The Danish fast food chain, restaurant and catering company offers a new way of eating. The Danish Way of Eating is based on the principle that you should eat fresh food from top quality restaurants, at home or in a corporate canteen.
We make it easy for you by prepping your food in our kitchens and delivering it daily. You can also get food delivered to you during your break by using our app, Eat now.
The foundation of The Danish Way of Eating is that we take care of everything, for example, cooking, service and clean-up.
We take the same pride in this job as if we were cooking for our own families. It’s all about doing what you do best and giving the customer the best possible experience.
What is the most popular Danish Fast food?
Smørrebrød is the most popular Danish food, but it’s also the most versatile. It’s a traditional dish with many different versions and can be adapted to suit everyone’s tastes. Smørrebrød means literally “butter-bread” in Danish.
We serve open sandwiches made of rye bread (rugbrød) or dark bread (sort brød). The name is a result of the old days when you used to put butter on top of the rye bread not to get too dry. Nowadays, you can also use toppings like, for example, cheese or cold cuts.
What does Danish taste like?
Danish cuisine is based on simple, good products, and many of the recipes are made to enhance their natural flavours.
You can taste this in the Danish open sandwich (smørrebrød), which is an entire meal on a slice of bread. The ingredients should be chosen to get a balanced variety allowing you to enjoy several different tastes at once.
The Danish Way of Eating offers an amazing diversity of delicious food that can be delivered to your home or office every day.
It’s the perfect solution if you’re too busy to cook, have company coming over, have just ordered a new sofa and feel like eating out or if you want some great home cooking.
What Is Denmark’s Most Famous Fast Food?
One of the most iconic Danish fast foods is the Danish hot dog. These hot dogs are made with a specialty red, skinny sausage stuffed into a soft steamed bun and topped with various toppings and condiments.
Popular toppings include crispy fried onions, pickles, mustard, ketchup, remoulade (a tangy vegetable and mayo-based sauce), and ristede løg (roasted onions).
Danish hot dog stands are found all over Copenhagen and other cities, often with hungry customers waiting to enjoy this beloved national treat.
Two famous hot dog brands are DØP and Harry’s Place, serving their favorite hot dogs for decades. The Danish hot dog makes for a perfect, quick, portable meal while sightseeing or commuting around Denmark.
Top 18 Best Danish Fast Food You Must Try:
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1. Smørrebrød:
The Danish open sandwich (smørrebrød) has many different versions and can be adapted to suit everyone’s taste.
The foundation of the smørrebrød is that we take care of everything, for example, cooking, service and clean-up. We take the same pride in this job as if we were cooking for our own families. It’s all about doing what you do best and giving the customer a great meal.
2. Frikadeller:
The Danish Meatballs
Frikadeller are a traditional dish in Denmark. They’re made of minced meat, potatoes, onions and eggs. They can also be served with many different sauces and sides. Traditionally frikadeller are eaten with boiled potatoes and pickled beets, but they can also be done with red cabbage or oven-baked crispy potatoes.
3. Kartofler:
The Danish Boiled or Steamed Potatoes
Potato is a staple food in Denmark, and it’s served as boiled potatoes (kartofler) or steamed potatoes (stegte kartofler). The potatoes are often baked, fried, boiled and sometimes mashed. They’re great for adding flavour to salads and soups.
4. Stegt flæsk med persillesovs:
The Danish Fried Pork with Parsley Sauce
Pork is the most popular meat in Denmark, and we eat many different dishes with it. One example is fried pork (stegte flæsk med persillesovs) with crispy golden fried pieces of lean pork with parsley sauce and potatoes.
5. Rødkål:
Red Cabbage Made in Denmark
Rødkål is a traditional Danish dish made from red cabbage, apples, and onions cooked together for several hours with sugar and vinegar. The taste can vary from sweet to sour depending on how much or little sugar you add to the dish. Rødkål goes perfectly with boiled or fried pork and works as a side dish for many other meals.
6. Solbær:
Danish Lingonberries
Lingonberries (Solbær) are mostly associated with the Scandinavian Christmas, where they’re traditionally placed on top of the Christmas porridge along with gløgg (mulled wine), almonds and sugar could. Today they are commonly enjoyed in pancakes, jam, syrup or simply oatmeal.
7. Risalamande:
Danish Rice Pudding
Just like many other countries in Europe, the Danish Christmas menu includes rice pudding (Risalamande). It’s traditionally served cold with whipped cream and cherry sauce, but there are many other tasty toppings and variations.
8. Tarteletter:
Danish Meat Pies
Tarteletter is a traditional Danish dish served mid-week when people didn’t have time to cook but still wanted to eat something special for dinner. It’s a great dish to make ahead of time because you can store it in the freezer.
9. Biksemad:
Danish Hash
Biksemad also called “Hobo”, is a Danish dish made from sausage, onions and potatoes fried together with a lot of fat. It’s traditionally served with a fried egg on top, but it can be served as any other traditional breakfast dish.
10. Rødgrød med fløde:
Danish Red Berry Pudding
Rødgrød med fløde is a traditional dessert from Denmark which means “red berry pudding with cream”. The pudding can be served as a smooth or a chewy version, and it’s usually served warm, but it’s also delicious served cold.
11. Wienerbrød:
Danish Pastry
Wienerbrød is a beloved Danish pastry with many different variations and flavours. In Denmark, we eat our pastries for breakfast with coffee or tea, but it can also make a nice treat for lunch or dinner if you top it off with some jam and ice cream.
12. Mørbradbøf:
Danish Pork Burger
Another variety of the traditional Danish dish. Which is served as a giant pork burger with a lot of crispy fried onions. And pickle slices on top. It’s normally served with French fries or oven-baked crispy potatoes and tartar sauce.
13. Koteletter:
Danish Meatballs
Koteletter is the local term for what you might know as Swedish meatballs. They’re made from minced pork, beef or veal, and they’re always seasoned with cumin, salt, pepper and other spices. They are often served together with boiled potatoes or rice pilaf or simply on their own with a sauce and vegetables on the side.
14. Rugbrød:
Danish Rye Bread
Rugbrød is a traditional Danish rye bread that can be eaten or topped with spreads, fruits, vegetables and meat. It’s also the foundation for many different tasty sandwiches and smørrebrød, which we will cover later.
15. Koldskål:
Danish Cold Milk Soup
Koldskål is a Danish cold milk soup served with sweet toppings such as sugar, syrup or jam. It’s normally eaten as a dessert, but it can also be enjoyed as a refreshing drink with a shot of ice cold akvavit during the summertime.
16. Frikadeller:
Danish Meatballs
Frikadeller is a popular traditional dish consisting of minced meat (normally pork, beef or veal) shaped into small patties and fried until crispy on the outside while remaining nice and moist inside. The best thing about Frikadellers is how versatile they are as you can serve them with many different side dishes, sauces and salads.
17. Ostemad:
Danish Lunch Meat
Ostend is a traditional Danish lunch dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish for your bread and other spreads. It’s normally made from minced pork meat, although beef or turkey can also be used. It’s normally served with onions, pickle slices and tomato slices on a sandwich.
18. Stjerneskud:
Danish Starfish
Stjerneskud is one of the many variations of smørrebrød served in Denmark. It’s normally served with scrambled eggs, crispy smoked eel and boiled potatoes.
Is Danish Fast Food Spicy?
The typical flavor profile of Danish fast food is not very spicy, focusing more on rich, savory flavors. However, that doesn’t mean spicy food is absent from the Danish fast food scene. As Denmark becomes more ethnically diverse and interest grows in international cuisine, spicy fast food has secured a place in the market.
Pizza shops may offer spicy pepperoni or chili oil drizzle options. Middle Eastern-style kebab shops and falafel stands offer garlic sauce and harissa with a kick. Imported brands like Taco Bell and Nando’s Chicken have succeeded with their spicier flavor profiles.
Denmark also has beloved homegrown spicy fast food like hot dogs topped with chili mayo or curry ketchup. And trendy burger joints are getting in on the spice with additions like jalapenos, Sriracha mayo, and habanero relish. So, while Danish fast food is generally mild, adventurous eaters can still get their heat fix.
Danish Food Safety
Food safety, including the fast food industry, is paramount in Denmark’s culinary culture. Strict government regulations safeguard consumers at every step of the food supply chain.
This starts with regular veterinary inspections of food animal facilities. Butchers and meat processors must adhere to safe handling, storage, and sanitation rules. Produce growers follow standards on agricultural chemicals, irrigation water quality, and worker hygiene.
At fast food restaurants, kitchen staff are trained on safe food prep and cooking procedures. Temperature sensors help ensure proper refrigeration. Surfaces are sanitized frequently, and gloves are worn when handling ready-to-eat foods. Any food safety violations can result in hefty fines or business closures.
Many Danish fast-food brands highlight their commitment to food safety. For example, hot dog stands may list menu ingredients and emphasize quality Danish meats. Burger chains promote fresh, locally sourced produce. This transparency helps consumers feel confident in their fast food choices.
Ultimately, Denmark achieves a desirable balance between fast, convenient eating and steadfast food safety. Rigorous standards provide accountability at each step, from farm to table. So Danish consumers can feel at ease grabbing a quick hot dog or pizza, knowing safety comes first.
Is Danish food healthy?
Not all of it is healthy, but many dishes are both nourishing and easy on your waistline. It depends a lot on what kind of toppings you use to garnish or spruce up the dish. Traditionally Danish food uses whole grains, legumes, cabbage and potatoes, which are very healthy choices.
Of course, the Danes love their pastries, fried fish and burgers, but they don’t eat it every day. And when they do choose to eat that stuff, they normally compensate by eating lots of tasty salads with their meals or drinks a lot of water in-between the meals unless they have wine or beer.
So, there you have it, a quick guide to some of the traditional Danish foods and dishes. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope that this post also inspired you to try out some of these tasty morsels yourself. Also, if there’s anything Danish food-related you want me to cover in my blog, let me know!
How do you make the food?
We believe in cooking with love! No microwave ovens or plastic trays here. We cook every day in our kitchens by dedicated staff who prepare your food lovingly with passion and care, just like you would at home.
The size of our kitchens are also quite impressive; big enough to accommodate all our staff, all our top-quality products and large enough to allow us to cook the food fresh daily. That’s The Danish Way of Eating!
The Bottom Line
If you are curious about the Danish fast food scene, I hope this article has given you an idea of what to expect. You can find more information on specific chains by looking them up online or asking a local Dane where they would go for their favourite meal. Please let me know if there is anything else that you want to know!
FAQ:
What is smørrebrød?
Smørrebrød is a traditional Danish open-faced sandwich made with rye bread and topped with various toppings, such as pickled herring, smoked salmon, roast beef, liver pate, or cheese.
What are Frikadelle?
Frikadelle are Danish meatballs with minced pork or beef, breadcrumbs, and eggs. They are usually served with boiled potatoes, gravy, and pickled red cabbage.
What is shawarma?
Shawarma is a Middle Eastern fast food dish popular in Denmark. It is made with marinated meat (usually chicken or lamb), cooked on a spit and shaved off in thin slices. It is usually served on pita bread with salad, sauce, and fries.
Where can I find Danish fast food?
Danish fast food is available at various places, such as food trucks, pølsevogn, street vendors, cafes, and fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC.
Is Danish fast food healthy?
While Danish fast food can be tasty and convenient, it is not always the healthiest option. Most fast food items are high in calories, fat, and salt, contributing to weight gain, high blood pressure, and other health problems. However, you can make healthier choices by choosing grilled or baked options, skipping the fries, and eating salads or vegetables.
