Helt Vilt: a culinary adventure through Norway’s wilderness

By Celina Tran

At Helt Vilt, the mission is clear: to bring the wild to the people of the city and show visitors the traditional dishes and wonderful flavours that nature provides. Nestled in Oslo’s renowned food hall, Mathallen Oslo, Helt Vilt provides a unique dining experience that transports diners into Norway’s untamed wilderness.

As a one-of-a-kind restaurant, Helt Vilt serves up juicy wild game burgers, tender steaks, and traditional Norwegian dishes with a creative twist. This family-owned eatery brings the authentic flavours of the forests and mountains straight to your table.

Helt Vilt: a culinary adventure through Norway's wilderness

Photo: Fredrikke Wiheden

The name Helt Vilt carries a clever double meaning. In Norwegian it translates to completely wild, reflecting both the restaurant’s focus on wild game and its adventurous spirit. The phrase also suggests something exciting and out of the ordinary, embodying Helt Vilt’s playful yet rooted approach to dining, offering high-quality food at reasonable prices.

Photo: Fredrikke Wiheden

Oslo’s hidden gem for wild game and local cuisine

The atmosphere at Helt Vilt is as inviting as its menu. With an interior resembling a cosy mountain cabin with warm wooden accents and large windows overlooking the Akerselva River, this is the ideal spot for a relaxed meal after exploring Oslo. Helt Vilt is perfect for both locals and visitors looking to experience something completely wild in the city.

Photo: Mathallen Oslo

At Helt Vilt, every meal is crafted from scratch. From slow-cooked stews and rich sauces simmered for hours on game bones to homemade spring rolls filled with wild boar and moose, each dish is prepared with love, care, and attention to detail. Burgers are made to order, and meats are grilled over a Robata flame grill, giving a bold, smoky flavour.

Photo: Fredrikke Wiheden

Flavours with a creative twist

Helt Vilt’s creativity shines in its menu, where traditional flavours meet innovative twists. Popular dishes include wild game burgers with unique toppings like aquavit sauce on the Tipsy Moose Burger or brown cheese with cloudberry sauce on the Arctic Moose Burger. The menu also includes tender steaks from moose, deer, reindeer, and kangaroo, alongside hearty favourites like the rich, creamy reindeer stew and the seasonal classic, fårikål.

To complement the meal, Helt Vilt offers a handpicked selection of wine, beer, aquavit, mead, and other Norwegian beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, for the complete dining experience.

During the holiday season, Helt Vilt becomes a popular gathering spot for julebord, the Norwegian tradition of festive feasts with family, friends, or colleagues. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the holiday spirit with delicious Christmas dishes.

Photo: Fredrikke Wiheden

A small shop with big flavours

Helt Vilt also features a small shop where visitors can buy and take home unique items sourced from small Sami producers. Specialties include dried reindeer meat, reindeer tongue and reindeer heart snacks, and a variety of salamis including moose, reindeer, and whale. Aquavit and spruce tip jelly are also available, making perfect gifts or pantry additions to savour the wild flavours of Norway long after the visit.

Photo: Fredrikke Wiheden

Sustainability and connection to nature

Most of the food at Helt Vilt is sourced from animals that live freely in their natural habitats, without the need for industrial farming practices, and comes from small-scale producers. Wild game is a healthier alternative to conventional meats – leaner, higher in protein, and free from hormones and antibiotics. Sourcing through regulated hunting maintains ecological balance, reduces environmental impact, and supports local ecosystems, making it an eco-friendly and ethical choice for diners.

Whether you are a local foodie or a curious traveller, Helt Vilt offers an exciting dining experience which is truly wild. Taste the untamed flavours of Norway’s wilderness in the heart of Oslo – because at Helt Vilt, every meal is an adventure.