Icelandic Food: What to Eat and What to Try

Icelandic food is the product of an island isolated for a thousand years with a short growing season, no trees for wood fuel, and the North Atlantic as its larder. The preservation methods that evolved — salting, smoking, fermenting, drying — remain embedded in the food culture even now that refrigeration and modern supply chains have made them obsolete for practical purposes. Contemporary Icelandic food is built on these foundations: exceptional raw materials (lamb, seafood, dairy) prepared with modern technique but frequently with reference to traditional methods.

The Essentials

Skyr is not yoghurt — it is a cultured dairy product closer to quark or fromage frais, with approximately twice the protein content of yoghurt and very low fat. It has been made in Iceland for over 1,000 years. The commercial versions available everywhere (Ísey Skyr is the main brand) are good; the traditional farm-produced skyr served at farmstay guesthouses is excellent. Eat it with blueberries and a drizzle of honey.

Icelandic lamb is free-range on highland grasses from June through September before autumn slaughter. The flavour profile — herbal, slightly wild, noticeably more complex than intensive-farm lamb — is distinctive. The shoulder slow-cooked overnight (called kjötsúpa when made into soup with root vegetables) is a traditional Icelandic dish still found on many restaurant menus. Lamb in any form is worth ordering.

Langoustine from Iceland's cold northern waters is among the world's finest. Hofn is the langoustine capital. In Reykjavik, the standard preparation is bisque-finished with cream or simply grilled with garlic butter.

Hot Dogs

The Icelandic hot dog (pylsur) is a genuine national food rather than a tourist gimmick. Made from lamb, pork, and beef, served in a steamed bun with mustard, remoulade sauce, raw onion, and crispy fried onion — the "one with everything" order (eina með öllu) is understood at any hot dog stand in the country. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik is the most famous; every petrol station in Iceland serves a credible version.

Where to Eat on a Budget

Iceland's reputation for expensive food is accurate at restaurant level but overstated for self-catering visitors. The Krónan and Bónus supermarket chains provide good-quality food at prices comparable to UK supermarkets. The N1 and Orkan petrol stations serve hot soup, sandwiches, and snacks at every filling stop — Iceland petrol station food is genuinely better than its equivalent in most countries and the lamb soup in particular is a reliable roadside meal. Skyr from any supermarket at approximately GBP 1.50 for a large pot is the best value high-protein food in Iceland. The combination of supermarket provisions for breakfast and lunch with one restaurant dinner per day provides a balanced experience without the full restaurant cost multiplied across every meal.

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