Restaurants in Munich and Nuremberg

I've been to both the Spatenhaus and Augustiner Stammhaus ... both close to the Marienplatz ... I had the schweinhaxen in both places (along with their dunkel beer) so can't comment on the schnitzel or sauerbraten but I'd bet they are also very good ... we're also going to the Christmas markets in both cities so will be watching for any Nuremberg recommendations as well ..

I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions for the "best of" restaurants and where the four-star pigs' knuckles are. But we stick to finding places close to the sights we are visiting any given day, even if they are touristy and cliché. I dont know where the Christmas markets are, but in central Munich, if you want tourist-friendly movie-setting Bavarian experience, go to the Hofbräuhaus (a giant beer hall) or the restaurant in the Rathaus (city hall) at the Marienplatz under the Glockenspiel which you will undoubtedly see. Other restaurants across the Marienplatz looked appealing. Vendors and restaurants around the Viktualien Markt are worth checking out as well.

Nürnberg: Weinhaus Steichele, Knorrstrasse (good wine list, refined Franconian kitchen; reservation recommended); beer hall Bruderherz, Luitpoldstrasse; Literaturhaus (opposite the Bruderherz); Provenza (Hauptmarkt, Italian); Sangam (Indian; Königsstrasse, near tourist info). I'd avoid the overpriced Bratwurst-somethings around the Hauptmarkt (main market) and the beer hall on the Königsstrasse, which is the only real tourist trap in Nuremberg.

I do not want to be a party crasher but neither Wiener Schnitzel nor Sauerbraten is authentic in Munich or Nuremberg :-) Wiener Schnitzel is Austrian and Sauerbraten is German. But of course you can find it all over Germany and it might taste delicious in Munich and Nuremberg.

But when you are in Nuremberg please try in any case a Franconian Schäufele - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A4ufele and of course the Nuremberg sausages. I like the 'Bratwursthäusle bei St. Sebald' but maybe because I'm a tourist in Nuremberg as well. I think English menue is availabe on their webpage.

Munich well of course can eat everything but typical dishes are these ones: http://www.muenchen-touristeninformation.de/Typische_Muenchner_Speisen.htm Sorry only found in German. Everthing translated into English is full of stereotypes.
I'm hardly eating Bavarian/German in a restaurant but when I'm doing so I like the below ones:
Gaststätte Großmarkthalle - Iconic for its White Sausage breakfast
Augustiner Bräustuben Landsberger Str. 19 - best beer in town and locals as well as tourists
Zum Brünnstein - many locals

Have fun and enjoy your meals :-)

Years ago we had a nice dinner at Nassauerkeller In Nurnberg. If you go, even to check it out, watch your step when you enter because there is an immediate step down, followed by more steps down. I had the Nurnberg sausages with sauerkraut.

Just FYI, those that know famous Munich Bavarian Chef Alfons Schuhbeck, he was sentenced to 3 years & two months in prison for tax evasion yesterday. Not sure what has or will happen with the restaurants. 4.4 million Euros unreported. Apparently, he made a confession. He is 73.

"Just FYI, those that know famous Munich Bavarian Chef Alfons Schuhbeck, he was sentenced to 3 years & two months in prison for tax evasion yesterday."

Yesterday I was downtown Munich at my favorite Italian restaurant and we were passing Schuhbeck's Südtroler Stuben - was still open. But we were also talking about how this will end. Whatever I will not miss him.

EDIT: But ha maybe this is interesting for some Munich visitors. I'm not sure if you know that downtown near the Hofbräuhaus there is an operating flour mill. They are not only selling all kind of flour in a little shop but also they are having a bakery nearby. And in fact yesterday (I was buying flour) I've noticed that they are offering mill tours. https://www.hofbraeuhaus-kunstmuehle.de/

they are having a bakery nearby

Adding to the must places to go! ... I love me some German baked goods :-)

The food was pretty decent at Hofbrauhaus when I went and they had all the classics. It is a pretty unique experience with the bands and crowds and the sheer scale of the place. There are definitely better Bavarian meals to be had at fancier places, but I'd still try and fit it in if you have more than one night.

I spent 4 years living just outside Nuremberg and I've been back a dozen times. Here are a few suggestions:

Trodelstube - which is a wine bar with food in the Trodelmarkt island.
Augustiner Zur Schranke which is up by the Albrect Durer Haus. (I have a friend who prefers Zum Albrect Durer Haus, which is across the street.)
Restaurant Bergwachter - On the main walk to the castle. This is where the city watch used to hang out 400 years ago.

Bratwursthäusle bei St. Sebald (mentioned above) is probably the best of the "tourist" places.
Restaurant Heilig-Geist-Spital Nürnberg is over-rated.
If you really want to find a hole in the wall on your own go south of the Bahnhof (through the tunnel) and walk around. There are dozens of much less expensive places in that neighborhood.

In my opinion the best places to get Nuremberger wurst is at an Imbiss (think food truck but permanent). Look for the ones where the students go, they know. try a Currywurst. (In Frankonia another specialty is Weisswurst, which you get at a sit down place, and never after 1pm.)

Another good term to remember is Doner, which is a snack stand, usually with gyros and kebabs.

In Munich try the Augustiner Klosterwirt which is between the Hunting and Fishing Museum and the Frauenkirche.
Also Schneider Brauhaus - much better and more authentic than the Hofbrauhaus.
Caffe Vinica north of the Residenz is very good for coffee and pastry (and more).
TIVO in the English Garden was good last time I was there (it's been a while).

In Munich I usually hit the Victual Market before lunch and eat off whatever I find there until later. Remember many Germans still eat their main meal around noon.

Restaurant Bergwachter

Restaurant Burgwächter ;) A similiar one down the Bergstrasse (not: Burgstrasse, which runs parallel) is "Die Hütt'n".

Bratwursthäusle bei St. Sebald (mentioned above) is probably the best of the "tourist" places.

May be, but it's really touristic, like the Bratwurst-Rösle next door. For a more authentic expierience I'd try "Zum Gulden Stern", Zirkelschmiedsgasse 26, mostly frequented by locals (since it is 5 minutes out of the touristic paths); reservation recommended; waitresses' command of English is mostly poor. BTW, the "Steichele" mentioned above has also decent "Bratwoerschtla".

"Zum Gulden Stern"

Thanks I will try this next time.

Maybe not really what has been asked for but what I liked most in Nuremberg was Alexander Herrmann's (a famous German chef) bistro Fränk'ness - Königstraße 70. I love the modern interpreted Franconian dishes he is selling for a very reasonable price.

Of course one could also visit his gourmet restaurant Imperial - Königstraße 70 as well. Still on my agenda.

I will second sla019's recommendation for Literaturhaus. I ate there four times while I was in Nuremberg this year and loved every meal. I had brunch one morning, which was delicious, one lunch and then two evening meals. The food was very good (including the wiener schnitzel ) and they have a large menu with lots of options. The service was also good and after my second visit there, they recognized me and led me to a good table. Many locals eat there - one day I was sitting next to a group of women who have their book club there.

Taking notes as we will be in Nurnberg and Munich in April and we love food.

Thank you all for the great recommendations. Can't wait for the Christmas markets and some delicious food!