Traveling to Iceland wasn’t planned as a foodie trip, but it turned out to be one anyway. Much of the country is devoid of any restaurant options, and not just for fine dining, gas station dinners were a norm. However, during my stay in the Reykjavik I discovered some of the most curious and delightful food experienced anywhere. Icelandic is a cuisine steeped in tradition that uses the freshest ingredients and the capital is the best place to indulge.
Pastries from Brauð & Co.
The exterior looks wild and hip to catch your eye, but within is a traditional bakery creating their goods right on the spot.
No gimmicks here, you can watch them walking through the steps of making the goods as you wait on line.
Pastries are formed with high fat local Icelandic butter and the bakery doesn’t use any additives. Famous for their cinnamon croissant, it’s something you can’t morally leave the capital without eating.
Endlessly flaky on the outside, soft and ultra buttery inside, with crisp bites of cinnamon spice. Without a doubt, this is one of the best pastries on earth. Another incredibly delicious option is the vanilla custard hazelnut square, a dreamy combination of flavors and textures.
I love the fact that these pastries are not overly sweet. The bakery doesn’t have set hours, but is usually open from 6 to 6. Get there early as a line forms down the street during busy times.
Traditional Cuisine from Café Loki
Located directly across the street from the famous church Hallgrímskirkja, somehow this restaurant is the furthest thing from a tourist trap. Delicious local food, reasonably priced for Icelandic standards.
Upstairs has a great view of the church if you sit by the window and a magical mural to contemplate.
The Icelandic plate Por option was interesting, obscure, and really tasty. Its offerings include three open faced sandwiches on rye and mashed turnips.
The smoked trout was made so rich and exquisite with a slathering of butter underneath and the crème with herbs on top. Hearty mashed fish, called plokkfiskur, was thick, creamy, and filling. Slightly intimidating in look, but ultimately enjoyable in taste, the sheep-head jelly paired with a white bean salad went down smooth. The fish of the day was cod, steamed and lightly seasoned with salt, black pepper, and a slathering of caramelized onions.
Utterly fresh and mouthwatering. Served with vibrant greens, vegetables, and sweet potato. This was plenty of food, but how can you resist the challenge of the braveheart tasting? Fermented shark & a brennivin shot to put some Viking hair on your chest.
I recommend not smelling the shark before you eat it. It really doesn’t taste bad, a bit chewy and your average fish flavor, but the smell of it is like ammonia. The shot on the other hand, woof! That is some strong alcohol. Leif Erikson is watching how you handle it, across the road. Finish off on a sweet note with rye bread ice cream, unique and wonderful.
You can taste notes of wheat coupled with chocolate chunks, covered in whipped cream and caramel sauce.
Fresh Seafood from Sægreifinn
Also known as Sea Baron, this casual and affordable waterfront dining option in downtown offers fish plucked from the waters around Iceland.
A bit of a hole in the wall with hokey fisherman décor, seating expands around the kitchen into a back room.
Tables are very close together and at peak hours there may be a wait, it’s all a part of the experience. The menu is a freezer right beside you, take a look at what’s fresh for the day as you stand in line.
Grilled skewers of various fish, shrimp, veggie, or even whale are offered. Controversial as it may be, minke whales are plentiful in the region and its perfectly legal to hunt and eat them. Whether you want to partake in dining on this kind of meat is your own debate – our neighbors said it tasted just like beef. We went for a less contentious meat, the monkfish was in fact divine.
Juicy and grilled to perfection with crunchy, buttery veggies separating hunks of some of the freshest meat I’ve ever tasted. Lobster lovers shouldn’t miss a bowl of the famous soup. A decent portion of tender meat floated within a deeply flavorful broth.
Soup is paired with slices of thick bread and that sensational Icelandic butter.
Hot Dogs from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Literally translating to the best hot dog in town, how can you not try Iceland’s national food at its most popular food truck, open since 1937?
Sure the line is long, but you never know who you’ll be standing with. Charlie Sheen, James Hetfield of Metallica, and even Bill Clinton have tried these dogs.
Sheep outnumber humans 2:1 in Iceland and they roam free around the country happily eating. Icelandic hot dogs are made up mostly of these organic, hormone free lambs, some pork and beef, and have a natural casing creating a nice snap upon biting in. If you want to do as the locals, get one with the works – meaning sweet brown mustard, ketchup, remoulade which is a sweet mayo sauce, raw & fried onions.
This is the sole item on the menu, sorry vegetarians. Hot dogs are the most affordable way to eat around Iceland, Jeff ate dozens of them at N1 gas stations…some of the fancier locations even had bacon wrapped dogs. I have to say, he reported that the dogs at the food truck were not any different from those he enjoyed at the gas stations! However, if you aren’t renting a car and frequenting gas stations, or if you just want the experience to judge for yourself – the line really doesn’t take all that long!
Truely trustworthy list.