Copenhagen is not only known for being a culinary mecca for avant-garde gastronomy; it also houses a diverse range of street food restaurants, food trucks, and markets such as Reffen and Torvehallerne, to name a few. In fact, even some of the city's top restaurants offer a street food option to broaden their audience. Below you will find 10 no-fuss street food spots that will have you salivating before you even take your first bite.
The capital of Denmark offers brilliant execution of classic street food dishes such as burgers, tacos, pizza, and sandwiches – but why stop there? If there is anything that Copenhagen has taught us over the last few years, it is that a perfect melting pot of people, knowledge, high-quality ingredients, and a profound interest in gastronomy can do wonders for the taste buds – whether it’s being served on a plate at a high-end restaurant or directly in your hand from a food truck. With talented chefs moving in from all over the world to be part of the bursting culinary scene in Copenhagen, it’s no surprise that ideas, recipes, and techniques change hands and spill over the entire city. With this in mind, let’s explore some straightforward spots together that embody these traits into addictively good dishes that will leave you craving more sooner than you might expect. After all, street food is the ultimate comfort food.
What initially started as a tiny burger grill inside a petrol station quickly became a top location to grab the best burgers in town. Back then, however, grabbing a burger before they sold out for the day was a real fear of missing out. Today, this is not much of a worry, with multiple locations operating throughout Copenhagen. That said, we highly recommend that you steer your visit to the original location at Landgreven, a short walk from Kongens Nytorv, for the full Gasoline Grill experience that has been going strong since 2016. When it comes to burgers, there aren’t many that take the throne from Gasoline Grill even to this day. You will understand precisely why when you take your first bite!
Landgreven 10
1301 København
Denmark
Neapolitan-style pizzas are delicious and all, but sometimes all you want is a huge slice of crispy pizza directly from the oven, served with a cold one. At Diamond Slice, that is exactly what you’ll get! Expect New York-style pizza slices, served directly from the scorching hot oven behind the bar. Oh, and they do it for a more than modest price! With pizza slices ranging only between 50-80 DKK, why not bring a couple of friends together and pull an all-nighter while you try everything on the menu? Simply put, a polished diamond on the street food scene in Copenhagen that is worth your visit.
Blågårdsgade 27
2200 København
Denmark
Just as the saying goes that the bread is half the thing when it comes to burgers, the same goes for kebabs. One might even say it’s more important since it’s the first thing you bite into. Killer Kebab showcases exactly why this is true, because the bread that wraps their scrumptious kebab is simply a game changer! Made with sourdough, the bread is fluffy, crispy, and adds an extra dimension to the eating experience that together makes this one of the best kebabs in the city. The wheels of lamb kebab are built daily on location after being marinated a day in advance. At this point, it’s almost self-explanatory that the meat is, of course, delicious as well, served with fresh mint yoghurt, pointed cabbage, red onion, parsley, and dukkah.
Borgergade 18
1300 København
Denmark
Pastry chef Nikolaos Strangas, famous to many Danes for his appearance on TV making sweets, decided it was time a few years back to return to his roots and provide the city of Copenhagen with street food from his home country. When it comes to street food from Greece, is there really anything better than the most iconic gyros? A question that barely needs an answer, leaving you to simply decide whether you prefer to have it with herb-marinated chicken, pork, or halloumi. All wrapped up in a buttered soft pita and served with tomato, red onion, salad, fries, and dressing. Are you drooling yet?
Gothersgade 27
1123 København
Denmark
The chicken sandwiches at Poulette are on fire! And with that statement, we don’t only refer to the spiciness of the chicken itself, which also packs quite a punch, being spicy by default. Sister business to the wine bar Pompette just next door, at this tiny shop it’s all about fried chicken, mostly between two buns with mayonnaise, cheese, lettuce, and pickles. If that’s not enough chicken for you already, there are also chicken nuggets to order as sides. If chicken is not your thing, however, fear not! There is also a popular fried tofu option to order instead.
Møllegade 1
2200 København
Denmark
Located inside the food market Torvehallerne, you will find Ma Poule. A shop where you can find both French produce and ingredients, as well as indulge in a few food options to keep you from going wild when exploring their deli section on an empty stomach. One of them, in particular, is their simple but mouthwatering duck confit sandwich served with mustard and rocket in a light and crispy baguette that will make you salivate the second they start making it in front of you. Luckily, good things come to those who wait, and this is no exception.
Rømersgade 18
1362 København
Denmark
If you are a fan of Mexican street food and all it entails, Rosio Sanchez has you covered! This talented ex-Noma chef not only offers an experience of elevated Mexican cuisine at her main restaurant Sanchez (which is also well worth a visit, might we add), but also a more accessible option through the Hija de Sanchez taquerias located around Copenhagen. With flavourful ingredients and combinations placed on fresh tortillas made on location, Hija de Sanchez is where you go when you want to have a true taco fiesta and enjoy Gringa al Pastor, Barbacoa, Cochinita, and more with a side of lime.
Frederiksborggade 21
1360 København
Denmark
Sometimes you find yourself at a place where there are no initial expectations, but it just hits you immediately… like, hard. Isted Grill in Istedgade is one of those places where their flæskesteg sandwich, as simple as it may look, is extremely delicious and addictively good! The crispy pork, together with red cabbage and cucumber salad in a classic simple sesame bun, matches so well together and is nothing but a steal for the modest price of less than 50 DKK. Simply put, Isted Grill is a perfectly unpretentious place to end the evening for that late-night snack after your other culinary adventures around the city.
Istedgade 92
1650 København
Denmark
GAO is a family of casual neighbourhood dumpling bars spread across Copenhagen, where you can enjoy homemade dumplings (though from a central kitchen) quickly, easily, and deliciously since the first location opened back in 2016. The menu is short but sweet, and offers a good portion of dumplings for an excellent price! Choose between gyozas, baozis, and other dumpling options with sides like bok choy, spicy cucumber salad, and fried tofu. There are a lot of fancy dumplings to be explored in Copenhagen, but when your belly simply screams for crispy, juicy dumplings—and many of them—GAO is where you go!
Blågårdsgade 3
2200 København
Denmark
With a goal of making the best ramen in Scandinavia, Slurp Ramen Joint has definitely attracted a crowd since opening in 2017. When that crowd also lines up outside for a bowl of ramen on a regular basis, you know you’re in for a treat! Choose from classic ramen dishes such as Shio, Shoyu, as well as a vegetarian option and a rotating special. There are also a few other smaller dishes such as karaage, gyozas, and katsu sando to name a few. So, take a seat in the open kitchen, enjoy the chefs at work, and admire the minimalist interior and the show while you slurp on your ramen with the other fellow foodies.
Nansensgade 90
1366 København
Denmark
Want to explore even more? Don’t miss out on this last tip!
Calling Reffen a street food market is almost downplaying its importance when it comes to street food and the culture addition in Copenhagen. There are multiple street food markets and food halls to explore across the city, but Reffen is definitely something else in comparison! A fascinating and diverse combination of what happens when you choose a unique location a bit outside the city, pack it with a ton of street food, add beautiful scenery and lively events. Then keep it open every day and fill it up with a lot of people and great vibes. If you like street food, then a visit to Reffen is both a no-brainer and a must visit.
Refshalevej 167
1432 København
Denmark
