The ketwurst is a form of hot dog originated from the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Its preparation involves the heating of a special Bockwurst, larger than regular hot dogs, in water.

A long roll is pierced by a hot metal cylinder, which creates an appropriately sized hole.

The Ketwurst was invented at the State Gastronomical Research Center — like the Grilletta, a hamburger-like meatball-in-a-bun — around 1977–1978.

At that time, restaurants at the Berlin TV Tower were incapable of handling the large numbers of visitors, so a take-away food was needed.