Valdis is a street-food stop in 101 Grandi, Reykjavik.
Editorially verified May 28, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Ask for the rye-bread or liquorice scoop, two flavours that taste like Iceland.
Tip: Queues out the door on summer evenings despite the cold climate. Cash or card both fine, no seating.
Address: Grandagardur 21, 101 Reykjavik
Hamborgarafabrikkan, the Hamburger Factory, on Katrinartun is an Icelandic gourmet-burger chain whose fish and chips and burgers feed Reykjavik families.
Try: Gourmet burgers and fish and chips
Order: A loaded gourmet burger, or the fish and chips if you want a break from beef.
Tip: Family-friendly and roomy, in the Turninn tower north of the centre. Larger groups fit easily here.
Mandi on Ingolfstorg square is the city's busiest shawarma window, a halal Reykjavik street-food counter wrapping kebab and falafel late into the night.
Try: Shawarma and falafel
Order: A chicken shawarma wrap, dripping with garlic sauce, eaten on the square.
Tip: Fully halal and open late, so it catches the after-bar crowd. The falafel covers the vegetarians.
Hlollabatar has filled hot Icelandic subs since 1986, a Reykjavik sandwich window whose loaded baguettes feed the late-night and lunchtime crowds.
Try: Hot subs
Order: The New York sub, the house favourite, hot off the press.
Tip: The original Reykjavik sub shop, copied many times since. Several branches, some open very late.
Hallo Xin Chao at Hlemmur Matholl on Laugavegur cooks Vietnamese street food and pho from a counter in the old bus terminal, a fast Reykjavik stop a short.
Try: Vietnamese street food and pho
Order: A bowl of pho or a banh mi, the two house counters that locals queue.
Tip: Inside Hlemmur Matholl food hall, so plenty of shared seating around. Open daily until 21:00.
Deig near the Old Harbour on Tryggvagata sells doughnuts and bagel sandwiches from a fast counter, a Reykjavik stop sharing space with Le Kock burgers.
Try: Doughnuts and bagels
Order: A filled doughnut, or a loaded bagel sandwich for breakfast on the move.
Tip: Open early for a takeaway bagel before the harbour. Shares the building with Le Kock and the Tail bar.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur has sold Iceland's lamb hot dogs from a Tryggvagata kiosk since 1937, the most famous street-food window in Reykjavik by far.
Try: Icelandic lamb hot dog
Order: One with everything, eina med ollu, with raw and crispy onion, ketchup, mustard and remoulade.
Tip: Bill Clinton ordered his with mustard only in 2004, so that is now called a Clinton. Open very late.
