ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Denmark
Five dishes to try in Denmark, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Denmark
Smørrebrød
Open sandwiches on dense rye bread with herring, pork, eggs or fish.
How to have it: A lunch tradition; eat herring first, then fish, then meat, with a cold beer and aquavit.
Stegt flæsk
Crisp fried pork belly with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce.
How to have it: Voted the national dish; old-style Copenhagen restaurants serve it all you can eat.
Frikadeller
Pan-fried pork and veal meatballs.
How to have it: Served hot with potatoes and gravy, or cold on rye bread for lunch.
Rød pølse
Bright red boiled sausage served with mustard, ketchup and fried onions.
How to have it: Buy one from a pølsevogn hot-dog cart; drink a chocolate milk with it like the locals.
Danish pastry Wienerbrød
Flaky laminated pastry with custard, fruit or cinnamon.
How to have it: Bakeries open early; try a kanelsnegl (cinnamon swirl) or spandauer with coffee.
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Questions
What food is Denmark famous for?
Smørrebrød (open sandwiches on dense rye bread with herring, pork, eggs or fish) comes first on our list, followed by Stegt flæsk, Frikadeller, Rød pølse and Danish pastry.
What is the national dish of Denmark?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Denmark is Smørrebrød: open sandwiches on dense rye bread with herring, pork, eggs or fish. A lunch tradition; eat herring first, then fish, then meat, with a cold beer and aquavit.
Which dishes in Denmark are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Danish pastry. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Denmark?
Rød pølse (bright red boiled sausage served with mustard, ketchup and fried onions).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.