12 street food worth the trip across Iceland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Iceland guides.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur ★ 4.6 · Reykjavik
101 · Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavik
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.
Tip: Bill Clinton ordered his with mustard only in 2004, so that is now called a Clinton. Open very late.
Saegreifinn ★ 4.4 · Reykjavik
101-grandi · Geirsgata 4a, 101 Reykjavik
Saegreifinn, the Sea Baron, on Geirsgata serves a langoustine soup many call the world's best, plus grilled fish skewers in a tiny harbour shack in Reykjavik.
Tip: Started in 2003 by a former fisherman. Communal benches and barrels for seats; cosy and very small.
Valdis ★ 4.3 · Reykjavik
101-grandi · Grandagardur 21, 101 Reykjavik
Valdis at Grandi on Grandagardur scoops some of Reykjavik's most inventive ice cream, with over four hundred flavours tried since 2013, from rye to liquorice.
Tip: Queues out the door on summer evenings despite the cold climate. Cash or card both fine, no seating.
Fish and Chips Vagninn ★ 4.2 · Reykjavik
101-grandi · Grandagardur 19, 101 Reykjavik
Fish and Chips Vagninn is a red food truck at Vesturbugt harbour on Grandagardur, frying super-fresh Icelandic cod and chips British-style in Reykjavik.
Tip: Run by a fishing family with their own vessels, so the cod could not be fresher. Eat it by the water.
Banh Mi ★ 4.1 · Reykjavik
105 · Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavik
Banh Mi at the Hlemmur food hall on Laugavegur 107 stuffs crisp baguettes with marinated proteins, pickled veg and herbs, a fast Vietnamese street counter in Reykjavik.
Tip: Inside Hlemmur Matholl, the old bus terminal turned food hall. Quick, cheap, takeaway-friendly.
Lobster Hut ★ 4.1 · Reykjavik
101 · Kalkofnsvegur 2, 101 Reykjavik
Lobster Hut is a food cart on Kalkofnsvegur near Harpa, serving Icelandic langoustine sandwiches, soup and salad far cheaper than a sit-down Reykjavik room.
Tip: A summer operation that may close in bad weather. Cheap fresh langoustine, eaten standing by the harbour.
Hallo Xin Chao ★ 4.0 · Reykjavik
105 · Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavik
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 near the Hlemmur transit hub.
Tip: Inside Hlemmur Matholl food hall, so plenty of shared seating around. Open daily until 21:00.
Deig Le Kock ★ 4.0 · Reykjavik
101 · Tryggvagata 12, 101 Reykjavik
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.
Tip: Open early for a takeaway bagel before the harbour. Shares the building with Le Kock and the Tail bar.
Voffluvagninn ★ 3.9 · Reykjavik
101 · Skolavordustigur, 101 Reykjavik
Voffluvagninn is a bright yellow waffle wagon parked near Hallgrimskirkja, serving warm waffles with sugar, chocolate and cream as a Reykjavik street snack.
Tip: A seasonal cart that parks by Hallgrimskirkja in good weather. A cheap sweet stop between the sights.
Mandi Ingolfstorg ★ 3.9 · Reykjavik
101 · Veltusund 3b, 101 Reykjavik
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.
Tip: Fully halal and open late, so it catches the after-bar crowd. The falafel covers the vegetarians.
Hamborgarafabrikkan ★ 3.8 · Reykjavik
105 · Katrinartun 2, 105 Reykjavik
Hamborgarafabrikkan, the Hamburger Factory, on Katrinartun is an Icelandic gourmet-burger chain whose fish and chips and burgers feed Reykjavik families.
Tip: Family-friendly and roomy, in the Turninn tower north of the centre. Larger groups fit easily here.
Hlollabatar ★ 3.8 · Reykjavik
101 · Ingolfsstraeti 3, 101 Reykjavik
Hlollabatar has filled hot Icelandic subs since 1986, a Reykjavik sandwich window whose loaded baguettes feed the late-night and lunchtime crowds.
Tip: The original Reykjavik sub shop, copied many times since. Several branches, some open very late.