Reykjav\u00EDk Street Food

Only a few years ago there was no such thing as a street food scene in Reykjavík, but in recent years, months and weeks that’s all been changing.

Today it’s hard to keep up with all the latest street food markets and pop-up stands! It seems that every week there is a new arrival on the scene and by summertime the number of pop-up shops and markets will surely have doubled.

This goes hand in hand with more restaurants and cafés opening up in the city and never before has Reykjavík had such a variety of food and from all corners of the world. Street food has the advantage of being quick and affordable, or as affordable as food can get in Iceland, so it is the perfect option for those who are in a hurry or those tourists that want to try many different kinds of food on their trip.

Fish and chips, the Icelandic way.

So, if you’d like to find some of the best juicy, greasy, healthy, vegan or experimental street food there is to find in Reykjavík, get ready!

STREET FOOD STANDS

Street food trucks or stands in Reykjavík are still few and far between, and mainly pop up during the summertime (in increased numbers). The weather is just too cold and uninviting for most outdoor trucks to handle it in winter. However, there’s one type of street food stand that has survived for decades, and that one sells Icelandic hot dogs. Usually found outside swimming pools (as the perfect post-swim snack), the most famous hot dog stand is situated in the center of Reykjavík, right by the city’s flea market Kolaportið. This hot dog stand has served the likes of Bill Clinton and Kim Kardashian, as well as thousands of locals that order “one with everything.” One With Everything is a hot dog served in a soft bun with raw onion, fried crunchy onion, ketchup, mustard, and a local mayonnaise-and-onion based sauce called remoulade. Of course you can then omit one or more condiments from the hot dog, but it’s a local recommendation to have it all. Trust me. This is also the cheapest meal you’ll find in the country.

Bæjarins bestu, the famous Icelandic hot dog stand in the center of Reykjavik.

Other common street food stands are seen around downtown during weekends, or by the popular tourist spot of Hallgrímskirkja Church, mostly selling sweet treats such as waffles, donuts, cinnamon buns or the Icelandic pastry “kleina.”

And if you head towards the Grandi fish packing area, you’ll be sure to find the best fish & chips food truck in the city, labeled with the passive aggressive message “British tradition, Icelandic quality.” For another fishy treat, check out the lobster truck that sells sandwiches filled with langoustine tails.

HLEMMUR FOOD HALL

One of the major changes that happened to street food culture in Reykjavík was when the first permanent food hall opened. Hlemmur Mathöll (Hlemmur Food Hall) began operation in August 2017. This is an indoor food market, where hungry guests can buy anything from newly baked bread and fresh ground coffee to hearty soups, vegan burgers, fish of the day, or more upscale experimental dishes with a selection of wines or cocktails. Inside, there are ten different food vendors, including a café, a bakery, a Mexican restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant and a grocery shop with soups and juicy sandwiches that also sells fresh flowers and herbs. Several other restaurants in the hall offer an Icelandic cuisine.

Skál! at Hlemmur Food Hall was recently awarded with the coveted Bib Gourmand from Michelin.

Its location is very central, and at one of the city’s main bus stations, so it’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before or after a bus ride if you’re traveling within Reykjavík or going just outside the city.

Surrounding the food hall, you’ll find some Asian fast food restaurants, such as Noodle Station and Mai Thai, both offering affordable and tasty, quick meals. If you want to dine sitting down, head to Ban Thai, a restaurant that’s a local favorite known for its incredible food, but slow service.

GRANDI FOOD HALL

Another food hall opened up in the harbor area of Grandi in the summer of 2018. With a similar concept to Hlemmur Food Hall, it has also become a popular food stop for both locals and foreigners all year round. Sheltered from the outdoors, it offers nine different street food vendors, from Korean fried chicken, Icelandic lamb or fusion fish and chips to raw salmon with prosecco. One pop-up truck changes every two months as it allows foodie entrepreneurs to check out new ideas, helping them to establish themselves in the Icelandic food scene before launching a restaurant of their own. So here you’ll be sure to test the newest thing on the scene when it comes to Icelandic street food.

On the same street, you can find a variety of foodie pit stops. This area has become famous as the “fish packing district” of Reykjavík and hosts hip designer shops, lively cafés, galleries, restaurants and delis. You can, for example, sample tea at the Japanese teahouse Kumiko, check out some of the city’s best ice cream at the experimental ice cream parlor Valdís (liquorice and pepper ice cream anyone?), and choose from a number of artisan cheeses at Búrið. You can shop for local meat products at Kjötkompaní, or try the Moroccan flavored kebabs at Lamb Street Food, the sourdough pizzas at Flatey Pizzeria or the excellent brunch at Cuckoo’s Nest.

POP-UP STREET FOOD MARKETS AND FESTIVALS

A number of street food markets have popped up in recent years in Reykjavík, such as the outdoors Christmas market at Hlemmur Food Hall and the outdoors food market Krás that’s a few years running. There’s also a regular artisan street food fair in Harpa Concert Hall and the street food Box Market that was set up in the Skeifan area during in the summer of 2018. Only time will tell which of these will continue to thrive in the upcoming years, or if new ones will take their place. Changes happen fast in this Nordic capital.

There are also a few annual food festivals to look out for, such as the Reykjavík Food Festival (formerly known as the Reykjavík Bacon Festival) taking place in July, Food & Fun Festival that takes place in March and the Icelandic Beer Festival in February.

ICELANDIC TRADITIONAL STREET FOOD

If you’re looking for authentic Icelandic traditional food, then head to Icelandic Street Food, a small restaurant found on Lækjargata Street in central Reykjavík. Here you can buy seafood soup or traditional meat soup served in a bread bowl, with as many refills as you need. Alternatively, you can get a fish stew, AKA plokkfiskur, accompanied by Icelandic dark rye bread.

Valdís Ice Cream parlor.

Another location right opposite Hallgrímskirkja Church is Loki Café where you can fill up on traditional Icelandic dishes such as flatbread with smoked lamb or smoked salmon, skyr and kleinur.

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN

Neither one can rightfully claim to be street food, but the plentiful vegan dishes at the bright Kaffi Vínyl and the juicy vegan grub found at Veganæs inside dive bar Gaukurinn must be mentioned here. Although both are a sit-down affair, they have the quick service of a street food stand and can be enjoyed while watching a live show on the premises. The garlicky Kawaii sandwich at Vínyl, as well as their vegetarian lasagna, is to die for (although no-one has to die for it), as well as the burnt beer battered cheese sandwich at Veganæs, served with fries and spicy mayo. It’s vegetarian heaven! No matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian or a habitual meat-eater, these are a must try.

LATE NIGHT SNACKS

After a long night out drinking, two sandwich shops serve juicy subs that are the perfect late-night nibble. They are Nonnabátar (AKA Nonni) and Hlöllabátar (AKA Hlölli). Think Subway, except much greasier, therefore very unhealthy, but both are a delicious guilty pleasure. You can also head to Deli or Devito’s Pizza for a slice of pizza, or three, before heading home.

BEST KEBABS IN TOWN?

There’s an eternal rivalry between the neighboring Ali Baba and Mandí as to who serves the best kebabs in town. Run by two brothers in adjoining houses, both have loyal customers that swear by the superiority of one over the other. And then there are those that suggest going into the suburbs or neighboring towns to get kebabs, such as at the Viking Kebab in Kópavogur or the Greek House in Grafarvogur. And then the hipsters head to Lamb Street Food at Grandi harbor. The only way to find your favorite is to try them all.

Undoubtedly, by the time you’ve read this article, at least five new pop-ups have opened, so be sure to ask around for the hottest street food spot in town!