Saturday, September 19, 2015

Food and Snacks in Iceland

Here is a sampling of the food and snacks we came across in Iceland.

1. Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur is the #1 hot dog stand in Iceland. It is located across the street from Harpa. This makes the hot dog a popular quick dinner or pre/post concert snack. It's a great way to sober up and in general an affordable anytime meal.
Typical night at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
A sweet tasting hot dog
The hot dogs are lamb with a mixture of pork and beef. They are commonly served with ketchup, sweet mustard, and fried onions called cronions.

2. Hlollabatar
The best sandwich shop located next to our hotel.
We usually shared a sandwich because each sandwich cost about $13 USD.
We ate at Hlollabatar twice due to time constraints between our day tours and night Northern Lights tours. It's fast food and located in Ingólfstorg, the main square of Reykjavik. We call these sandwiches submarines in the States. Icelanders call them boats.

3. Noodle Station
When you see this sign, you've come to the right place.
The Noodle Station
Chicken with extra noodles and topped with peanuts and chili pepper flakes.
Noodle Station may be the most popular noodle soup restaurant in Reykjavik. It's popular amongst the locals, the tourists, and those who stay nearby in the hostels. During peak hours, the restaurant can get very crowded. The soup is Thai style and offers a choice of beef or chicken with the option of an extra serving of noodles. We ate here twice on our trip because it was so good.

4. Nudluskalin

Nudluskalin is the other noodle shop in town. I wouldn't call it a competitor of Noodle Station, rather an alternative if Noodle Station is too busy. It is located down the street from Noodle Station. Nudluskalin offers more varieties of noodle soup. The hours are limited compared to Noodle Station. They close early.

Nudluskalin Menu
Gwiddíáw Domm Kha
Coconut Noodles with Turkey Meatballs
5. Drinks
Koko Mjolk
I'm sure this was for kids. It was rich chocolate milk.
Smoothies
These were our berry smoothies made with Icelandic yogurt Skyr at The Blue Lagoon. They were more tart than sweet.

6. Hakarl
Fermented Shark
Fermented shark is a national dish of Iceland. I was too wimpy and squeamish to try it.

7. Horse
Popular meat in Iceland
Horse in sausage form.

8. Eldur & Is

Eldur & Is is an ice cream and dessert shop. Their ice cream is delicious and they sell cakes made out of candy bars.
Single Scoop
Flavors 
Daim Cake
9. Candy

This candy shop at the Kolaportid Flea Market was very popular with the children. They sold chocolates, gummy candy, and lots of licorice.
Candy shop
Gummy and licorice
Kokosbollur (Chocolate Truffles)
10. Sandwiches
Ham and Cheese Sandwich
This is a typical sandwich I bought from a convenience store or bus stop. We were on the go so much we had to have emergency food in our backpacks just to get us through the day. These sandwiches were also a lot cheaper than the food at the cafes in the tourist spots.

Photography Credits: Desmond Chow, Roxwriting

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
Tryggvagata 101
Hafnarstræti, Reykjavík, Iceland

Hlöllabátar Ingólfstorgi
101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Noodle Station
Laugavegur 86
Reykjavík, Iceland

Nudluskalin
Skólavörðustígur 8
Reykjavík, Iceland

Blue Lagoon
240 Grindavik 420-8800
Iceland

Kolarportid Flea Market
Tryggvagötu 19 , Old Harbour, Grófin
Reykjavík, Iceland

Eldur & Is
Skólavörðustígur 2
Reykjavík, Iceland