One of my favorite topics is food and drink and today we are exploring the cuisine of Iceland! There are plenty of amazing options for cuisine in Iceland and I wanted to share some of the highlights from our recent trip. Disclaimer, this post may entice your tastebuds so be warned! 🙂
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Grocery Stores
Firstly, if you read my post regarding quick and easy hotel room meals, you’ll know that my first priority after checking in is finding a grocery. This was no exception in Iceland. Our Airbnb was just outside of downtown Reykjavik and since we had rented a car, we had several groceries close by.
We visited three different groceries during our stay. The first was Hagkaup, an interesting place similar to Target or Walmart. The store offered fresh produce, a vast frozen foods section, and even home goods and clothing.
Next up was Bonus which offers quality store-branded items at a decent price. There are 31 Bonus store locations throughout Iceland making it easy to find.
Finally, Kronan was probably my favorite of the three store chains. Kronan has 26 locations mostly along the South Coast and they focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle so you know we love that here at AstonishedAbroad.com.
Home-Cooked Meals
As much as I couldn’t wait to explore some of the food options in Iceland, we wanted to ensure we were being health and budget conscious. For these reasons, we ate breakfast each day at home. We purchased eggs, fresh-baked bread, skyr, berries, and coffee for the week.
I would also recommend stocking up on snacks for road trips. Also, OmNom Icelandic chocolate is available at the grocery store and makes a great souvenir for your loved ones or yourself.
If you are looking to prepare lunch and dinner at home, that is definitely an option! Since there were several food items and restaurants on our list, we decided to stick with just breakfast at home.
Icelandic Food Culture
One of the amazing features of Iceland is the fact that is surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean. Due to the location, fish and seafood are easily found and the quality of their fish is impeccable. It is not uncommon to find a fish of the day at many restaurants.
Pictured on the left below is the famous Icelandic dish Plokkari or Icelandic fish stew which we had at Reykjavik Fish Restaurant. Plokkari is not only delicious but quite filling as well. In the photo to the right, you’ll find an assortment of Icelandic foods that we gladly consumed at Cafe Loki.
We can’t talk about Cafe Loki and not mention the Rye Bread Ice Cream. It is super tasty so be sure to save room for dessert. This totally unique ice cream is served with cream and rhubarb syrup and served up in a small enough portion to satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling too full.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can even try hákarl which is fermented shark. The smell alone was a little too much for me and Courtney but a few people in our group tried it. Let us know in the comments below if you would be brave enough or have tried the shark!
As far as meat products go, Lamb, Reindeer, and hot dogs reign supreme. Whether you are looking for a more casual dining experience or an upscale approach, meat is on the menu. For a more casual vibe, check out the infamous Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. This is a specialty hot dog stand that has been in business since 1937.
Dill
If you know you know. Dill has to have its own section of this post because it is just that good! This Michelin-starred Nordic-inspired restaurant features unique dishes that focus on local ingredients. Many of these ingredients were foraged to promote sustainability and showcase the bounties of Iceland.
Reservations are required and the tasting menu is the only way to go. You can add on optional wine pairings or not. I was driving so I opted out of the wine pairings but those in our group who did enjoy them said they were quite interesting.
This meal was definitely a highlight of my first visit to Reykjavik. Each course offered new flavors and textures and they were absolutely beautiful. The dining area is intimate and cozy and everyone on staff shared their beautiful stories throughout our dining experience.
Dill is somewhere I would absolutely recommend splurging. Go out on a limb and try something different, you may just love it!
More Restaurant Recommendations
- Sushi Social: we ate here early on in our trip and everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. Sushi Social even offers local Icelandic dishes such as smoked puffin and minke whale. If someone in your group isn’t a fan of sushi or puffin not to worry, they also have steak and chicken to please all palates.
- Friðheimar: this tomato greenhouse and restaurant is only open from 12-6 pm daily so reservations are recommended. It is located outside of Reykjavik so unless you are part of a tour you’ll need a rental car. We visited Friðheimar after visiting the hot springs at Laugarvatn Fontana. Tomatoes are the featured item but you can try anything from their soup, pasta, homemade bread, and salads, just to name a few. Super fresh and an incredibly unique dining experience.
- Icelandic Street Food: great little lunch spot for a warm bread bowl filled with seafood stew. Grab a beer and a bowl of their delicious soup and you’ll be ready to continue exploring downtown Reykjavik in no time!
- Kaffitár: there are several of these local coffee shops in Reykjavik. We visited twice on separate days and the barista remembered all of our coffee orders, pretty impressive. They also offer homemade bread and pastries if you need a quick bite to eat. Try a sörur, this chocolate-glazed buttercream macaroon is said to be very popular around Christmas in Iceland.
- Gamla fjósið: located along the southern coast, this family-run restaurant is the perfect stop before you arrive at Skógafoss Waterfall. The menu includes fresh produce, burgers, steaks, and fish. A nice home-cooked meal in a cozy dining area will keep you fueled up and ready to go hike the 466 steps Courtney talks about in her Natural Wonders of Iceland post.
Exploring the Cuisine of Iceland
I hope you have enjoyed my guide to the delicious and exciting cuisine that Iceland has to offer. Stay tuned for our Reykjavik bar crawl guide coming soon and be sure to check out all of our Icelandic content before you begin planning your next trip!
Can’t make it to Iceland? If you will be near the East Coast of the United States, check out my favorite places to eat and drink when visiting Baltimore.
Safe and healthy travels!