Flavors of Finland: 25 Foods To Try in Helsinki
Looking for a brief intro to Finnish cuisine and essential foods to try in Finland? Read on!
Click Here To Book This Top Rated Helsinki Food Tour!
When I landed in Helsinki, the very first thing that hit me wasn’t the cold air. It was the warm scent of cinnamon buns wafting through the airport, paired with the calming sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves playing over the speakers in the terminal.
In that moment, I knew I was in for a treat that would be equal parts indulgent and eco-minded. A culinary journey where pleasure and sustainability go hand in hand.
I came for my obligatory annual Scandi fix. I expected minimalistic concept stores, design-forward cafés, and maybe a few hearty bowls of fish soup.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn about the Finnish way of thinking about food — not just what’s on the plate, but how it’s grown, preserved, foraged, and shared.
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A Taste of Finnish Food History
Finnish cuisine didn’t emerge in isolation; it’s a mosaic of influences layered over centuries. The long period under Swedish rule left its mark in baking traditions, dairy culture, and the love of hearty breads and pastries.
Russian influence followed, bringing dishes like Karelian pies, beet-based soups, and a taste for pickled vegetables.
And deeper still are the contributions of indigenous Sámi communities in the north, whose relationship with reindeer, fish, and wild berries continues to shape what Finns eat today.
Together with the natural constraints of climate — short summers, long winters, and forests and lakes that provide as much as they limit — these influences created a cuisine that is simple yet resourceful, unpretentious yet deeply tied to survival and identity.
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Finland – A Leader in Food Sustainability
The Finns are, quite frankly, leading the way in Europe — and arguably the world — when it comes to food sustainability. Organic options are widely available. Government policies are pushing toward carbon neutrality.
And the weather itself, harsh and unyielding as it is, forces people into habits that align with seasonal eating and lighter pesticide use. Walking around Helsinki, I could feel how food wasn’t just about taste, but about values.
One of the most charming moments of my trip was stumbling upon a group of schoolchildren in a local market. They were buzzing around in pairs with worksheets in hand, tasked with identifying which foods were in season.
It instantly transported me back to my own school days in Poland, where even cooking classes were mandatory. The contrast with where I live now in the U.S. was striking — kids here can’t even tell a beet from broccoli, as chef Jamie Oliver pointed out in his viral video.
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A Land Of Cold and Contrasts
What surprised me most was the balance between old and new. On one hand, Finns are deeply tied to foraging. Mushrooms, berries — people still gather them themselves, just like I used to as a child. And the sheer variety of berries in Finland was mind-blowing.
On the other hand, the modern Finnish sweet tooth is very real. Candy aisles in supermarkets are enormous, fast food joints are on every corner, and Finland has one of the world’s highest rates of ice cream consumption — all this in a country where winter lasts most of the year.
Coffee, too. It might surprise you to learn that Finns are the world champions in drinking it. Per capita consumptions hovers at around 11–12 kilograms per year.
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The Happiest Place To Live – Or Is It?
Food in Finland isn’t just about taste — it’s tied, in complicated ways, to mental health. On the one hand, the traditions of foraging, seasonal eating, and sharing coffee and buns with friends nourish a sense of community and well-being.
By contrast, Finland consistently appears at the top of both lists: the world’s happiest countries and those with high rates of depression, suicide, and alcoholism. My local friend Shelly (shout out to the awesome Travel Massive community for the last minute connection!) put it into perspective:
“Here’s something to think about… after Finland joined the EU, the world of western food & essentials opened up. Compared to other continental EU countries, I do think we have more products to choose from which also means more unhealthy options.
You have to remember that Finland did not have a lot — same as Estonia under Russian rule. One of my former hairdressers is Estonian and she said bananas were a luxury.”
Her words stayed with me. The sudden abundance of imported goods and processed foods created both joy and risk — indulgence mixed with temptation — and that duality runs deep in the Finnish psyche, where comfort and struggle often sit side by side.
So no, there is no “perfect” food culture. There is no “happiest” place. Finland has its contradictions, just like everywhere else. But that’s exactly why I love editing this blog: to take the good habits, the beautiful traditions, and the clever ideas from around the world and hold them up to the light.
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25 Essential Foods to Try in Finland
Here’s my list of essential foods to try in Finland — each one teaching me something about this fascinating country’s history, geography, and culture.
Click Here To Book This Top Rated Helsinki Food Tour!
1. Karelian Pie with Egg Butter (Karjalanpiirakka + munavoi)
Firstly, born in Karelia, this thin rye-crusted pastry filled with rice porridge and topped with egg butter is the definition of Finnish comfort food. It tastes like history: simple, nourishing, and endlessly satisfying.
2. Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
Creamy broth, tender salmon chunks, potatoes, dill — this bowl warms you from the inside out. It’s both peasant food and gourmet fare, depending on where you eat it. No list of foods to try in Finland could be complete without it.
3. Rye Bread (Ruisleipä)
Dense, tangy, and filling, rye bread is the true Finnish staple. It kept generations alive through harsh winters and still shows up daily at almost every meal.
4. Karelian Stew (Karjalanpaisti)
A rustic slow-cooked mix of beef, pork, and root vegetables. Eating it felt like being invited into a Finnish grandmother’s kitchen.
5. Smoked Salmon (Savustettu lohi)
One of the purest pleasures: rich, tender fish infused with the aroma of birch smoke. A bite of the sea, with history embedded in every preserved slice.
6. Reindeer Meat (Poronliha)
A taste of Lapland in Helsinki. Lean, slightly gamey, and rooted in Sámi tradition, it reminded me how close Finns still are to their northern wilderness.
7. Pickled Herring (Silli)
Salty, tangy, and often served with onions and rye bread. It’s not everyone’s favorite, but it’s part of Finland’s Baltic DNA.
8. Pickled Vegetables
Beets, cucumbers, and cabbage preserved for the winter months. In a land of long freezes, these jars of sour crunch were once essential survival.
9. Wild Mushrooms
Finns forage for chanterelles, boletes, and more, cooking them into creamy sauces or frying them with butter. They reminded me of my own childhood in Poland, where we wouldn’t eat a mushroom we hadn’t picked ourselves.
10. Meat Pie (Lihapiirakka)
A deep-fried pastry filled with minced meat and rice. You’ll find it at kiosks — hearty, greasy, and beloved by students and night owls alike.
11. Fish Pie (Kalakukko)
Similarly, a seafood based Savonian specialty: small fish and pork baked inside a rye loaf. Heavy and rustic, but deeply satisfying if you love fish.
12. Small Fried Fish (Muikku)
Tiny vendace fish fried whole, eaten with fingers at summer markets. Balanced against tangy fresh lemon, rispy, salty, and addictive.
13. Meatballs with Lingonberry Sauce (Lihapullat)
Yes, they’re cousins of Swedish meatballs — but the Finnish version with tart lingonberries and mashed potatoes hit me with comforting nostalgia.
14. Salty Licorice (Salmiakki)
A national obsession. Its salty-ammonia tang was shocking at first, but I started to understand why Finns crave it like candy crack.
15. Coffee (Kahvi)
Despite the popularity of local Finnish drinks like blueberry and cranberry juice, the humble coffee is the real national beverage. Light roast, endless cups, and always paired with something sweet. No wonder Finland tops the world in coffee consumption.
16. Cinnamon Bun (Korvapuusti)
Less gooey than the American version, more spiced with cardamom. Eating one with coffee felt like joining a Finnish ritual.
Click Here To Book This Top Rated Helsinki Food Tour!
17. Blueberry Pie (Mustikkapiirakka)
Made from bilberries — smaller, darker, and more flavorful than the cultivated blueberries I know from the U.S. A summer forest baked into a crust.
18. Squeaky Cheese (Leipäjuusto) with Cloudberry Jam
Warm, chewy cheese that squeaks on your teeth, balanced with the golden, tart jam of cloudberries from Lapland bogs. Pure magic.
19. Lonkero (Finnish Long Drink)
A gin-and-grapefruit soda invented for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Still the perfect drink for a late summer evening.
20. Whipped Cream Bun (Laskiaispulla)
A cardamom bun filled with whipped cream and jam, traditionally eaten before Lent. Indulgent, sweet, and a bit messy.
21. Baked Porridge (Uunipuuro)
Slow-cooked oats or grains baked in milk until creamy and caramelized. Comfort food at its finest.
22. Pea Soup (Hernekeitto)
Thick, green, and traditionally eaten on Thursdays — often followed by pancakes. A humble ritual that’s lasted centuries.
23. Rye Crisp Bread (Näkkileipä)
Thin, crunchy, and long-lasting. Once survival food, now a common snack with cheese or butter.
24. Wild Berries
Lastly, the famed Nordic berries. Lingonberries, cranberries, bilberries, cloudberries. Picking and eating them straight from the forest felt like the most Finnish experience of all. The list of foods to try in Finland wouldn’t be complete without them.
25. Bonus: Nepalese Food
Nepalese cuisine has a surprisingly strong presence in Helsinki thanks to a growing immigrant community. It’s a reminder that Finnish food culture isn’t just about tradition — it’s also about what new arrivals bring to the table.
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Where to Eat Finnish Food in Helsinki
Helsinki restaurant scene is very cosmopolitan. For better or worse, as it may be hard to find traditional Finnish dishes without patronizing overly touristy spots. As always, I tried my best to use my local intel, fellow bloggers and food content creators to find the most reliable venues across town.
Best Restaurants in Helsinki
Here’s a shortlist of the best places in the capital to sample almost everything from the above list of foods to try in Finland:
- Restaurant Konstan Möljä – Traditional Finnish dishes buffet style in a homely, maritime-themed setting.
- Hakaniemi Market Hall – A lively, historic market with fresh fish, berries, bread, and local treats.
- Ravintola Nolla – The city’s groundbreaking zero-waste restaurant, all about seasonal and sustainable eating.
- Restaurant Fisken på Disken – Stylish seafood spot serving some of the freshest fish in town.
- BasBas Kulma – Casual wine bar vibes with excellent small plates.
- Ravintola Nokka – Refined dining with a focus on traceable, local ingredients.
- Restaurant Merimakasiini – A seafood institution near the harbor, perfect for classic salmon soup.
- Ravintola Kannas – Old-school Finnish comfort food, beloved by locals.
- SOUP+MORE, Vanha Kauppahalli – A cozy soup café inside Helsinki’s Old Market Hall.
- HES Burger – Finland’s answer to McDonald’s; a must for fast-food anthropology.
- Eromanga Oy Bakery – A legendary bakery known for its lihapiirakka and hearty pastries.
- Ravintola KuuKuu – Modern bistro with Finnish flavors and a laid-back atmosphere.
- Ekberg 1852 – Helsinki’s oldest bakery and café, dripping with history (and cream).
- Layers Bakery – A contemporary bakery with Instagram-worthy pastries and breads.
- Ateljé Finne – A stylish, artistic restaurant housed in a former sculptor’s studio.
- Ravintola Kolme Kruunua – A Helsinki classic serving hearty, traditional fare.
- Way Bakery – Minimalist café with superb croissants.
- Kappeli – A glass-walled institution in Esplanade Park, perfect for people-watching.
- Goldfish Bar – Trendy cocktails and small plates with a playful twist.
- Himalaya Restaurant – A taste of Nepal in the north, beloved for curries and momos. The city’s oldest Nepalese restaurant.
- Ateljee Bar – Rooftop bar with sweeping city views; the cocktails are a bonus.
- Kosmos – Family-run since 1924, serving Finnish classics with a touch of retro.
- Restaurant Grön – Michelin-starred, vegetable-forward fine dining.
- Restaurant Natura – Seasonal, natural, and creative — Helsinki’s terroir on a plate.
- Savoy – Legendary traditional fine-dining restaurant on the Esplanade.
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Foods to Try in Finland – Final Words
By the time I left Helsinki, I realized that in my ultra brief visit I’d done more than just taste a new cuisine. I’d glimpsed a culture that balances old and new, survival and pleasure, austerity and indulgence.
I watched kids learning the seasons at a market, foragers selling freshly picked chanterelles, and chefs reimagining sustainability at the highest level. I’d also seen people lining up for burgers and filling baskets with candy.
And that’s the beauty of it. No place in the world has a perfect food culture. But in Finland, I tasted honesty, resilience, and respect for the land — flavors that linger long after the meals are over.
More importantly, I saw a nation quietly leading by example, showing that sustainability, seasonality, and cultural pride can coexist with modern life. Without a doubt, the world would do well to take note of how Finland does it. One cup of coffee, one berry, one simple, seasonal meal at a time.
Click Here To Book This Top Rated Helsinki Food Tour!
What else would you add to the list of foods to try in Finland? Let us know in the comments or tag @eightyflavors on socials!
OUR TRIED AND TESTED FOOD TRAVEL RESOURCES: Book a hotel with Booking.com. Search for the best flight deals on Skyscanner. Find the best local food tours on Viator. Browse curated conscious group trips with G Adventures. Get your travel insurance with World Nomads.
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