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Copenhagen has experienced a gastronomical revolution over the past decade. A rising interest in new Nordic cooking emphasizes using locally sourced raw materials and high-quality seasonal ingredients. Wild game, cured or smoked fish and meats, Limfjord oysters, Læsø langoustine, eel, and plaice are a few examples.
There's also been a revival of authentic Danish fare. Most such meals begin with sild, pickled herring of various flavors, served on rugbrød, a very dark and dense rye-based bread. This bread is also the basis for smørrebrød—open-face sandwiches piled high with various meats, vegetables, and condiments. For dinner, try flæskesteg, pork roast with a crispy rind, which is commonly served with rødkål, stewed red cabbage, and potatoes.
There are plenty of bistros serving moderately priced meals, and for inexpensive savory noshes in stylish surroundings, consider lingering in a café. Many restaurants offer fixed-priced meals with wine-pairing menus, and most restaurants require reservations. Many restaurants tack a surcharge of between 3.75% and 5.75% onto the bill for the use of foreign credit cards.
Noma’s former dessert chef has been drawing a crowd since she opened a street-food stall at Torvehallerne (still going strong), where she serves the best tacos in Copenhagen. Now she’s opened a full-service restaurant, too, on hip Istedgade, where the tacos are just as good.
