Local Icelandic Food and Gourmet

Local Icelandic Food and Gourmet

Learn Iceland's Secrets

Traditional Icelandic Food

Traditional Icelandic food was born out of necessity dictated by weather and circumstances. The preservation of food was a matter of survival over the winter months when meat and fish were scarce. Housewives used various methods to preserve as much food as possible. Meat was smoked, salted, pickled or put in whey for 3 – 4 months, giving it a very specific sour taste. Fish was dried, hanged, salted, smoked or allowed to cure for some time. Almost everything from the animal was used. A few examples of the “delicacies” made from Icelandic sheep are blood and liver pudding, singed sheep heads, smoked lamb and ram testicles! If you would like to taste some of these special treats, try Café Loki near the Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral. It is also possible to buy some delicacies in a nearby grocery store. Try rye pancakes (flatkaka), sliced smoked lamb (hangikjöt) and some butter to make a tasty snack.

Smoked salmon (lax) on rye bread (rúgbrauð) is also popular. Other bread toppings include marinated herring, rolled sausage and lamb pâtés.

When going on a camping trip or just driving in the countryside, take some dried fish (harðfiskur) with you from the nearest service station. It is the perfect lightweight snack, which most Icelanders pack when going on a picnic or hike. Don‘t let the smell put you off. Most of the above foods can be found in grocery stores and at the airport duty free stores.

Given that during the summer, the Icelandic sheep roam freely in the mountains and highlands, that most villages are coastal, benefiting from fishing, and that an increasing amount of farm produce includes organic vegetables, it is not surprising that Iceland has become a diner’s delight on an international scale.

“Beint frá Býli” which means ´Straight from the farm´, is a project which enables you to buy products straight from farms so that you know exactly where your food comes from and freshness is guaranteed. If you want to buy organic food, this is a great way to go about it. The delicious Icelandic lamb is simply a must for any meat lover, and the fresh local organic vegetables are a delight for any vegan. Add a “brennivín” schnapps as an appetiser to complete the experience.

Fresh trout, salmon, cod and char are all available for fish lovers and the national dessert, skyr, is a dairy delight. In the shopping streetbSkólavörðustígur, the charming sit-in Ostabúðin Delicatessen sells cheeses, sausages and more.

Budget Dining

Healthy, fresh, international and exotic food at affordable prices. Eat in or take away.

Budget dining is for those who are on the move between places or activities. It involves fast service, limited seating and tasty meals. Upmarket take-aways are also included in this category.

If the exciting activities or nightlife have cut into your budget somewhat and you need to economise, don’t despair, there are many restaurants and bistros that have special offers during lunch hours. The most common one is a free soup offer with the meal of the day. Some places also have a special lunch menu at agreeable prices.

Kringlan and Smáralind, the two largest shopping malls in Iceland, both offer an impressive variety of fast food options from recognizable American chains to an all Icelandic Booztbar, which specializes in healthy fast food.

View of the town. Photo by Elena

The all time favourite is the Icelandic national bite, the “pylsa” (hot dog), with all its delectable trappings. We encourage you to follow in the footsteps of former USA president Bill Clinton and leading singer of the band Metallica, James Hetfield who both sampled the delicious Icelandic hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu during their visit.

A number of food wagons have sprung up around the harbour area, offering fare from fish and chips to lobster sandwiches. These wagons offer tasty, quick meals to enjoy while people watching or to grab one on your way to a whale watching trip with Elding. If you want to eat out in the privacy of your hotel room, there are a number of home delivery options and some companies offer 2 for 1 deals if you fetch the food yourself. If you’re not in the mood for pizza you could just as well get a delivery of Indian or Asian food. Delightful places to visit for a cheap but good bite to eat are the bakeries. Most of them offer a wide range of sandwiches as well as tempting delicious pastries.

If your accommodation has cooking facilities, try out your cooking skills with some of the Icelandic recipes included in the chapter. You‘ll find all the ingredients you need at any supermarket.

Budget Dining List of Restaurants

Austurlanda Hraðlestin

Lækjargata 8, tel: 578 3838 (ask about other locations)

Tasty, authentic Indian food.

Bæjarins Beztu

Tryggvagata 1, tel: 511 1566

The most popular hot dog stand in Reykjavík.

Chuck Norris Grill

Laugavegur 30, tel: 561 3333

A grill and bar in the heart of Reykjavík.

Domino´s Pizza

Skúlagata 17, tel: 581 2345 (ask about other locations).

A popular pizza place. Take away or home delivery.

Gamla Smiðjan

Lækjargata 8, tel: 578 8555

Thin-crust pizza´s from quality ingredients.

Hamborgarabúllan

Geirsgata 1, tel: 511 1888

A popular fast food burger joint. Several locations around Reykjavík.

Hlöllabátar

Ingólfstorg, tel: 511 3500

Popular take away sandwiches. Many give in to temptation at the end of a good night drinking – Open til late.

Mandi

Veltusund 3, tel: 571 1444

Middle eastern take away. Excellent Kebabs and vegetarian options.

Metró

Suðurlandsbraut 5, tel: 581 1414

Simple fast food place with a drive-thru option.

Nings

Suðurlandsbraut 6, tel: 588 9899 (ask about other locations).

Fast food Asian restaurant.

Núðluskálinn & Noddlestation Skólavörðustígur

Laugavegur

Hot noodles and soups at affordable prices.

PHO Vietnamese restaurant

Suðurlandsbraut 8, tel: 588 6868

Vietnamese food with a variety of dishes available.

Osushi - the Train

Pósthússtræti 13, tel: 561 0562

Conveyor belt sushi, made from fresh Icelandic seafood.

Saffran

Álfheimar 74, tel: 578 7874 (Ask about other locations).