DenmarkWhat to eat in Denmark: top 10 dishes
Traveling to Denmark? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.
01Smørrebrød
Smørrebrød, smørbrød "butter bread" (Norwegian), or smörgås [ˈsmœrˌɡoːs] "butter goose" (Swedish), is a traditional open-faced sandwich in the cuisines of Denmark, Norway and Sweden that usually consists of a piece of buttered rugbrød (a dense, dark rye…
Travel tip Eaten mainly at lunch, in traditional lunch restaurants and cafés, on rye bread with toppings like fish, meat or egg. Eat it with a knife and fork.
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02Glogg
Glögg, gløgg or glögi is a spiced, often alcoholic, mulled wine, or spirit of Swedish origin. It is a traditional Nordic drink during winter, especially around Christmas.
Travel tip A spiced mulled wine drunk in winter and especially in the Christmas season, often with almonds and raisins. Look for it at Christmas markets and cozy cafés.
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03Frikadeller
A Frikadelle is a rounded, flat-bottomed, pan-fried meatball of ground meat, often likened to the German version of meatballs. The origin of the dish is unknown.
Travel tip Danish meatballs are a common home-cooked dinner and a staple on traditional lunch menus, served with potatoes and gravy or on rye bread. They are also eaten cold in sandwiches.
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04Rødgrød
Rødgrød, Rote Grütze, or Rode Grütt, meaning "red groats", is a sweet berry pudding from Denmark and Northern Germany.
Travel tip A red berry pudding typically served in summer, usually with cream or milk. Foreigners find the name hard to pronounce, so point to the menu if you want to order it.
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05Choklate ball
The oatmeal ball or the chocolate ball is a type of unbaked pastry that is a popular Danish and Swedish confectionery.
Travel tip A no-bake treat common in bakeries and cafés, popular with children. It is typically a quick snack with coffee.
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06Kransekake
Kransekage, kransekake (Norwegian) or kransakaka (Icelandic) is a traditional Danish and Norwegian confection, often eaten on special occasions in Scandinavia. In English, the name means 'wreath cake'.
Travel tip A ring cake tower made of almond, traditionally served at celebrations like New Year's Eve and weddings. Bakeries sell it around holidays.
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07Risalamande
Risalamande is a traditional Danish dessert served at Christmas dinner and julefrokost (Christmas lunch). It is made of rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, sugar, vanilla, and chopped almonds. It is served cold with either warm or cold cherry sauce.
Travel tip A Christmas rice pudding with whipped cream and almonds, served with cherry sauce. One whole almond is hidden in it, and the finder gets a small prize.
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08Butter cookie
Butter cookies, also known as Danish butter cookies, are a type of cookie or biscuit originating in Denmark consisting of butter, flour, and sugar. They are similar to shortbread biscuit.
Travel tip Often sold in decorative tins, and a popular souvenir and gift. In Denmark they are also served with coffee at home.
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09Øllebrød
Øllebrød (lit. 'beer bread') is a traditional Danish dish. It is a porridge or thick bread soup made of sourdough rye bread (rugbrød) and beer (often hvidtøl). These ingredients give it a slightly tangy, caramelly, full taste.
Travel tip A traditional bread-and-beer porridge, mostly eaten at home rather than in restaurants. It is an old-fashioned dish and less common today.
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10Bøfsandwich
A bøfsandwich (lit. 'steak sandwich'), is the classic Danish version of a hamburger. It contains the hamburger elements of a cooked ground beef patty placed inside a sliced bread roll.
Travel tip A classic fast-food style sandwich found at snack bars and grills, with a patty, fried onions and pickled cucumber. A quick and cheap meal.
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