3 Delicious Black Owned Restaurants in Oslo, Norway
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I just got back from spending 10 days in Norway (as part of a longer multi-city trip through Scandinavia) and while overall it was a really fantastic time and Norway is a beautiful country….there is not one bottle of spice in their kitchens. I’m sorry y’all, but as delicious as it was, there’s only so much fresh salmon I can eat without craving PEPPER. Or paprika. Or cumin. Heck, I’ll take a Tajín-rimmed drink at this point. I just knew I would need to track down some Black owned restaurants in Oslo – AND FAST.
I was looking for restaurants with at least 11 herbs and spices in their arsenal, so I had to start with what I knew. I wanted to eat at the best Black-owned restaurants in Oslo to not only get some flavor, but also to see (and taste) how their cuisines have adapted to the local palate. I’m a curiously hungry (aspiring) anthropologist, after all. If you’re also looking to mix up your restaurant list while traveling through Norway, hopefully this list of Black owned restaurants in Oslo is helpful for you too!
Black Owned Restaurants in Oslo
Most of the Black owned restaurants in Oslo serve African cuisine. That’s not surprising given the geography; there are more African immigrants in Europe than Black American or Afro-Latine immigrants. But I do just want to give a heads up in case you are expecting some deep fried catfish with Louisiana hot sauce.
Sadly, you won’t find any. At least not yet.
I also want to note that while there are a good number of African restaurants in Oslo, not all of the owners identity as Black, which is totally their right! Not everyone in Africa is Black. Not everyone in Africa who “looks Black” is Black. Simple as that! So for this list, I went to the ones who have self-identified as Black to keep it easy. Also, restaurants with websites just for ease of navigating.
Fulani – Afro-Caribbean Streetfood
Fulani is probably the most accessible of the Black owned restaurants in Oslo, as it’s located at the Barcode Street Food pod right in the middle of the waterfront action. The menu doesn’t specify which island the dishes draw inspiration from, since it seems to pull from Afro-Caribbean dishes across the Caribbean, but a large portion is similar to what you’d find at a Jamaican restaurant.
While it is one of the most seasoned restaurants in the city, just know the flavor is still a bit muted compared to what you’d find in the actual Caribbean, but it was still good and the plantains were exceptional!
Mesob Restaurant
Mesob is an Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant that gets the crown for being open practically every single day of the year (minus one day), so no matter when your trip is, you can at least visit one of these Black-owned restaurants in Oslo!
I absolutely love East African food, so I’m not surprised that so many local Norwegians frequent this restaurant and name it as one of their favorites in the city. If you’ve never had East African food, don’t worry you’re not alone in Scandinavia haha, and the staff are all very welcoming and helpful in assisting and answering all questions. And they give great recommendations too!
Injera-Africano Restaurant
And last but not least of the best tasting Black owned restaurants in Oslo, we have Injera-Africano Restaurant! It’s an Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant and really delivers on the flavor front.
Again, the staff is very friendly and welcoming, so it’s also a good start if you’ve never had East African food. Plus, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, there are a lot of menu options to choose from. Overall really tasty and a great experience.
Not Black Owned, but Flavor-Packed
Okay okay, in my quest to find flavor in Norway, I also came across a lot of tasty spots that weren’t Black owned restaurants in Oslo! So just a few extra places to add to your list.
Way Down South
So full disclosure, I actually went to Way Down South originally because I thought it was Black owned bahahah. But while the owners aren’t Black (to my knowledge, pls correct me if I’m wrong), the food is delicious and tastes like it was flown straight from the American South.
SO FREAKING JUICY. Fall-off-the-bone tender.
It’s a BBQ restaurant, and they make their own sauces in-house. They do have a “spicy” sauce, but, yanno, it’s still Norway so they did turn the spice down a bit without losing the great flavor. They have a very multinational staff and it’s located in a more residential neighborhood that is still full of restaurants and bars and shops – just without as many tourists.
Down South Deli
So I didn’t make it to Down South Deli, but they are the casual sister-restaurant to Way Down South so I’d trust their flavors. Instead of BBQ, the menu has crispy fried chicken, stacked sandwiches, smash burgers, and even a weekend brunch if your itinerary allows. Again, they chose a location that was very neighborhood-friendly and a great option if you’re looking for a more low-key day in Oslo.
Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro
Now I was SOOO devastated that Kain was closed during my trip. It’s not one of the Black owned restaurants in Oslo, but it was at the top of my food list because of how much I simply adore Filipino food. And if y’all know anything about Black Americans and the Philippines, we’re like THISSS *aggressive crosses fingers*
But I digress, Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro is a fine-dining Filipino restaurant and it’s been on my European restaurant list for so long. Alas, they were closed for their summer break (which is a thing in Scandinavia!!) so I wasn’t able to book reservations. I highly recommend snagging a table though if they’re open during your time in Oslo.
The Salmon
I knowww I said I wanted to mix things up since I had only been eating salmon in Norway but…if there’s one place in Oslo to go for this fatty fish, make sure it’s The Salmon. It’s not one of the Black owned restaurants in Oslo, but from my experience, Black Americans, you’re gonna love this salmon.
Hands down, the best salmon I had in Oslo. They go with a more Japanese-influenced menu, taking into account their head chef’s specialty, and lemme tell ya, they pack a lot of punch into their fresh yet flavorful menu.
Conclusion
Okay, that’s my list of the best Black owned restaurants in Oslo! Again, there are a lot more African owned spots, but I only wanted to include the ones who publicly identified as Black because I’m not in the business of debating race politics on the behalf of someone else haha. I also went to a few Black owned restaurants in Oslo that…frankly weren’t that good.
Sorry.
So I didn’t include those either. But I’m so grateful for the ones that I found and really delivered a nice mouthful of seasoning. After almost three weeks in the Nordic countries, things were starting to get bland. Even if you don’t find things to get bland for you, it’s still interesting to mix up your cuisines like when I dined at some of the best Black owned restaurants in Tokyo. You really get a different side of a city. If you have any other recommendations for Black owned restaurants in Oslo, please let me know in the comments!
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