Don’t believe all the haters who say Iceland has terrible cuisine—these must-try Icelandic foods prove them wrong! One of the things I was most excited about ahead of my trip to Iceland was trying as many traditional foods as possible. My husband, Solomon, and I didn’t know much about the local cuisine, so the first activity we booked on our Iceland itinerary was a food tour through Wake Up Reykjavík.

The tour was the perfect opportunity to learn about and sample authentic Icelandic meals. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging, and we gained a lot of practical information that we utilized throughout the rest of our trip. Then, on our last night in Iceland, we had a 10-course dinner at Matur og Drykkur. This was an excellent way to wrap up our travels, and it was cool to come full circle by starting and ending our vacation with a unique food experience!

While I’m no expert on Icelandic cuisine, I do consider myself an adventurous eater who will try almost any food once. With that said, these are the top Icelandic foods I recommend trying during your trip! And don’t worry, I saved the most divisive dishes for the “Honorable Mentions” section at the end.

8 Must-Try Icelandic Foods

1. Plokkfiskur (mashed fish)

Seafood lovers, this one’s for you. Plokkfiskur became one of my favorite dishes that we ate in Iceland. Solomon and I first tried it at Messinn in Reykjavík during the food tour. Later on in our trip, I got a slightly different version of the meal in Húsavík, at Naustið. At its core, plokkfiskur consists of flaked or mashed white fish, potatoes, and béarnaise sauce. It’s a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish that feels cozy and comforting.

2. Rhubarb

Who knew rhubarb was such a big deal in Iceland? The plant is grown throughout the country, and I spotted many rhubarb-based cocktails and desserts during our trip. I tried a rhubarb compote at Naustið that was divine, and both of the Matur og Drykkur dessert courses featured the ingredient. Rhubarb adds a sweet yet tart element to dishes that I love—definitely order it if visiting Iceland in spring or summer.

3. Arctic char

Another essential Icelandic seafood you must try is arctic char. This cold-water fish closely resembles salmon but is slightly less rich, in my opinion. During the Wake Up Reykjavík food tour, we sampled two styles of arctic char at Fjallkonan and Messinn: cured and honey-baked. I preferred the latter—Solomon and I also had some arctic char sushi from Rub23 in Akureyri that was very delicious.

4. Skyr

While I’m usually dairy-free in the States, I didn’t want to restrict myself while in Iceland. Plus, I was too excited to try skyr straight from the source to miss my chance! Skyr is a specific style of Icelandic yogurt that’s known for being thick, slightly tangy, and high in protein—very similar to Greek yogurt.

I tried several skyr variations during our vacation, including one with a puffy mousse-like consistency and some protein drinks. All of it was so yummy and surprisingly didn’t seem to affect my stomach too much. I recommend grabbing some skyr to enjoy with granola for a tasty, quick, and healthy breakfast.

5. Pylsa (hot dog)

Forget everything you thought you knew about hot dogs—Iceland knows how to make them right! You must try a pylsa (Icelandic for “hot dog”) with the works at least once: fried onions, raw onions, mustard, and remoulade. The hot dogs are typically made with 80% lamb, adding a distinct flavor, and I love the combination of fresh and fried onions.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is an excellent and authentic spot to try them in Reykjavík. Most supermarkets throughout Iceland also carry everything you need to make the hot dogs at home, which are delicious fresh off the grill!

6. Kjötsúpa (lamb soup)

On a cold and rainy day in Iceland, nothing will warm you up quite like a hot bowl of kjötsúpa (lamb soup). You’ll find many variations of this hearty meal throughout the country. At Íslenski Barinn in Reykjavík, for instance, it has a rich, stew-like base. Meanwhile, the lamb soup from Stapinn in Arnarstapi features a lighter broth. Regardless of the preparation, you can’t go wrong with this classic soup.

7. Anything baked

Make sure to save some time on your Iceland itinerary to visit one of the country’s fantastic bakeries. Kökulist was the first stop Solomon and I made after landing and picking up our rental car. I got a buttery, savory bread knot, and we split a pistachio croissant—both were fresh and full of flavor. Another bakery item highlight during our Iceland trip was the basil cake from Sjávarborg in Stykkishólmur.

8. Black crust pizza

You can’t visit Vík without grabbing a black crust pizza from (you guessed it) Black Crust Pizzeria. The restaurant offers a special crust infused with activated charcoal in honor of the area’s famous black sand beaches. While the charcoal doesn’t affect the taste of the crust whatsoever, it provides that signature black color.

Don’t get me wrong, the black crust pizza is a bit touristy, considering it costs extra and is only for aesthetics, but the pizza itself was high-quality and delicious. Solomon and I got the No. 3, a wonderfully salty, spicy, and slightly sweet pie topped with pepperoni, sausage, cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, date pesto, and basil. 

Note: The Soup Company is another great restaurant in Vík where you can try the activated charcoal trend (they offer black bread bowls)!

Honorable Mentions

Horse

The horse fillet served at Matur og Drykkur was certainly one of the most unique Icelandic foods that Solomon and I sampled! Since the restaurant has a seasonal menu, we didn’t know we would be eating it until the day of our reservation. We were somewhat skeptical, but it wasn’t too strange (if you didn’t think about it too hard).

The horse fillet was served raw as a tartare, so the texture was a bit odd, but the meat didn’t have a very noticeable flavor. While I wouldn’t personally consider horse a must-try, be aware that you’ll probably have the opportunity to sample it if you’re curious.

Something meat-free

Hear me out—Iceland has some of the best meat-free meals ever! I always like trying vegetarian and dairy-free foods when I travel, and Iceland did not disappoint. I loved the black bean burger from ROK in Reykjavík and the beetroot burger from Kaffi Lára El Grilló Bar in Seyðisfjörður. There were lots of impressive non-dairy options, too, for that matter.

Hákarl (fermented shark) chased with Brennivín

Of course, no Iceland food guide would be complete without mentioning hákarl (aka fermented shark). I’d heard horror stories of it being the world’s worst national dish. The “delicacy” is usually served with Brennivín, an Icelandic liquor made from grain or potato mash and flavored with herbs such as caraway. You’re meant to eat the hákarl first and then chase it with a shot of Brennivín to overpower the ammonia flavor.

Solomon and I had the opportunity to try the combination at Íslenski Barinn during our food tour, and it was interesting, to say the least. Honestly, the shark and Brennivín weren’t as bad as I feared. Don’t get me wrong—I won’t be reordering it anytime soon! However, I’ve eaten far worse. Trying the hákarl and Brennivín was a fun experience, and I’m glad I tasted them once (so I never have to again).

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There you have my essential Iceland food guide! Drop a comment if I left out any of your favorite Icelandic foods so I can be sure to sample them during my next trip.