What to eat in Norway: traditional Norwegian food and drink
Norwegian food is built on fish, game, potatoes, dairy and berries, shaped by a cold climate and a long coast. The best-known dishes are salmon, brown cheese and meatballs, but the pattern matters more: open sandwiches at lunch, seafood from the harbor and a big shared table at Christmas. Eat fish near the coast and you will eat well.
The short answer
- Order this first
- Salmon in any form, or kjøttkaker, the meatballs in gravy. Add a slice of bread with brown cheese.
- When people eat
- Breakfast and lunch are often cold open sandwiches. Dinner is early, often around 17:00 to 19:00.
- Tipping
- Service is included. Rounding up or leaving about 10 percent for good table service is common but not expected.
- Where to eat well
- Use the city food guides for named places. In Norway, look for fish markets on the coast, bakeries for pastries and a lunch deal at traditional restaurants.
What to eat in Norway
- KjøttkakerMeatball patties in brown gravy, served with boiled potatoes, cabbage and lingonberry jam. A staple of home cooking and traditional restaurants.Nationwide
- LaksNorwegian salmon, served smoked, cured as gravlaks or grilled. It is on almost every menu and in every fish market.The coast
- FårikålSlow-cooked lamb and cabbage with whole peppercorns, the national dish. It is an autumn dish, seen on menus in September and October.Nationwide
- BrunostSweet brown cheese made from whey, sliced thin with a cheese slicer. Eaten on bread, waffles and crispbread.Nationwide
- VaflerHeart-shaped waffles served with sour cream and jam or brown cheese. Found at cafes and mountain huts.Nationwide
- FiskesuppeA creamy fish soup with salmon, white fish and vegetables. A common lunch in Bergen and the fjord towns.The west coast
- LutefiskDried white fish treated with lye, boiled and served with bacon, peas and potatoes. A winter dish and an acquired taste.Nationwide
- RakfiskFermented trout, served on flatbread with onion and sour cream. A strong-tasting winter speciality.The inland valleys
- ReinsdyrReindeer, served as a stew, steak or cured meat. Look for it in Tromsø and the northern towns.The north
- SkillingsbollerCinnamon buns that are a Bergen speciality, found at bakeries across the city.Bergen
How the food changes across Norway
Oslo and the east
Farm food, game and a modern restaurant scene, with the capital's fjord providing seafood. Bread, dairy and meatballs are the pattern.
The west coast
Fish, shellfish and fish soup, with Bergen as the center. Look for the fish market and harbor restaurants.
The inland valleys
Preserved and fermented food, lamb and mountain dairy, shaped by cold winters and long storage.
The north
Arctic fish, king crab, reindeer and cloudberries. Dishes are simple and built around what the sea and the land provide.
What to drink in Norway
- CoffeeNorwegians drink a great deal of filter coffee, and refills are common in cafes.
- AkevittA caraway-flavored spirit, served in small glasses with Christmas food and fish dishes.
- Beer and ciderCraft beer is easy to find in the cities. Wine and spirits are sold in state-run Vinmonopolet shops, which close early and on Sundays.
- GløggSpiced mulled wine with almonds and raisins, served in winter and at Christmas markets.
Where to eat in Norway, city by city
Oslo
A calm capital on a fjord, with big museums, a waterfront opera house, forests and islands a short metro ride away. It suits first-time visitors, museum lovers and anyone who likes a city with nature on its doorstep.
Order Brunost
Bergen
A harbor city of wooden houses, steep hills and a fish market, ringed by mountains and close to the fjords. It suits walkers, food lovers and anyone using it as a base for fjord trips.
Order Kjøttkaker
How Norway eats
- Meal timesLunch is often a cold open sandwich around 11:30 to 12:30. Dinner is early, around 17:00 to 19:00.
- CoffeeA coffee break with a pastry or waffle is a daily habit, and you can sit as long as you like.
- ReservationsBook popular restaurants for Friday and Saturday. Weekday lunch usually needs no booking.
- TippingService is included. Rounding up or leaving about 10 percent for good service is common but not required.
- PayingCards and phone payments are taken almost everywhere, and some places do not take cash.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus in six languages with photos of every dish and a person calling you in from the harbor.
Salmon that is pre-sliced and sits unrefrigerated in a tourist shop window.
Meatballs with no gravy, no lingonberries and a price far above the lunch deals nearby.
Waffles from a stall with no batter in sight and a long list of toppings.
Food in Norway: questions people ask
What food is Norway known for?
Salmon, brown cheese, meatballs in gravy and waffles. Fish, dairy, potatoes and berries run through most of the cooking.
What is a traditional Norwegian meal?
Kjøttkaker, meatball patties in gravy with potatoes, cabbage and lingonberry jam, is a classic. At Christmas, ribbe (pork belly) and pinnekjøtt (cured lamb ribs) are common.
What is the national dish of Norway?
Fårikål, lamb and cabbage cooked slowly with peppercorns, is the national dish. It is mostly eaten in autumn.
Is Norwegian food expensive?
Restaurant dinners and alcohol are, yes. Lunch deals, bakeries, supermarkets and fish markets keep costs down.
What do Norwegians eat at Christmas?
Pork belly or cured lamb ribs, with potatoes, cabbage and gravy. Sweets and a cookie assortment follow.
Can vegetarians eat well in Norway?
Yes, in the cities. Menus usually mark vegetarian dishes, and most places can adapt. Traditional home cooking leans on fish and meat.
What is brunost?
A sweet brown cheese made from whey, with a caramel taste. It is sliced thin on bread, waffles and crispbread.
What should I eat in Bergen?
Fish soup, salmon and seafood from the harbor, and a cinnamon bun at a bakery. The city's food guide lists places to try.