Food · Helsinki · Finland
What to eat in Helsinki
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Helsinki, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michal Pise, Michal.Pise, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Salmon soup, Karelian pie and Cinnamon bun. The Old Market Hall at the harbour and the renovated Hakaniemi Market Hall in Kallio have counters for salmon soup, smoked fish, reindeer and pastries; lunch at a counter costs far less than a restaurant meal. Lunch is the main meal for many Finns and the best value; look for 'lounas' boards outside restaurants on weekdays.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Salmon soup
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected; service is included.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Salmon soup (Lohikeitto)
A creamy soup of salmon, potatoes, leeks and plenty of dill, eaten with rye bread and butter. It is Helsinki's most typical market lunch.
Where: The Old Market Hall beside Market Square and Hakaniemi Market Hall in Kallio.
Snack · Vegetarian
2.Karelian pie (Karjalanpiirakka)
An oval of thin rye crust filled with rice porridge, crimped at the edges and baked, then topped with egg butter (munavoi). Eaten warm for breakfast or as a snack.
Where: Every bakery, supermarket and café; market halls often sell them warm.
Dessert · Vegetarian
3.Cinnamon bun (Korvapuusti)
A cardamom-scented bun rolled with cinnamon and sugar and pressed into a shape that gives it its name, 'slapped ear'. It is the default partner to the many cups of coffee Finns drink through the day.
Where: Cafés everywhere; Café Regatta by the Sibelius Monument is a classic seaside stop.
Bakery · Vegetarian
4.Rye bread (Ruisleipä)
Dense, sour, dark rye bread, often baked in flat rounds with a hole in the middle. It is served with almost every meal, including breakfast and lunch buffets.
Where: Bakeries, supermarkets and market halls; try 'reikäleipä' (the ring-shaped loaf).
Street food
5.Fried vendace (Paistetut muikut)
Small lake fish coated in rye flour and fried whole until crisp, served with garlic mayonnaise and mashed potatoes. You eat them bones and all.
Where: Food tents on Market Square in the warmer months.
Dish
6.Sautéed reindeer (Poronkäristys)
Thin shavings of reindeer meat slowly cooked in butter, served with mashed potatoes, lingonberries and pickled cucumber. It is a Lapland dish found on traditional Finnish menus.
Where: Traditional Finnish restaurants in the centre; also at counters in the Old Market Hall.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Runeberg torte (Runebergintorttu)
A small cylindrical cake flavoured with almond and rum, topped with raspberry jam in a ring of icing, eaten in honour of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.
Where: Bakeries and cafés from early January until Runeberg's Day on 5 February.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Squeaky cheese (Leipäjuusto)
A mild baked cheese with a browned surface that squeaks against your teeth, often warmed and served with cloudberry jam as a dessert.
Where: Market halls, supermarkets and traditional restaurants.
Snack
9.Salty liquorice (Salmiakki)
Liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride for a sharp, salty taste that divides visitors. It also appears in ice cream, chocolate and a liqueur.
Where: Supermarkets, kiosks and the pick-and-mix counters in any shop.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Long drink (Lonkero)
Gin mixed with grapefruit soda, first sold for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and now Finland's favourite ready-mixed drink, sold in cans and on tap.
Where: Supermarkets, kiosks and bars across the city.
Food experiences
Market hall lunch
The Old Market Hall at the harbour and the renovated Hakaniemi Market Hall in Kallio have counters for salmon soup, smoked fish, reindeer and pastries; lunch at a counter costs far less than a restaurant meal.
Weekday lunch buffet
Most restaurants serve 'lounas', a fixed-price weekday lunch with salad bar, bread, a main dish and coffee, usually from about 11am to 2pm.
Sauna and dinner
Löyly and the Allas Sea Pool pair a sauna session and sea dip with a meal or drinks on a terrace facing the Baltic.
New Nordic dining
Helsinki has a cluster of tasting-menu restaurants built on Finnish forest and archipelago ingredients such as berries, mushrooms, game and Baltic fish; book well ahead.
Quick bites and street food
- Karelian pie — Every bakery, supermarket and café; market halls often sell them warm.
- Rye bread — Bakeries, supermarkets and market halls; try 'reikäleipä' (the ring-shaped loaf).
- Fried vendace — Food tents on Market Square in the warmer months.
- Salty liquorice — Supermarkets, kiosks and the pick-and-mix counters in any shop.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Karelian pie, Cinnamon bun, Rye bread, Runeberg torte, Squeaky cheese and Long drink. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Lunch is the main meal for many Finns and the best value; look for 'lounas' boards outside restaurants on weekdays.
- Tap water is excellent and served free on request.
- Wine and spirits are sold by the state-owned Alko stores; supermarkets sell beer, cider and other lower-strength drinks.
- Many restaurants close on Sundays or serve shorter hours in July, when Finns take their summer holidays.
- Book ahead for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays at popular restaurants.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected; service is included. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good table service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Moi / Hei | Hi |
| Kiitos | Thank you |
| Anteeksi | Excuse me / sorry |
| Kippis | Cheers |
| Hei hei | Bye |
| Tack | Thank you (Swedish, also an official language) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Helsinki famous for?
Salmon soup, Karelian pie, Cinnamon bun and Rye bread. A creamy soup of salmon, potatoes, leeks and plenty of dill, eaten with rye bread and butter.
+Is Helsinki good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Karelian pie, Cinnamon bun and Rye bread.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Helsinki?
Tipping is not expected; service is included. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good table service is appreciated but optional.