The scene at Nystekt Strömming. Photo by sebilden.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockhom—

Just outside of the Slussen subway station on Södermalmstorg is a small trailer selling fried fish on hard bread. Not convinced yet, Cheapos? Well, it just happens to be one of the best lunch deals in all of Stockholm.

Knäckis at Nystekt Strömming

Throughout Stockholm, Nystekt Strömming is known as a great place to grab a quick lunch or an afternoon snack. (The beautiful view of the water doesn’t hurt, either.) The food is simple, consisting mainly of fried herring on various forms of bread.

The classic, and very Swedish, main attraction is the “knäckis”—fried herring with cucumber and red onions on hard bread, called “knäckebröd” in Swedish. The knäckis will run you about 30 SEK (around $4.50), and you’ll have to wait a few minutes because they fry your food to order.

Most locals like to wash down fried herring with a beer or maybe even a Swedish schnapps. Staying true to its budget roots and sidewalk-cart feel, Nystekt Strömming only offers cans of soda and, of course, coffee. Instead of a beer, try a Ramlösa, sparkling water from southern Sweden.

Tip: Take in the Baltic Sea with your sandwich

For an authentic Swedish experience, order a herring sandwich, grab a seat at a table next to the cart or one of the benches in the square, and enjoy the scenery. Not only will you be staring out towards the Baltic Sea, but Södermalmstorg is also a great spot for watching Stockholmers going about their daily lives.

Visiting

To get there, take the red or green metro line to Slussen. Despite the potential for late night snacking (especially considering the number of bars just up the street on popular Götgatan), Nystekt Strömming has relatively limited opening hours. Stop by during the week from 10 AM-6 PM or on the weekend from 11 AM-4 PM. Make sure to bring cash, as no cards are accepted.

About the author: Marcus Cederström was born in Sweden and moved to the US just before his 6th birthday. He grew up bi-culturally, which he blames for his love of traveling. After 17 years in the US, Marcus moved back to Sweden. Scuba diving in Greece, Easter in Spain, and Oktoberfest in Germany have been just a few of the stops along the way, all of which are chronicled in his blog, A Swedish American in Sweden.

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Of course, we love Döner kebabs just as much as the next street food enthusiast, but when a country has another inexpensive snack food offering, we’re head over heels in cheap eats heaven.

Introducing zapiekanka!

A tasty zapiekanka. Photo by Ania i Artur Nowaccy.

Such is the case in Poland, where zapiekanka is an everyday, street food favorite. The tasty treats are made by slicing a baguette in half, adding vegetables and meats, topping with cheese, and then toasting to melt the cheese. Lastly, ketchup (and sometimes mayonnaise) is liberally applied.

The name “zapiekanka” is derived from the Polish word for “to bake,” and the food is sometimes considered the Polish equivalent of pizza. These cheapies are found both in restaurants and fast food booths, where the ingredients range from simple to more gourmet offerings.

Endzior, a zapiekanka stall in Krakow’s Plac Nowy, is a standby for lovers of this Polish treat, both locals and tourists alike. Expect to spend around 3-7 PLN (.70-1.60 €).

Tell us!

Have you had a zapiekanka experience? Do you have another favorite Polish snack food? Tell us about it in the comments section!

Also see: Our list of recommended budget hotels in Krakow.

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Photo of smorrebrod courtesy of ilmungo

Note: Today’s post comes courtesy of Wandering Cheapo Mogens Petersen, who lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copenhagen has for years been a top-notch gourmet capital in Northern Europe with high priced, multi-Michelin starred restaurants rising up as fast as you can say, “The Little Mermaid.” But, the bills at these places can be staggering, often more than €150-200 for a meal.

Cheapo-gourmets have no fear. Here are a few local secrets - and budget eats - to keep you satiated:

Hit the streets!

A new concept has literally ‘hit the streets’ of Copenhagen: mobile street food. Several bikes and mopeds today circuit the busiest thoroughfares offering affordable and satisfying food. A local favorite is “fish-to-go,” run by French chef Bernard Chesneau. Here you’ll find delicious and homemade seafood dishes, served and prepared out of his own camper.

If you get it to-go: Try the tasty fish cakes with tartar sauce  (1 for €2.75, €3 for €6.75) or the fish of the day (€8). Fish to-go is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM.

National cuisine - for less!

While you’re eating your way through Copenhagen why not stop for some Danish national cuisine? Small businesses are scattered around Copenhagen selling smørrebrød (open-faced rye-bread sandwiches), at varying prices. Expect to spend  12 to 30 kroners (€.60 to €4), depending on which take-away joint you pick.

For good value, I recommend the traditional Frederiksberg Smørrebrød, on Gl. Kongevej. Ask for a ”stjerneskud”: two fried fish topped with lettuce, mayo, shrimp and caviar (€5) or the “tatar”: raw minced beef with capers, onions, horseradish, and a raw egg yolk (€7).

Coffee on-the-go!

The Danes are among the most coffee-coveting people in the world, and wandering around our pretty streets you’ll notice one café after the other. Though prices in City (Midtown) can get as high as 52 kroner (€7) for a latte, cheap gourmet coffee is available nearby.

Try Ole Skram, or “the espressoman,” as he calls himself. He has equipped his personal bicycle with a gas-driven espresso machine and rides the streets of City each day selling low-priced gourmet coffee. You can typically track him down around Nørreport station, Østerport Station, and along Strøget. He charges around 20 kroners (€2.50) for a latte.

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The little green pirozhki hut in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Afternoon delight

About ten days ago, during my last day in St. Petersburg, Russia, I experienced an afternoon snack attack. I had spent the day visiting churches, climbing to the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and doing last-minute shopping. I wanted to stop for a coffee and treat, but I needed to get home to pack for Riga.

I took the metro to Chernyshevskaya Station, which was a ten-minute walk from my friend Carl’s apartment. Leaving the station, I walked along the lovely Furshtatskaya Boulevard (home to the US and German consulates), watching my every step as I maneuvered ice, slush, and salt.

A vision of…fried dough?

And then I saw it! There was a  little green hut, steaming in the cold, and a powerful smell of fried dough. A squat woman inside the hut handed two policemen what appeared to be hot donuts, wrapped in wax paper. But they weren’t exactly donuts, as they were flatter, much larger, and didn’t have a hole. The officers took their dough, nodded and hurried off, stealing bites as they hustled into their parked car.

An afternoon donut sounded ideal. I approached the window, smiled, and pointed to the stack of donuts draining inside on a paper towel, fresh out of the grease. “One,” I said, holding up my finger and then pointing to the stack.

“Which one?” the woman gestured, pointing from one donut to another.

Was there a difference? They all looked like sugar-coated fried dough to me. But there were three stacks of them. There must be some variation I wasn’t noticing.  

I pointed to the first stack. She picked it up with tongs, thrust it in a wrapper, grabbed a napkin and handed it over. She held up a calculator to show me the price… 30 rubles (a little less than US $1.00).

I walked five paces around the corner, pulled back the wrapper, and bit into the donut, bracing for a sweet and greasy sugar rush.

Surprise!

The “donut” was filled with savory minced pork! It took a few seconds for me to register the taste, and then, my expectations adjusted, I devoured the rest of the hot pocket.

Turns out, I was eating pirozhki, meat-filled doughy treats that are fried or baked. Fillings vary, but they’re commonly stuffed with minced beef or chicken, mushrooms and potatoes, or sweeter ingredients (cherries, apples). My version, minced meat, was spiced up with a variety of seasonings.

(Note: Don’t confuse pirozhki with pierogi, which are smaller, stuffed dumplings that are fried or boiled and popular in Eastern European countries.)

Thus, dear reader, when in Russia, I’d recommend indulging in a pirozhki. They’re cheap and tasty. Just don’t expect a sugar rush.

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It’s not always easy to find cheap eats in bustling cities like New York. Thankfully, the Big Apple does benefit from some of the least pricey and easiest-to-find fare. All you have to do is hit the streets!

Here’s a little bit about our favorite vendor, to get your appetite started:

Soho street meat

Cheapo note: True, the term “street meat” used to make us a tad queasy too, but then we found these primo slingers.

Ever wonder where the resident Cheapos go for lunch most days? Well, the guys that run the Calexico burrito carts in Soho have us smitten with their fresh, succulent (sometimes spicy) dishes - a blend of  Californian and Mexican culinary practices - and their oh-so-speedy lunch rush service.

These guys are so good that they even won a 2008 Vendy Award. (The Vendys are awarded each year to the best street food purveyors in NYC.)  Calexico occupies two stands in Soho, one at the corner of Wooster and Prince Streets, and another at Broadway and Broome Street. 

If you go…

We suggest the fish tacos (when they’re available) or just get a burrito bowl (they start at $6; about €4.50). And, hang out while your stuff gets cooked. The nice gents who handle the hash often blast plenty of hard rock hits, too!

For more info, check out their web site, our article on cheap restaurants in New York City, and our list of cheap hotels in New York.

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