Laugavegur and Austurstraeti are two streets you will undoubtedly find yourself walking along in downtown Reykjavik if you are staying in the city and looking for a place to eat. Reykjavik has many choices for dining in a city with around 400 restaurants. This article is a 5% sampling of 21 restaurants I passed when walking one mile along Laugavegur to Austurstraeti in the heart of Reykjavik’s tourist area.
This post shows sample food items, prices and TripAdvisor restaurant ranking for dining places mostly on one side of the street and perhaps 60% of the restaurants on that one side of the street. There are probably another 30 restaurants along this stretch and dozens more on the neighboring roads.
This article is to give the visitor to Reykjavik, Iceland as an accurate and precise pricing guide for a sample of restaurants and bars.
Walking around Reykjavik on a Thursday night when the air temperature was 34 F with a 15Â mph wind made for a 24 F late October evening out and about the city with hundreds of other tourists walking along Laugavegur.
My hotel was a couple hundred feet from Laugavegur, the main drag through Reykjavik lined with restaurants and shops. This is where a tourist will find the most people walking on the main street of Reykjavik.
I had already eaten dinner I purchased from the grocery store. As I walked along Laugavegur, past many restaurants, many filled with diners, my thoughts turned to whether I am too critical for what I consider the high price of restaurant dining in Reykjavik. Prices are not necessarily too far out of alignment with the price of dining in my own home town of Monterey, California.
A project idea came to mind to photograph menus of most of the restaurants I saw walking east to west on Laugavegur to allow an analysis of the types of restaurants a tourist is likely to find in Reykjavik and the typical cost of dining.
Exchange rate used is $1.00 USD = 120 ISK Icelandic Krona
Mai Thai Bistro Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #34 of 392 restaurants in Reykjavik
- Pad Thai with vegetables 1690 ISK = $14.08 USD
- Pad Thai with shrimp 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Stir fried rice with chicken 1890 ISK = $15.75
- Stir fried chicken with vegetables and rice 2090 ISK = $17.42
- Gull beer 990 ISK = $8.25
- Red or white wine 1,100 ISK = $9.17
100 Iceland Restaurant Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #366 of 392
- All you can eat Lunch or Dinner Chinese Buffet 2190 ISK = $18.25
- Special Offer Fried Noodles 990 ISK = $8.25
Matwerk Kitchen Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #74 of 392
- Nordic 3 Course Menu 5950 ISK = $49.59
- Shellfish soup, baked arctic char, white chocolate and Skyr mousse
Subway Reykjavik
- Sandwich of the Month (6″ ham) 499 ISK = $4.16
- Chicken sandwich 6″ 759 ISK = $6.33
- Chicken sandwich 12″ 1289 ISK = $10.75
- Grilled chicken 6″ 929 ISK = $7.75
- Grilled chicken 12″ 1499 ISK = $12.50
- Soda 0.4 L + cookie or bag of potato chips 330 ISK = $2.75
Reykjavik Chips – TripAdvisor #32 of 392
The fact that a restaurant primarily focused on french fries ranks in the top 10% of Reykjavik dining choice seems like some kind of indicator for how people view quantity over quality for dining spend in the city.
- Small Classic Fries 750 ISK = $6.25
- Small Classic Sweet Potato Fries 990 ISK = $8.25
- Medium Fries 1050 ISK = $8.75
- Medium sweet potato fries 1290 ISK = $10.75
- Large fries 1450 ISK = $12.09
- Large sweet potato fries 1650 ISK = $13.75
Shanghai Restaurant Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #234 of 392
- Beef with broccoli 3890 ISK = $32.42
- Kung pao stir fried shrimp 2390 ISK = $19.92
- Fried noodles with chicken and vegetables 2190 ISK = $18.25
- Tofu with vegetables 1990 ISK = $16.59
Lemon Reykjavik – Juice bar, yogurt, sandwiches – TripAdvisor #101 of 392
- Small sandwich 790 ISK = $6.59 (chicken avocado, tuna avocado, chicken curry, spicy vegan falafel and more)
- Large sandwich 1490 ISK = $12.42
- small juice 890 ISK = $7.42 (variety of fruit and veggie juices and combinations)
- large juice 1090 ISK = $9.08
- breakfast yogurt or oatmeal 590 ISK = $4.92
- small skyr smoothie 890 ISK = $7.42
- large skyr smoothie 1090 ISK = $9.09
Wikipedia states skyr is technically a cheese, but the consistency of yogurt.
As a comparison to grocery store, I purchased 500g Skyr blueberry yogurt at Bonus Discount Store for 379 ISK = $3.16 for my breakfast in Reykjavik on the rocks with a 5-star water view.
Svarta Kaffid – TripAdvisor #14 of 392
This place is soup. And based on TripAdvisor ranking a popular soup place.
- Traditional Icelandic Meat Soup 1890 ISK = $15.75
- Icelandic lobster soup 2690 ISK = $22.42
- Fish soup 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Chicken soup 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Soup of the Day (Vegan) 1890 ISK = $15.75
- Coke Zero/Coke/Sprite/Sparkling water 450 ISK = $3.75
- Coffee Americano/espresso/tea 500 ISK = $4.17
- Viking Lager 1200 ISK = $10.00
- Happy Hour 17:00-19:00 Viking lager 650 ISK = $5.42
- Red or White House Wine glass 1350 ISK = $11.25
- Red or White House Wine bottle 5900 ISK = $49.17
- Happy Hour 17:00-19:00Â Red or White House Wine glass 750 ISK = $6.25
- chocolate cake 1890 ISK = $15.75
Durum Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #134 of 392
Salad, soup, sandwiches, falafel, pizza, fish, chicken, fries, “eat healthy, live happy”
- breakfast omelet, toast, bacon, sausage, baked beans 1850 ISK = $15.42
- breakfast sandwich 1590 ISK = $13.25
- yogurt 850 ISK = $7.09
- doner kebab 1650 ISK = $13.75
- sandwich variety 850 – 1490 ISK = $7.09 – $12.42
- wraps 1250 ISK = $10.42 (falafel, spinach mozzarella, Thai seafood, chicken wraps)
- fish of the day 2490 ISK = $20.75
- chicken of the day 2490 ISK = $20.75
- Greek salad or Turkish bulgur salad 1750 ISK = $14.59
- Chicken Caesar 1850 ISK = $15.42
- Seafood (lobster, scallop, shrimp) salad 1900 ISK = $15.84
- 12″ Pizza 2750 ISK = $22.92
- French fries 550 ISK = $4.59
- Coffee Americano 450 ISK = $3.75
- Tea 400 ISK = $3.34
- Beer 1150-1300 = $9.59-$10.84
- Wine House Red or White 1290 ISK = $10.75
Sumac Grill & Drinks – TripAdvisor #88 of 392
- 7 Course Meal to Share for Table 8700 ISK per person = $72.50
- grilled eggplant 1990 ISK = $16.59
- crispy baby potatoes 1890 ISK = $15.75
- red beets 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Tahini glazed cod and broccoli 3590 = $29.92
- Grilled tiger shrimps 3650 = $30.42
- Grilled chicken thighs 3090 ISK = $25.75
- Grilled lamb ribs 4490 ISK = $37.42
- Pistachio ice cream 1850 ISK = $15.42
Pho Vietnam Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #189 of 392
- soups 1750-2350 ISK = $14.59 – $19.59
- salads 1890-2690 ISK = $15.75 – $22.42
- chicken or pork dishes 1890-2750 ISK = $15.75 – $22.92
- Vegan Menu 1750-2350 ISKÂ = $14.59 – $19.59
Lebowski Bar Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #93 of 392
Kaffibrennslan – TripAdvisor #1 of 42 coffee and tea shops in Reykjavik
- Ham and cheese sandwich 990 ISK = $8.25
- Honey Chicken sandwich 1590 ISK = $13.25
- BBQ pulled pork sandwich 1590 ISKÂ = $13.25
- Smoked salmon sandwich 1690 ISK = $13.52
- tuna salad toast 690 ISK = $5.75
- Grilled ham & cheese croissant 650 ISK = $5.42
- Icelandic doughnut 420 ISK = $3.50
- Chocolate Chip Cookie 400 ISK = $3.34
- Cake 990 ISKÂ = $8.25
- Waffle 1190-1490 ISK = $9.92 – $12.42
- Coffee Americano 550 ISKÂ = $4.59
- Pepsi 410 ISK = $3.42
- Gull lager 990 ISK = $8.25
- red or white wine 1200 ISK = $10.00
The Deli Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #67 of 392
- Large pizza 2000-2850 ISK = $16.67 – $23.75
- Pasta 1650-1980 ISK = $13.75 – $16.50
- Panini 1090 ISK = $9.09
Primo Restaurant Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #105 of 392
- Lunch Special 12-16 Pasta of the Day 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Lunch Special 12-16 Pizza of the Day 1990 ISKÂ = $16.59
- Lunch Special 12-16 Catch of the Day 1990 ISKÂ = $16.59
Hard Rock Cafe Reykjavik – TripAdvisor #234 of 392
- Original Legendary Burger 2790 ISK
- Big Cheeseburger 2790 ISK
- Classic Burger 2590 ISK
- Sizzling Fajitas 3490 ISK
- Grilled Salmon 3190 ISK
- Caesar Salad 2490 ISK
- French Fries 490 ISK
- Classic Nachos 2890 ISK
Ristorante Caruso -Â TripAdvisor #80 of 392
- Fish Catch of the Day 4290 ISK = $35.75
- Seafood Risotto 4590 ISK = $38.25
- Roasted salmon 4390 ISK = $36.59
- Grilled lamb T-bone 5690 ISK = $47.42
- Vegetable tagliatelle 2790 ISK = $23.25
- Chef’s Salad 2490 ISK = $20.75
- Pizza 2390 – 3390 ISKÂ = $19.92 – $28.25
Hressingarskalinn – TripAdvisor #260 of 392
- Lunch Offers All Pizzas 1890 ISK = $15.75
The English Pub – TripAdvisor #143 of 392
- 500ml beer – many types 1200 ISK = $10.00
- Irish Coffee 12:00-19:00 every day 1400 ISK = $11.67
The Hot Dog Shake and Pylsa Stand – TripAdvisor #204 of 392
- Hot Dog 450 ISK = $3.75
One of the most popular places in Reykjavik for the budget traveler.
Bjarni Fel Sportsbar next to The Hot Dog Stand ranks Tripadvisor #219 of 392.
American Bar – TripAdvisor#156 of 392
- French fries 550 ISK= $4.59
- Nachos 1750 ISK = $14.59
- Cheeseburger with fries 2050 ISK = $17.09
- Chicken burger 2150 ISK = $17.92
- Bacon Burger with Fries 2390 ISK = $19.92
- Pulled Pork sandwich with fries 1990 ISK = $16.59
- 3 roasted chicken pieces 1750 ISK = $14.59
- Milkshake 1090 ISK = $9.09
Shalimar Reykjavik (Indian) – TripAdvisor #97 of 392
- Curry in a Hurry take away only 11:30-15:30 chicken or vegetable curry, rice and naan 1290 ISK = $10.75
- Dish of the Day 11:30-15:30 Lunch 1990 ISK = $16.59
- Dish of the Day 15:30-19:00 Dinner 2290 ISK = $19.09
- Punjabi Thaali Platter 11:30-15:30 Lunch 2590 ISK = $21.59
- Punjabi Thaali Platter 15:30-19:00 Dinner 2890 ISK = $24.09
- Masala Fish with fries or rice, salad 2590 ISKÂ = $21.59
- Lahori Tandoori Chicken with rice and salad 2590 ISKÂ = $21.59
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