Ethnic food
It’s January, which means you’ve just survived Christmas and new year and the gluttonous feast that the Danes call julehygge. Chances are you’ve stuffed yourself with roasted pork, caramelised potatoes and enough red cabbage to last you for a lifetime … or at least until next Christmas. Which is why you should head out and buy some deliciously spicy fast food that’s as non-Danish as possible.
Cafe Marrakech
Dybbølsgade 52, Cph V; open Mon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-20:00
This place is lovely: not quite fast food, not quite fancy, but definitely cosy. They serve authentic Moroccan food that’s possibly the best I’ve tasted outside of the North African country. The lamb tagine with raisins and cinnamon is highly recommended, as is the chicken couscous. If you want something a little more basic, they also have a selection of sandwiches and Moroccan pancakes.
Barakat Pizza
Toftegårds Alle 49, Valby; open Mon-Thu: 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sun: 11:00-22:30
Barakat has the mandatory pizzas and durum rolls, but they also have proper Turkish food such as lahmacun and shish kebab. All their shish meat dishes are grilled over a charcoal grill that gives them a delicious flavour. If you opt for a pizza, try the Mamma Mia special. They recently renovated and now have a large seating area and a flatscreen TV where you can usually catch big football games. Definitely stop by during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, when they serve a delicious traditional chorba soup with all their dishes.
The Noodle Box
Istedgade 42B, Cph V; open daily 16:30-22:00
If you’re on a budget, but still crave something more exotic than frikadeller, the Noodle Box might be the answer. This takeaway on Istegade has several Asian dishes but the easiest – and cheapest – are the noodles. You choose a base (either noodles or rice) and a sauce and then add the meat or vegetables you want in it. This way you can make your own dish with exactly the ingredients you prefer, without any mess in your kitchen.
Forno a Legna
Falkoner Alle 42, Frederiksberg; open daily 12:00-22:00
Pizza might arguably not be ethnic, but after a week of gorging on heavy, salted meats and caramelised side dishes, a thin, crusty pizza with cheese and aromatic spices sounds pretty good. Forno a Legna serves some of the best pizza in Copenhagen baked in a traditional wood fire oven with a dizzying selection of toppings. It’s possible to sit there and enjoy your food, but most people get takeaway. The place has the same owners as the delicatessen Quattro Fontane Due, just two doors down, where you can stop by on your way home and pick up some Italian specialties or freshly-made desserts.
