10 essential Icelandic dishes to try and where to order them

When it comes to Iceland, most envision the country’s stunning scenery. Sure, the magnificent glaciers, waterfalls, and Northern Lights are spectacular—but did you know that Icelandic food is also out of this world?

Icelandic fare, or Randabrauð, is simple, understated, and characterized by the use of local ingredients. As Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, freshly caught fish and seafood are commonly found in many dishes. Lamb is also frequently eaten as sheep are a dime a dozen here, and their diet of berries gives the meat a distinctive flavor.

Today, modern chefs are also putting a new spin on old traditions, creating lots of innovative dishes that will satisfy even the pickiest traveler. Read on to find out which dishes in Iceland are a must-try and where to find them.

Skyr, a form of sour milk cheese, has been a Nordic staple since the Viking Age. In fact, you can even find skyr jars in the National Museum of Iceland. Also known as Icelandic yogurt, skyr is thicker and creamier with a milder flavor, due to its high milk content. With a hint of sweetness, skyr is typically eaten cold and is traditionally served at breakfast.

Skyr is widely available at every supermarket, sold under brands like Icelandic Provisions and Siggi’s. Cafe Loki serves pancakes with skyr, and Lava Restaurant offers everything from skyr smoothies to skyr crème brûlée, a nice treat after soaking in the Blue Lagoon.

Fermented shark (hákarl) is a national dish of Iceland, often served during the midwinter festival. While hákarl is no longer as popular due to its strong ammonia smell and concerns about sustainable fishing, Icelanders still cherish it as part of their heritage. In the past, locals made hákarl by curing Greenland sharks as a source of preserved food throughout harsh winters.

Ready to give this dish a shot? Locals will recommend that you do that literally by pinching your nose, popping a piece of fermented shark into your mouth, and washing it down with a shot of Icelandic alcohol known as Brennivin. Join this Icelandic food tour in Reykjavik to taste fermented shark and other local delicacies.

Rúgbrauð is an Icelandic rye bread that is dense, sweet, and crustless. Icelanders eat rye bread with almost anything. Butter, smoked meats, or pâté are common pairings, as well as ice cream.

Rúgbrauð is most often baked in a pot or a square baking pan, but we recommend looking for a variation known as hverabrauð (hot spring bread), which is steamed underground near a geyser. Try it first-hand on this day trip to Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, where you’ll get to watch the bread being dug from the ground before sampling it.

Some say the world’s best hot dogs can be found in Iceland. Made from local lamb, pork, and beef, pylsa is unlike any other hot dog you’ve tried before. This Icelandic hot dog is wrapped with a natural casing that creates a crisp bite and topped with onions and a variety of sauces.

For an authentic Icelandic street food experience, visit Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (The Town’s Best Hot Dogs). Since 1937, this chain of hot dog stands has attracted millions of fans, including Bill Clinton and Kim Kardashian. We recommend ordering eina með öllu (one with everything), just as the locals like it.

Tip: Pick up some pylsa at the airport’s duty free shop as a tasty souvenir—your loved ones will thank you for it.

Simple yet hearty, the Icelandic fish stew plokkfiskur literally means “plucked fish.” Fish stew is a staple in Iceland, especially because it’s a great way of incorporating leftovers. Many Icelandic families have their own recipe, but the essential ingredients remain the same: white fish such as cod or haddock, potatoes, onions, milk, butter, and wheat flour.

Warm your belly with a bowl of Icelandic fish stew at Salka Valka, where the plokkfiskur is freshly prepared using the catch of the day. Vegan options are available as well.

Instead of ham or turkey, Icelanders celebrate Christmas with smoked lamb. Known as hangikjöt (hung meat), this dish was traditionally smoked over a fire fueled by dried sheep dung, although birch is more commonly used today.

Modern Icelanders enjoy smoked lamb throughout the year, eating it thinly sliced with flatbread in eateries like Saeta Svínid Gastropub. If you’re keen to try hangikjöt the traditional way, join this dinner experience hosted by a local family in Hofn for some friendly conversation and delightful food.

Another popular lamb-based dish in Iceland is lamb soup. This dish dates back to the ninth century when the first settlers arrived in Iceland. Kjötsúpa is the ultimate comfort food—the slow-braised lamb meat creates a tasty base without any extra seasonings, and root vegetables like carrots and potatoes add a dash of sweet tenderness.

During colder months of the year, almost every restaurant in Iceland serves kjötsúpa. Lamb soup has even become a modern Icelandic fast food, and you can find it at casual eateries like 101 Reykjavik Street Food. But if you’re hoping to enjoy lamb soup at a classic Icelandic restaurant, join this food tour featuring Iceland’s traditional food, where you’ll stop by Íslenski Barinn for kjötsúpa that tastes like something out of a grandmother’s kitchen.

It might sound strange, but ice cream is a must-try in Iceland. Despite the cold weather, the locals love ice cream so much that you can find an icy sweet treat anywhere. There are some special flavors and toppings to discover, so it’s definitely worth embracing the chill to grab a cone.

One example is bragðarefur, commonly described as the Icelandic McFlurry—choose two to three types of candy, blend it with soft serve, and you’ll get the sinful bragðarefur. Dýfa is another popular choice, where the soft serve is dipped into a chocolate sauce that hardens into a crunchy shell. Licorice is also a popular ice cream flavor here.

Head to Isbud Vesturbaejar for the best ice cream in town, made with either milk or cream.

Instead of popcorn or chips, locals snack on dried fish with salted butter. Similar to fish jerky, harðfiskur is made by drying fish in the cool Icelandic wind before pounding it to soften the meat. Like most Icelandic food, harðfiskur originated as a means of preservation; these days, it’s enjoyed as a protein-rich snack.

Dried fish can be found at almost any grocery store, as well as bars and pubs like Strondin Pub Vik, but we think it’s best to munch on harðfiskur as you wander around Reykjavik city.

Similar to a cruller, kleinur is a fried pastry popular in the Nordic countries, and is commonly eaten during Christmas. However, in Iceland, kleinur is regarded as an everyday snack and can be found in almost any bakery year-round. In fact, kleinur is so popular that locals even invented a special cutting wheel to slice the dough into its iconic shape.

To try kleinur fresh from the oven, stop by Sandholt Reykjavik in the morning while the baked goods are piping hot. Old Iceland Restaurant also serves kleinur as dessert, accompanied by rhubarb curd.

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