It's a small shop and largely knick-knacks, but there are some real gems here: 1. they have the best selection of pickled herring I have seen anywhere in the United States, and it's good-quality stuff. 2. they have Karelian pies that taste correct, and bring back fond memories of Finland. Better than any other ones I've had in the US--I just wish I'd asked for them to not heat it up. read more

I was requested to stop here on behalf of The Homie (3/19/26). He wanted to check out some specific Finnish items. And as for me, I always like to stop in and wander indie international grocery sites. Scandinavian Specialties is located on Crown Hill in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. There are a few parking slots adjacent to their building and also accessible via Metro bus. Nice, bright, clean site with well organized shelves and display areas. Easy to navigate and wander. Welcoming and upbeat service at the front register. The retail side of had a nice selection of jewelry, knives, socks, knitwear and sweaters, household decor, chocolates and other sweets, packaged and canned goods, frozen and refrigerated items. There's also an adjacent cafe area. The menu is visible above the front counter register. The Homie ended up selecting a bag of salted licorice (local), cloudberry jam (rare, imported), and Finnish bread cheese (Juusto, domestic from Wisconsin). He was happy with his finds and hopes to return to dine at their onsite cafe. *Scandinavian: Denmark, Norway, Sweden *Nordic: the above and Finland read more

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We've been on the hunt for Scandinavian gummies and found Scandinavian Specialties today! I've seen a lot of reels on instagram about this place and so glad we were able to stop by during my weekend visit to Seattle. There were a lot of cute little trinkets and food items for purchase, as well as their wall of gummies and licorice. While it is a little pricey ($17.99 per pound), they do have little quarter pound bags already portioned out for purchase. We went a little overboard and bought about $80 of gummies, but after trying a few, it's definitely worth the price! Staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. We will certainly be back for more in the future! read more

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Great source for Nordic foods, clothing, and gifts. This little shop has good parking and a quiet, friendly atmosphere. Helpful staff. Prices are highish, but for a small shop dealing with imports, they are very good! I come here as often as I can. It's a great way to feel some of the old Ballard and get some Scandi-hygge. read more

Cute lil Scandinavian store in Seattle. Parking: shared free easy and plenty spaces for party parking. Has deli fresh food and coffee and seating area to enjoy your coffee or lunch. Lots of stuff from home care, clothing, cooking and baking ingredients, swedish candies and chocolate. And if you love Moomin character, they have cute tote bags too. Restroom: 1 gender neutral The people are super nice. I got bunch of goodies to try read more

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Ambiance is a Small little store filled with sweets and savory already made to eat food and food to make at home. Service was good. Food case filled with sweet treats and savory quiche. I tried the world's best cake in the car and went back in to get another piece for home. I also bought some soup mix and things to use in my baking. Stop by and take a look....:. And don't forget to try the worlds best cake read more

I popped into this cute, not-so-little shop after a trip to Goodwill. The exterior is super charming with flags from different Scandinavian countries. Inside, they carry a fun mix of Swedish candies, chocolates, kitchen tools, and other little knickknacks. There's also a pastry display by the register and drinks available to order. I grabbed a bunch of Bubs candies pre-wrapped in 1/4 lb bags, which makes it so easy to sample different flavors without breaking the bank. I also picked up a couple bags of other sweets. Prices are fair imo, and I'd definitely come back for a restock! read more

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Store has free parking and large variety of Scandinavian goodies especially candy but overpriced! Bubs candy variety was complete DISAPPOINTMENT - overhyped on TikTok. Traveled from Oregon and was expecting at least 6-7 flavor options available. Only 4 available. No sour foam bubs skulls ; only 2 large bub flavors... The rest of the bubs was the packaged ones (skalle/goode) you can buy on Amazon for half the price they charged read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came here for Swedish candy and we were surprised with how large the candy selection was. All the candy was in bundles of $4-$4.50 so we picked a mix bag, sour skulls and watermelon slices. I was surprised to see they also have a cafe with pastries and tables which was very cute and clean! read more

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Thank you for preparing my food order to take to Alaska. Very helpful. Also, fantastic selection of Scandinavian food, decor, books, gnomes, dishes, sweaters, gifts and much more. read more

So glad to stop by and spent time roaming the entire shop and for lunch. Many great selections, lunch was fresh and tasty. The store manager Jennifer is awesome. She is so knowledgeable about everything they carry. We walked out of this shop with so many items that will make perfect gifts. Thank you Jennifer for being so kind and helpful! read more

This is a wonderful store. The food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. They have a great selection of Scandinavian gift items. It is always a pleasure to visit Scandinavian Specialties! read more

I came to Scandinavian Specialties this morning, Wednesday 17 May 2023, as a form of observing Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May) this year. My Grandad Endre (full Norwegian - type full Old Norse and before, from the fjordlands and further north) died in March of this year, so I decided it was time to start figuring out a way of celebrating the holiday for me. Arriving a few minutes before opening, 10:00 a.m., I was the first customer to pull into the parking lot, though the car behind me on the street pulled in right after me and the person in the car entered the store before me. Just inside the door were a number of Norwegian items, to the left was clothing and food items, to the right was a sit-down dining area, dining-ware items, and books in a room. Directly in front of the door upon entry was a baked goods case and the cashier. The workers were friendly in greeting and helping me choose what baked good to go with. I asked if there was anything particularly Norwegian and the worker recommended a cake, which I decided to go with. I bought a Nidar julegris confectionary and a couple other Norwegian items as well. My bill came to $32.24, for which I paid cash. The cake was probably the best cake I have had, it was not overly sweet, and was super light and fluffy in texture. Happy with all my purchases and my overall experience. read more

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Scandinavian specialties has all your Swedish candy needs including BUBS! I always take anyone that has a big sweet tooth to this store! They have their own parking lot so you don't have to worry about Seattle parking. They also have tables and chairs inside and outside. I'd recommend looking in their website to see what candies they have in stock before going. They always have their website up to date. They pre-package most of their candies and they all range from $4-$5 per bag. It's affordable compared to Bon Bons. I highly recommend coming here to satisfy your Swedish candy cravings! read more

My partner and I went to this place today for the first time. We loved it so much. They have a huge variety of products Sodas are so yummy . We also ordered the best cake In the world (that's the name of the cake) LOl And the fish cakes . Omg delicious! We are definitely coming back. The lady works there is a sweetheart read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Come today first time here. Ordered coffee,very good coffee. I want buy some sweets,but Ingredients is terrible,and overpriced,I think if you pay 10 dollars for gummy Ingredients need be very good candy,because I live 4 stars. Atmosphere is cool. Friendly staff. read more

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Unique in Ballard, the only Scandinavian business left standing. Great selection of books, glassware, knits, and too much else to mention.

We found our Potatis Scorv! Super friendly, super helpful and this store is beyond full of Christmas gifts! We'll definitely be back! P. S. Check out the Scandinavian candy section! Great stocking stuffers! read more

I was traveling and saw online that this store carried some cheese I wanted. I decided to take a slight detour on my way to the airport and I wasn't disappointed. Yes, I did get the cheese I wanted as well as some licorice. As I was checking out I spotted some krumkakke cookies. I had to buy 2. Had I known this was available I had a few cousins who had flown in and I know they would have wanted to stop by. After I paid, I spotted a sign that said they had split pea with lamb soup. And it was yellow split peas. Same taste as green but not as thick and pasty. A cup was served with hardtack cracker and butter and was only $4.00. A great treat any day and especially in a cloudy cook day. My only suggestion would be to put a sign outside advertising home made Norwegian cookies and hot home made soup! read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Krumkakke - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I like lefse which is a type of wrap bread. This potato flour bread wrap is convenient to hold tuna fish & mayo with lettuce or many other kinds of sandwich fillings for a satisfying meal. Plus if you are watching a video or movie on TV but get so caught up in what you see in the video/tv content you squeeze hard on your lefse for a few seconds..well...LOLlll you won't accidentally dribble filling down on your clothing & look like a messy 3 yr old trying to pass yourself off as a 'adult' ? Lolll. read more

My grandfather on my mothers side, was full bloodied Norwegian. My mother focused on traditional Norwegian cuisine. Norwegian food was on display, especially at Christmas Eve. Swedish meat balls, open faced sandwichs, rula pulsa, lefse, and smoked fish. My mother made us liverwurst, sardine and herring sandwiches at lunch. So have made many stops here, to purchase grocery items, eat at the cafe and buy merchandise. Just shopping here brings back many memories, as there are few relatives left. This store has everything you might want for anything Scandinavian. Bought two lovely sweaters here, direct from Norway. They are high quality and warm. In the cafe, I have ordered the Smørbrød (Open-faced Sandwiches) Salmon: Norwegian lox with egg salad. Shrimp: Atlantic brined shrimp with egg. Karbonade: Beef patty with caramelized onions. All very good and made with fresh bread. I also have ordered their Varm Lunsj (Warm Lunch) Salmon Quiche: Norwegian lox, Jarlsberg, leeks. Gul Erte Suppe (Gluten-Free): Yellow pea soup with salt lamb. Es enjoyed the yellow pea soup. The quiche has a generous amount of salmon and was quite creamy. And Norwegians love to drink coffee and eat pastries. So far I have tried all of these: Verdens Beste Kake: Double layer of almond meringue with vanilla custard cream center. Fyrstekake: Norwegian almond tort. Eplekake: Creamy apple cake. Krumkake med Krem: Conical cookie with your choice of lingonberry or cardamom cream. Waffle: 5 heart shaped waffle pieces with your choice of lingonberry cream, gjetost (goat cheese) or raspberry preserve. Vestlands Lefse: Flour based lefse with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. All of these were fresh and delicious. Especially enjoyed the Fyrstekake tort and the cinnamon lefse. Great place to shop at and eat delicious food. Always leave here with happy memories of my childhood. read more

clean professional friendly and delicious wonderful place to have a meal and a drink peacefully arranged for the comfort and light of the spirit of our families. I love the visits and items I purchase there. Lefsa and fish cakes open faced sandwiches and other tasty foods I enjoy buying gifts here especially at Yule time. I Love Scandinavian specialties. read more

We've ordered online a couple times for their Swedish candy. They've shipped out our order within 1-2 days each time. Always been satisfied!

They have an excellent variety of Scandinavian foods- canned, fresh, and frozen. Their pastries, like the lingonberry custard tart and the chocolate fudge cake are delicious, and you can buy them by the slice. The sandwiches are perfect for lunch. This store also carries a nice selection of clothing and decor- very high quality. read more

Interesting place, yummy treats, very kind staff! :D Had to pick up some candies, they were bomb.

I was disappointed that the store didn't carry cups for glögg, but found some other great buys. Finn Crisp (memories of my mom), Swedish Fish (to the delight of our granddaughters, and some lovely cookbooks. read more

My first time at Scandinavian Specialties did not disappoint! Great selection of Scandinavian goods - from kitchen wares, clothing, perishable and non perishable foods, cafe with baked goods, etc. Although I came to try the viral Swedish candy. They had a great selection that were all very interesting and intriguing. Ample parking which is always a nice surprise in Ballard. Store clerks were extremely friendly and helpful! Will be coming back soon once my stash runs out! read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Candy - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love this store, I wish there was one closer to where I live. I had to stock up on everything while I was there. The bakery is wonderful, the world's best cake (it's both the name and it's the best cake) is a must try. It's absolutely unique and delicious. And clearly not something most of us would make. They have both sweet and savory traditional, fresh and frozen stuff. Also the fun crafts and other Scandinavian themed tchotchkes are fabulous. All heritages welcome lol. The folks are super nice. And there's a free parking lot! read more

The store was so clean the employees were courteous and polite. I found everything I was looking for and more. I will definitely come back when I visit my daughter again . read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you like fish that is smoked, pickled, tinned etc. you should check out this place! You'll also find baked treats, jams, cheese, cookies and more. You can also find some Scandi/German baking ingredients. During Christmas time, they also have special items, including marzipan treats. Staff is also super friendly and available to answer questions and make recommendations. read more

OMG is the synopsis of my experience. Loved the ladies, the beste kake, and the variety of items in the store. I would come here everyday or at least 1x a week if I lived close by. Man the beste kake was so good for no reason! I would eat it everyday if it could. It melts in your mouth and the custard is super!! I bought a variety of bubs candy to take home and they were all sooo good! I shared with my co workers and they wish I got more :p I bought $77 worth of goodies while I was inside bc I was so excited but I should have purchased more to be honest. Will definitely be back! read more

I just love this place. This visit was actually my second time there, but I wasn't able to get food last time. This time I got my hands on some salmon quiche, hamburger on brown bread, and some lingonberry whipped cream in a cone (plus some Icelandic kelp and moss soap). Then we took it down to the Ballard Locks to enjoy. You'll never find me extolling the virtues of a warmed up hamburger patty sandwich ever again, I'm sure, but here I am doing it right now, so take a screenshot! And the quiche, chock-full of dill and salmon and with a flaky crust like a fruit pie. read more

Friends, there is a Scandinavian feeling in all of us. What do I mean by that? A snow-covered cottage with candles in the window, a big bristly sweater that hugs grandma when she wears it, strong mothers, that light-smiling feeling of contentment that is so true, the whole world begins to speak of it as the "Scandinavian model" of society. Indeed, it's quite akin to the feeling of Christmas. If you want THAT feeling all year round, not to mention in a city as morally equivocal and spiritually lost as Seattle, then simply step inside this store. At the size of a long-tenured Microsoft employee's house, this shop is a basket shop. What I mean by that is it has just enough offerings (imported Scandinavian goods yada yada yada) to warrant a stack of baskets, which is so cute. Why, you ask, do we need a world where there are shopping carts? Their broken American wheels, their chintzy American children's seats? Why can't we buy and sell at the scale of baskets? I am part of the Norwegian diaspora, so I can't give you an unbiased take on the food - I had to like it because my great-grandfather came over here in a boat from Norway with his mother. What am I, gonna complain about the food because the sugar and salt content don't match the levels in processed American food? I can see how some people might call it bland, but those people probably don't seek their ancestors. I do. I literally teared up after leaving there, especially seeing peeks of the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier as I was overwhelmed with the feeling of place, and all the other unknown places behind it. Your ancestors, friends, are here. read more

A very cool shop. The only place I know of in Seattle where you can get specialty items imported from Scandinavia and Finland. Yes, Scandinavian countries are different than Finland for a few reasons. read more

A clean (top health department scores here!) Interesting, fun lunch destination and novel shopping experience. Beautiful and flavorful sandwiches and comforting soups (the yellow pea with lamb was sensational!) offer excellent value. Don't miss the unusual treats and desserts from several different Scandinavian traditions, served up with old-school Ballard charm and good manners. Homey and bright, it's a little like eating in a family kitchen, complete with real dishes and flatware, doilies under soup cups, self-serve coffee and novelty salt-and-pepper shakers! Fun and yummy. The shopping here is excellent too- all sorts of interesting, high-quality housewares, novelty items, and hard-to-find Scandinavian food items, often on sale and reasonably priced (High-end glassware I've not seen anywhere else in Seattle, notably). Beautiful, useful things. I highly recommend having lunch here if you find yourself down Ballard way, and if you get tired of the burgers, bar food and Cuban sandwiches everyone seems to be so enamored of these days. Come see and taste this last quality vestige of what Ballard used to be all about. Rewarding! read more

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My husband & I finally got a chance to pop in for lunch! We commented after the meal & walking home that we felt like we went to Sweden for lunch! Very fun! The cafe portion is very basic, but perfect for a simple meal. We tried a salmon open-faced sandwich that was perfectly portioned & well-seasoned. We also tried the fish cakes with an herbal mustard. Also great! Both of us really enjoyed the lamb yellow pea soup! Very very good! Our shared almond cream cake caused us to battle each other with forks, but it was a perfect way to complete our meal. Shop the gift store after! Take home some of the delicious items from the pantry or gift store! Super cute & friendly staff! We'll be back! read more

Scandinavian Specialties - Scandinavian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great little Scandinavian grocery store and gift shop. I was thrilled to find baked goods, rommegrot and several cheeses in the cold case, and a huge assortment of dry goods. I wish I lived close enough to visit often. read more

Great assortment of Scandinavian foods, particularly candy, plus knitted items, outerwear and books. One of the ONLY remaining shops specializing in Scandinavian goods in Ballard. read more

Recently I was driving through Seattle with my mom when she saw Scandinavian Specialties alongside the road and - inexplicably - exclaimed "LEFSE!" in such a way that I was forced to veer suddenly off the road and drop her off while I found parking. I then followed her inside and I was mightily impressed by the amount of Scandinavian goodness found within the four walls of this north Ballard landmark. It's a tiny space, but they've used every square inch and filled it with everything from fresh Scandinavian groceries to clothing and gift items. And don't miss the "hidden" book room full of cookbooks, travel books, and just about anything you could need to feel like you've made a trip to the mother land. They have a small parking lot out front, but I found it easier to park on the street. Bonus: free coffee! read more

I love, love, love this place. Great products, nice people, and it's been a wonderful keeper of the flame for Ballard's Scandinavian history for decades. But I can't give it 5 stars because the hours are just not convenient. It's never open on the evenings, and on the weekends it closes earlier than almost every other retailer. I'm often in Ballard once or twice during the week while my child has soccer practice, and I would love to be able to go there to shop! I thought that when the owner's son took over it might be open more extended hours, but that didn't happen. Even if only during the holiday season, is there no way they could stay open until 9pm one night a week? read more