This is a review for the window to order small to-go things rather than the restaurant: If you see lots of people walking around with little boats of aebleskiver, it's probably from here--or at least that where I tracked the source down to in Solvang when I was there! I hadn't tried aebleskiver before so I have no point of comparison, but it was a little ball of dough with jam and powdered sugar. I ordered 3 which was plenty to split with my boyfriend just to get a taste of it. It's personally not my favorite since I think I would prefer a slightly crispier fried dough ball but I'm guessing that would be less authentic. I was glad to try it out so easily! The service was quick. It would have been nice if there were some seating outside--there were 2 benches, but it was pretty limited. It made a lot of sense why everyone was walking around with it! read more

Solvang Restaurant - Window to order outside the restaurant--very convenient - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

While in Solvang, I really wanted to try Æbleskiver, and Solvang Restaurant was the perfect spot to try them on our way out of the city since they open early at 7:00am! They have a quick service walk-up window where you can order Æbleskiver, Danish pork sausage, and some drinks, but it opens a little than the restaurant. Since the window wasn't open yet when we got there, we went inside to order the Æbleskiver at the counter. An order comes with three balls with raspberry jam and powdered sugar. If you order it to-go, it comes in a little paper boat. The Æbleskiver have a pancake-like texture, and the jam and powdered sugar give it a nice sweetness. I just wish there was a little more jam to go with it! Fun to try, and I liked that an order comes with just three pieces, so it's just enough to sample! read more

Solvang Restaurant - Æbleskivers - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

Had a great time trying the aebleskivers. We were walking around town on a Saturday morning looking for breakfast. Most places had quite a long wait but this one we were seated right away. We were really excited to try the aebleskivers and they were awesome. The jam that you get them with is also bomb. We also ordered our own breakfast plates to go with them and the breakfast meals were solid. I got an eggs Benedict and it got the job done. Nice solvang European vibe inside. Fun place to visit. Glad we came read more

Solvang Restaurant - Aebleskivers - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

Very cute , homey spot everyone is super friendly and food is delicious ! Explore the cute town and all the local spots read more

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Our first stop when we arrived was Solvang Restaurant for the æbleskiver. Being a slow weekday, the walk-up window wasn't open. There was a sign directing to place orders inside. At the front counter a young lady greeted us and somehow immediately knew that we were there for the æbleskiver. :) From the register you can watch them being freshly made. Our order was ready in just a few minutes. We sat on a bench right outside. Our daughter was back to being a kid savoring the warm fluffy goodness of the Danish treat. We find them best with the slightly sweet and tart raspberry jam, covered in powdered sugar. This was a perfect start to our day in Solvang! read more

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Service good. Super busy day and wait staff was jumping Parking - can be challenging. But if you are an early riser no issues Ambiance - diner style: simple old school Food - solid Danish sausage - very mild and juicy but not fatty or salty. Comes with a mild mustard sauce that is borderline aioli Breakfast special - if you want a little less food the one egg special is perfect. Add cheese. You can turn into a McMuffin with hash browns Aebleskiver - what everyone comes for. Their version was more cake like. Not a donut or a beignet but something in between. Topped with a good amount of jam read more

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Was told while in Solvang we absolutely had to try famous aebleskiver. We found this cute restaurant and went in and ordered custom service was okay they seemed rushed even no one else in line We got our order pretty quickly and price was great We ordered the 3 aebleskiver it had raspberry jam and powdered sugar it was very good was like a muffin pancake to me I enjoyed it read more

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We walked in to try the able skivers and ended up dining in as well. The able skiver was amazing and I highly recommend it. YUM. That with the jelly, is delightful. We tried the meatball and sauage platter as well. The meat was good, the sides seemed ehhh and not fresh. Service was friendly. Atmosphere was similar to a diner. The inside decor in the back had some cute Danish things. read more

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Famous aebleskiver! Usually have it every time we visit Solvang. This time it was a little cakey and undercooked inside. Kind of like an undercooked round pancake. Nothing too special but fun picture. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

We had a long drive from Aptos back down to Orange County so we thought, hey! Let's stop in Solvang for abelskivvers! I am so glad we did! There's only one place that's worth it to get these lovelies at and that's this place! We decided to have a little brekkie too. Hubs and I shared scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and some bacon. Whoahhh the bacon! It was soooo good, just the right amount of crispy, it wasn't crinkly and small, rather these were full sized bacon goodness! We ravaged our breakfast as a formality to get to the real prize....ABELSKIVVERS! They were amazing, as always. Warm, sweet bites of heaven. The service was great, our servers were friendly and helpful. This restaurant holds so many memories for me as my family would visit when I was a child. It's a little danish slice of heaven on earth. It's quaint, smells amazing, and we look forward to our next visit! read more

Solvang Restaurant - The reason we came! Delish! - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

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When in Solvang, we had to try the famous æbleskivers. We heard good things about Solvang Restaurant so it was an easy choice. They have a restaurant, but we just opted to go to their takeout window and get one order of the æbleskivers. They were ready instantly before we even had a chance to pay. I'm not a huge sweets person, but the best way I could describe them are like donut holes covered in powdered sugar and raspberry jam. They were big, but still fluffy, light, and nice and warm for the brisk day. Even though I don't have a sweet tooth, I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely worth a try if you're in Solvang. read more

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I just got an order of the Aebleskivers, if you're not dining in, they have a little window out front where you can order and take your food. There are not a lot of benches outside so you might find yourself standing to eat your food. I wish there were a smaller order of the Aebleskivers since it was hard to finish by yourself and I would recommend sharing it. I like that it came out fresh and hot and the sugar and the raspberry sauces melted with it. It also felt strangely dense but fluffy at the same time. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

You had me at walk up window. Danish treats and snacks to go, so we can keep touristing, YES please. The ableskivers were perfectly dense and delicious. And the medisterpolse (Danish pork sausage) had a nice snap and savory goodness. Probably could have had two orders of each, but I wanted to keep trying other goodies. Worth the pit stop, even if there's a line. read more

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Everything about our visit from the moment we walked in, this place just wasn't it for me. The service from our server wasn't bad and the wait wasn't as long as we expected but the food.... Chef salad- canned asparagus and canned relish, chopped up deli meat and cubed cheese just thrown on top of a bed of iceberg lettuce. Please refer to my photo. Reminded me of a salad they serve you at a hospital cafeteria lol Meatball/sausage combo plate- meatballs were hard and stiff. Steamed veggies were like straight out of the freezer into a pot of boiling water. Kinda mushy. Mashed po/gravy and the sausage were ok. Pastrami sandwich- friend said it was ok but the bread was a little soggy The famous aebelskiver- ordered the 3 balls. One was completely raw on the inside. I'm sorry. Maybe I just came here on a bad day but everything was just off. read more

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Woke up super early to come here before heading to LA. It was nice and quiet since it was 7am. Service was good and Danish Style Pancake with eggs (5/5 stars) - Wow didn't expect to love this but I did! It's right between a crepe and a American style pancake. It the perfect in between so you don't feel super full. There's a slight tangy that enhances it. Æbleskiver (3/5) - The taste of the batter and raspberry jam is excellent. However, the first 2 were nice and crunchy outside but undercooked in the middle. The last one was full cooked but the outside was not crunchy. Overall, love that Danish Style Pancake. read more

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Delicious abelskeivers! $5 for 3 (each one was huge). They came out super soft, pillowy, and flavored with jam and powdered sugar. There was a bit of a wait but you got your dessert right after your ordered. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Abelskeiver - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

tl;dr the traditional Danish sausage is a worthwhile pick-up, while the famed aebleskiver are a mediocre miss at this longstanding Danish cafe Admittedly, it can be challenging to keep track of Solvang's countless Scandinavian-ish restaurants. But a safe bet is one of the town's longest-tenured residents: the eponymous Solvang Restaurant. This decades-old, frill-free cafe is best known for its signature aebleskiver, a traditional, spherical Danish pancake. As with most establishments in Solvang, the exterior architecture is charmingly Danish. An intricate wooden sign hangs above the entrance, paying tribute to "Arne's famous aebleskiver". From the street, you can peer into the sepia-toned diner; the blasting AC inside is audible from the patio. But tourists on-the-go opt for the adjacent takeout window. A handful of sturdy wooden benches across the sidewalk serve as "tables". My partner and I opted for grab-and-go Aebleskiver and Mediaterpolse (Danish pork sausage) to fill our Danish food fix. The tennis ball-sized aebleskiver were decorated with powdered sugar and raspberry syrup. The pastry's bland flavor and slightly gummy texture reminded me of store-bought boxed pancake mix, and the shape contributed to an inconsistent distribution of toppings. Meanwhile, the piping-hot sausage sported a nice char line from the griddle, but the flavor was one-dimensionally rich; the accompanying mustard was much appreciated. The service was efficient -- the takeout window offered a limited selection of the most popular items, so our food was given to us immediately and fresh as can be. Compared to many other competitors, Solvang Restaurant was reasonably priced. Our two items put us back less than $10, and they didn't spoil our appetite for Santa Barbara. Ultimately, I wouldn't in any food across Solvang. But if you want to try something savory and Scandinavian, then Solvang Restaurant's sausage is a speedy, pleasant, and affordable pick. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Aebleskiver - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

First time in Solvang and I was walking around and stumbled upon this restaurant. There was a line so I automatically decided to try this place out. They are known for their sweet dish called AEBLESKIVER. AEbleskiver (7/10): The filling tasted like a pancake and the texture was very soft and doughy on the inside. It came with powdered sugar, but I didn't want it. The berry sauce was delicious, but I wished they gave more of it. It was a nice light snack before lunch and I would come back and get it with the ice cream next time! read more

Solvang Restaurant - AEBLESKIVER - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

Plan for long lines and tasty treats! The window serves up traditional Danish pastries and sausage. Highly recommend both if you have a chance. Plan ahead since the line could take 30+ min. Waiting in the long line can be pleasant if the weather agrees. If not, then pack sunscreen, hat and comfortable shoes. Peak at the menu to know what to order. Also, there is no seating if you order from the window. I usually take it and enjoying the park or being home for the next day. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

Came here for a very rainy weekend during Christmas time! This place is decorated SO cute during the holidays. The food is very diner themed with a sprinkle danish themed items. Their pancake donut balls pictured were unique and yummy! read more

Solvang Restaurant - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

We were walking around and decided to order this traditional Danish æbleskiver after seeing a lot of people waiting outside. You get three battered balls served with raspberry sauce and dusted with powdered sugar. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect, but they tasted like they were made from boxed pancake batter. I'd rate them about a 7 out of 10. I was definitely glad I didn't wait too long in line, though they were reasonably priced at $5 per serving. The wind was also blowing really hard that day, which made it difficult to eat them without getting powdered sugar all over my clothes. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Danish Aebeskiver - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

This place is a classic and for a good reason. I've been going here since I was a kid. Maybe it's Stockholm syndrome but I still maintain that there's still no better place to get a good aebelskiver, or three. The standard breakfast fare is pretty good too. The dining area has a great combination of classic American diner and Solvang ambiance that really lives up to the town vibes, and since Solvang was built up in its current form as a "Danish town" in the 1960s, that seems pretty accurate. This is pretty much a go-to stop for me when I'm in the area. Although there is usually a wait, the service is pretty quick. If you don't want to wait they have a convenient takeout window. Plus you can buy an aebelskiver pan and mix here! (Pick up some of the Bestemor's Raspberry Jam while you're there and you also won't regret it) read more

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Dropped in for some for a quick and simple Danish breakfast on the Saturday of the Danish Days Festival. Had to order the infamous Aebelskivers along with a little more to fuel the day. Walked in and there was pretty much no wait. The crowds and wait were outside having their bites at the large festival booth. And the restaurants is deceptively large when you get inside. Go visit and you'll see what I mean. Service was pretty on the spot. It helped that my friend and I were seated in area that staff was walking by almost like clockwork. It helped make it a quick stop before going out and checking out the festivities. Food was served quickly and I enjoyed it. I'm not a big fan of pancakes but imagine a pancake but more airy that's the size and shape of a donut hole. It was like a snack for me as opposed to a meal while the sausage and eggs were my energy for the day. Until lunch that is. I'm pretty sure I've been here before but I don't remember the details of the visit. I do remember the window outside though. But now, after this last visit, I have a positive experience tucked away in my memory bank. read more

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I came here to try the famous Danish Æbleskiver. I ordered at the window and asked for the raspberry sauce on the side. The service was quick and easy. I got lucky and was able to get in line with only one person in front of me. When I received my food, the line was already 10 people long. I never stepped foot into the restaurant but it was bustling. This is definitely a popular stop in downtown Solvang got a reason. It was clean and I enjoyed the theming decorations. It felt welcoming. My husband and I sat at one of the bunches to eat and it was so good! We even enjoyed the raspberry jam when we usually don't. I could've eaten 10 of these and been happy. It wasn't too sweet and was delicious. 9/10 read more

Solvang Restaurant - Danish Æbleskiver - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

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I'm plain view a microwave is used to heat up their food. Aside from that, it's tasteless and overpriced. I suggest sticking to the food at the outside window and not the sitdown options. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Meatball and sausage mix plate, with microwaved mashed. - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

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I can only comment on the outdoor to-go window but I highly recommend it! The Solvang Restaurant is the go-to place for Aebleskiver, and for good reason. They do it right. I had to laugh at other reviews talking about plain batter and gummy texture. Aebleskiver is a classic Danish comfort food (if a little heavy for a pastry) and much of the flavor of the treat is added after the fact with classic toppings. They're made fresh and you can customize them with raspberry jam, powdered sugar, and even ice cream - just ask for your Aebleskiver a la mode! I make a point to order these whenever I come by, and you should, too. It's easy to find. Look for the classic sign and the long line. read more

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We can't come to Solvang and not have Aebleskivers. And I like having my Aebleskivers in the comfort of a restaurant booth with other food. And my mom wanted an omelette. So we got all of the things. The omelette that had all of the things in it (I can't remember what it's called), the spinach omelette, some Aebleskivers, and a side of Danish sausage (which was my fav - this was really tender and juicy and flavorful and paired so well with the mayo/mustard/horseradish dip they had - I could have had an entire plate of these). Service was fine, and the interior is super old school and chill. They have a take-out window where you can just order Aebleskivers and a few other items, but if you come inside, you get a whole menu and you get to sit down. I imagine there would be more of a wait if we were closer to lunch, but we only waited about 5-10 minutes or so. The bathroom is single stalled and sometimes gets backed up (the line, not the toilet, although......) read more

Solvang Restaurant - Our whole spread. Omelettes, aebleskivers, Danish sausace, some breads. - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

Solvang Restaurant is breakfast spot that makes the popular Æbleskiver, a danish spherical fluffy ball pancakes. It is traditionally served around Christmas with powdered sugar and jam or fruit. While the name translates to "apple slices," modern æbleskiver don't contain apples but are made in a special pan with hemispherical wells. SR has a diner atmosphere and somewhat spacious. Comfortable seats. Staff were nice. It was my first time trying this popular Æbleskiver. It was made really fresh with golden brown look outside with soft texture in the inside. Flavor was good just like pancakes. Lol. The jam made it really nice. Make sure you got water or drink once you order. Price was inexpensive. Service was phenomenal. Danish Culture is amazing. Overall, I enjoyed my Æbleskiver. Say it one more time. Æbleskiver! Æbleskiver! :D read more

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Forgot to get more pictures agaaaaiiin I only got 4 sausage links my friend got some eggs and fries and toast there was a miscommunication somewhere along the way our order was wrong and took awhile to get back to us it over all they still checked in made sure we were ok we both agreed the food felt fresh and hot and we loved it would definitely recommend it was definitely busy too. read more

I'm giving 2 stars because service was friendly. I remember Solvang and the traditional food. This food was dry, microwaved in plain view, and tasted bland, to pick a "nice" word. I used to love the meatballs and red cabbage from Solvang! I don't think I can order it anymore after this experience. I've had better jarred and boxed food. The mixed vegetables were frozen carrots and peas. Prices were ridiculous for what it was. Thoroughly disappointed. read more

Like the Red Viking nearby, Solvang Restaurant serves a hodge-podge of American diner fare and Scandinavian specialties, the latter of which I enjoy far more than the former. Thus, even though it was mid-morning, I waited out the clock until 11am, so I could order off the lunch/dinner menu, and score myself the combo plate of meatballs, sausage, mashed taters, and assorted veggies. My wife went with the open-faced sandwich plate, which was more of a DIY affair than a true sandwich. Our entire order came out far faster than expected, hot and fresh (or cold and fresh, in my wife's case). Simple. Modest. Delicious. Put a sausage, meatball, mashed potatoes, or all three in front of me, and you know I am going to be a happy camper! Regretfully, I forget to order a small batch of Aebelskivers to go, as I had intended; I can't even remember the last time I had one, and now I am kicking myself for forgetting them! I guess now I have another reason to return to Solvang! Like its name, the food here at Solvang Restaurant isn't particularly creative or fancy: it's just simple, ol' fashioned home cookin', made with love, like it came out of your grandma's kitchen, and that all by itself makes it something special. A meal here feels a little bit like coming home for the holidays. If nostalgia has a flavor, then they are serving it up here in spades. Don't miss out! read more

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Although we are in the area usually a few times a year, it's been a few years since we went to the Solvang Restaurant. Last time we went for lunch and got the iconic aebleskiver a la mode for dessert and everything was just ok. This time we skipped Paula's or Ellen's and tried breakfast here and it was very good. At about a quarter past 7 on a Tuesday there were only a few other customers. It was pretty quiet. Most seemed like elderly locals and regulars. The man who took our order was very nice and efficient. We got an eggs Benedict and a three egg omelet with a side of bacon. The omelette was very good: fluffy, not greasy, and more of an egg scramble than an omelet, but very tasty. The bacon was only average quality meat, but was really well cooked, crispy, but not overdone. The muffin for the Benedict was neither soggy nor hard and the size was slightly larger than comparable chains like Broken Yolk. Their decaf coffee was good. Post-COVID and with inflation everything was expensive, but the breakfast cost was about comparable to equivalent places and was not overpriced for the tourist area it is in like some of the other near by places. The Yelp menu pics were not that good, so I tried to get better ones. We will see if the app uploads them or not. Definitely recommend coming here for breakfast and giving them a try for lunch. Additionally, the aebleskiver place down the road is unsanitary (we witnessed disgusting food prep practices there while eating at a nearby place) and so we would recommend getting ur aebleskiver from Solvang Restaurant instead. read more

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Stopped by here on a whim to try the aebleskiver. The place is spacious and plenty of seating, and the food comes out fast. I really enjoyed the aebleskiver with the powdered sugar and jam, but I got the danish sausage on the side and will probably pass on that if I ordered again. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Danish sausage - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

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Whenever I go to Solvang, the window at this restaurant is always a must stop! There are little benches nearby you can eat at. They also have a full restaurant inside with quite a few Danish specialities. This place is the real deal. The aebleskiver here are so good! They give you three in your order topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar. As other reviewers notes, they are essentially Danish pancake balls. I love watching the workers make it in the window. We also got the Danish sausage which I thought was pretty good. You get one link and a dipping sauce that reminded me of a honey mustard. Overall, I totally recommend this place for some good cheap eats when you visit Solvang. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Aebleskiver and Danish sausage which - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

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We noticed there was a small line and a pickup window. On a rainy NYE day, there was only one party ahead of us and we got our food pretty fast. Service was standard and the Aebleskivers were soooooo delicious with the vanilla ice cream. I highly recommend it with the ice cream, makes a huge difference and makes the bread a lot more easier to digest. read more

Solvang Restaurant - Aebleskivers - Scandinavian Near Me - Solvang, California

The Solvang Restaurant is a must visit if you find yourself in Solvang, CA. They are known for their aebleskiver and you truly would be missing out if you didn't order some! Service is sweet and friendly, ambiance is cute diner, food is delicious and adorably priced. read more

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I don't know how a breakfast can taste as bad as mine today. I had the vegetable omelette. The eggs were rubbery, the vegetables inside were cut large and undercooked and they placed a slice of American cheese on it. The side of hash browns was a pile of undercooked potato. My friend had the avocado toast which was a mashed avocado, no seasoning, a slice of cheese and a tomato slice. The coffee was that awful diner coffee. The only plus side was the service was attentive. read more

Stopped in to try their famous Aebleskiver's and they did not disappoint. They came out fast and fresh. Like little pancake balls with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. Nice to have dessert first sometimes. Shared a plate of meatballs with potatoes and gravy, veggies, and soup or salad. The menu has quite a variety. The service was friendly. Like a local family vibe. Plenty of parking nearby. The location was very clean. read more

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Overhyped? We were nearby so we stopped by to try some of their famous aebleskivers. There is a small window where you can place your order and get it to go. There was quite a line building up, although somewhat artificial due to the slow service. Nonetheless, it took us about 15 minutes to get to the window to order. The way the donuts are made are akin to takoyaki where batter if poured into spherical molds. The donuts are made fresh and have a crisp exterior and soft interior. A final dusting of powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam. They basically tasted like round pancakes to me. Nothing crazy. read more

Recently had breakfast here with my husband; the food was good and service was attentive, but even better -- the restaurant has all the nostalgic feels because the last time I ate here (inside), I was a child. You can't go to Solvang without trying aebleskivers, and this is one of the few spots to get them. So good! They also have a walk-up window to get aebleskivers to go. read more

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