Top 10 culinary specialities in Reykjavik

There’s more to Iceland than its stunning scenery. If you want to get to Reykjavik and visit the Golden Circle, or go on some of the most beautiful hikes in the world, you have to eat at some point. With a population of 382,000 – 7 times smaller than that of Paris alone – Iceland has a wide variety of culinary specialities. Of course, the mainstay of Icelandic gastronomy is fish. The perfect opportunity for fish lovers to sample all kinds of dishes, some of them quite sophisticated. Icelandic cuisine isn’t renowned the world over, but it’s no less surprising when you get right down to it. You won’t find such specialities in the four corners of the globe, so make the most of the opportunity to discover new flavours!

1- The skyr

It’s probably one of the only Icelandic specialities you’ll know, as it’s now sold in every supermarket. Skyr is the Icelandic yoghurt par excellence, although it can be considered a cheese in the way it is made. Its texture is similar to Greek yoghurt. You can find several varieties of skyr. Some are flavoured with vanilla, others with fruit berries… But the most popular is plain skyr, in which a little sugar is added.

2- Hangikjöt

At first glance, hangikjöt looks like the kind of ham you’re used to seeing in the Netherlands. However, the meat used is smoked lamb. Smoked meat is very common in Iceland, as it is easier to preserve meat in this state. This dish is a favourite with locals and tourists alike. Traditionally, this dish is served at Christmas time. The similar ham is sliced and can be eaten hot or cold with peas, potatoes served with a sauce, red cabbage and Icelandic bread.

3- Rye bread

Speaking of bread, here’s the Icelandic bread par excellence. Rye bread goes well with many dishes. There is one stage in the production process that differentiates classic rye bread as we know it from Icelandic rye bread. The bread is baked in hot springs, buried 30 centimetres deep near a geyser. It is left for a day to reach its final state. Icelanders eat it either spread with butter, smoked fish, fresh cheese or even mixed with ice cream.

4- Ice cream

Iceland and ice cream are one and the same. It’s a veritable institution of Icelandic gastronomy. You’ll find it everywhere and at all hours! Ice cream parlours are open all night until dawn. As you’d expect, there’s no shortage of flavours. But there are a few preparations that are very popular with the locals. You can choose one type of ice cream and three toppings such as sweets, fruit and sauces. This is called Bragðarefur. And as mentioned when we talked about rye bread, you’ll find ice cream made from crumbled bread mixed with vanilla, milk, cinnamon and eggs. To taste this preparation, you’ll have to ask for Rúgbrauðsís.

5- Hakarl

Hakarl is Iceland’s most famous dish. It is a special dish made from fermented Greenland shark. The Greenland shark does not urinate, so the process of making and fermenting it takes a very long time. As it does not urinate, its flesh contains a lot of uric acid, which can be toxic for our bodies. To remedy this problem, the shark is salted before being dried for several months. The smell of this dish is quite surprising at first, which discourages some people from venturing out.

6- Harðfiskur

Here’s another speciality that you can find almost exclusively in Iceland. It’s a fillet of fish, mainly cod (although there are versions with sea bass or haddock) air-dried for 3 months. After this long drying period, the fish is pickled with bacteria. Traditionally, Icelanders spread salted butter on the fish fillet.

7- Kjötsúpa

Kjötsúpa is a hearty dish that will warm you up from the sub-zero temperatures Iceland can experience. It’s a soup in which you add lamb shanks or shoulder with vegetables such as carrots, onions, potatoes, leeks, turnips or cauliflower. You’ll find it in any restaurant at reasonable prices, and even at petrol stations, served in plastic cups.

8- Hot dogs

Yes, several countries have their own definition of a hot dog, with very specific ways of preparing them. In Iceland, hot dogs are called “pylsa”. They are made with a mixture of meats such as beef, lamb and pork. As for the accompaniments, you’ll find Icelandic mustard, fried (or raw) onions, remoulade and local ketchup. To get your hands on any of these, just wander the streets until you find a street vendor.

9- Pönnukökur

Pönnukökur are pancakes eaten for breakfast or dessert. The pancakes are eaten with whipped cream or rhubarb jam. What makes this dish an Icelandic speciality, apart from the fact that they are thinner than French pancakes, is the way in which they are prepared. The frying pan used is never washed (yes, never) and is passed down from generation to generation. It remains to be seen whether the taste of the pancakes changes over the generations…

10- The humar

Probably the only Icelandic name you can understand without too much difficulty. The Icelandic lobster is similar to the lobster in size, but also in that only the tail is eaten. It can be prepared in a variety of ways: baked, grilled or on pizza, you’ll have no trouble finding it on restaurant menus.