When you are planning your Iceland visit, you are thinking of glaciers, whales, and volcanoes. But remember that you will need to eat to keep your energy up as you climb those mountains. Luckily, there are a wide variety of amazing and delicious foods for you to enjoy on your Iceland vacation! Here’s what you can expect with food and drink in Iceland.
Fish and Lamb, Iceland’s Two Big Foods
These are the big two in Iceland. Every restaurant will have one or both on their menu. Both are amazing here. The lamb is succulent and tender, and the fish is worth the trip alone. When you are here, make sure you have some cod because there is a reason the British fought the Cod Wars with Iceland. Some of our group had cod every single day during our Iceland visit, and they never regretted it.
The fish and chips at this food truck at the harbor was so good we ate there three times in a week! They have a regular restaurant too, called Vagninn.
Fresh arctic char is another special fish to eat while you visit Iceland.
Icelandic Hot Dogs What a Surprise
When you think Iceland, you think hot dogs, right? No? Well, after your Iceland vacation you will. Hot dogs are ubiquitous throughout the country, and they serve them up in their own way. First, they are all Icelandic-made mixing lamb, beef, and pork, and served with two types of onions and two types of sauces. They are fantastic and one of the most affordable meals in the country. Make sure to check out Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. You might not be able to pronounce it, but it is the original, and best, place for dogs on your Iceland vacation.
Eating Vegetarian on Your Iceland Vacation
There has been a lot of meat in this post, but do not worry! If you abstain from meat and fish, or animal products altogether, you will not be starving on your Iceland visit! Every single restaurant that we visited had a variety vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. So, when you hear about Iceland vacations full of lamb and cod, know that it will be just as easy for the vegetarian traveler!
Buying Groceries on an Iceland Visit
If you are enjoying your Iceland vacation, but want to cook yourself, or even just get a snack, you will want to stop by a grocery. Luckily, Iceland has them readily available everywhere. A lot of visitors are surprised by the price of food in Iceland, because they must import a lot of it. We really liked Bonus, which is a grocery store easily found by their piggy bank logo. It is a lot like an Aldi and has some of the best prices you can find.
Hákarl and Svið, the Traditional Foods of Iceland
If you are adventurous about food and drink in Iceland, two of the traditional foods in Iceland are Hákarl and Svið. Svið is a boiled sheep head, usually served with potatoes. While it is just as tasty as any of the other lamb in Iceland, its appearance can be off-putting.
Meanwhile there is Hákarl. This is a fermented shark, typically served in small cubes. The shark is buried and left to rot, then dried in the air for months. It is often served with a shot of the rye liquor called Brennivin (to get the taste out of your mouth). Bennivin’s nickname is “Black Death.” We ended up not trying the Hakarl, because every single server we warned us about it, but it is described as intensely fishy and ammonia rich. If you want to try it on your Iceland visit, do not say we did not warn you! We can attest that the Brennivin is good and potent.
