Copenhagen is not cheap at all. So answering the question of how to eat cheap in Copenhagen can feel like a bit of a conundrum. But if you accept that “cheap” and “expensive” are always relative, there are a couple of ways to save on a meal in the Danish capital.
And wait for my very last tip, which is unfortunately not available every day, but can make a complete meal in Copenhagen cheaper than in possibly any other city in Europe.
“Cheap” Food in Restaurants
This one will be the least satisfying answer to your question of how to eat cheap in Copenhagen. So on the one hand, make sure to continue reading, as I’ll give you even cheaper solutions. On the other hand, these restaurants are worth trying because they serve excellent food at reasonable prices by Copenhagen standards.
I have no affiliation with any of the places that I recommend here. I’m just sharing my own experience. If you think a place is missing from the list, just comment under the article.
Dalle Valle
Dalle Valle is probably the easiest “cheap restaurant” answer in Copenhagen, especially if you don’t mind downloading their app. They very often have promotions there, and depending on the day and whether you go for lunch or dinner, you can get a complete all-you-can-eat buffet meal for a fraction of what a normal restaurant meal would cost in Copenhagen.
Don’t expect a hidden gourmet treasure. This is buffet food, but honestly, for the price, it can be a very good deal. You get a proper meal, plenty of choices, and you leave full without feeling that Copenhagen just emptied your wallet again.
One thing to look out for: with these app promotions, ordering a drink can be mandatory. And this is where the calculation becomes a bit funny, because a glass of soda can sometimes cost more than the discounted meal itself. So check the actual promotion in the app, add the drink price in your head, and then decide. Even with that, Dalle Valle can still be one of the easiest ways to eat relatively cheap in Copenhagen.
They have two locations in the city: one right next to Tivoli, and the other on the island of Amager, inside Field’s shopping center, which is actually right on the way to or from the airport.
Comé Rice Kitchen
Comé Rice Kitchen is one of my favorite answers to the question of where to eat cheap in Copenhagen. It’s not “cheap” in the absolute sense, because again, this is Copenhagen. But for the quality, the location, and the fact that you get something much more exciting than a random sandwich, it’s one of the best-value meals I know in the city.
Their main thing is onigiri, Japanese rice balls with different fillings. The menu is simple, but that’s exactly why it works. You choose one or two pieces, maybe add something small on the side, and suddenly you have a very tasty, very different, and still relatively affordable lunch in the middle of Kødbyen, just a short walk from Copenhagen Central Station.
The only downside is that this is not really a sit-down restaurant. There are a few benches outside, but don’t count on comfort. Come here for the food, not for the ambience. But if you want something quick, delicious, and reasonably priced by Copenhagen standards, Comé Rice Kitchen is one of the easiest places to recommend.
Supermarket Food Close to Expiration
Another very practical way to eat cheaper in Copenhagen is to check the larger supermarkets for food that is close to its best-before or use-by date. Many stores have special shelves, small refrigerated sections, or simply discount stickers on products that need to be sold the same day or the next day.
This is not exactly a restaurant experience, of course. But if you’re staying in an apartment, or even if you just want something for a picnic or a quick hotel-room dinner, it can save you a surprising amount of money. Bread, pastries, ready meals, salads, dairy products, meat, cheese, and even more expensive items can sometimes be found much cheaper this way.
The only trick is that you can’t really plan around it. You go in, check what they have, and decide from there. But if you’re flexible, this is one of the easiest ways to make Copenhagen food prices feel a little less painful. And as a bonus, you’re also helping reduce food waste, which is always a nice feeling when your budget and your conscience suddenly want the same thing.
The Mærsk Tower Canteen Trick
And now comes my very best tip for eating cheap in Copenhagen. It’s not a restaurant, and it’s not even a place most tourists know about, but it might be the most surprising food deal I’ve found in the Danish capital.
Mærsk Tower is part of the University of Copenhagen, and it’s actually worth visiting as a not-so-obvious Copenhagen sight in itself. But for this article, the important part is on the ground floor: the university canteen. As far as I know, it’s open to everyone, and you can simply walk in, take a plate, put whatever you like on it, and pay by weight.
Even at normal university-canteen prices, this can be a good deal compared to Copenhagen restaurants. But here is the real trick. They have a special food-waste reduction offer from 2 PM to 2:30 PM, just before closing. And this is when the food becomes so cheap that we almost couldn’t believe it.
I know I usually don’t like including exact prices, because they change. But in this case, I have to make an exception: the two plates we took cost only 60 DKK altogether. A complete meal for two people in Copenhagen, for 60 kroner. That’s not just cheap by Copenhagen standards. That’s cheap almost anywhere.
The downside, of course, is that this only works when the university and the canteen are open. So don’t plan this for a weekend, a holiday, or a random evening. Also, check the current opening hours and conditions before you go, because university canteens are not tourist restaurants. But if you happen to be in the area on a weekday afternoon, this might be the cheapest real meal you can find in Copenhagen.
