The city of Oslo is not just breathtakingly beautiful with forests and hills of woodland enveloping it, but it is also a true paradise for foodies. If desserts and anything sweet makes you go weak in the knees, we bet you'll love this city even more. Yes, there are popular posh eateries you can dine in. And there are also charming little street vendors selling the best authentic Norwegian food at surprisingly reasonable prices. A complete steal, if you ask us. Here is a list of some must-not-be-missed street food you must try in Oslo. At all costs!
1. Fiskeboller (Fish Ball)
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Fiskeboller, or fish ball, is a classic Norwegian dish - a staple food for the natives. It is made from finely minced white fish (typically cod, haddock, or pollock caught in ice-cold ocean waters), flour, eggs, and milk. Sometimes shrimp and curry powder are added to give an exotic twist to the dish.
Fiskeboller is served with thick white sauce, steamed potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. On their own, these fish balls tend to be rather bland in taste. For a richer flavor, add it to stews and fish soups. Fiskeboller is also called fish dumplings due to their resemblance to dumplings.
Popular joints: Fiskeriet Youngstorget
2. Potato lefse (Flatbread)
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Potato lefse is a soft and thinly rolled-out Norwegian-style flatbread made from mashed potatoes and flour. It is a traditional food of Oslo and one of the most popular snacks in the Scandinavian countries. It looks much similar to French crêpes but tastes like baked potatoes richly buttered.
You can have it on its own with appropriate sweet/ savory toppings or as a side dish - as an evening snack or for breakfast - whichever suits you. Potato lefse with ice cream and jams make one of the most scrumptious desserts. No wonder it’s a traditional Christmas treat. You can find them almost in any roadside snack bar and coffee shop across Oslo.
Popular joints: Supermarkets
3. Norwegian Burger
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Hamburgers or burgers are not the original snacks of Oslo. But Norwegians have their own version of the snack. The Norwegian burger is made from finely chopped onions, pickled beets, sweet gherkin, capers, ground beef/ salmon/, and pilsner beer. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed, flattened out, and fried. And finally, sandwiched between two buns.
Definitely not the usual burger recipe found in other countries. As unfamiliar as it sounds, take a bite of the snack during your stay in Oslo because ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’’.
Popular joints: Way Down South, Illegal Burger, BFF Diner, Dognvill, Kverneriet
4. Svele (Batter-based Cake)
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Svele, also known as Lapp, is a Norwegian b-atter-based cake made with kefir, egg, sugar, wheat flour, and butter. Though its texture, shape, and size resemble American pancakes, the two are quite different. Unlike pancakes, one of the healthiest breakfast foods, Svele is much sweeter and usually eaten as a ‘Fika’ or ‘coffee break ritual’ between meals or as an afternoon treat.
Also, it is usually taken alone or with fruits, ice cream, or Norwegian brown cheese, not maple syrup or honey. But that is not to say you can’t. You’ll find a couple of food trucks and street snack bars that serve Svele with sweet buttercream, sour cream, brown cheese, jams, honey, syrup, fresh berries, etc. So, relish it how you like!
Popular Joints: Svelehuset
5. Brown Cheese Ice cream
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Brown cheese ice- cream is unmistakably Norway's most famous street food - a must-taste if you visit the country. Norway's brown cheese or Brunost is originally not cheese, but whey prepared from goat milk. The whey is boiled for long hours until it is caramelized and tastes salty. The salty taste then complements the sweetness of the ice cream in an eccentrically delicious way.
Have the ice cream as toppings for the heart-shaped Norwegian waffles. You'll realize that the two, eaten at once, taste heavenly - nothing like the rest.
Popular Joints: Haralds Vaffel, Albert Bistro
6. Norwegian Waffles
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The perfect snack if you are out - strolling along the streets of Oslo with your love. Norwegian waffles charmingly take the shape of a heart. However, its shape is not the only uniqueness of these waffles. It is sweeter, thinner, and softer than the American version. Typically, the natives do not take them for breakfast but as a snack or even a dessert considering their sweetness. But if you wish, you can start your day with this delightful snack for a similarly sweet and beautiful day.
This snack is so popular that you’ll find it in almost every street snack bar in Oslo. Slather it with butter, strawberry jam, sour cream, and strawberry jam for a tangy and sweet flavor. If you want to be a true Norwegian for the day, have it with the famed brown cheese. You can even go American and relish it with maple syrup. Not the typical Norwegian way of enjoying waffles but no less delicious, nonetheless!
Popular joints: HaraldsVaffel
7. Tacos
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Mexican by birth. Nonetheless, one of the most popular street foods in Oslo. Tacos are a traditional Mexican food consisting of a tortilla with beef (or any meat) and veggies filling. It is then topped with chili sauce and then folded around the filling. If you want it bland, you can skip the chili sauce.
Popular joints: Oslo Street Food
8. Lutefisk (Dried Cod)
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If you are in Oslo during Christmas, you are definitely in for a treat. Norwegians love fishes of all kinds, prepared in various ways. And during the Christmas festive season, the streets of Oslo light up with almost every snack bar serving mouthwatering Lutefisk or lye fish - Norway's traditional Christmas food.
It is a gelatinous delicacy made from stockfish. Dried stockfish (usually cod, ling, haddock, or pollock) are brined in lye, soaked, and then steamed flaked. Traditionally, it is served with side dishes such as minced bacon, meatballs, boiled potatoes, green peas, mustard, and even warm cream or butter sauce. Norwegians also relish Lutefisk with Lefse. For a more exotic taste, pair it with a glass of beer, and you'll keep asking for more.
Popular joints: Gamle Raadhus Restaurant, Engebret Cafe, Vulkanfisk
9. Pickled Herring
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Another of Norway's specialty and holiday delicacies is the Pickled herring. It is prepared with tomato, mustard, and sherry and served with rye bread. Aside from its rich flavor, it is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, making it the perfect street food to savor if you're looking for something yummy yet balanced and nutritious.
Popular Joints: Fiskeriet Youngstorget
10. Pølsevogn or Polse (Sausage)
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One of the most common street food, not just in Oslo but everywhere across the world, is Pølsevogn (Polse) or sausage. It is one of Norway's favorite snacks, and you'll run into vendors selling the delicacy at every turn of the corner. It is usually served with other side dishes and toppings like ketchup, mustard, cheese, crispy onions, or pickles. Have it with a bun, and bulk it up with prawn or potato salad as a Norwegian does.
Not only is Polse an iconic food of Norway, but one of the cheapest and most widely available too. So, there's no reason you wouldn't give it a shot during your stay in the city.
Popular joints: Syverkiosken
Whether it's their traditional or another country's delicacy with a Norwegian twist, the street foods of Oslo never fail to delight tourists. But don't just take our word. Grab a couple of the food items listed above and try them yourself. And you'll understand why they found their places here on the list.
