Best Icelandic Food – 40 Best Icelandic Dishes And Iceland Traditional Food To Try

Best Icelandic Food – 40 Best Icelandic Dishes And Iceland Traditional Food To Try

Iceland’s cuisine is not yet world-famous, but some dishes are authentic Iceland traditional food to try! Click here to book online Iceland activities and tours

On average a meal in a sit-down restaurant in Iceland will cost around €20-40 per dish. Breakfast will usually be cheaper and dinner will usually be the most expensive. A coffee can cost €4, a beer €7 and for dinks in Iceland like cocktails expect to pay €11. Read here best restaurants in Reykjavik

Read here vegetarian food in Iceland and best Icelandic breakfast

SIM CARD AT REYKJAVIK AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Reykjavik airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Reykjavik. Read here best Iceland sim card for tourists and 9 Day Iceland Itinerary

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

Two of our favorite travel insurance: Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full comparison of Genki vs Safetywing Travel Insurance Review and the comparison Heymondo vs Genki

Best Icelandic Food: Best Icelandic Dishes And Iceland Traditional Food To Try

Traditional Food in Iceland

1. KJÖTSÙPA (LAMB SOUP)

Kjötsùpa (Lamb Soup) is one the traditional Iceland dishes to try. Kjötsùpa is made of lamb soup with herbs/vegetables like carrot, potatoes and onions. You can eat Kjötsùpa with bread. Prices are around €15 per dish in local restaurants.

2. ICELANDIC LAMB

Icelandic Lamb is a traditional food in Iceland to try. Icelandic lamb includes a leg of the lamb which is then roasted with ground pepper and kosher salt. Butter, broth and salt are added to taste later on.

3. HANGIKJÖT (SMOKED LAMB)

Hangikjot is a traditional festive food in Iceland. Hangikjot includes smoked lamb served in hot or cold slices. Hangikjot meat is served with béchamel sauce, potatoes and green peas.

4. DRIED FISH (HARÐFISKUR)

Dried Fish (Harðfiskur) is one of the most popular snacks in Iceland with high protein. You eat Harðfiskur with salt or butter and it’s great partnering with beer.

5. FERMENTED SHARK

Fermented Shark is locally known as Hakarl. The fermented shark is the national dish of Iceland. The dish consists of Greenland shark fermented for four to five months.

6. HUMAR OR ICELANDIC LOBSTER/LANGOUSTINE

Humar or langoustine is generally cooked up with butter and garlic. Salt is added as per taste preferences. Humar is cooked in an oven for approximately 20 minutes.

7. PLOKKFISKUR OR FISH STEW

Plokkfiskur is a traditional Icelandic fish stew. Plokkfiskur is made from fish (cod or haddock), potatoes, béchamel sauce and onions. Apart from this, flour, milk or cream, salt, pepper and butter is also added to give it a rich creamy texture.

8. PUFFIN MEAT

Puffin meat is a traditional food in Iceland. Puffin meat is cooked along with other spices and ingredients like salt, thyme, rosemary, mustard seeds and garlic.

9. WHALE MEAT

Whale meat is also quite popular food in Iceland. Whale meat is cut into slices or cubes. Whale meat is cooked with oil, peppercorns, vinegar, salt, garlic and onion to give it a taste.

10. ÞORLÁKSMESSA

Porlaksmessa is a fermented skate fish. Porlaksmessa is allowed to rot and ferment for many weeks before being eaten. Porlaksmessa is generally eaten with potatoes.

11. SVIÐ OR BOILED SHEEP HEAD

Svid is one of the traditional Icelandic food items that include sheep head, water and salt. The svid head is then cooked except the brain part which is removed before the boiling process.

12. HOTDOG (PYLSUR)

Hot Dog also called Pylsur is the cheapest food that you can find in Iceland. The hot dog with crispy fried onions, ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard. Prices are around $7 USD. We told you Iceland is so expensive!

13. HANGIKJÖT SANDWICH

Hangikjot Sandwich is a smoked lamb sandwich where the meat is sliced into thin pieces and served with the bread. Hangikjot sandwich is served with potatoes and béchamel sauce.

14. EAT FISH ‘N’ CHIPS

Having fish ‘n’ chips is also a popular street food in Iceland. You will find fish ‘n’ chips in main of the cities as affordable meals to try and locals and visitors love to eat in Iceland.

15. HRÚTSPUNGAR

Hrutspungar is an Icelandic delicacy that is ram’s testicles. Hrutspungar pickled testicles are pressed and preserved in whey or lactic acid after which they are sliced down and served.

16. MARINATED HERRING (SILD)

Marinated herring is a fish food that where herring is cleaned and fillet. Marinated herring is made with vinegar, sugar, distilled water, black peppercorns, bay leaves are added and boiled. The herring is marinated in the liquid for six hours.

17. CODHEAD (MATUR OG DRYKKUR)

Codhead is one of the Icelandic foods where the big cod fish head is marinated in spices and chicken stock.

18. ATLANTIC COD

Atlantic cod is generally oven-baked and cooked with olive oil. Atlantic cod fish is combined with parsley, diced garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper before baking it for 15 minutes.

19. COD IN A MEXICAN CREAM SAUCE

Cod in a Mexican Cream sauce includes cod fish that is cooked in Mexican cream sauce giving it a more lemony and fresh flavor.

20. SLÁTUR

Slatur is an Icelandic food that is made from the innards of the sheep. Slatur pudding is made by combining sheep’s blood, minced sheep fat, oatmeal, flour, salt and rye flour.

21. OFNBAKAÐ LAMBALÆRI

Ofnbakað lambalæri is one of the traditional foods in Iceland where a leg of the lamb is smeared in butter and slowly roasted with stoch. Ofnbakað lambalæri is served with caramelized potatoes, vegetables, redcurrant jelly and garlic and herbs.

22. ÞORRAMATUR (TRADITIONAL MEAT PLATTER)

Porramatur is a festive Icelandic dish that includes a selection of various meat and fish products. Porramatur generally consists of food items like hakarl, hrutspungar, Svid, Lifrarpylsa, Hangikjot, Rofustappa, Lundabaggi, Rugbraud and many others.

BEST ICELANDIC FOOD AND ICELANDIC DISHES

23. LYSI (COD LIVER OIL)

Lysi is Omega 3 cod liver oil extracted from the fishes in Icelandic waters. The fish oil is naturally flavored including mint and lemon taste. It can be used in smoothies, or with honey, or fruit juice and frozen yoghurt.

24. SKYR

Skyr yoghurt is one of the most popular food to try in Iceland. Skyr yoghurt is made of milk and cheese and it tastes similar to Greek yoghurt. You can have with fruits and cereals.

25. RYE BREAD (AND BUTTER)

Rye bread is made from flour and rye grain. Rye Bread dough includes ingredients like active yeast, molasses, vegetable oil, salt, and cocoa powder. Rye bread is baked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

26. LAUFABRAUÐ’ OR LEAF-BREAD

Laufabraud is a traditional wafer-thin and crisp flatbread. Laufabraud is cut into geometric patterns. The bread includes ingredients like kosher salt, baking powder, unsalted butter, flour and whole milk.

27. CINNAMON BUNS

Cinnamon buns are among the popular Icelandic foods made from cinnamon dough. Cinnamon buns are added to the preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. The glaze is applied once the buns are cooled down.

28. HJÓNABANDSSÆLA

Hjónabandssæla is a happy marriage cake in traditional Icelandic culture. Hjónabandssæla cake is made from buttery oat crust and rhubarb jelly in the middle of it. Salt, cinnamon and oatmeal are added to taste.

29. KLEINUR

Kleinur is Icelandic doughnuts made from plain dough, caster sugar and baking powder. Kleinur dough is rolled and cut into diamonds, turned into knots, fried and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

30. RICE PUDDING (MÖNDLU GRAUTUR)

Mondlu Grautur is a traditional rice pudding in Iceland made from long-grain rice, salt, milk, raisins, ground cinnamon and sugar. Mondlu Grautur is served cold and hot as well.

31. HAFRAGRAUTUR (OATMEAL)

Hafragrautur is a typical Icelandic breakfast food that includes oatmeal mixed with milk and water. Hafragrautur is served with brown sugar, melon seeds and raisins are added to garnish.

32. MONDLUKAKA

Mondlukaka is a traditional Icelandic almond cake. Mondlukaka cake is made from all-purpose flour, butter, eggs, finely chopped almond nuts, baking powder, strawberry jam and whipped cream.

Hafragrautur is a typical Icelandic breakfast food that includes oatmeal mixed with milk and water. Brown sugar, melon seeds and raisins are added to garnish.

33. ICELANDIC CHEESE

Icelandic cheese is very popular around the country. Icelandic cheese is usually served with bread for breakfast or a snack in Iceland. You can combine Icelandic cheese with beer, wine or any other liquor.

34. ICELANDIC PANCAKES

Icelandic pancakes are popular for breakfast. You can eat sweet or salty as you prefer. Icelandic pancakes are usually made with nutella and eaten for breakfast or dessert in Iceland.

35. ICE CREAM

Ice cream is the most popular of the dessert in Iceland. You will find ice cream in almost every town as street food and in local restaurants too. Prices start from €4-5.

36. SAMBÓ ÞRISTUR CHOCOLATE

Sambo Pristur is an Icelandic candy that has chocolate coated bars with liquor ice bits inside.

37. BRENNIVIN

Brennivin is is the most popular liquor to try in Iceland. Brennivín is distilled from fermented grain mash and then combined with water and flavored with caraway. Brennivín is usually compared with vodka in Iceland.

38. REYKA VODKA

Reyka is an Icelandic vodka distilled from wheat and barley. Reyka vodka is made from glacial waters and hence doesn’t need the process of demineralization before blending.

39. BJÓRLÍKI

Bjorliki is a non-alcoholic beer usually served in Iceland. This beverage is usually mixed with aquavit and is available in local bars.

40. FRUIT SCHNAPPS

Fruit Schnapps are alcoholic Icelandic beverages made from fruits that are distilled and added with fruit syrups and artificial flavorings.

Hope you liked our Icelandic food blog post. Let us know if we missed any Icelandic dishes and which one is your favorite in Iceland cuisine in the comments below.

Happy Travels!