In Iceland the choice of food is as varied as the weather! Because of the lack of sunlight or the location of the island, fishing and hunting possibilities were limited, but also the export and import had their low point so that there were only limited resources many years ago. Nowadays, you can find almost everything your culinary heart desires in Iceland. The most popular dishes, however, have been fish, lamb and Icelandic skyr for hundreds of years.
Street Food
A small restaurant which we can recommend is called “Icelandic Street Food” and is located about 11 minutes walk from Hillgrímskirkja and only 7 minutes from Harpa Concert Hall. As the name suggests, it’s more street food and the choice is manageable. The highlight here is the soup, which can also be served in a large loaf of bread instead of a normal paper plate. Besides the very traditional lamb soup, there is also a vegetarian version or other dishes like mashed potatoes, which not only consists of the obvious, but also puréed fish. There is not much space in the restaurant itself, but the style and the music are traditional and robust. As almost everywhere in Iceland, the water is free. An eye-catcher in “Icelandic Street Food” is the Wall of Money; a wall on which banknotes from different countries hang. Well, who can find their homeland?
Restaurant
Another restaurant to recommend is the Old Iceland Restaurant. Here you will also find the typical Icelandic dishes, but also any other speciality. Old Iceland is not far away from Hillgrímskirkja; it takes about 5 minutes on foot.
Hot Dogs
“Hot dogs?” one wonders. Yes, definitely! If there’s something on your list that’s that should not be missed it’s absolutely the hot dogs from Bæjarin’s Betzu Pylur in Reykjavík. Admittedly, entering the name on Google Maps is a bit of a challenge and the stand doesn’t look like what you’re looking for. But the hot dogs are sensational. Not only tourists line up here, but also locals like to come during lunch break or after work to take the sausage with them on their hand. Traditionally, one orders the hot dog “eina með öllu”, which means with everything. That includes:
- Sausage consisting of beef, lamb and pork
- Fried onions
- Raw onions
- Sweet mustard
- Creamy rémoulade
