The Best Food at Ikea (Really!)

By Lisa Cericola
Credit: Courtesy of Ikea
Ikea sells more than budget-friendly furniture. The Swedish home goods chain also offers its own food products for purchase in its Food Markets and in its restaurants. As anyone who has shopped at Ikea knows, it can take hours, or even an entire day, to work your way through the maze-like store to find what you want, grab the boxes, and pay for your items. So it makes sense to offer shoppers something to eat and drink, whether you’re in the mood for a plate of Swedish meatballs or an ice cream cone. Ikea food runs the gamut from ordinary packaged items (cookies, preserves, chocolate, crackers, coffee) to Swedish specialty products you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere (salted licorice, marinated herring in mustard sauce, lingonberry syrup, muesli cereal). Best of all, the prices are low and there’s no assembly required. Here are a few of our favorite Ikea food products:
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Elderflower Syrup (Dryck Fläder)

Credit: Courtsey of Ikea

Fans of St. Germain, the sweet, floral liqueur flavored with elderflowers, will love this concentrated syrup. It’s a great cocktail mixer (try a splash in your gin and tonic, or mixed with Champagne), or you can use it to sweeten iced tea or make elderflower soda with fizzy water. Best of all, it’s only $4.99 for 16 ounces.

Buy It: $4.99; ikea.com

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Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

Ikea sells these sweet-smelling spiced buns in their stores. Topped with coarse sugar, these are Swedish-style cinnamon rolls, not the ooey-gooey kind. But you can buy a bag of six frozen buns for just $3.99. They reheat in the oven in 15 minutes.

Buy It: $3.99; ikea.com

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Lingonberry Jam (Sylt Lingon)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

Ikea sells several types of jam and preserves, but the Lingonberry Jam is the perennial favorite among the store’s devotees. The bright red jam ($3.99) has a tart flavor that’s similar to cranberries.

Buy It: $3.99; ikea.com

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Meatballs (Köttbullar)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

Not surprisingly, Ikea is most associated with its Swedish meatballs. The store offers piping hot plates of them in its restaurants, and also sells frozen bags of meatballs ($8.99 for 2.2 pounds). Made simply with meat, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings, these are a blank slate for sauces—ideally lingonberry jam or gravy.

Buy It: $8.99; ikea.com

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Chocolate Bars (Choklad Mörk)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

High-quality dark chocolate that’s made from sustainably farmed cocoa beans, under $1? It’s true. Ikea’s Choklad Mörk bars are not only creamy and rich, they are dirt cheap. Stock up!

Buy It: $.99; ikea.com

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Oat Pastry with Chocolate Sprinkles (Sötsak Kakaoboll)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

These coconut-covered chocolate treats ($2.49 for a pack of six) are great with a cup of tea or coffee. Underneath the layer of chocolate is a soft, oat pastry. Serve at a tea party or on a dessert plate.

Buy It: $2.49; ikea.com

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Sweet and Salty Licorice (Godis Lakrits)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

Swedish licorice is an acquired taste—not for everyone. Think: sweet, sticky black licorice, but salty. Ikea sells bags of the candy for $1.99 so it’s not a big investment if you decide this delicacy isn’t for you.

Buy It: $1.99; ikea.com

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Crispbread with Dill (Knäckebröd Dill)

Credit: Courtesy of Ikea

Serve these thin, crunchy crackers alongside a cheese plate, or as the Swedes do, topped with smoked salmon. Topped with dill, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and salt, they are a nice alternative to crackers.

Buy It: $2.49; ikea.com

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By Lisa Cericola