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Part of the joy of travelling is having the opportunity to try some of the local cuisine. But beyond the infamous fermented shark, what is Icelandic cuisine? And if you’re short on time but keen to sample some local dishes you may be wondering where to eat in Reykjavik.
What is Icelandic cuisine?
Icelandic cuisine is traditionally quite focussed on seafood. Given that it is an island country surrounded by sea, that may seem a little obvious. Meat is also popular here, especially lamb. You can also find many soups and stews on a menu which are great for warming up on those chilly Icelandic days. Dairy is also a big deal in here, you may have heard of the yogurt Skyr – expect to spot that in a few eateries too.
Where to eat in Reykjavik
When we were in Iceland, my husband was keen to try some of the unusual meats they had there. Whilst as a Flexitarian, I wasn’t that bothered (but still a little curious) we decided to go for Icelandic tapas. Tapas offers a taster of the local cuisine without the full-on commitment of an entire meal of something unfamiliar.
Icelandic tapas at Tapas Barinn
We dined at Tapas Barinn in the centre of Reykjavik, a cosy little Spanish-inspired restaurant. We decided to share a tapas set menu – the Icelandic Gourmet Feast – good for curious tourists and indecisive folk like us. The Gourmet Feast consisted of a shot of Brennivin (Icelandic spirit) followed by 7 courses, the first being smoked puffin with blueberry brennivin sauce.
I tried puffin. I can’t remember much about the taste but the texture wasn’t great. And I felt guilty eating it. Puffins are cute.
Following the puffin we were presented with some assorted seafood dishes. Unsurprisingly as seafood is big business in Iceland. We had Icelandic sea trout with peppers-salsa, lobster tails baked in garlic and blue ling with lobster sauce.
Next up was the lamb dish, another popular meat in Iceland. I don’t normally eat lamb but I did try a little. I must admit it was really tasty.
The last of our savoury dishes was minke whale with cranberry sauce. I was quite wary of eating whale but I was assured that the minke whale is not an endangered species. Whale to me was a bit like steak but really salty and I did feel a bit bad for eating some. However, I was more interested in the ginger mash that accompanied it. I love ginger!
Saving the best for last, the dessert course! I do have a bit of a sweet tooth so the white chocolate Skyr mousse with passionfruit coulis was of course my favourite dish. Skyr is an Icelandic yogurt that has since made an appearance in British supermarkets. It is a big part of Icelandic cuisine, you can’t go to Iceland and not eat Skyr. It is pretty much just thick yogurt, but it makes for a good breakfast or dessert.
You can find Tapas Barinn at Vesturgata 3b, 101 Reykjavík.
Icelandic Fish and Chips
In England, where I’m from, fish and chips is a popular dish. While looking for where to eat in Reykjavik, me and my husband thought we might as well try what fish and chips Iceland has to offer. The restaurant we ate at was called, unimaginatively, Icelandic Fish and Chips. The fish is so fresh that the menu varies day to day so I can’t quite remember what I ate (I chose it from the menu on the blackboard).
The chips were more like potato wedges but were pretty good. We also ordered some dips to go with our dishes, including Skyronnaise (it’s that Skyr again!) and of course, the obligatory pot of tomato ketchup.
It would be difficult to compare to our British offerings as they all differ, but if I had to, I would say Icelandic fish and chips are crispier.
You can find Icelandic Fish and Chips at Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavík.
If you’re looking for where to eat in Reykjavik, then why not try Spanish style tapas or British inspired fish ‘n’ chips – all served with fabulous Icelandic flair!
My hotel recommendation: Fosshotel Baron – just a 10 minute walk to the shops, bars and restaurants of Reykjavik.
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