Best Things & Places to Eat in Reykjavik | Iceland Travel Guide
I expected Iceland’s food to be bad.
After a terrible experience with Scandinavian food – everything was way too salty for my consumption – I thought that Icelandic food would be more of the same. Hence why we stocked up on TONS of snacks before flying over to Iceland: wraps, energy bars, chocolate, crisps, and all the unhealthy energy-giving snacks you can imagine.
We ended up hauling half of that back because guess what? I couldn’t be more wrong.
Iceland’s food is TERRIFIC.
I don’t think I can point to a single dish that I disliked. The fish was soft & flaky, the pizza was one of the best I had ever had, and don’t even get me started on the Icelandic meat soup. There were some things that I wasn’t too impressed by, of course. I’m a foodie (aka high standards).
But in this post, I have prepared a comprehensive list of all the most famous things & places to eat in Reykjavik, which is the capital city of Iceland. Even if you think you might not like it (think fermented shark cubes and sheep’s head), it’s still one of those unique local dishes you might just want to try. Just so you know what it’s like. You can also check this travel post out if you want a comprehensive list of things to do in Reykjavik.
Oh, and if you don’t have the time to read everything now, why not save this post for later?
Table of Contents
Best Things to Eat in Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Hot Dog (pylsur)
The pylsur (Icelandic hot dog) is one of the most talked-about food in Iceland. Practically a local institution.
But what makes the Icelandic hot dog so different from its peers?
Its links are made of lamb, pork and beef but to eat like an Icelander, you must get “one with everything”: ketchup, sweet Icelandic mustard (pylsusinner), a mixture of sweet relish and mayonnaise (remoulade), fried onions and raw onions.
They also have traditional mustard and mayonnaise on offer if you would rather have those included as toppings.
Personal Verdict:
I have never been a huge fan of hotdogs, but the Icelandic pylsur was pretty interesting. The mustard and remoulade gave the hotdog a sweet twist, which I wasn’t used to.
Definitely something to try when you’re in town!
Best places to eat in Reykjavik
If you’re in Reykjavik, you must try Baejarins Beztu Pylsur (meaning Best Hot Dog in Town). It opened in 1937 in downtown Reykjavik and has attracted many celebrities to its stall, including former US President Bill Clinton, Kim Kardashian and James Hetfield (vocalist of Metallica)!
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur has expanded to 5 different locations and is consistently referred to as one of the cheapest, best food in town.
Cost
Less than ISK 1,000 for a hot dog with all “the works” (or eina med ollu), bits of bacon & a soda – a pretty good deal!
Just make sure you bring some cash.
Icelandic Meat Soup (kjötsúpa)
Kjötsúpa or the Icelandic meat soup was one of the best things I had when in Iceland.
It is an incredible soup filled with lamb, potatoes, carrots, herbs, onions and cabbage, although every Icelander has their own take on this famous local dish. Hearty and filling, it’s a great dish to have after a long, cold day out exploring. You can also find Icelandic meat soup quite easily as it is a popular dish.
Personal Verdict:
Loved, loved, LOVED kjötsúpa! I’d absolutely have this again if I could.
Best places to eat in Reykjavik
Íslenski Barinn without a doubt. I would have never known about this place if it was not recommended to me by the lady at the nearby Tourist Information Center along Laugavegur. Hearty meat soup in a lively, Icelandic bar as a setting made for a perfect lunch out in Reykjavik.
Cost:
ISK 1,850 – a little pricey, but soo very tasty.
Fermented Shark (Hákarl)
Hákarl (fermented shark) is a bit like durian: you either love it or hate it.
The majority of online reviews that I read before going to Iceland claimed that it was the most horrid tasting (AND smelling) thing that they had ever come across.
Personal Verdict
I tried hákarl at Íslenski Barinn. It came in 6 tiny, milky cubes sealed in a glass jar, and several toothpicks for us to pick it up with.
Hákarl basically tasted like sashimi that had gone slightly bad. I didn’t find it nauseating or horrible; in fact, it was almost tasteless. So much so that I even had 3 cubes at once and barely tasted anything!
This could also be just me because I was eating Icelandic meat soup prior to trying hákarl. The soup was very flavoursome and hot (I burned my tongue). And I’m used to strong tasting food like durian (which I also love & find to be very fragrant).
As for the smell – again it smelled like sashimi that had been left out on the counter for a little while. I even lifted the glass jar close to my nose and couldn’t really detect a smell.
All in all, I would recommend that you give it a go. But make sure you order other dishes because that is not going to be your main meal!
Best places to eat in Reykjavik
Íslenski Barinn, where I had my lunch.
Alternatively, you can easily purchase hákarl in a local supermarket like BONUS or Netto (the closest BONUS is along Laugavegur, if you are coming from Islenski Barinn). However, those tend to come with a lot more than just 6 cubes!
Cost:
ISK, 1750 for 6 cubes at Íslenski Barinn.
Skyr Yoghurt
1,100 years ago, Skyr Yogurt was made. Skyr is the Icelandic version of Greek yoghurt or fresh cheese. Fat-free, protein-rich, creamy and a part of the local diet for thousands of years, Skyr is traditionally served with milk and sugar or added into porridge.
Read any Icelandic travel food blog and you will come across a mention of the Skyr yoghurt. It is so famous, it is being exported to countries like the USA, UK, Russia and Japan. It also features in cakes, pastries, mousses and Skyramisu (more on that later)!
With ALL that talk, I, of course, had to try it.
Personal Verdict
Skyr tasted like a thick, slightly sweetened yoghurt.
Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan. This may also be because I’m already addicted to the more common diabetics-inducing fruit-flavoured yoghurt you find everywhere.
I wouldn’t really recommend Skyr as a go-to yoghurt choice, but I do recommend trying anyway if it’s your first time. You might feel differently.
Best places to eat in Reykjavik
If you’re staying in accommodations that provide breakfast, Skyr will likely form part of the menu.
Alternatively, head to a local supermarket like BONUS and grab a small cup. There are many flavours available.
Cost
Depending on where you purchase Skyre, you can buy a small cup for around ISK 178 (around $2). One of the cheapest things you can eat in Iceland.
Lobster Soup (Langoustine)
Lobster soup is another must-try dish when in Iceland.
That said, you can’t go wrong if it’s anything to do with Icelandic lobster, whether that is in soups, sandwiches or on its own with a generous dollop of garlic butter!
Best Places to Eat in Reykjavik & the rest of Iceland
Here is a list of places that visitors have claimed to serve amazing lobster soup. I wish I could give a personal recommendation but my stomach just couldn’t fit all the extra food!
Saegreifinn (The Sea Baron) lays claim to serving the world’s best lobster soup.
Address: Geirsgata 8, 101 Reykjavík
Some claims state that Verbud 11 Lobster and Stuff serves even better lobster soup then Saegreifinn.
The menu also includes Skyramisu, which is made with coffee ice-cream, Skyr custard and grated white chocolate toppings.
Fjorubordid (meaning “at the seashore”), Stokksetri: Apparently serves lobster soup that is richer than Saegreifnn!
Address: Eyrarbraut 3A, 825 Stokkseyri
At Humarhöfnin, you get langoustine bisque, langoustine pizza, langoustine tails, whole langoustine, creamy langoustine tagliatelle & can even wash down with a rhubarb compote (that has citrus Skyr!)
Address: Hafnarbraut 4
Have you tried any of these restaurants? I would love to hear how you found them in the comments below.
Icelandic Butter (Smjör)
Ok, this isn’t really a dish but you can find Smjör almost anywhere. Smjör is an Icelandic butter that is made from fresh pasteurised cream.
Personal Verdict
This Icelandic butter was very different from the butter I had tasted before.
Light, almost fluffy in texture, it tasted like cream! An acquired taste, although I think I’ll stick to my unsalted Lurpak for now.
Cost
Smjör costs around ISK 357 ($3).
Reindeer Meat
I ate Rudolph. 🙁
One of the more unique experiences for me, which I had at Íslenski Barinn. Reindeer meat is very lean and had a mild taste akin to lamb. It was a sweet dish because of the fruity sauce that went with it.
Reykjavik Fish & Chips
You can’t go wrong with fish in Iceland no matter where you are. And fish & chips is one of those dishes you will find pretty much everywhere. Fresh and flaky – one of the very best fish I’ve had in my life!
Best Places to Eat in Reykjavik
Kaffivagninn was established in 1935 by the old harbour and has two claims to fame:
- It is Iceland’s oldest (and best) restaurant; and
- Serves one of the best fish & chips around
Cost
A place of fish & chips with a fresh salad topped with remoulade, mustard sauce and cocktail sauce comes to ISK 2,690. Not exactly cheap but definitely something interesting to try.
If fish & chips doesn’t tickle your fancy, Kaffivagnin also serves pan-fried fish balls, fish stew, Odin’s fish soup, cod loin au gratin with shrimp, Arctic char etc. You get the idea!
Harðfiskur (dried fish)
Harðfiskur is a traditional Icelandic snack. It is normally eaten with Icelandic cream butter, and according to our local server, is very popular among the older generation of Icelanders.
There are many varieties including haddock, catfish, pollock and cod. They are traditionally filleted, brined then hung to dry for weeks on outdoor racks.
According to the lovely Icelandic server we had at Íslenski Barinn, harðfiskur is more commonly enjoyed by the older generation of Icelanders.
I actually really enjoyed harðfiskur, so much that I bought a big packet home to snack on! If you like dried fish, I would recommend going for harðfiskur. It’s a healthy alternative to chocolate.
Eating trick:
Let the harðfiskur soften in your mouth before chewing. It’s really hard.
Hverabrauð
Hverabrauð is also known as hot springs bread or the THUNDER bread.
I really wish I’d had a chance to try hverabrauð after reading all the rave reviews. What’s unique about this dark bread is that it is baked using Iceland’s hot springs!
Once it’s been in the ground for 24 hours, the box is dug up & served. Nowadays, modern Icelandic families tend to bake hverabrauð in an oven although you will still find places that bake hverabrauð the traditional way.
You can have hverabrauð with butter, jam, ham and cheese, tuna fish, or even cream cheese with Icelandic smoked salmon.
Sirius Chocolate
Confession time. I have a big sweet tooth. And one of the things I love doing when travelling is:
- visiting the local supermarket; and
- checking out the sweet section for local chocolates.
I noticed the Sirius chocolate brand because they were everywhere and there were so many flavours available. Not that I understood what any of the words meant, but Google Translate was really helpful.
Cost
ISK 339 for one 140g chocolate bar.
Mills Arctic Kaviar Original
One of the more unusual things I tried in Iceland: caviar in a tube! I wouldn’t even have known about it if it hadn’t been part of the breakfast bar at quite a few of our accommodations.
Personal Verdict
Too salty for me. The taste is a little different from your normal caviar as it comes out like a paste. Something unique to try but not enough for me to buy one home!
If you want to bring one home (or try it), then head over to your nearest Netto or BONUS. They should have some in stock.
Laufabrauð
Laufabrauð (known as leaf bread), is a deep-fried wafer treat eaten during Christmas time in Iceland. The intricate designs are made from a lead bread iron (laufabrauð).
It’s really pretty. Maybe it tastes as good? Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried laufabrauð before!
Appelsín
Appelsín is the Icelandic version of an orange soda mixed with malt over Christmas for a unique kick.
Others Food to Try in Reykjavik
Apart from the items and places listed before, these are some of the other dishes worth trying when in Iceland:
- Tomatoes: Iceland’s tomatoes are a very popular dish and Fridheimar Greenhouse is one of the most famous places to have tomato soup
- Puffin: Yes, you can eat puffin when in Reykjavik though I didn’t get around to having it. Are you brave enough to try?
- Other waterfowl creatures like cormorants and gulls
- Svið and sviðasulta = Sheep’s head and brawn. Often served during the mid-winter festival of Þorrablót, you can try this dish at the Fljótt og Gott restaurant within Reykjavik’s BSI Bus Terminal. Personally, I’m not sure I’m in a hurry to try eating the literal head of a dead animal on my plate!
- Súrsaðir hrútspungar: Boiled, cured and pressed ram testicles – yeeahhh not sure about this one. But I do recall trying this in Lebanon. It was surprisingly ok.
- Blóðmör: Icelandic black blood pudding made from lamb’s blood (similar to Scottish haggis or British black pudding). It doesn’t taste as bad as it sounds. Just don’t eat it by itself; it’s pretty intense.
- Lifrarpylsa: Liver sausage
- Plokkfiskur: A fish and potato stew that normally comes with dark and sweet rye bread
- Pizza: I couldn’t resist putting it in because the pizza was just so good! American food is everywhere in Iceland and they are amazing.
- Icelandic liquorice: I never quite got onto the liquorice bandwagon which is why I didn’t try any, but the Icelanders are very proud of it. You can find liquorice everywhere: in their chocolate, popcorn, ice-cream, gum and candy. Valdís even serves licorice ice-cream! (yuck)
- Ice-cream: Soft-serve or gelato are both on offer, and Valdís is the most popular place to quench your sweet tooth. Need I say more?
- Icelandic pancakes: Crepe-like pancakes that either come plain with sugar, or jam and cream.
- Icelandic craft beer: If you’re looking for some local beer, try Kaldi beer at the Kaldi Bar or Bryggjan Bar and Restaurant (which has an on-site brewery!)
Best Places to Eat in Reykjavik
TL;DR?
Here is a summary of Reykjavik restaurants, bars and street stalls to visit:
- Íslenski Barinn: Strongly recommend for its flavoursome local food, especially the Icelandic meat soup (one of the best food to try in Iceland)
- Baejarins Beztu Pylsur: For the ultimate Icelandic hotdog with “The Works” – great Icelandic street food
- Fridheimar Greenhouse: For their tomato soup
- Kaffivagninn: For fish & chips
- Fiskmarkaðurinn (Fish Market Reykjavik): Located in one of Reykjavik’s oldest buildings, each dish is prepared using the freshest fish and meat available. Guests can watch the meal preparation in front of its open kitchen. Reservations strongly recommended.
- Valdís: For the ice-cream
- Saegreifinn (The Sea Baron) or Verbud 11 Lobster and Stuff for lobster soup
- Tapas Barinn: A tapas restaurant famous for its cured Icelandic lamb in liquorice sauce
- Dill: The first Icelandic restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in 2017!
- Matur og Drykkur: Takes classic Icelandic dishes and give them a contemporary twist
- Súpa: For the ultimate soup haven. It offers 4 main soups and 2 specials of the day, including a Malaysian soup! A bowl of soup and a sandwich will set you back ISK 1,490.
- Serrano: For Icelandic-Mexican food
- Lemon: A juice and sandwich place
- Brauð & Co: The ultimate cinnamon roll/bakery in Reykjavik, just one road down from Laugavegur, Reykjavik. Personally found the cinnamon roll to be too sweet, but others might disagree. There was a HUGE line at Brauð & Co when we visited.
- Vínberið: Didn’t manage to find this confectionery shop along Laugavegur, but its selection of chocolates looks amazing!
- Local: A chain of salad bars if you are looking for vegetarian food in Iceland.
Etiquette to Observe in Reykjavik Restaurants
If you are on a budget, avoid Iceland’s restaurants at all cost.
But if you’d like to pamper yourself a little, then these are some of the etiquettes to observe in the restaurant:
- Tipping is not expected in Iceland. But if you want to tip for exceptional service, it will be more than welcome!
- Ask for tap water. It’s completely free, and one of the freshest water you will find anywhere. And far better tasting than bottled water too!
- Make restaurants reservations if you intend to dine over the weekend, during the busy summer period or at fine dining restaurants.
- Reservations might not be necessary at cafes and bistros.
- Dinner is around 7 or 8 pm, but upscale restaurants might open from 6 pm onwards until 11 pm to midnight. Some restaurants might stay open even longer. Matur og drykkur opens at 5 pm from Wednesday to Sunday!
- Icelanders eat very quickly!
- It is possible to eat cheaply in Iceland if you avoid restaurants!
Other Exciting Places to Visit in Iceland
If you’re looking for tips on what you can do in Reykjavik, check this post out.
But if you’re looking to explore more then Reykjavik, check out these posts:
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12 Comments
Monica Sharma
being a foodie I am always tensed when I am traveling as I do not have enough knowledge about the place, but now that I came across your article I have got a clear picture about what to eat when I visit Iceland, I will surely share the same with my friends and family as well for their reference.
Iuliya
Amazing! Glad it can be of help & hope you get to try Icelandic food soon 🙂
Flossie McCowald
Have never been to Reykjavik, but Iceland has long been on my bucket list. I would def like that crazy hotdog better than the shark, I think! And yes to the butter, the fish’n’chips, and the SKYR!!!
Iuliya
Haha it’ll be a food fest!
Jessica kokoszki
I love that you are such a risk taker when it comes to food. I would also try everything you mentioned but the Reindeer meat and fermented shark was intriguing.
Iuliya
It does, doesn’t it?! Definitely unusual.
Tarun D
Iceland is known for its scenic beauty but no one has ever mentioned how good the food was! That is until now!
Just another reason to visit this beautiful country! thanks for this
Iuliya
You’re welcome!! 🙂 I was also blown away by the food; couldn’t believe how good everything was!
Tamera
I’ve been wanting to visit Iceland, and that bread looks amazing. I wish I was on my way there right now!
Iuliya
I wish I was still there myself!
Nomads RTW
we tried the soup, the reindeer meat and some salmon, it was nice! although it was not cheap 😀
Iuliya
Agreed! None of the food in Iceland is 🙁