7 Awesome & Affordable Places To Eat in Copenhagen

From veggie bowls and open sandwiches to perfect pizza and gorgeously greasy burgers – it may have a reputation as an expensive place to eat, but on a recent trip, I hunted down some brilliant cheap eats in Copenhagen…

If you’ve read my post about cheap eats in New York, you’ll know I get a kick out of finding great food in expensive cities at affordable prices. Copenhagen definitely has a pricey rep, but like anywhere with a little research, you can find options to fit within a more modest budget.

Aside from a very bland burrito in the Tivoli Food Court (I just wanted to peek over the hedge at the decorations, tbh), everything I ate in Copenhagen was pretty banging. If you’re looking for some Copenhagen cheap eats, check out these seven spots you need to try…

GRØD

What I ate: Lentil Daal with Cherry Tomatoes & Salted Almonds
How much?: 75DKK (£8.97)

GRØD roughly translates to ‘porridge’, and although that’s what these guys are famous for, they also offer a range of bowl-based dishes to suit any mealtime.

There are several GRØD cafes across Copenhagen, and I paid a visit to their food stall at The Bridge Street Kitchen, conveniently located near the tourist-baiting restaurants of Nyhavn, home to a range of affordable street food stalls.

I chose a slightly spiced lentil daal, with a gorgeous crunch from the salted almonds, the flavours in this bowl were a delight. The perfect warming bowl on a crisp October day, best enjoyed while taking in Copenhagen’s river views.

The GRØD menu changes regularly, so you might not get to try the Daal I had, but if the rest of the menu is this good, you needn’t worry.

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Mother

What I ate: Margherita Pizza
How much?: 85DKK

Would it really be me if I went somewhere and *didn’t* have pizza? It’s a popular choice in Copenhagen for locals to grab a takeaway pizza and sit by the river, but I wasn’t really feeling that in October, tbh. Instead, I checked out Mother – who also have a London restaurant, which I hadn’t been to.

The situation was a little…awkward – as a ‘table for one’ diner, I was placed on the end of a long table, and ended up with a group of three being placed all around me. It was awkward, and hot, but thankfully the food was very good. A sourdough base (think Franco Manca but better, and with more generous toppings), and plenty of basil to set the gooey cheese off with a herby kick.

The margherita pizza is the cheapest pizza on the menu (apart from the marinara, but we don’t talk about those). If you want to spend a bit more, other pizzas range from 95DKK to 125DKK – so well under the 150DKK budget.

I also had the Mother IPA, which cost 50DKK – so even with a drink and a 10DKK tip, this took my total meal cost to 135DKK (£17.35)

Mother
Høkerboderne 9-15, 1712 København
mother.dk

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Tommi’s Burger Joint

What I ate: Cheeseburger, fries & a drink, plus a Tommi’s Sauce
How much?: 119DKK (£14.24)

Cause sometimes, you just want a greasy, juicy burger, am I right? Tommi’s Burger Joint (which is actually next door to Mother) delivers. It reminded me a lot of Burger Joint in New York; a casual, order-at-the-counter burger spot, serving up a simple menu.

I chose the cheeseburger meal, which comes with fries and a drink – and also purchased the Tommi’s Sauce to dip my fries in. The food came quickly, and I braved the cold to sit at a table outside and chow down on this juicy, medium-rare patty. The melted cheese and sauce dripped beautifully all down my jeans (the only ones I had for the trip), but it was worth it – this was the perfect messy burger.

The fries were crisp and salty, and the cocktail-style Tommi’s Sauce was a delicious accompaniment. Burger heaven.

(There are actually two Tommi’s restaurants in London, so you don’t have to go all the way to Denmark for this one!)

Tommi’s Burger Joint
Hørkerboderne 21-23, 1712 København V
burgerjoint.dk

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Cafe Flottenheimer

What I ate: Danish Brunch
How much: 135DKK (£16.09)

The first place I went to after stepping off the Metro at Nørreport, Café Flottenheimer set the (v. high) food standard for the rest of the trip.

This cute little café (that seemed to be full of American women that all knew each other) serves a cute little Danish brunch – although less emphasis on the little, because it was actually pretty filling. The brunch is a selection of small dishes, including half an avocado and a scrambled egg that made me actually like scrambled egg again – perfectly seasoned and super smooth.

The amazing spinach and feta quesadilla was an absolute standout, and I also enjoyed a fluffy mini pancake drizzled with maple syrup. For ‘afters’, I dug into the smooth, sharp yoghurt with crunchy granola and a sweet berry sauce.

If it wasn’t for the fact I wanted to try as many things as possible, I’d probably have come back here every day, tbh.

Café Flottenheimer
Skindergade 20, 1159 København
http://cafeflottenheimer.dk

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Next Door Café

What I ate: Raspberry Pancakes
How much: 55DKK (£6.58)

A half-awake human looking for breakfast remembered spotting this in a guide to Copenhagen cheap eats, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

I ordered the raspberry pancakes, and took a seat at the window with the hammerhead shark I’d been given as a table marker. The décor in Next Door Café was very up my street – eclectic with touches of the gothic – skulls, flowers and quirky trinkets everywhere the eye could see.

The pancakes were soft and fluffy, with a wholesome and hearty taste. The raspberry gave a tart and fruity kick, and the large amounts of maple syrup I liberally poured on top of them soaked in beautifully. The portion size was perfect for a small breakfast, and filled me up well until lunchtime.

Next Door Café
Larsbjørnsstræde 23, 1453 København
www.nextdoorcafe.dk

DØP – Den Økologiske Pølsemand

What I ate: Vegetarian Tofu Hotdog
How much: 34DKK (£4.05)

Serving traditional hotdogs with organic ingredients, DØP have reinvigorated the humble hot dog stand, a staple Copenhagen street food. Operating from a stand next to the Round Tower, it’s a popular option for cheap eats in Copenhagen – but still quite filling!

The consistency of the vegetarian tofu hotdog was great (also suitable for vegans), with plenty of crispy fried onions held on with a generous squirt of mustard. And, of course, some crunchy pickles – one of which ended up making its way onto my jeans (do we see a theme here…?).

DØP – Den Økologiske Pølsemand
Købmagergade 52, 1150 Københav
døp.dk

Aamans Deli and Takeaway

What I ate: Smørrebrod
How much: 140DKK for two pieces (£16.69)

Okay, this one’s being a BIT snuck into a ‘cheap eats in Copenhagen’ post, as they recommend you order three pieces, which would take you over the 150DKK threshold. But for a light lunch, you could probably get away with two for a light lunch. Believe me, this stuff’s worth trying – plus, at their more upmarket sister restaurants, you’ll pay about double the price for a meal. So it’s still a great deal, right?

Aamans was set up by Danish celebrity chef Adam Aamann, selling smørrebrod – the traditional Danish ‘open sandwich’, with a choice of toppings on rye bread. I actually visited on my food tour of Copenhagen (complimentary experience), and tried smaller versions of a few of their smørrebrods.

I particularly rated the potato and egg topped ones – but you can also get meat and smoked fish if that’s your bag. If your budget stretches a little more to a drink, I’d also recommend the Naturfrisk Elderflower Organic Soda (35DKK) – SO refreshing.

Aamans Deli and Takeaway
Øster Farimagsgade 10, 2100 København
aamanns.dk

Read more:
How to Visit Copenhagen on a Budget: Spending Diary
A Copenhagen Culinary Tour
Where to stay in Copenhagen: Steel House Hostel

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