the afternoon. We ate very well and plentifully, the service was nice, the selection was huge. The interior is a bit old, but that's not a problem. You sit comfortably and it's just a pleasant atmosphere.