Norwegian Food: What to Try in Norway

Norway is renowned for its spectacular scenery, but its cuisine deserves just as much attention. From brunost at breakfast to delicious fish dishes at dinner, Norwegian food never stops surprising. Travelling through Norway, you quickly discover that eating here is about far more than fuel. It is a reflection of the country itself: honest, pure and deeply rooted in nature.

Breakfast

Stay at a Norwegian hotel and you will almost certainly be treated to an impressive breakfast buffet. Expect a wide selection of breads and toppings, alongside fresh fish, hot dishes, fruit, smoothies and sweet treats. And of course, no Norwegian breakfast would be complete without brunost, a brown cheese with a caramel-like flavour, served on a cracker, a slice of bread or a warm waffle. Norwegian hotel breakfasts are a true highlight, and widely regarded as among the best in the world.

Tip: At most Norwegian hotels, breakfast is included in the room rate. Norway even holds an annual competition for the best hotel breakfast in the country. Hotels such as Scandic Nidelven in Trondheim and Thon Hotel Lofoten in Svolvær have taken home the prize on more than one occasion. In smaller hotels the choice may be more limited, but the focus is always on quality local produce.

Staying in an apartment or travelling by campervan? A visit to a local bakery is highly recommended. Freshly baked bread or sweet cinnamon buns are always a good start to the day.

Lunch

Norwegians typically bring their matpakke from home, a simple packed lunch of open sandwiches. As a traveller, it is easy to adopt the same habit. Pop into a Norwegian supermarket such as Kiwi or Rema 1000 and put together your own packed lunch or picnic. A great option for budget travellers exploring Norway

Prefer to eat out? Many restaurants offer a good-value dish of the day, and street food is an affordable option too, particularly in the larger cities. In Bergen, Trekroneren is well worth a visit, famous for their legendary hotdogs. Heading to the capital Oslo, Mathallen is well worth a visit: a covered market packed with specialty shops, small restaurants and cafés serving both Norwegian specialities and international dishes.

Snacks

Travelling actively through Norway and spending time hiking in nature, you will need energy along the way. The ultimate classic is the Kvikk Lunsj, a Norwegian chocolate bar similar to a KitKat. The Kvikk Lunsj has been a Norwegian favourite for decades: no self-respecting hiker heads out without one in their rucksack.

Norwegian waffles are another highlight worth seeking out: light, airy and always made in the distinctive heart shape. They are served with syltetøy (a sweet jam made from red berries), brunost or sour cream. You will find them everywhere: in restaurants, cafés, on campsites or in mountain huts. A well-earned treat after an active morning in the great outdoors.

Dinner

Fish and seafood feature prominently on the Norwegian menu. A fish soup is always a good choice, particularly on cooler days. Salmon is perhaps Norway's best-known export product, and whether baked or smoked, it is absolutely worth trying. Cod-based dishes such as lutefisk, boknafisk and tørrfisk also appear regularly on menus. And for something truly special, local delicacies such as king crab, a speciality particularly associated with Northern Norway, or fresh prawns are well worth seeking out.

Norway is equally rewarding for meat lovers. Lamb and reindeer are popular choices, and vegetarian options are increasingly easy to find, especially in the larger cities.

Restaurant Tips

Looking for traditional Norwegian food? These are our recommendations:

Arctandria in Tromsø: freshly caught fish and seafood served in a relaxed, informal setting.
Bryggen Tracteursted in Bergen: West Norwegian cuisine with a modern twist, right in the heart of Bryggen.
Baklandet Skydsstation in Trondheim: a charming café in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, known for its excellent fish soup.

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