The Atlas · Nº 28 ·Norway

Most Popular Norwegian Food

Norwegian food comes from the cold sea and the long winter: fish soups thick with cod and cream, herring with boiled potatoes, and salted lamb ribs steamed for Christmas as pinnekjøtt. It is a cuisine of drying, salting, and curing what the coast and the fells give, softened by a deep love of baking and coffee.

87 dishes ranked·1 in the global top 1,000 ·968 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 986

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 87 ranked norwegian dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked Norwegian dishes, by global position.

Pinnekjøtt, lamb dish from Norway
Plate IILamb Dish · Norway

1 Nº 986 worldwide

Pinnekjøtt

Lamb Dish · Norwegian Stickmeat

Salted and dried lamb ribs, soaked overnight then steamed over birch twigs laid across the pot, which gave the dish its name, stick meat. A Christmas centerpiece of western Norway, it is served with mashed swede and potatoes and a glass of aquavit.

★ 4.0|88% positive |32 ratings

Bergensk fiskesuppe, fish soup from Norway
Plate IIIFish Soup · Norway

2 Nº 2,095 worldwide

Bergensk fiskesuppe

Fish Soup · Bergen Fish Soup

Bergen's creamy fish soup, a delicate broth of fish and shellfish enriched with milk or cream and sharpened with a little vinegar and sugar, the city's sweet-sour signature. Full of cod, root vegetables, and often a spoonful of sour cream, it is the pride of the western port.

★ 3.8|82% positive |13 ratings

Persetorsk, saltwater fish dish from Norway

3PersetorskNº 2,171

Saltwater Fish Dish

A Bergen way with cod, the fish pressed under weight with sugar, salt, and dill for a day so the flesh firms and lightly cures, then poached and served. Simple and clean, it lets the freshness of the North Atlantic cod speak for itself.

★ 3.8|4 ratings

Lobster Salad (Hummersalat), salad from Norway

4Lobster Salad (Hummersalat)Nº 2,250

Salad

A festive Norwegian lobster salad, chunks of cooked lobster folded with crisp vegetables, egg, and a light mayonnaise or cream dressing. A dish for a celebration table, it makes the most of a prized and pricey catch from the cold northern waters.

★ 3.8|4 ratings

Whale Steak (Hvalbiff), whale meat dish from Norway

5Whale Steak (Hvalbiff)Nº 2,454

Whale Meat Dish

Steaks of minke whale, a dark, lean, iron-rich meat that Norway still hunts under quota, seared fast and rare like beef so it does not toughen. A traditional coastal dish, it is served with potatoes and a cream or onion sauce, and tastes closer to game than to fish.

★ 3.8|13 ratings

Spiced Pork Ribs (Julekrydret ribbe), meat dish from Norway

6Spiced Pork Ribs (Julekrydret ribbe)Nº 2,971

Meat Dish

Spiced pork belly ribs, scored, seasoned, and slow-roasted until the meat is tender and the rind crackles into crisp shards. Ribbe is the classic Norwegian Christmas Eve dinner in the east, served with sauerkraut, sausages, and potatoes.

★ 3.8|11 ratings

Fiskesuppe, seafood soup from Norway

7FiskesuppeNº 3,464

Seafood Soup

The everyday Norwegian fish soup, creamy and mild, built from a milk-and-butter base with white fish, mussels, carrots, and leeks. Comforting and quick, it changes from coast to coast, but the buttery, gentle sweetness is the constant.

★ 3.8|36 ratings

Cucumber Salad (Agurksalat), salad from Norway

8Cucumber Salad (Agurksalat)Nº 3,617

Salad

A light Norwegian cucumber salad, thin-sliced cucumber salted to soften, then dressed in a sweet-sour brine of vinegar, sugar, and dill. Cool and sharp, it is a summer standby and the standard fresh partner to rich meats and fried fish.

★ 3.7|18 ratings

Jarlsberg Cod (Jarlsberg torsk), saltwater fish dish from Norway

9Jarlsberg Cod (Jarlsberg torsk)Nº 3,756

Saltwater Fish Dish · Also Jarlsbergtorsk

Baked cod topped with Norway's famous nutty Jarlsberg cheese, layered with leeks, butter, and cream until the top browns and bubbles. A homely modern take on the country's most abundant fish, comfort food for a cold evening.

★ 3.7|1 ratings

Ryfylke Dumplings (Klimpor fra Ryfylke), dumplings from Norway

10Ryfylke Dumplings (Klimpor fra Ryfylke)Nº 3,915

Dumplings

Dense potato dumplings from the Ryfylke district on the southwest coast, grated raw and boiled potato bound with flour into heavy, filling balls. Traditionally cooked in salted meat stock and eaten with butter and cured meats, they are old-country farm food.

★ 3.7|1 ratings

Herring and Potatoes (Sild og poteter), fish dish from Norway

11Herring and Potatoes (Sild og poteter)Nº 4,014

Fish Dish

Herring and potatoes, the plainest and most historic of Norwegian meals, salted or pickled herring served with boiled potatoes and often a dab of butter or sour cream. For centuries this was everyday coastal food, cheap, salty, and sustaining through the winter.

★ 3.7|1 ratings

Møsbrømlefse, snack from Norway

12MøsbrømlefseNº 4,062

Snack

A soft lefse flatbread from the Salten region, spread with a warm sauce of melted brown cheese, syrup, butter, and cream, then folded up. Sweet, savory, and gooey at once, it is a northern Norway favorite, eaten warm straight from the griddle.

★ 3.7|7 ratings

The Departments

Every Norwegian dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 87 Norwegian dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

87 entries
  1. 986 Pinnekjøtt Lamb Dish Norway ★ 4.0
  2. 2,095 Bergensk fiskesuppe Fish Soup Bergen ★ 3.8
  3. 2,171 Persetorsk Saltwater Fish Dish Bergen ★ 3.8
  4. 2,250 Lobster Salad (Hummersalat) Salad Norway ★ 3.8
  5. 2,454 Whale Steak (Hvalbiff) Whale Meat Dish Northern Norway ★ 3.8
  6. 2,971 Spiced Pork Ribs (Julekrydret ribbe) Meat Dish Norway ★ 3.8
  7. 3,464 Fiskesuppe Seafood Soup Norway ★ 3.8
  8. 3,617 Cucumber Salad (Agurksalat) Salad Norway ★ 3.7
  9. 3,756 Jarlsberg Cod (Jarlsberg torsk) Saltwater Fish Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  10. 3,915 Ryfylke Dumplings (Klimpor fra Ryfylke) Dumplings Rogaland County ★ 3.7
  11. 4,014 Herring and Potatoes (Sild og poteter) Fish Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  12. 4,062 Møsbrømlefse Snack Bodø ★ 3.7
  13. 4,093 Reindeer Roast with Game Sauce (Dyrestek med viltsaus) Game Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  14. 4,309 Sour Cabbage (Surkål) Side Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  15. 4,364 Norwegian Reindeer Hot Dog Hot Dog Bergen ★ 3.7
  16. 4,368 Stekt fisk Saltwater Fish Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  17. 4,498 Klubb og fett Dumplings Northern Norway ★ 3.7
  18. 4,676 Reindeer Steak (Reinsdyr mørbrad) Game Dish Northern Norway ★ 3.7
  19. 4,692 Pickled Herring (Sursild) Saltwater Fish Dish Norway ★ 3.7
  20. 4,805 Cauliflower Soup (Blomkålsuppe) Soup Norway ★ 3.7
  21. 4,879 Kjøttboller Meatballs Norway ★ 3.7
  22. 5,142 Kvæfjordkake Cake Hinnøya Island ★ 3.6
  23. 5,235 Sunnmørsbrød Rye Bread Sunnmøre ★ 3.6
  24. 5,435 Trondheim Soup (Trondheimssodd) Sweet Soup Trondheim ★ 3.6
  25. 5,466 Lace Oat Cookies (Havrekniplekaker) Cookie Norway ★ 3.6
  26. 5,468 Mother Monson Cake (Mor Monsen) Cake Norway ★ 3.6
  27. 5,493 Seterjentas rømmebrod Cookie Norway ★ 3.6
  28. 5,529 Split Pea Soup with Ham (Ertesuppe med flesk) Soup Norway ★ 3.6
  29. 5,531 Marinated Edam Cheese (Marinert Edamerost) Appetizer Norway ★ 3.6
  30. 5,534 Orkdal Soup (Ørkdalssodd) Soup Trøndelag ★ 3.6
  31. 5,547 Flatbrødsoll Dessert Norway ★ 3.6
  32. 5,567 Mashed Rutabaga (Kålrotstappe) Side Dish Norway ★ 3.6
  33. 5,570 Lefserull Wrap Norway ★ 3.6
  34. 5,609 Lørdagspizza Pizza Norway ★ 3.6
  35. 5,631 Creamed Green Peas (Grønn ertestuing) Side Dish Norway ★ 3.6
  36. 5,654 Sot suppe Sweet Soup Norway ★ 3.6
  37. 5,743 Skillingsboller Sweet Pastry Bergen ★ 3.6
  38. 6,012 Plukkfisk Saltwater Fish Dish Western Norway ★ 3.6
  39. 6,014 Tropisk aroma-kake Cake Norway ★ 3.6
  40. 6,151 Medisterkaker Meatballs Norway ★ 3.6
  41. 6,352 Beetroot Salmon (Rødbetgravet laks) Appetizer Norway ★ 3.5
  42. 6,355 Bergen Pretzel Bread (Vannkringler) Bread Bergen ★ 3.5
  43. 6,367 Oxtail Soup (Oksehalesuppe) Offal Soup Norway ★ 3.5
  44. 6,376 Cauliflower Salad with Radish (Blomkålsalat med reddik) Salad Norway ★ 3.5
  45. 6,380 Barley Salad (Byggrynssalat) Salad Norway ★ 3.5
  46. 6,387 Herring Salad (Sildesalat) Salad Norway ★ 3.5
  47. 6,426 Cotter's Kettle (Husmannsgryte) Stew Norway ★ 3.5
  48. 6,486 Ingefærnøtter Cookie Norway ★ 3.5
  49. 6,557 Lapskaus Stew Norway ★ 3.5
  50. 6,592 Fyrstekake Tart Norway ★ 3.5
  51. 6,707 Brunost Cheesecake (Brunost ostekake) Cheesecake Norway ★ 3.5
  52. 6,732 Kneipp Bread (Kneippbrød) Bread Norway ★ 3.5
  53. 6,750 Multekrem Dessert Norway ★ 3.5
  54. 6,819 Skolebrød Sweet Pastry Norway ★ 3.5
  55. 6,884 Cardamom Buns (Hveteboller) Sweet Bread Norway ★ 3.5
  56. 6,997 Sand Cookies (Sandnøtter) Cookie Norway ★ 3.5
  57. 7,008 A Agder Dumplings (Kumpe fra Agder) Dumplings Aust-Agder County ★ 3.5
  58. 7,065 Baked Apples (Stekte epler) Dessert Norway ★ 3.5
  59. 7,074 Pølse med lompe Hot Dog Norway ★ 3.5
  60. 7,081 Julekake Sweet Bread Norway ★ 3.5
  61. 7,339 Lefse Flatbread Norway ★ 3.4
  62. 7,423 Goro Cookie Norway ★ 3.4
  63. 7,428 Rosettbakkels Cookie Norway ★ 3.4
  64. 7,435 Biđus Stew Norway ★ 3.4
  65. 7,446 Smoked Salmon Wrap (Lefserull med røkelaks) Wrap Norway ★ 3.4
  66. 7,490 Smultring Sweet Pastry Norway ★ 3.4
  67. 7,505 Serinakaker Cookie Norway ★ 3.4
  68. 7,550 Sand Cookies (Sandkaker) Cookie Norway ★ 3.4
  69. 7,558 Tilslørte bondepiker Dessert Norway ★ 3.4
  70. 7,561 Oatcakes (Havrekjeks) Cookie Norway ★ 3.4
  71. 7,602 Krumkake Wafer Norway ★ 3.3
  72. 7,622 Flatbrød Flatbread Norway ★ 3.3
  73. 7,623 Lompe Flatbread Norway ★ 3.3
  74. 7,826 Sirupsnipper Cookie Norway ★ 3.3
  75. 7,926 Rømmegrøt Porridge Norway ★ 3.3
  76. 7,960 Brune pinner Cookie Norway ★ 3.2
  77. 7,979 Smalahove Offal Dish Norway ★ 3.2
  78. 8,231 Fårikål Stew Norway ★ 3.1
  79. 8,305 Gomme Spread Norway ★ 3.1
  80. 8,420 Fiskeboller Saltwater Fish Dish Norway ★ 3.0
  81. 8,452 Kransekake Cake Norway ★ 3.0
  82. 8,529 Sodd Meat Soup Trøndelag ★ 2.9
  83. 8,832 Lutefisk Saltwater Fish Dish Norway ★ 1.5
  84. 9,867 J Jarlsbergfylt paprika Ground Meat Dish Norway
  85. 9,991 Pork Loin with Fruit (Svinestek med frukt) Pork Dish Norway
  86. 10,740 O Onions in Cheese Sauce (Løk med ostesaus) Vegetarian Dish Norway
  87. 10,810 K Krotekake Flatbread Norway
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Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of Norwegian Food

Where Norway's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

Norwegian food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Norwegian food?
The everyday favorites lead the ratings: Kjøttboller, Norwegian meatballs in brown gravy, then Lutefisk, the lye-cured cod of Christmas, and Kransekake, the tower of almond rings. Our best-ranked Norwegian dish is Pinnekjøtt, salted-and-dried lamb ribs steamed over birch twigs. All 10 Norwegian meat dishes →
What food is Norway known for?
Fish, lamb, and Christmas baking. Norway is built on the sea, from creamy Fiskesuppe to pressed cod and cured Lutefisk, and its holiday table centers on Pinnekjøtt lamb ribs and roast Ribbe. The country also bakes deeply, above all the almond-ring tower Kransekake.
What is Norway's national dish?
Fårikål, mutton and cabbage stewed with black peppercorns, won a public vote as Norway's national dish. Around Christmas the honors go to Pinnekjøtt in the west and roast Ribbe in the east. In our data the top-ranked Norwegian dish is Pinnekjøtt, the steamed salted lamb ribs.
What do Norwegians eat at Christmas?
Christmas is Norway's great food holiday, split by region. The west steams Pinnekjøtt, salted lamb ribs, while the east roasts Ribbe, crisp-skinned pork belly. The boldest tradition is Lutefisk, dried cod cured in lye until translucent, and everyone bakes Kransekake, a tower of almond rings.
What should I eat in Bergen?
Bergen, the western fishing city, is Norway's seafood capital. Its signature is Bergensk fiskesuppe, a creamy fish soup with a sweet-sour edge, alongside Persetorsk, cod lightly pressed with sugar and dill. Both are best eaten fresh at the old harbor's fish market.