10 Finnish cuisine staples: Meat & fish dishes to eat in Helsinki

Pea soup with pork, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by chandlervid85 from Freepik

Ok, ok, the title says it’s all about the meat and fish side of Finnish cuisine, so what’s soup doing here? But look, this is Finland, it’s a cold country, and a bowl of something hot that simultaneously delivers warmth, nutrients, and energy, isn’t to be missed. And, Finns make hernekeitto with pork, so the meat is there, all right.

Pea soup has been known throughout the world since time immemorial, with the first recorded evidence of its existence found in The Birds by Aristophanes, an Ancient Greece’s playwright. Most countries, however, modify the recipe to make use of the produce that’s readily available around. In Finland, for example, it is customary to use green peas for this soup. Regardless, if you are in from the cold and can have a bowl of hernekeitto, accept it with gratitude.

Ravintola Hima & Sali operates in the seaside Länsisatama neighbourhood of Helsinki. As a matter of fact, it stands just across the road from the bay, so if you plan on inhaling some fresh salty air while in Finland’s capital, you can’t miss this place. The same goes for Kaapelipuisto, a park that’s just several minutes on foot from this restaurant.

Hernekeitto, the Finnish pea soup, is one of the highlights on the menu of Ravintola Hima & Sali, as of this writing. The cooks don’t go cheap on the pork component of this dish, so it’s as filling as it is warming here. Pair it with a second course of, well, any Finnish cuisine gem that strikes your fancy at the moment (pretty much all of them are on the offer at this diner), and have a full-scale meal. Why not?

Pork and vegetable stew, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by wirestock from Freepik

This one is hearty, filling, and nutritious. Finland, as you know, is a country in the north of Europe, with a third of its territory above the Arctic circle. This means it’s cold there, really cold. Therefore, whenever you eat, it is best to pick a dish that warms you up and provides fuel to last several hours, at least. Enter karjalanpaisti, the Finnish take on the stew concept.

The key ingredients of this staple are pork, beef, and mutton, all as nicely squared chunks, and then some veggies like potatoes, carrots, and onions, if last summer was warm enough for them to ripen. Some couple centuries ago, the pot would meet its lid at this point and be tossed into the oven. Nowadays, Finns are likely to spice the stew up a bit with peppercorns, allspice, bay leaves, and other flavorful components at hand. Which is to the best, really, since they transform necessary sustenance into an enjoyable meal.

Located in Harju quarter of Helsinki, which is northeast of the city center, Cella is a traditional, if not old-fashioned, Finnish restaurant with everything that entails: wooden interior, a long bar counter, tons of framed pictures on the walls, and somewhat slow-ish but sincerely friendly service, according to online reviews.

The menu of Cella is pretty standard for a place like this: all the staples of Finnish cuisine, including that stew we suggest you eat here. You may have the reindeer variety of it, which is very tasty and true to the region. Wash it down with a beer and have a pastry for dessert to accompany your coffee, and off you go. There is still much to see in Helsinki!

Sautéed reindeer, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by freepik from Freepik

Poronkäristys is sautéed reindeer, a dish traditional to the culinary customs of Sámi people, who, as mentioned above, may have had something to do with the origins of “Suomi.” And while the etymological debate goes on, there is no argument about the contribution of Sámi to Finnish cuisine, with poronkäristys being one of the gems thereof.

Sámi inhabit the Arctic Lapland of Finland as well as territories of Sweden and Norway on the same latitudes. Reindeer herding has been their trade for centuries, so it’s quite natural that these animals are the key source of protein for them. For poronkäristys, they cut the meat into thin slices, fry it in fat, and spice the resulting delicious bites with salt and black pepper. As for the sides, the original recipes suggest none, but nowadays it is common to have some mashed potatoes served with sautéed reindeer.

Central location of Helsinki’s Savotta restaurant gives you an opportunity to kill several birds with one stone: the list of nearby sights, landmarks, and attractions includes the iconic Senate Square, the magnificent Helsinki Cathedral, the picturesque Esplanade Park, and the enlightening Helsinki City Museum.

The restaurant takes pride in offering the authentic taste of Finnish cuisine, with a focus on traditional dishes that pay homage to Finland's rich culinary heritage. Poronkäristys, fried reindeer meat, is just one of the options available here; the menu of the place actually contains all the Nordic food staples.

Meatballs, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by timolina from Freepik

Meatballs are a concept that found realization in pretty much every noteworthy cuisine of the world, Finnish included. One theory points to ancient Persia as the place and time where/when this dish was invented, as confirmed by written records therefrom; Finnish lihapullat are much younger, but still a decent addition to this culinary family.

Typically a main course, Suomi meatballs come in numbers, since they are rather small. The core ingredient of lihapullat is ground beef, but nothing stops Finnish cooks from using pork, lamb, chicken, even reindeer or elk. The meat is mixed with soaked bread, eggs, and onions; allspice is the seasoning of choice, plus ground pepper for the daring. Baked or fried on a pan, Finnish meatballs usually have a light and airy texture, unless they are cooked with a gravy, which is also a popular option that makes this Finnish food mouthwateringly juicy.

Ravintola Kolme Kruunua is a Finnish cuisine restaurant located by the harbor, in Kruununhaka district, which is a touristy center of Helsinki with numerous sights and attractions, including, if you like, an open-air theater on an island across the bridge from the seafront. And if shopping is your idea of leisure time spent well, you just have to find Aleksanterinkatu shopping street, which is also around the corner from Ravintola Kolme Kruunua.

Finnish meatballs, lihapullat, have been praised extensively by visitors caring to express their opinion of this restaurant after they’ve eaten here. Salmon soup, sautéed reindeer, and blueberry pie are among other dishes frequently mentioned in the reviews. The place is quite popular, so reserving a table in advance may be a good idea.

Fish in rye bread, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by freepik from Freepik

Kalakukko, which many erroneously translate as “fish in a rooster” while it actually means “fish in a cake,” is a Finnish variation of food cooked to be taken on a long journey or to carry you through a long day of work. As the name suggests, it is fish that’s wrapped in dough and baked for several hours.

The key ingredients of kalakukko are:

– fish (vendace, perch, or salmon),

– bacon (second wrapper for the filling, if you wish),

– rye dough (wheat is ok, too).

It is one of the most authentic Finnish cuisine dishes, so to say. While the concept is universal – a wrapper is a wrapper, – this take on its realization makes the result big, compared to what you find in other culinary traditions of the world. And in the town of Rautalampi, bakers even came up with an idea to rig up a wooden handle to kalakukko loaf, thus making it easier to carry. Finnish inventiveness at its best!

If you are looking for an original restaurant in Helsinki, i.e., not the brown wooden walling and tables to match, but something more filmable, a place you’d readily publish pictures from to your social media feeds, come to Restaurant Zetor. It’s right there in the busy center of the city, near the Three Blacksmiths statue, you can’t miss it.

Inside, it’s a farm. With a real tractor (decommissioned), flames on hood included. Really, there are so many things you need a selfie with here it would take a dedicated piece to describe them. But you came for Finnish food, and Restaurant Zetor delivers on that account, too. Order kalakukko, and you won’t be disappointed. Couple it with fried herring, beer, and dessert, then have another beer. No need to hurry, really. This place is fun!

Finnish salmon soup, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by user3802032 from Freepik

Ok, other Nordic countries have a fish soup dish, too, it is called laxsoppa or kalaruoka there. But it is believed that the original inventors of this recipe were Finns, so it’s no mistake. Just a culinary gem that transcended borders, is all.

The key ingredients of Finnish lohikeitto are chunks of fresh salmon fillet, diced potatoes, onions, and leek, with cream added at discretion, although the traditional variations of the recipe do prescribe adding it to enhance the flavor and up the nutritional value of the dish. We are up in the North, after all.

The typical sides for a bowl of lohikeitto are a piece of rye bread with butter, and lemon wedges. This combination is a perfect symphony of taste, with each component thereof highlighting the best other ingredients have to offer. A must for any gourmet in Finland.

Ravintola Olo is probably the most expensive restaurant on this list. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, this is the place to go. The quality of everything, food and service, is superb. A Michelin star isn’t given for nothing, as you know, and Ravintola Olo has got one.

Needless to say, lohikeitto, Finnish salmon soup, is simply outstanding here. You should try it in other low-key eateries and more upscale establishments of Helsinki, of course, just to get the full picture of what it can be, but chances are Ravintola Olo’soffering will be beyond comparison.

Fried Baltic herring, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by KamranAydinov from Freepik

Silakat is a fish dish that’s common not just in Finland but throughout the entire European North. Making it involves scaling several herrings (or just taking some filets thereof), coating them with a mixture of flour, pepper, and salt, plus some lime zest, if you have it available. Then, you throw the fish on a hot pan with oil or butter already sizzling on it, and fry them until crispy and golden.

Simple and delicious, silakat usually has mashed potatoes as a side, plus optional pickled cucumbers, or lime wedges. Some vinegar and coarse sea salt may come on top of the fish once it is out of the pan and on a plate, adding a touch that completes the picture.

Ravintola Kannas is a charming restaurant at Eerikinkatu 43, the heart of Helsinki. This city is generally compact, you might say, so whatever sights and attractions there are, you can walk to them from this establishment, the longest stroll taking less than an hour. On that note, there is Ruoholahdenpuisto park mere 500 m from Ravintola Kannas, so if it’s just walking you have in mind, not going places, this is the perfect spot.

The wooden interior of this restaurant emanates warmth, a welcome feeling in Helsinki 8 out of 12 months in any given year. The food, of course, supports the impression: hot, steaming and flavorful stews and soups, golden brown crispy herring, traditional meatballs with generous sides, all here, and all reasonably priced. A pleasant evening guaranteed.

Smoked salmon, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by jcomp from Freepik

Smoking your source of protein is a technique born out of necessity: the resulting fish, or meat, doesn’t go over for a considerable period of time, and if conserved somehow or kept in a dry cellar, it can be the source of delicious cuts for many family gatherings.

Loimulohi is a composite word incorporating “loimu”, which means “glow,” and “lohi,” meaning “salmon.” That said, salmon is not the only fish Finns smoke, with the next best thing being rainbow trout, followed by whatever else is in the catch of the day.

The process involves hanging fish filets on planks arranged vertically around a fire. Eating the result straight off the plank is a special pleasure, but this experience typically requires making friends among the locals who smoke their fish themselves. Which is actually not a problem, since Finns are a welcoming and friendly nation.

In the Restaurant Guru’s rating, Fisken på Disken is the second best seafood restaurant in Helsinki, as of this writing. Our algorithms come up with a score for a listed establishment based on numerous factors, so the place must really be good, at least when you are hunting for some authentic Finnish smoked salmon, a.k.a loimulohi.

Located in Kamppi Helsinki shopping mall, Fisken på Disken is where you can stop for a breath after thousands of steps through stores large and small. The menu of the place offers all things seafood, from herring and salmon under various guises, common around here, to octopi and lobster tails, quite exotic for the surroundings. All in all, this is a typical mall restaurant that keeps its quality-in-everything bar high, so you may want to revisit Fisken på Disken when you return to Kamppi to buy that present you’ll not be allowed home without.

Blueberry pie, Finnish cuisine dish. Image by wirestock from Freepik

Mustikkapiirakka, a traditional blueberry pie from Finland, probably embodies one of the best ways to use what is really plentiful in this Nordic country: berries. Blueberries in particular, if you follow the traditional recipe, but not exclusively, if you are feeling adventurous.

The dough for this Finnish dessert is made of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and baking powder. Quite simple. Once ripe, it is pressed into a tart pan, punctured with a fork in several places, and put into the oven, where it stays until halfway done. Then, this pie base is taken out and filled with a mix of fresh blueberries (or bilberries, which is an even more authentic choice in Finland), sour cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and some cardamom as an option. Baked until the edges turn golden brown after that, mustikkapiirakka is the ultimate crown of a dinner in a Finnish cuisine restaurant.

Located in Sibelius Park (seafront, sculptures, benches, groves, walking paths, a pond, and a fountain), Cafe Regatta welcomes you right by the sea. It is a very nice place to enjoy it, actually, without the surrounding buzz of the city, something quite common in Helsinki.

The place has been in business for a while; as of this writing, there are almost 5,000 reviews on Google Maps, pretty much all of them supporting a simple point: this is where you come for coffee and desserts. Mustikkapiirakka, Finnish blueberry cake, is one of the cafe’s trademark dishes, along with cinnamon buns, and traditional karelian pies. After a stroll through the park, a contemplative pause here is just what you need.

Salmiakki, Finnish salty candy. Image by Paul.schrepfer from Wikimedia

Salty sweets, anyone? There is no mistake here, as paradoxical as it may sound. Finnish salmiakki are just that: candy that tastes so unexpectedly crazy your eyes turn perfectly round the first time you try it. And there is always a Finn by your side at that moment, smiling cunningly.

Salmiakki is made of licorice, a medicinal plant used to make a line of drugs. In the 1920s, Central Finnish Cooperative Society, producer of the said drugs, decided to diversify its business and started marketing licorice pastilles as candy. For reasons obscure, instead of adding something sweet to the product, they opted for ammonium chloride. Thus, we are now stuck with lozenges every Finn feels obliged to give you with a very serious face, as an offering to remember Finland by.

The question of what to eat in Helsinki has many answers. You can go for the tried and tested fast food from transnational chains, for one, or look for something exotic (poke? Hawaiian cuisine? Why not!) in Finland’s capital. But it’s probably better to get yourself acquainted with Finnish cuisine here, because there is no other place on Earth that has that concentration of catering establishments so proud of what their land, and their people, have invented in terms of food.