10 best Finnish food in Helsinki you should taste

The best Finnish food in Helsinki

Looking for the best traditional Finnish food in Helsinki? You’ve come to the right place.

Finnish food is simplistic, fresh and rustic. If you’re visiting Helsinki, you’re in for a treat, because there are plenty of great restaurants, cafรฉs and street food to choose from. 

Here is your guide to the tasty food in Helsinki, Finland.

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Finnish food in Helsinki

Finnish food is very simple with few spices. That means youโ€™ll really taste the flavours of the ingredients. Like the rest of Scandinavia, this Nordic food emphasises sustainability and freshness by using seasonal and local foods.

Traditional foods in Finland typically include mushroom, vegetables and fish, pork, beef or reindeer. Arctic wild berries and wholemeal like rye, barley and oats are also a staple of the Finnish diet.

Finnish breakfast consists of bread with cold cuts, marmalade or cheese, oat porridge (puuro) or yogurt with toppings. Karjalanpiirakka is a classic Finnish breakfast dish.

Finnish desserts include many sweet delights! Some of the more popular desserts are cinnamon buns – korvapuusti, which is Finnish for “slapped ears” and Runeberg torte; a rum soaked muffing, named after a national poet. 

Finnish food
Runeberg torte

Best restaurants in Helsinki

You have a lot of great restaurants, cafรฉs and street food to choose from in Helsinki. These are some of the best ones:

Breakfast: Cafetoria Roastery is a cosy little place for coffee enthusiasts. They have pies, croissants and sandwiches for breakfast.

Lunch: Green Hippo Punavuori is great for lunch. Go there for the fresh and very Instagram-friendly food.

Snacks: Try the liquorice (salmiakki). Itโ€™s world-known, and Scandinavia is where to get the original and best kind.

Street food: You’ll find lots of street food in Helsinki. Try the very popular Street Gastro or get a falafel at Fafa’s or a burger at Naughty BRGR. 

Dinner: Restaurant Lappi serves authentic Finnish Lappish food, like reindeer. A unique place. If you’re looking for the best burgers in Helsinki, go to Kuja Bar and Bistro. 

Finnish food
Kuja burger with beef steak, bacon, fried egg, Emmental and cheddar, pickles, mixed salad and garlic mayo

Michelin-star restaurants in Helsinki

Helsinki is a great place for foodies, and it currently claims six one-star Michelin restaurants:

  1. Grรถn
  2. Restaurant Palace
  3. Restaurant Demo
  4. Restaurant Ora
  5. Restaurant Olo
  6. Inari
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What does a meal cost in Helsinki?

Food in Helsinki isn’t cheap. I recently read in an article that Finnish food prices are 20% higher than the rest of EU.

Prices can vary, but an average meal in a mid-range restaurant costs around $14 per person. Breakfast is most often included in accommodation unless you stay at an Air BnB. If youโ€™re eating out, a breakfast meal will be around $9. 

I spent around $70 per day on food in Helsinki.

  • Breakfast: $6-10
  • Lunch: $11-20
  • Street food: $3-11
  • Dinner: $20-40
  • Beer/wine: $6-7

Food tour in Helsinki

The best way to get to know a new cuisine is on a food tour. Or a cooking class, both will do.

On a food tour you get to taste Finnish food, get the history behind it and you’ll visit gastronomic hot spots. I’ve gotten so many great restaurant and food tips on food tours around the world, and I always try to fit one in when I travel.

Check rates and availability on this food tour with lunch.

Traditional Finnish food in Helsinki

1. Karjalanpiirakka

A Finnish breakfast typically includes a karjalanpiirakka, which is a Finnish rice pie from the Karelian region. It has a thin rye crust with a filling of rice and butter mixed with boiled egg.

Good stuff!

You can get karjalanpiirakka at bakeries and most cafes.

Finnish food

2. Lihapiirakka (meat pie)

Lihipiirakka is one of the traditional Finnish foods, great for side dishes. It’s kind of like a hamburger pie; a savoury minced meat pie with rice, onion and eggs.

Lihapiirakka

3. Pickled herring with ruisleipรค (rye bread)

Pickled herring is another Finnish staple. As in other Scandinavian countries, it’s often served with rye bread (Finnish: ruisleipรค) or boiled new potatoes. 

Rugbrรธd med sild (1 of 1)

4. Reindeer

One of the more unique Finnish dishes is made with reindeer.

The meat is very dark, strong flavoured and salty. Reindeer meat (poronkรคristys) is quite popular in Finland and according to recent studies it’s one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It’s high on B-12, omega-3 and omega-6.

I had a reindeer pizza at a friend’s house, but you can get reindeer meat or stews at many restaurants in Helsinki or even at the supermarket.

Finnish food

5. Salmiakki

As a Dane, I was born and bred to love liquorice. Finland invented it, and they’re known especially for their salmiakki;  a very salty liquorice. Up until this summer there was a kiosk in Helsinki devoted to Salmiakki products and you could get things like salmiakki coffee, chocolate and ice cream. But it’s closed now unfortunately.

Liqourice tip: If you’re in Finland and want to try liquorice, start with the sweet kind (Pepe and Panda). It’s not as salty as salmiakki.

Other Finnish sweets

Do you know Karl Fazer? Oh, he’s just the KING of candy! Among other things, he’s the mastermind behind Marianne peppermint crisps, Dumle soft chewy toffee and smooth chocolate, and the most important one: salmiakki liquorice. He’s so popular that he has a cafรฉ named after him, right in the heart of Helsinki. It’s a great place for brunch, deserts or sweets. The prices are a bit high, but the experience is well worth it.

Finnish food
Finnish food
Tyrkisk peber and Lakrisal are salty, and Pepe is sweet

6. Lohikeitto (Salmon Soup)

Finnish salmon soup, or lohikeitto, is a creamy Nordic salmon chowder with potatoes, carrots, onion and leek. It’s a healthy and simple dish that’s served both as an everyday meal, in restaurants and for parties. 

Finnish food

7. Kalakukko (fish pie)

Kalakukko is another traditional Finnish food. It’s a bread loaf stuffed with bacon-wrapped fish such as vendace, perch, or salmon. Originally from the Finnish region of Savonia, this dish is now considered an authentic Finnish dish.

Zavrsje

8. Korvapuusti (cinnamon buns)

Yuuum, cinnamon buns. 

Korvapuusti, which translates to “slapped ears” is a delicious cardamom bun with cinnamon remonce. It differs from other cinnamon buns because there’s cardamom in the dough. 

Korvapuusti.jpg

9. Lihapullat (Finnish meatballs)

If you’ve been to IKEA, you’ve probably seen or maybe even tasted the iconic Swedish meatballs. Well, lihapullat is the Finnish version with less spices. 

Lihapullat is traditionally served with boiled potatoes, gravy, lingonberry jam and pickles. 

Lihapullat

10. Mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie)

Mustikkapiirakka is Finnish for blueberry pie. And it’s not a pie in the traditional sense. It’s more a cross between a pie, a tart and a cheesecake. 

Mustikkapiirakka is made with bilberries, which are similar to North American blueberries in taste. Mixed with sour creme and cardamom and served with fresh milk.

Mustikkapiirakka

FAQ about Finnish food in Helsinki

What are some traditional Finnish dishes to try in Helsinki?

Some traditional Finnish dishes to try in Helsinki include karjalanpiirakka (rice pies), kalakukko (fish pie), lihapullat (meatballs), and poronkรคristys (reindeer stew).


Are there any vegetarian or vegan Finnish food options in Helsinki?

Yes, there are many vegetarian and vegan Finnish food options in Helsinki.

Some popular dishes include kasvispiirakka (vegetable pie), kasviskeitto (vegetable soup), and perunamuusi (mashed potatoes).


What are some popular Finnish desserts to try in Helsinki?

Some popular Finnish desserts to try in Helsinki include pulla (sweet buns), mรคmmi (sweet rye pudding), and korvapuusti (cinnamon rolls).


Where can I find the best Finnish food in Helsinki?

There are many restaurants and cafes in Helsinki that serve traditional Finnish food. Some popular options include Savotta, Juuri, and Lappi Ravintola.


How expensive is Finnish food in Helsinki?

The cost of Finnish food in Helsinki can vary depending on the restaurant or cafe. An average meal in a mid-range restaurant costs around $16 per person.


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14 Comments

  1. wow, seems you really had the best when it comes to food in your visit to Helsinki. I might also be visiting Finland before the end of the year, so thanks for giving me a heads up on what to expect. Thanks and keep up the great work.

    Cindy

  2. Aghhh! I cringe whenever I see salmiakki! My husband loved it – he basically tried it in every form imaginable during our trip to Finland. I don’t think I’ll ever grow to like it.

    1. He might be the first non-Scandinavian I’ve heard of that loves salmiakki. Most people feel the way you do ๐Ÿ™‚ Try the sweet liquorice (Panda and Pepe) next time you’re in Finland. It’s quite different from Salmiakki so I think you’ll like it better.

  3. My American husband and son like salmiakki, too. Here in FL I’ve found Dutch salmiakki for my cravings and it’s OK.

    1. Salmiakki is the best! I didn’t know it was available out of North Europe and least of all in the US. I’m happy that you found it ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Wow that pizza looks amazing, I’m going to Helsinki tomorrow and I’ll definitely give a go to reindeer meat if is in a pizza (YUMMY!!), but, I have to say, my last pizza was actually in Denmark, Stefanos pizza in Nรธrrebro, and it was actually one of the best pizzas ever (I rank it #2 after a forno restaurant in Italy). I’m looking forward to see what is going to be this reindeer one like.

    1. That makes me kind of proud as a Dane ๐Ÿ˜€ I will have to try Stefanos Pizza next time I’m in Copenhagen!

      Have fun in Helsinki and enjoy the reindeer meat ๐Ÿ™‚

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