Popular Food in Iceland – Eating Your Way Through the Land of Fire and Ice

Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Leslie Stroud

Travel through food.  Eating the local delights allows you to really immerse yourself in culture and experience a destination in a whole new way.  When arriving in Iceland, we were unsure what kinds of food we would find or how difficult it would be to find restaurants. However, we ended up loving the food in Iceland!

What kind of food can you find in Iceland?  How much does it cost?  What can you expect? Let’s dive in!

Typical Food Prices in Iceland

We had a large party of eight on our trip to Iceland.  While five of those were children, we still consumed a lot of food and paid a pretty penny for it.

Dining out in Iceland for our party averaged about $20-30 USD per person, depending on the restaurant.  Even pizza ended up costing over $100 for three pizzas, breadsticks, and drinks.

Groceries are also costly.  Just grabbing a couple of bags of basics can easily cost you nearly $100 USD.

Here are some pricing examples of the basics you’ll find to buy in Iceland:
*(Prices shown are USD according to current exchange rates)

• Soda bottle: $2+
• Bag of chips: $3-5
• Bananas: $5 for a bunch
• Entrees at restaurants: $15-50 per person
• Hot dog: $10 each
• Delicious tap water: free!

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Fish in Iceland

It only makes sense that Icelandic seafood is amazing.  This has been one of the main food sources for Icelanders for centuries.

The fish in Iceland is tender, cooked to perfection, and filled with a vast variety of fantastic flavors.  This goes for all of the fish we had in Iceland.  

You can find fish fillets, fish and chips, seafood soups, and other many other forms.  I’d highly recommend trying fish in Iceland.

Fruit and Veggies in Iceland

As an island, many foods must be imported to Iceland.  However, Icelanders began growing their own produce in greenhouses long ago.

You can find bananas, apples, and grapes easily.  Lettuce, carrots, and potatoes are also readily available.

However, produce in Iceland is quite expensive!  Large apples, for example, are around $2 each.  

Lamb in Iceland

Iceland’s population consists of about 360K people and over 500K sheep.  Lamb is readily available and another stable in the Icelandic diet.  While we were there, we had lamb pizza, lamb steak, lamb sandwiches, etc.  Lamb is quite tasty in Iceland and will be found as the main ingredient in many dishes.

We especially loved lamb soup, a local favorite.

Skyr

Iceland produces its own kind of yogurt called Skyr.  Skyr is thicker and a bit more sour-tasting than you may be used to, but it’s delicious! You can find Skyr almost everywhere throughout Iceland… hotel breakfasts, gas stations, grocery stores, etc.

You can find many flavors of skyr now, from fruity to chocolate to caramel. We loved it!

Hot Dogs in Iceland

Hot dogs are popular in Iceland.  They are typically served with fried onions in the bun and sweet and savory sauce on top.  You can find sweet mustard sauce or savory mayo sauce. This added a unique spin to your typical American hot dog.

Typical Hotel Breakfast in Iceland

You’ll likely be road-tripping around Iceland on the Ring Road and staying in a new hotel every night or two.  Most hotels in Iceland include a complimentary breakfast with your stay. This was huge for us and something we made sure to look for when booking our stays.

Typical hotel breakfasts in Iceland include:

• Yogurt and granola
• Sliced deli meat
• Bread and pastries
• Jams, Nutella, butter
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cereal and milk
• Sliced tomato and cucumber
• Sliced cheese

Because food is so expensive in Iceland, having breakfast included in your accommodation can help save money when traveling through Iceland.

Eating With Kids In Iceland

We did find several kids’ menus at restaurants around Iceland. They were not your typical “American” kid choices but were more kid-friendly. Some common items found on Icelandic kids’ menus include:

• Fish and chips
• Burgers
• Grilled chicken with vegetables
• Soup

Ice cream was a popular treat in Iceland.

Eating Gluten-Free In Iceland

Sadly, I didn’t find it easy to eat gluten-free in Iceland. As part of Europe, I expected it to be a bit more prevalent. We never found gluten-free bread at any of the restaurants or hotels we visited. We found one GF bread loaf and brownie mix at a grocery in Rekjavik but not in any other cities we visited.

Thankfully, the traditional foods are not very bread-heavy. Bakeries and rolls are popular, but the typical dishes are mainly protein and vegetables.

We were able to find one GF pizza, which was yummy! Pizza is surprisingly common to see there, but not GF.

I’d recommend packing some of your GF snacks for road trips if you are sensitive and trying to stick to your usual diet!

The traditional food of Iceland is fresh, delicious, and unique. Leave a comment below with your favorite dish from Iceland!

Iceland

https://www.7wayfinders.com/tips-for-visiting-the-blue-lagoon-with-kids/

https://www.7wayfinders.com/11-tips-for-visiting-iceland-with-kids/

https://www.7wayfinders.com/popular-food-in-iceland/

Additional Reading

The 11 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Iceland

Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon with Kids And Other Hot Springs Near Reykjavik

12 Wonderful Ways To Enjoy Rio With Kids