Hangikjot is Icelandic lamb salted then smoked over birch wood or dried sheep dung; in Iceland we have verified places to eat it in Reykjavik. Start with where to eat Hangikjot (Smoked Icelandic Lamb) in Reykjavik.
Hangikjot (Smoked Icelandic Lamb) · Reykjavik
Hangikjot is Icelandic lamb salted then smoked over birch wood or dried sheep dung. Served cold on rugbraud or warm with white sauce, potato and peas, it is the centrepiece of every Icelandic Christmas table.
Smoking lamb over birch or tad (dried sheep dung) preserved the autumn slaughter through Iceland's winters from the settlement era onward. By the 19th century hangikjot had become the Christmas Eve main course in nearly every household, served warm on the holiday and cold on rye for the rest of December. Matur og Drykkur built its modern reputation on a traditional cold-served hangikjot plate.
Where to eat in Reykjavik:
- Cafe Loki
- Matur og Drykkur
- Kolaportid
- Salka Valka Kitchen
Where to eat Hangikjot (Smoked Icelandic Lamb) in Reykjavik: the editor picks