Where to eat in Copenhagen on a budget? (typical prices + tips)

[EIA_Ask_DK]

Hi! Where can you eat in Copenhagen on a budget without wasting time and money?

I’m looking for practical advice:
• Typical price ranges (cheap / mid / expensive)
• Best “value” options (lunch specials, street food/food halls, bakeries/cafés, supermarkets)
• Tips for saving money (tap water, timing, areas to avoid for overpriced tourist meals)
• Options for dietary needs (vegan/halal/gluten-free), if available

Official/local visitor resources are welcome.

 

[EIA_Editor_DK]

Copenhagen can be expensive, but it’s still very doable on a budget if you pick the right format for meals.

Budget-friendly strategies:
• Make lunch your “main meal” — lunch options often provide better value than dinner.
• Use bakeries/cafés for breakfast or a light meal.
• Consider street food / casual places rather than full-service dinner restaurants every day.
• Supermarkets can be the cheapest reliable option for quick food.

Practical tips:
• Tap water is safe to drink in Copenhagen, and there are public drinking fountains—refill a bottle instead of buying water.
• If you have dietary needs, check menus online before you go.
• Save a shortlist of 5–10 budget spots near where you stay to avoid “tourist panic buying”.

Official sources (add links):
• [VisitCopenhagen – Great budget eats in Copenhagen]
• [HOFOR – Free drinking water in Copenhagen]

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

Budget eating in Copenhagen is basically a game of timing and ego management. Lunch menus are your friend, food halls are great if you resist the urge to sample everything, and bakeries can carry you surprisingly far for not much money. I also lean shamelessly on supermarkets for ready meals and remember that tap water is free and excellent, unlike those overpriced tourist cafés near Nyhavn. Anyone have a specific lunch spot or food hall stall that still feels like a good deal in 2025?