- Fermented shark (hákarl)- although this might be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten, it’s still worth trying, just to say you’ve tried fermented shark. Just to warn you: it does taste like how a toilet would smell. It is NOT pleasant, so make sure you have some sort of chaser to go with it.
Fermented shark @ 3 Frakkar - Whale sashimi – this tasted like a chewier, fishier tuna sashimi. I’m not sure what kind of whale it was, but I wouldn’t mind eating it again. I still prefer regular tuna though.
Whale sashimi @ 3 Frakkar - Puffin – I had the smoked version, so I didn’t really taste anything besides some sort of animal that was smoky and chewy, but I wouldn’t recommend what I had. I wonder what a regular puffin would taste like – probably like a chicken, I’d imagine.
Smoked puffin @ 3 Frakkar - Fish stew – this was amazing. As you can imagine, seafood is very fresh in Iceland, since it’s easily accessible. The fish stew I had was creamy, flavorful, and didn’t taste fishy at all.
Fish stew @ 3 Frakkar - Icelandic hot dog – made from Icelandic lamb, pork, and beef. The most popular place to get it is this hot dog stand in downtown Reykjavik – Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (English: The best hot dog in town), which has been open since 1937. Make sure you get it with all of the fix-ins: raw white onions and crispy fried onions, ketchup, a sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep, and remoulade.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur 
Hot dogs with the works @ Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur - Skyr – this is Icelandic yogurt. It has a creamier/richer taste to it than American yogurt.
Skyr from the local supermarket, Bonus - Brennivin – this is a type of liquor that’s made from fermented grain or potato mash and flavored with caraway. I did not care for this, as it tasted like a liquid version of liquorice.
- Local beer – the one I happened to try was Viking, which was very light and refreshing.
- I normally like to add McDonald’s at the end of these lists, but they don’t exist in Iceland!! (much to my disappointment). But if they did, I’m sure there would be some version of an Icelandic hot dog on the menu.
how to be a traveler
travel. eat. drink. explore. write. repeat.
About the author
hi! my name is melanie! i started this blog back in 2014. how to be a traveler is a collection of my travel experiences. my motto is, ‘travel, eat, drink, explore, write, repeat.‘ this blog is a tool to help me remember all the places i’ve seen, but it’s also a tool to help you plan out the places you will discover. and so that you won’t make the same mistakes i made. think of me as your very own travel guinea pig. so hopefully, you can find at least one useful tip while reading my blog. i hope you enjoy reading this as much as i enjoy writing it for you.
how to be a traveler 