Haralds Vaffel

Haralds Vaffel began with a Swedish man selling Norwegian waffles through his bedroom window. Jonathan Larsson's little operation in Oslo's old town attracted enough customers to become a local talking point, until the food authorities decided his bedroom wasn't quite up to restaurant standards. The waffles, fortunately, survived the inspection.

Today, Haralds Vaffel occupies a colourful little shop overlooking Olaf Ryes plass in Grünerløkka. The menu revolves around Norway's beloved heart shaped waffles, thinner and softer than their Belgian cousins, served warm with toppings that might surprise the uninitiated. Start with the classic: raspberry jam, sour cream and brunost, Norway's caramel flavoured brown whey cheese. Sweet, tangy and wonderfully comforting, it's a combination generations of Norwegians have grown up eating. Larsson also enjoys experimenting, with everything from sausages to blue cheese finding its way onto the waffle iron.

It's a small, informal affair, with limited seating and little reason to linger indoors when the square outside is inviting. Take your waffle, find a spot and watch Grünerløkka go about its day. Just don't expect to eat it elegantly.