Oslo Food Crawl: Discovering Norway’s take on street-food

From a sprawling European-inspired market to hipster-haven food halls and hot dog stands to die for, discover the street-food scene in Olso.

Oslo is hot on the heels of Copenhagen’s foodie cred. Boasting nine Michelin stars in a city which counts just over one million mouths to feed, a gourmet weekend in Olso should be on any food enthusiast’s bucket list. That said, between dinner at Maeemo and lunch at Kontrast, there’s an entire street-food scene to discover.

Possibly due to the harsh winter climate, street-food stalls in Oslo tend to be concentrated in large covered (read heated) spaces featuring multiple stalls offering worldwide cuisine at small prices. Entering into these sprawling food havens feels a little like navigating a culinary 3D map of the world, and here’s your very own guide so you don’t get lost.

1. Mathallen

The oldest and arguably the chicest food hall cum market in Oslo is largely inspired by European establishments like Borough Market in London and La Boqueria in Barcelona. Mathallen has everything a hungry tourist or local foodie may want, from ice-cream to Norwegian fish-based tapas, as well as fresh produce to take home. Of particular note, Noodles, no surprise there on what’s on the menu, but there’s a twist – you can combine ingredients to make whatever combination of deliciously warming noodles you may fancy. To quench your thirst Hopyard offers between 200 to 300 craft beers, while the grilled cheese enthusiast has to head to Smelt, a locale which specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches. Mathallen also offers cooking courses in their aptly named Kulinarisk Akademi, which range from sausage making to food and wine pairings – check out the site for the schedule and perhaps time your visit for one of the street-food courses. Vulkan 5, 0178 Oslo; website

2. Vippa

Located right by the Oslo Fjord, Vippa is the perfect location for lunch in the sun or an aperitif (the space closes at 9pm). The former port warehouse, now decorated with colorful street art, is full to the brim with exotic food stalls. Yes – Vippa concentrates on foreign street food as the space acts as a social enterprise which looks to stimulate a dialogue between cultures through culinary traditions and by titillating taste buds. From some of the best tacos in Oslo to delicious Vietnamese spring rolls or gyoza dumplings, there’s plenty to discover. Need one more reason to head down to Vippa? As well as the social tables in the warehouse, there’s a large number of wooden benches on the quay where you can sit and watch the blue waters glisten with the Scandinavian sunshine while enjoying a pint and a bite. Akershusstranda 25, 0150 Oslo; website

3. Oslo Street-Food

This place does exactly what is said on the box – street-food – delicious street-food for the hungry traveler or the social gatherer. Located in an unmissable white stucco building, a converted public swimming pool, Torgatta Bad is the ultimate street-food destination in Oslo. Brand new (it opened in February 2019), but a tried and tested concept, here you can indulge in more unusual offerings compared to Vippa or Mathallen – Budapest street-food, KAIN Filipino rice bar, there’s even stand dedicated entirely to duck burgers (after pigeon, I’m calling duck as the next big meaty food trend), and 2 entirely vegan stalls. Torgatta Bad doesn’t just serve a variety of food and drinks, it also hosts DJs night and mini-festivals to celebrate world cuisine. Here large groups of pint-swinging and fun-loving Norwegian millennials make you feel right at home, welcoming you to a unique culinary experience and a super fun night in Oslo. Torggata 16, 0181 Oslo; website

4. Syverkiosken

In stark contrast to the sprawling street-food halls with their neon lights, party atmosphere, waterfront seating, DJs and foreign foods, Syverkiosken is a no-nonsense food stall in a nondescript street in Oslo and it serves one of the best hotdogs you’ll ever have the pleasure of tasting. Forget ketchup, chili or other American hot dog staples and order the Viennese sausage topped with a potato pancake, tangy-hot mustard and enjoy it right there, on the street, in the cold and wet Norwegian wind. Another plus? At just 20 Krone, it’s the best and cheapest meal you’ll have in Oslo. Maridalsveien 45, 0175 Oslo

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