We loved our week in Iceland and were especially surprised by the variety of dining options we came across in Reykjavik. There wasn't one bad meal. Admittedly, there were a few mediocre ones though, but I won't mention them here. This is my list of the most memorable meals and in no particular order.
Icelandic Fish and Chips
We arrived 10 minutes before they opened and they were still setting up for the day. The waitress was kind enough to seat us and take our order. There were a lot of reviews of this place and in the end, we were glad we tried it. I had the freshly caught cod of the day with the recommended mango salad and mango skyr served on the side. The batter was surprisingly light and crispy without being oily.
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https://www.fishandchips.is/
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Sandholt Bakery
Free Wifi, table seating, early hours, and freshly made pastries everyday. Thumbs up for sure! I had the ham and sweet potato quiche which kept me warm on a cold morning. From Newark / New York airport, the only arrival options were either 530 or 630 AM so this place is a great destination for those needing to kill time before check in.
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Sandholt Bakery
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Noodle Station
Ambiguous Asian soup is probably best way to describe it. I could taste the star anise, ginger, and soy flavors, but I wasn't really sure of the origin. Probably a cross between a Vietnamese and Chinese tasting broth. When you walk in, you choose your protein, spicy level and size. They prepare it in front of you and a few minutes later, you are chowing down. Apparently, this is a local favorite and I can understand why. It was quick, inexpensive and a great casual meal on the go. With so many options in Reykjavik I probably won't return, but glad I tried it.
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http://noodlestation.is/en/
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Saegreifinn (Sea Baron) - Famous Lobster Soup
We first heard about this place from an interview aired on the Lonely Traveler podcast featuring a conversation between Rick Steeves and a gentleman who traveled to Iceland with his family for the first time. During that podcast, he shared some wonderful insights and one particular gem was the Sea Baron where he said their lobster soup was 'out of this world'. This place is very popular with the locals also and is also written up on many online travel sites.
It was a rainy day and the lobster soup was rich, creamy, and enjoyed by everyone at the table. It had soft lobster bits in it and was pretty decadent. We also ordered two fresh fish skewers for the table of four to share - salmon and cod. Personally, I thought the cod skewer was 'out of this world' and l loved how simple, fresh, and tasty it was. For this (and not the soup) I would return.
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http://www.saegreifinn.is/en/
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Halldorskaffi - Vik, Iceland
Vik, Iceland is a quint town where we laid over from our journey from the Iceberg Lagoon to the Golden Circle. There aren't many options in this town (unlike Reykjavik), but fortunately we chose to dine here from our limited options. The restaurant was really cozy, warm, and had a constant hum of people coming and going.
We read about their pizza and being from NY, we were surprised by how much we actually enjoyed their seafood pizza. The four of us shared three large pizzas and it washed down nicely with our local Icelandic beer.
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http://www.halldorskaffi.is/
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Microbar (City Center)
Okay, I know this doesn't qualify as a meal, but it was such a great spot that I wanted to include it. Lots of different beers on tap, cozy vibe, and really enjoyed the low key environment. They also had a bunch of board games in a corner, bonus!
Baejarins Betzu Pylsur (hotdog)
I guess this place is famous because famous people have eaten here (ex. Bill Clinton) and thus, it has earned the reputation of the most famous hot dog in Iceland. The line was constant, but it went quickly. This is probably the cheapest meal you will find in the entire country for roughly $4 USD. The hot dogs are made with lamb, beef and pork and we ordered it with the works (some combo of three sauces). I'm glad I tried it, but not enough to try it more than once.
Cafe Loki
If you go to Cafe Loki, make sure you head up to the second floor. Great views of the church and really bright, cheery place. I had the multi-grain breakfast sandwich and the bread was really tasty.
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| http://loki.is/cafe-loki.html |
Saeta Svinid - Sunday Dinner Special (Lamb Shoulder for Two)
Sunday Lamb Shoulder Dinner for two - Our first dinner and most memorable - lamb shoulder was tender and flavorful - delicious! The menu said this was for two people or one really hungry person. I think it was more likely for 3 or 4 people! Our favorite meal hands down.
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Saeta Svinid Gastropub - Reykjavik, City Center
http://saetasvinid.is/en/
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Shalimar - City Center
Hubby and I are fans of Indian spices and was craving some southeast Asian flavors. There was a Pakistani restaurant right next to our hotel that was consistently full when we passed so we decided to try it on our second to last night. It was spicy, flavorful, and all the dishes were so satisfying. Definitely on the return list when we come back.
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| http://www.shalimar.is/en/ |
