Food expenses are always an important consideration when you are travelling.  In some countries this is not a big issue because food is cheap, or at least moderately affordable.  And, many countries offer a true bounty of food choices.  Iceland’s food scene is neither cheap nor abundant.  I know because I lived there for two years.

That isn’t to say that there isn’t good food in Iceland.  Far from it.  I have had some truly memorable meals there.  But I digress.  If you are travelling in Iceland and aren’t swimming in money, you will want to know where to go to get reasonably affordable food. 

Grocery stores
Forget dining out for every meal.  This is especially true when you leave Reykjavik.  There are numerous small towns outside of the capital city and while many of them have restaurants, they are usually more like truck stop cafes with very simple menus.  My suggestion is to stock up on supplies at the various grocery stores.  The cheapest of which are Bonus and a store called Kronan.  Stock up on the basics: bread, cheese, Skyr (an Icelandic dairy product similar to yogurt), deli meats, etc.  Buy local greenhouse-grown vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers. Almost everything else is imported.  If you have a place to cook your own meals, your options will increase.  In that case, I recommend buying fish.  It’s fresh, clean, reasonably affordable and doesn’t need any fancy sauces or condiments to be tasty.

Hot dog stands & local shops
Icelandic hot dogs are excellent.  They are made with lamb and pork and have a unique flavor that is slightly smoky and more than slightly delicious.  If you ever go to Iceland, I highly recommend that you try one – and order it with everything.  There are hot dog stands in many locations, the most famous of which is downtown (see picture).  You can also buy them at the various and even more numerous local shops.  These stores sell the basics:  candy, ice cream, sodas, pre-packaged sandwiches as well as hot dogs and hamburgers.  Not the healthiest fare but it’ll do in a pinch.  And, that is kind of how it goes with eating in Iceland.  It is not the normal plethora of choices that many are used to (especially Americans), but rather what’s available.  When you are on the road and hungry, you will lower your standards and be happy to have found a pre-made sandwich and some skyr.  Mark my words.  If it matters to you to have vegetables, buy them at a grocery store and bring them with you.  Don’t expect to find vegetables at these shops.

Fast food
There are many fast food restaurants in Iceland, mostly only in Reykjavik.  While I am not a big fan of eating at McDonalds and the like, I would recommend eating at Subway in Iceland.  You can get a reasonably healthy meal for not too much money.  A 12″ sub is about 700 Icelandic Krona, that’s about $10.  Of course this will vary with the exchange rate.

Dining out
If you want to eat at a low-cost restaurant, I would recommend seeking out Thai food.  There are many Thai expats in Iceland who have opened some good, authentic Thai restaurants.  There are some other choices but not many.  There is a restaurant in Reykjavik called cafe Copenhagen which serves reasonably priced lunches and dinners.  It is the kind of place families would go for lunch on Sunday afternoon.  Another affordable choice in Reykjavik is a restaurant called Nings.  They serve Chinese food that is made fresh and is decent but not great. 

Now that I have saved you money on food, I highly recommend that you spend that money doing things that you can’t do almost anywhere else.  Go out and explore Iceland’s beautiful nature.  Book an Iceland tour, take a hiking tour, experience a 4×4 jeep tour adventure, walk on a glacier, drink directly from a stream.   Soak it up because while Iceland may not be the best culinary destination, it does boast some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic  vistas, landscapes and unspoiled nature.  Do some sightseeing in Iceland - just bring a sandwich…