Where to Try Norway's Famous Brown Cheese Waffle in Oslo

Home » World Travel » Norway » Where to Try Norway’s Famous Brown Cheese Waffle in Oslo

If there was one traditional Norwegian food I knew I wanted to try in Oslo, it was a brown cheese waffle. I found exactly what I was looking for at Haralds Vaffel Oslo, a tiny waffle shop in Grünerløkka serving classic Norwegian waffles with brown cheese.

Haralds Vaffel in Oslo

Haralds Vaffel is a popular Norwegian waffle shop located at Olaf Ryes plass in Oslo’s Grünerløkka neighborhood.

And the story behind it is pretty fun.

Haralds Vaffel started in 2013 when founder Jonathan Larsson began selling waffles out of the window of his apartment.

aralds Vaffel is a fun and colorful stop in Oslo for Norwegian waffles and brown cheese ice cream.

What started as a weekend project eventually became a full waffle shop, opening in Grünerløkka in 2017.

Today, the shop is known for both traditional Norwegian waffles and some much more creative combinations.

But I came for one thing in particular: the brown cheese.

What Is Norwegian Brown Cheese?

Before visiting Norway, I had obviously heard of cheese.

Brown cheese? Not so much.

Brown cheese is called brunost in Norway, and it’s one of the country’s most recognizable traditional foods.

The Superclassic waffle at Haralds Vaffel combines sour cream, jam, and Norway’s famous brown cheese.

Despite the name, it isn’t made exactly like the cheese we’re used to eating in the United States.

Brunost is a whey-based dairy product made by slowly cooking whey with milk and cream.

Brunost, Norway’s famous brown cheese

As it cooks, the milk sugars caramelize, which gives it its signature brown color and sweet flavor.

That’s why it doesn’t really taste like the cheddar, Swiss, or goat cheese you may be picturing.

The best comparison I can make is caramel meets cheese.

It’s creamy, sweet, a little savory, and completely different from anything I regularly eat at home.

Why Is Brown Cheese So Popular in Norway?

Brown cheese has been part of Norwegian food culture for generations.

Its history is connected to Norway’s farming traditions and the idea of using as much of the milk as possible.

Instead of wasting the whey left behind during traditional cheesemaking, it could be cooked down with milk and cream to create brunost.

Brown cheese even makes its way into the ice cream case at Haralds Vaffel.

Over time, it became a staple.

Norwegians commonly eat thin slices of brown cheese on bread and crispbread, but one of the most traditional—and in my opinion, best—ways to eat it is on a warm Norwegian waffle.

And after trying it, I completely understand the combination.

Trying the Brown Cheese Waffle at Haralds Vaffel

This was what I came for.

Norwegian waffles are thinner and softer than the thick Belgian waffles we typically see in the United States, and they’re usually made in a heart-shaped waffle iron.

The Superclassic waffle at Haralds Vaffel is topped with sNorwegian brown cheese.

At Haralds Vaffel, I ordered mine with brown cheese and sweet jam.

Then you fold the waffle over and eat it almost like a little waffle sandwich.

The sweetness of the jam worked perfectly with the caramel-like brown cheese, while the warm waffle brought everything together.

I genuinely loved this way more than I expected to.

This was one of those foods I tried while traveling that immediately made me wonder why we don’t have it everywhere in the U.S.

Because I would eat this every single day.

Traditional toppings at Haralds Vaffel also include combinations of brown cheese, jam, and sour cream, alongside several more unusual waffle creations.

How to Eat a Norwegian Brown Cheese Waffle

Don’t expect a giant waffle covered in toppings that you eat with a fork and knife.

The Norwegian version is much simpler.

Haralds Vaffel even has a guide showing the proper way to eat a Norwegian waffle

Brown cheese is typically sliced thinly and placed over the warm waffle along with toppings like jam. Then you fold the waffle over before eating it.

And I actually loved eating it this way.

The proper way to eat it: fold the waffle over and eat it by hand

It felt more like a snack than a massive dessert, which made it perfect while we were walking around Oslo.

Trying Brown Cheese Ice Cream

Of course, I couldn’t stop at the waffle.

When I saw brown cheese ice cream, I knew I had to try that too.

Because when in Norway, you have to fully commit.

The caramel flavor of brunost makes a lot of sense in a dessert, and brown cheese has become an ingredient in everything from ice cream and panna cotta to chocolates and sauces.

I had to try the brown cheese ice cream at Haralds Vaffel too, and it was surprisingly delicious.

The ice cream was another fun way to experience a flavor that I had never really encountered before this trip.

If you’re curious about brown cheese but aren’t sure you’re ready to eat a slice of it on its own, trying it in a waffle or ice cream is a very easy introduction.

Visiting Haralds Vaffel in Grünerløkka

Haralds Vaffel is located at Olaf Ryes plass 3 in Grünerløkka, one of Oslo’s best neighborhoods to wander around for restaurants, cafés, bars, and shops.