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Places to Eat in Reykjavik on a Budget

One of the most common questions I get about visiting Iceland is if it’s possible to do it on a budget and if eating out in Reykjavik on the cheap is even possible. With tourism booming in Iceland as it is, you’re likely to be confused with the sheer number of restaurants in Reykjavik. The question of where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget can have a huge impact on how much you end up spending on your trip to Iceland.

Many of my readers who’ve been saving up for what they rightly believe will be the trip of a lifetime would rather spend their money on surreal experiences like hiking on a glacier, exploring lava caves, road tripping in Iceland’s South Coast, swimming between tectonic plates, or chasing waterfalls, rather than expensive meals at fancy restaurants in Reykjavik. And after spending a fair amount of my time (and cash) there, I totally agree and so I bring you this guide to places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.

During each of my multiple visits to Iceland, I stayed true to my slow travel style and spent long enough to discover cheap places to eat in Reykjavik. On my second trip in summer, I’d already spent a month in Stockholm, so my budget was stretched pretty thin. I was very careful about how much I spent for every meal but I knew I wanted to try as many different places as I could so I wouldn’t get bored and could write up a decent guide for cheap restaurants in Reykjavik, based on my own experiences.

By the way, if you’re wondering what to pack for Iceland, you’ll find this post useful.

Places to Eat in Reykjavik on a Budget: Your guide to good and cheap restaurants in Reykjavik, Iceland. Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
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I’m really not picky about food and of course, I didn’t buy any drinking water because in Iceland, why would you? The tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Breakfast in Reykjavik isn’t really a big affair, I had access to a kitchen and refrigerator (something most Airbnbs offer) and I bought eggs, bread, milk, bananas, and skyr (the delicious local soft cheese that tastes like yogurt) from the supermarket. If you’re wondering about the cheapest supermarkets in Reykjavik, here’s a useful post by a Reykjavik local. If you’re looking for other tips about what to do and where to stay in Reykjavik, here’s my ultimate first-timer’s guide to Reykjavik.

On days that I wanted a light lunch or dinner, I’d pick up deli-style sandwiches from supermarkets. The Chicken pesto Focaccia at 10-11 was my favorite but there are many options for under 1000kr ($8-9). I did indulge in the occasional (okay maybe a little more than that) latte when my creativity was begging for more fuel and I had deadlines to smash.

Places to Eat in Reykjavik on a Budget

Krua Thai Express

Skólavörðustígur 21

Cuisine: Thai

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Panang Curry, Krua Thai Express

I absolutely love Thai food and couldn’t resist from stepping into Krua Thai late one afternoon for lunch, warmed by the thought of basil and lemongrass and spicy Thai flavors. I ordered the Chicken Panang curry with rice and it was pretty good. I was surprised by how big the portion was. If you order appetizers or don’t have a big appetite, it’s easily good for two.

What I ate: Chicken Panang curry with rice for 1690kr ($15)

The Laundromat Cafe

Austurstræti 9, 101 Reykjavík

Cuisine: Breakfast and brunch

Laundromat Cafe Reykjavik

This seriously cool cafe is one of my absolute favorite places in Reykjavik, and if you’re a breakfast or brunch-lover like me, I can’t imagine a better place to go to. I love the vibe here, and the service is quick and friendly.

There are plenty of options, from eggs made in different ways to pancakes, which you can wash down with coffee or a Bloody Mary (your choice), though I think the brunch options where you can try a bit of everything is good value for money. They even do a great vegan tofu scramble.

Durum

Laugavegur 42

Cuisine: Turkish and Mediterranean with a little Asian thrown in the mix

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Chicken wrap at Durum

While I stepped into this simple restaurant because the name sounded Turkish (and I love Turkish food), I was surprised to see that the menu had Thai Tom Kai soup and Indian vegetable soup. They serve breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis, quesadilla, wraps, and pizza. Lunchtime can be busy, especially if you want to dine in. The chicken wrap with chicken, hummus, vegetables, cheese and yogurt sauce was delicious and just the right size for a light meal.

What I ate: Chicken wrap for 1290kr ($11.40)

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Gló

Fákafen 11, Reykjavík

Cuisine: Healthy

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Chicken wrap with salads at Glo

Gló is quite popular with Reykjavik’s healthy eating crowd, so I decided to check it out even though it was slightly more expensive than other places on this list. It’s quite busy during lunch but the place is spacious and you’re sure to find seating.

The menu features salad bowls, soups, hot dishes, and cakes. There’s also coffee and this particular branch also has a tonic bar where you can get some fresh and nutritious drinks. I ordered a chicken wrap- it was clean and delicious and perfectly filling with coleslaw, potatoes, and quinoa salad as sides.

What I ate: Chicken wrap with three salads for 1899kr ($16.80)

In case you’re wondering, here’s what Iceland is like in the winter.



 

Reykjavik Fish

Tryggvagata 8, 101, 101 Reykjavík,

Cuisine: Icelandic and Fish & Chips

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Reykjavik Fish & Chips

I’d spent the evening by the harbor and Reykjavik Fish, just across from the harbor, looked warm and inviting, so it took only a few seconds to make my mind up about dining there. I saw both locals and tourists dine here and the queue to order might seem long but moves along quickly. Service is top-notch and friendly and it’s the kind of place where you wouldn’t want to rush with your meal and leave. The Fish and Chips are amazing- fresh and just the right kind of crispy and so good you’ll wish you ordered two portions.

What I ate: Fish and Chips for 1390-1590kr ($12-14) depending on extras and condiments.



 

XO

Hringbraut 103

Cuisine: Mixed

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Chicken Tandoori Style at XO, Reykjavik

XO, outside of the tourist hotspot of Downtown, was an excellent recommendation by my friends Ingo and Sif, and we went for dinner here one evening. The place is simple but you can expect salads, pizza, doner sandwiches, and fantastic chicken mains, wok style, with flavors ranging from Indian to Italian. They also have a wide range of healthy and detox juices. I tried the Chicken Tandoori style, it came with sweet potato, raita, rice, and salad and was delicious, and the price of course was hard to beat.

What I ate: Chicken Tandoori Style for 2,195kr ($19)

Here’s what you learn when you visit Iceland.

Hradlestin

Lækjargata 8

Cuisine: Indian

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget
Non veg thali at Hradlestin

The last two times I’d tried Indian food in the past two months has been in Stockholm and apart from the appearance, there had been nothing Indian about it. But when I passed by Hradlestin, I felt like there was hope that Indian flavors might have somehow truly found their way to these almost Arctic shores. While I wouldn’t say this was a budget meal, craving as I was, it was still completely worth it.

The décor of the restaurant is beautiful with posters of old Bollywood movies and the ambience is inspired from that of a dhaba (Indian restaurant in the countryside). I went for dinner and ordered a Non-Vegetarian Thali that came with three different curries, raita (spiced yogurt), naan, and rice. Both chicken curries were delicious, as was the vegetarian, and surprised as I was, the flavors were authentic.

While my server had asked if I’d have like the food to be spicy, to which I’d replied in the affirmative, it really wasn’t spicy at all. Later, while talking to my server, I learnt that Hradlestin is the oldest Indian restaurant in Iceland, run by an Indian and the chefs are Indian as well. They are careful about the spiciness to adapt the cuisine to Nordic tastes. Fair enough. The service was friendly, prompt, and attentive.

To sum up, my dinner here was my most perfect date for one in Reykjavik.

What I ate: Non-veg thali for 2900kr ($25)

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

Tryggvatagata 1

Cuisine: Hot dogs

Best places to eat in Reykjavik on a budget: Here's where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget.
Hot dog at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

If you’re on a budget in Iceland, you have to know that hot dogs, that many Icelanders joke are the national dish of their country, make for the cheapest meal you’ll find all over the country. Most gas stations and many supermarkets serve hot dogs and there are hot dog stands in most towns. But Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik is often called the most famous hot dog stand, not only in Iceland, but also the world. Why? Because Bill Clinton lent it some sparkle when he visited Iceland in 2004 for a conference and tried it. Later, the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Ben Stiller and Metallica dined here.

Best Places to eat in Reykjavik on a Budget
Queue at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

Today the stand, located at the harbor since 1937, whose name translates to “the best hotdog in town” sees long lines of tourists queuing up, even as they ignore the chilly wind coming in from the harbor. I joined them on my second trip and though the price of 420kr is great, there’s nothing special about the hotdog itself. I got one with everything except the raw onions.

The next time I walked by the street, I felt sorry for the tourists in the long queue. For me, the hotdog really didn’t live up to the hype. It’s just famous, well, because you know it’s famous and a lot of really famous people tried it.

What I ate: Hotdog with everything for 420kr ($3.71)

Reykjavik Röst

Geirsgata 7c

Cafe Röst Reykjavik

A nice café in the Old Harbor, Reykjavik Röst is a great spot to escape the cold and sip on warm coffee or Icelandic beer. If you’re hungry try one of their baked goods, Icelandic pancakes, or a sourdough sandwich.

 

Café Babalu

Skólavörðustígur 22a

Quirky, cute, and cozy, Café Babalu, located on my favorite street in Reykjavík, is a lovely place with bright and unusual décor and a warm vibe that will uplift even the dampest of spirits on the most miserable of cold days.

Cafe Babalu Reykjavik

Spread over two levels, the house has nice details like a narrow winding staircase and furniture you’d find in someone’s home. It’s the perfect place to spend your afternoon or evening with a notebook or novel. Wide range of teas available. I have heard good things about the lamb soup here but haven’t tried it yet. They do great sandwiches and a lovely flavorful tomato soup.

Sufistiin

Laugavegi 18

Located on the top floor of the Mál og Menning bookstore, this café serves good coffee, light sandwiches and meals, and is an ideal place to read or get some work done. I spent an afternoon working here and I’ve never written quite as quickly!

Sæmundur í Sparifötunum, KEX Hostel

Skúlagata 28

This gastro-pub located in the famous KEX Hostel is one of the more popular-with-locals pubs in Reykjavík. The place has a cool hipster vibe, nice view of the sea, and live music. The building itself used to be a biscuit factory.


The best parts of visiting Iceland are to be found outdoors; in the otherworldly landscapes and adventure activities. While Iceland is home to more once-in-a-lifetime experiences than you can imagine, the culinary one, for me, isn’t top of the list.

I’m always on a budget in Iceland because it is turning into one of the most expensive countries in the world for tourists right now. Obviously, if I have no choice but to eat out then knowing where to eat in Reykjavik on a budget is a priority.


 

But that hardly matters to me because I share this comforting familiarity with Reykjavik, its narrow streets with names that were at first impossible to pronounce but now rattle off my tongue with relative ease, its peaceful harbor lined with cozy, if slightly overpriced cafés, its buzzing weekend flea market, and the interesting window displays and fairy lights on Skólavörðustígur that lead the way to Hallgrímskirkja, only the most mesmerizing church I’ve seen.

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juliagoesaway

Tuesday 19th of March 2019

Aww I so much wanna go there one day!

A Menger

Saturday 26th of August 2017

New place that just opened, Icelandic Street Food. Great soups for decent price.

Natasha Amar

Thursday 9th of November 2017

Thanks for that tip! Will check it out the next time I am in the city.

Jade D'sa

Friday 21st of July 2017

You have something for everyone on this list here! Ireland can be pretty expensive but good, cheap food is available if one looks for it

Natasha Amar

Friday 21st of July 2017

That is true, I assume you meant Iceland :)

Agness of Fit Travelling

Thursday 9th of March 2017

These are some great places to try delicious and mouthwatering dishes in Reykjavik!

Natasha Amar

Thursday 9th of March 2017

Thanks Agness!

Bianca

Monday 6th of March 2017

I never imagined the food would be this diverse and delicious in Iceland, especially on a budget. I love what I see. Thanks for sharing.

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