7 Unique Foods to Try in Norway

Visiting Norway is an amazing experience, offering a variety of foods to try. Whether you are looking to try unique foods or just have a normal meal, Norway has something to offer for everyone. In this article, we will discuss the top 7 Unique foods to try while visiting Norway and detail our personal experience eating these foods.

1. Reindeer

During our travels in Norway, we had reindeer on two separate occasions. Our first time trying reindeer was during our stay at an Overnight Aurora Camp in Tromsø. Following a long morning of dog sledding, we came back to a hot bowl of Sami reindeer stew. While it sounds intimidating at first, it reminded me of a vegetable soup and was a perfect way to warm up after being out in the cold.

Sami reindeer stew: 7.7/10

Our second time trying reindeer in Norway came in the city center of Tromsø. We stopped at “the world’s smallest bar” to get Hot Chocolate and snacks. One option they offered was a Reindeer Hotdog (Pølse med lompe). This was served with raw onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, mustard, and lingonberry sauce. This combination of toppings made for the perfect hotdog and we can highly recommend trying a Reindeer Hotdog while visiting Norway! 

Reindeer Hotdog Rating: 8.9/10

2. Norwegian Waffles

When you first google what the food is like in Norway, it is hard not to come across an article discussing Norwegian waffles. When planning our trip to Oslo and Tromsø, we became eager to try the waffles we had read about so much. Norwegian waffles are served in numerous ways, and you are not limited to eating them for breakfast. You can find waffles at any time of the day and even enjoy them for dessert.

During our time in Norway, we had waffles on a few separate occasions, and they did not disappoint! We enjoyed them with jam, brown cheese, Nutella, fruits, and many other toppings. We were hoping to try Haralds Vaffels in Oslo when visiting. However, our schedule did not line up with the store’s hours. We have heard from multiple people that it is a must-try spot for waffles when visiting Norway!

Norwegian Waffels Rating: 9.6/10

3. Bergen-Style Fish Soup

If you are looking for more of a traditional Norwegian dish when visiting Norway, then Bergen-Style Fish Soup may be the right choice for you! This soup combines fish or seafood, with vegetables and stock, before adding juice, water, or another liquid. 

We tried Bergen-Style Fish Soup while staying at an Overnight Aurora Camp and dog sled with the Tromsø Wilderness Center. We tried the soup after a night of searching for the aurora borealis and playing with the Huskies. It was a refreshing and warming meal after being out in the cold. We can highly recommend trying the soup when visiting Norway!

Bergen-Style Fish Soup: 7.3/10

4. Møsbrømlefse

Møsbrømlefse consists of a lefse flatbread stuffed with melted goat cheese, buttermilk, syrup, and flour. It can be served with different toppings and is comparable to a crepe.

Wh tried Møsbrømlefse while getting breakfast at Spor av Nord in Oslo, Norway. This cafe is in the center of town and serves a variety of breakfast options. We stopped to grab a cup of coffee and decided to try Møsbrømlefse to go along with it. The Møsbrømlefse was served with sour cream and topped with Brown Cheese. It was a unique pastry made up of a plethora of different tastes. In the end, we both decided we did enjoy trying Møsbrømlefse and think everyone should add it to their food tour when visiting Norway!

Møsbrømlefse: 8.8/10

5. International Cuisines

There are plenty of traditional Norwegian dishes and foods to try in Norway. However, Oslo also offers different international cuisines to try and truly has something for every palate.

While in Oslo, we wanted to switch things up and do Indian food for dinner one night. We went to Der Peppern Gror Radhusplassen and can confidently say that it is some of the best Indian food we have ever had anywhere in the world. We got Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Dahi Puri. You could taste the fresh flavors in each bite, and the staff was kind enough to recommend different appetizers for us to try.

Der Peppern Gror Radhusplassen: 9.8/10

6. Brown Cheese

When researching unique foods to try in Norway, Brown Cheese or Brunost is definitely at the top of the list. It has a unique flavor, served in many different ways, each making for a memorable tasting experience.

You make Brunost by boiling a mixture of milk, cream, and whey carefully for several hours so that the water evaporates. The heat turns the milk sugars into caramel, which gives the cheese its characteristic brown color and sweetness. The longer you boil the cheese, the darker the color of the cheese.

We had Brown Cheese a couple of times while visiting Norway. The first time we tried it was on top of Møsbrømlefse. Served with sour cream, the contrasting flavors made for a creamy, rich flavor. The second time we had brown cheese was on top of our Norwegian Waffles. The waffles topped with Jam and Brown cheese made for a great breakfast snack. While the taste of Norwegian brown cheese may not be for everyone, it is worth trying while traveling throughout Norway!

Brown Cheese: 6.7/10

While Norwegian food can sound intimidating, if you are willing to get out of your comfort zone and try something new, there are many options for you to try while visiting. Whether you are looking to try reindeer for the first time or are trying Brown Cheese on your waffle, the food scene in Norway is something to add to your bucket list!

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions and check out our Social Media links as well! Our article next week will detail our Northern Lights Experience with Marianne’s Heaven on Earth Aurora Chaser tours.

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