Travel

Part 2: Food in the Land of Fire and Ice

Eating in Reykjavik

Iceland is surrounded by brutally cold water, rich with aquatic life. These waters are teeming with delicious fish like the Arctic Char and Icelandic Cod among others.

Due to its geographical isolation,Iceland does import quite a lot of food. But I’ve seen massive greenhouses growing tomatoes and berries. I’ve seen lambs roam the idyllic lands free of pesticides and chemicals (sorry if you’re vegetarian!). All this results in pretty good Icelandic fare.

Full disclosure: I did not take a food tour. I’ll reserve that for next time. But every single bite I had in the country was beyond delicious and wholesome.

Remember my first article about Iceland? You can read it here. We had landed early, fallen asleep in the communal hotel lounge, and missed the hotel breakfast. The hostess had given us a nearby recommendation so we ventured out in Reykjavik for the first time.

The day was crisp and sharp. The sky could not be bluer if it tried. The air was pure and everything was calm. It’s as if time had stopped around us. The mighty Esja volcanic range greeted us with its majestic ice-capped beauty. Even the clouds looked like they were meditating.

Röst, Reykjavik

As we walked past the marina dotted with docked boats of varying sizes, we found Röst. It had a cheerful teal facade and large windows with a view of Esja.

Iceland is very sparsely populated. According to Wikipedia, the population density is about 9 people per square mile (2022 census).

This is reason alone to travel there, especially if you lead a hectic life and are looking for a place to escape to. A haven to rejuvenate yourself in.

As we entered Röst, we felt a wave of calm.

There were two older gentlemen by one of the windows, speaking softly and staring out at the mountains. They had the same initials on their jackets, leading me to think that they were locals who worked in the area, on a long coffee break. There was a couple by another large window, sipping on their drinks and just staring out into space, each deep in their thoughts, taking in the stunning surroundings.

Tired and slightly disheveled, we found a table also facing the mountains. We ordered cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and roasted lamb sandwiches. We had heard about Icelandic lamb and how smoked lamb was a delicacy, so we went for it.

Our sandwiches arrived, loaded with meat and fresh vegetables. Just look at the photo. Look at how the Icelandic sunshine brings out the colors of this healthy and hearty meal. The dill hiding between the layers added earthiness to the already brilliantly smoked lamb.

Coupled with the coffee, this meal kicked us sharply in the backside as far as jetlag was concerned. With a renewed sense of vigor, we devoured our meals and slowly let our Zombie-like states fade away.

For the next few days (we were there for 4 days), we vowed to explore more local dishes. Lucky for us, we LOVE fish. I cook it often and am always looking for the freshest fish in my neighborhood stores.

Iceland is a treasure trove for fish lovers. Surrounded by icy and fertile waters, it’s only normal that all restaurants offer at least one fish option. This is probably another reason why there are so many whales in the area, given the bountiful fresh fish they can prey upon.

Pictured below is lobster soup, which came with a healthy portion of bread. Think lobster bisque with a richer, creamier flavor. It was simply divine. I ordered this at the restaurant within our hotel, called SlippBarinn.

On a different day, we were looking for a reasonably (comparatively) priced restaurant for dinner. Google Maps is so useful in this respect!

We found a restaurant called Reykjavik Fish. The main driver for this was the $$ sign as opposed to $$$ for most other restaurants!

It had a very humble and simple interior. You order at the counter before you sit at a table. They serve fish and chips and other fish dishes. My daughter went for the Icelandic cod and chips. I went for a traditional dish called Plokkari, essentially an Icelandic fish stew made with fish leftovers, and my husband went for the Arctic Char.

I sampled my family’s choices in addition to my dish. The cod was as expected — fresh with crunchy batter and flavorful. My stew was out of this world.

I thought of the Icelandic fisherman as I took each bite, people I would never meet, braving the icy waters every morning to catch the fish I was now luxuriously devouring. Every bite was delectable and delicious. I could eat here forever. Below are photos of these appetizing and filling dishes.

Overall, Iceland takes its food seriously. If you like fish and smoked lamb, most restaurants will serve excellent fresh fare. Eating here is expensive, so do your research and look for reasonably priced but well-rated establishments.

Another pro-tip: Look for grocery stores or city markets for affordable eating options. There were many tourists in there looking for sandwiches and fresh fruit to tide them over between meals.

I wish I’d done a little more research regarding food, but I’m wiser for the next visit. In a previous article here, I had mentioned that one way to keep costs down on vacation is to try to find accommodation which includes breakfast. Read about that here.

Benefits of included breakfast

✅ You don’t have to worry about finding somewhere to eat first thing in the morning

✅ You can literally roll out of bed and not worry too much about what to wear before breakfast

✅ You can load up on the carbs and proteins, negating the need for lunch, and have more time for sightseeing

✅ You’ll save money by skipping lunch

Our hotel included breakfast. While I sadly do not have a photo, the offerings were plentiful: breads including Iceland’s famous rye bread (I will talk about this in another article), eggs, cold cuts, Icelandic butter, smoked salmon and herring, yogurts, bacon and sausage, seasoned vegetables, and an assortment of coffee, pastries and juices. Needless to say, we gorged on breakfast and skipped lunch. We didn’t feel hungry until around 5 in the afternoon after this daily feast!

To conclude…

Icelandic food is delightful. I had never had it before and I’m fortunate to have a palate that can appreciate so many different cuisines. Even if fish or lamb isn’t your thing, give it a try if you visit Iceland. In fact, wherever you may be visiting, give the local cuisine a try. After all, isn’t that why we travel? To broaden our horizons and open our minds to new experiences? To walk in others’ shoes and feel the gift of multiple lives in one?

Have you eaten Icelandic food before? Or have you ever tried a cuisine that was completely different to your own? How did you feel? Share in the comments. Surprise me!