Obviously one of the best things (or, um, THE best thing?) about visiting a new place is checking out the food scene. It’s an awesome way to immerse yourself in the culture and take yourself out of your comfort zone by trying things you never would in your every day life. It is one thing for which I am consistently excited, no matter where my travels take me.
When my plane touched down at 4 am in Iceland, I scampered out into the airport, running through the terminal, on the prowl for food. Wow Air, while a great airline to fly if you’re on a tight budget, does not serve complimentary snacks on the way from the States, so I was fiending for anything at least halfway edible. The food in Iceland is generally simple, ranging from soup to seafood to lamb to skyr, the diet not much changed from the Viking age. And it is delicious! But there is only one problem: while Iceland is INCREDIBLY trendy right now, while everyone is obsessed with the cheap flights and are booking trips like there is not tomorrow, once you actually arrive, shit is expensive. It’s easy to spend $30 on dinner for one person, and don’t even get me started on dinner AND DRINKS. As shiny and enticing those cheap airfares may look, you have to keep in mind that your wallet will by sobbing “WHY?!” as you empty it at a shockingly rapid rate just trying to fight off the hunger in the pit of your stomach.
Luckily, I am incredibly stingy (like, way too stingy, to the point where I make up excuses to get out of going out with friends just so I don’t have to pay the Uber fare downtown). My stinginess actually makes traveling a lot easier on my bank account, though, and I paid close attention to all the must-eats while in Iceland just so I could write this post for you all and help you prepare for a fun, cheap, and DELICIOUS Icelandic adventure (you’re welcome).
Toast
Why to get it: Toast in Europe is a common thing to eat as a quick breakfast, along with meats, cheeses, and marmalade. This is a perfectly satisfying early morning breakfast for right after you get off the plane and are getting ready to start your day in Reykjavik (and it won’t break the bank).
How much you’ll pay: 950 krona (about $8.90)
Where to get it: Durum, a cute little café close to the Sun Voyager on the sea.
Skyr
Why to get it: Um, because this is all Icelandic people eat?? Skyr is one of the most popular foods in the entire country, a diet staple for thousands of years and served as a breakfast, snack, drink, or dessert. It tastes like a yogurt, but is actually a soft cheese that is incredibly smooth and creamy and thick. If you go to Iceland in the wintertime, you’ll need to get up before the sun to ensure maximum exploring time, and a cup of Skyr yogurt is a cheap and quick way to fuel yourself on the road (did I mention it has virtually no fat and is high in protein? I ate a cup for breakfast every morning and was honestly satisfied until early evening. It was GREAT).
How much you’ll pay: 175 krona (about $1.60)
Where to get it: Literally any grocery store or hostel, but I trolled around Hagkaup almost every night for snacks and yogurt after a long day on the road (a fun grocery store challenge is to smile and nod enough at the cashiers to make them believe that you are Icelandic and actually understand everything they’re saying).
Hot Dog
Why to get it: No matter how you feel about hot dogs, if you had the opportunity to nab what is allegedly the best hot dog IN THE WORLD, wouldn’t you be interested? And these aren’t American, mystery-meat hot dogs (which, yeah, I still am a fan of. BALLPARK DOGS, ANYONE?? I am drooling just imagining them), but hot dogs made mostly of lamb meat, and the prices are cheap. Order one dog with everything (which is what I did, except without the ketchup, because nothing makes me want to barf more than ketchup) and enjoy a yummy midday or late-night classic Icelandic snack.
How much you’ll pay: 450 krona (about $4.20)
Where to get it: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which is right across the street from Harpa. The food stand gained a ridiculous amount of popularity after Bill Clinton ate there when he was in Iceland for a conference in 2004, and it is now frequented by both locals and visitors. The line is usually pretty lengthy, especially in the warmer months, but since the stand is no-nonsense and no-frills with only hot dogs on the menu, the mass of hungry people moves quickly.
Tomato Soup
How much you’ll pay: 1100 krona (about $10.30)
Where to get it: Friðheimar, which is a stop along the Golden Circle in Reykholt. It is a family-owned farm, a husband and wife and five children who all work hard to keep the family business successful. You can visit the farm if you book in advance, which will give you a chance to learn more about greenhouse farming in Iceland and try some of their tasty fresh crops.
Meat Soup
How much you’ll pay: 1490 krona (about $13.90). Beer is 1010 (about $9.44), and I would recommend at least one glass of Borg if you’re interested in trying a local beer that isn’t too heavy.
Where to get it: Gamla vínhúsið in downtown Reykjavik, but also everywhere. The staff at this restaurant were shockingly friendly, though, so I am partial. I also met another solo traveler here who was returning to Iceland after several previous visits, and who said this particular establishment was one of his favorites and one that he tries to come back to every time.
Hamburger
How much you’ll pay: 1700 krona (about $15.90)
Where to get it: Vitakaffi in Akranes (yes, I know I know, Akranes is also not in Reykjavik. But it is close to Reykjavik and definitely worth a visit). Vitakaffi is actually a small sports bar that I stumbled into to get out of the viciously relentless wind, and its menu is entirely in Icelandic, so you know that it isn’t catered to tourists. Plus the people who work there are happy to translate for you and don’t make you feel bad about being a monolingual American. It’s a really fun little place and one that I highly recommend.
Lobster Soup
How much you’ll pay: 1350 krona (about $12.60)
Where to get it: Sægreifinn, a tiny family restaurant located right on the water. And I mean it is very, very small, with only a few benches lined up on the side of the rustic interior, so try to pop in here during the off-hours if you want a table. It is home to Reykjavik’s best lobster soup, and what they say is also the best lobster soup in the entire WORLD (Icelandic locals are very proud of their food, if you haven’t noticed). There are restaurants selling lobster soup all around the city, but if you’re going to do it, might as well do it right (and Sægreifinn is relatively inexpensive when compared to other eateries in the area).
Icelandic Chocolate
How much you’ll pay: 495 krona (about $4.60)
Where to get it: Vínberið, a gourmet candy store a few blocks from Reykjavik’s famous penis museum (I doubt you’ll be feeling PARTICULARLY hungry after visiting this museum, but who am I to judge if you are?). They sell all types of candy, including a wide variety of chocolates. Icelandic chocolate makers are also really into infusing their chocolate with licorice, so be sure to try it!
Cappuccino
How much you’ll pay: 570 krona (about $5.30)
Where to get it: Kaffismiojan, a small café in downtown Reykjavik that opens early, ideal for if your flight arrives in the wee hours of the morning.
Anything I missed? What is your favorite place to eat in Reykjavik?
