The Heartland Festival offers a diverse range of culinary experiences, from decadent snacks to hearty meals. The festival’s food stalls have been rigorously tested and rated on an absolute scale within the category of “Festival Food.”

Holy Smoke stands out with its slow-braised short ribs, earning a perfect six-star rating. The Swedish-run stall excels in Texas BBQ, preparing everything from scratch, including a barbecue sauce with over 20 ingredients and Carolina Sweet Slaw with grilled pineapple. The combination of the short ribs and slaw creates a BBQ perfection.

Stokkebye offers the best festival snack: a crispy waffle topped with caviar and sparkling wine. The homemade Belgian waffle with browned butter and caviar from sturgeon raised in Schleswig-Holstein offers a creamy, nutty, and decadent experience. The pairing with Stokkebye’s sparkling Stella Mary on Pinot Noir elevates the snack to another level.

Heartland Seafood Restaurant & Bar provides the best fish and seafood. The restaurant exudes professionalism and offers various options, including seafood platters, lobster, hand-cut tartare, and Funen summer salad. The Vinzelles oysters are fresh, acidic, and slightly metallic, served old-school with lemon, vinaigrette, and tabasco.

Fish & Chips serves shatteringly crispy cod. Despite its simple name, the stall excels in preparing crispy fries with a creamy interior and light, juicy cod in crispy beer batter.

The Funen pork roast sandwich is a well-made classic. This version features tender, juicy meat, crispy crackling, and good acidity from the red cabbage.

Pita Gothenborg’s pulled goose pita is a unique but messy experience. The goose is anonymous, with hints of Thai and Levantine cuisine. While okay, it may not be the best value for the price.

Other notable mentions include Gasoline Grill, Allo Bahn Mi, Lejre Micro Sausage Maker, Mamati, and Informal: Fried Chicken Burger.