Danish Food – 22 Classic Dishes You Must Try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Danish food is rustic, filling and full of tradition. Classic smørrebrød, sausages, pork dishes and fish coexist with sweet pastries, beer and schnapps. In this guide, we go through what people eat in Denmark – and list 22 classic Danish specialties you don't want to miss.

What do you eat in Denmark? – a quick overview

We have told about Swedish food and German food – and now it's time to delve into Danish food traditions. Danish food is characterized by:

• Open sandwiches and rye bread
• Pork and sausages
• Fish and herring
• Sweet pastries and desserts
• Beer, schnapps and Gammel Dansk

I grew up in Skåne, with proximity and frequent trips to Denmark, and I have also lived for a period in the Faroe Islands. Danish dishes feel like classics, while today there is of course a very modern and exciting restaurant scene in Denmark with many innovative and creative dishes.

Typical Danish food – 22 classic dishes and specialties

Here we list Danish dishes, sweets and drinks that are interesting to try.

1. Sandwiches

Smørrebrød is perhaps Denmark's most classic dish. It's an open sandwich on rye bread topped with, for example, herring, shrimp, roast beef, egg or liver pâté. The combinations are almost endless and many restaurants specialize entirely in smørrebrød. This is Danish food that we love!

2. Red sausage

The red sausage is a true Danish classic, often sold from hot dog stands. The sausage is usually served with bread and preferably with ketchup, mustard, remoulade and roasted onions.

3. Roast pork with parsley sauce

Stegt flæsk med persillesovs is often called Denmark's national dish. The dish consists of roasted pork served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. This is classic Danish home cooking at its most traditional.

4. Meatballs

Danish frikadeller are fried meatballs made with pork or mixed minced meat. This reminds me of the Skåne meatballs when I was growing up, which were also made with pork or mixed minced meat. The Danish meatballs are often served with boiled potatoes, gravy and red cabbage and the dish is very common in Danish homes.

5. Pork roast

Flæskesteg is a classic Danish pork roast with crispy rind. It is especially popular at Christmas, but is also found in restaurants and sandwiches throughout the year.

6. Liver pâté

Liver pâté is very popular in Denmark and is often eaten on rye bread. The pâté is served both hot and cold, often with bacon, mushrooms or pickled beets. For us, liver pâté is a big favorite, and something we like to choose at breakfast buffets.

7. Rye bread

The dark Danish rye bread is an important part of the Danish food culture. The bread is compact, high in fiber and is mainly used for smørrebrød. Personally, I like to eat the Danish rye bread that you can buy in Swedish grocery stores for breakfast. So good!

8. Shooting Star

Stjerneskud is a more luxurious open-faced fish and seafood sandwich. It often combines breaded fish with shrimp, asparagus, salad and dressing. Luxurious and delicious!

9. Herring

Pickled herring is very common in Denmark, especially at holidays and buffets. Herring comes in many different varieties, for example with curry, onion or mustard, and it is common for herring to be served on rye bread. Please note that the pickles can be a little stronger and less sweet in taste, compared to the Swedish counterparts.

10. Fish cakes

Fish frikadeller are Danish fish balls or fish steaks, often made with white fish. The steaks are often served with remoulade sauce and lemon.

11. Apple pie

Æbleflæsk is a traditional Danish dish where roasted pork is combined with apples and onions. The taste is both sweet and salty at the same time.

12. Biksemad

Biksemad is a Danish stew made with potatoes, onions and leftover meat, often with fried eggs and beets. The dish is very similar to our Swedish counterpart, but sometimes with larger pieces and with Worcestershire sauce or HP Sauce as a side dish.

13. Hakkebøf

Hakkebøf is a classic Danish ground beef steak, usually served with onions, potatoes and gravy. This is a simple but popular everyday dish in Denmark.

14. Tartlets

Tartelets are small, crispy pie shells filled with things like chicken and asparagus stew. The dish is especially popular at holidays and family dinners.

15. Medisterpølse

Medisterpølse is a coarse Danish sausage that is often served with potatoes and stewed cabbage. The sausage is especially common during autumn and winter.

16. Wiener bread

Danish viennese bread is famous all over the world. The pastry comes in many different varieties with, for example, vanilla cream, chocolate or jam.

17. Cinnamon Snail

Kanelsnegle is Denmark's version of cinnamon buns. The buns are sold in cafes and bakeries all over the country and are perfect for a coffee break.

18. Rice salad

Risalamande is a classic Danish Christmas dessert made with rice porridge, cream and chopped almonds. The dessert is very similar to the Swedish ”Ris á la Malta”, but there may be some differences. The most obvious characteristic is that the dessert is almost always served with warm cherry sauce.

19. Æbleskiver

Æbleskiver are small, round pancake-like pastries that are popular around Christmas. The pastries are usually served with icing sugar and jam.

20. Liquorice and caramels

The Danes love licorice and there are lots of different varieties in the shops. Above all, salty licorice is popular in Denmark. In addition to licorice, classic candies such as “Kongen af Danmark” are also strongly associated with Danish candy tradition. I used to eat these myself as a child, not least when visiting older relatives.

21. Danish beer

Denmark has a strong beer culture with both classic lagers and modern microbreweries. Brands like Carlsberg and Tuborg are known far beyond the country's borders.

22. Old Danish

Gammel Dansk is a classic Danish bitter with a spicy taste. The drink is often drunk as schnapps, sometimes at celebrations or with open sandwiches.

Food in different parts of Denmark

Danish cuisine varies somewhat between different parts of the country.

• Copenhagen: Smørrebrød, modern restaurants and new Nordic food
• Jutland: Hearty meat dishes and classic home cooking
• Bornholm: Smoked fish and herring
• Funen: Traditional pastries and local specialties

At the same time, international food experiences and fine dining restaurants are of course offered.

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Swedish food – 25 dishes, specialties and coffee
• Icelandic food – 17 Icelandic dishes
• Finnish food - 20 dishes to try
• Norwegian food – 25 dishes to try
• German food – 25 classic dishes