Reykjavík Grapevine - maí 2019, Blaðsíða 9

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Best Soup
Ramen Momo
Tryggvagata 16
Likely the Northernmost Ramen joint,
this family-run business is small in size,
but delivers big on flavour. Reykjavík’s
first Ramen bar has springy house-
made organic noodles, and they’ve
recently levelled up the broth. We’re
suckers for their creamy Tantanmen—a
deeply flavoured soup with Tonkotsu
adding heft to the mellow sesame
paste and hoisin-cooked pork. Add a
drizzle of spicy chilli oil and you’ve got
yourself the best bowl in town. There
are six soups on the menu, including
vegetarian options, and don’t miss out
on their zingy dumplings or ‘Korean’
house-made tea with fermented lem-
ons and ginger.
Runners Up
Hi Noodle
Frakkastígur 9
NEWCOMER Reykjavík’s newest
ramen bar became an instant favourite
for many. With a slow-cooked, tem-
perature controlled broth, the chef—
Chen—is aiming to consistently deliver
his carefully designed recipes. The
portions are a little modest: best order
some dumplings on the side of your
Dan Dan if you’ve a big appetite. Vegan
option available.
Noodle Station
Laugavegur 103
Before the ramen revolution of the two
soup joints above, there was Noodle
Station, serving vegetable, beef and
chicken noodle soups with a pungent
chilli-garlic aroma that floods the
street outside. It’s a thoroughly Western
take on noodle soup… but damn, it’s
satisfying on a cold day or, especially, if
you have a cold.
Previous Winners
2018: Ramen Momo
Best Sushi
Fish Market
Aðalstræti 12
One of a handful of places serving fresh
Icelandic wasabi—the others being ÓX
and Grillmarket—Fish Market was also
one of the first Icelandic restaurants
to serve sushi. While the maki rolls
are popular, we recommend the roe
gunkan rolls—seaweed collared
beauties generously topped with lightly
cured fish eggs. The sashimi platter is
an assortment of fresh seafood with a
mound of crunchy wakame. Get a seat
at the sushi bar, pair your food with
the wasabi cocktail, and let Keto be
damned.
Runners Up
Fiskfélagið
Vesturgata 2a
Fish Company’s lunchtime-only sushi is
perfect for crummy days when only an
elegant meal will cure workday blues.
FC cleverly packages our pet peeve—
pylsu sushi (read below)—as a Lobster
Maki Roll, with deep-fried langoustine
insides, cuddling dates and peppers for
a true Icelandic style sushi.
Sushi Social
Þingholtsstræti 5
Sushi Social is a no-holds barred ode to
the evolution of sushi on this island—
aka ‘pylsu sushi.’ Embrace the joys of
island sushi, and assuage any guilt via
the cocktail menu. Check out the surf
and turf rolls, and keep an eye out for
their Tuna festival.
Previous Winners
2016-8: Fish Market
2015: SuZushii
2014: Sushisamba
Best Bakery
Sandholt
Laugavegur 36
No other country comes close to Ice-
land’s preferred ratio of bread surface
to butter thickness. And marrying the
two loves in loaves is local institution
Sandholt. With their new expansion,
the lines are bearable, drawing 101
rats back to this beloved bakery. Their
signature sourdough continues to be
the envy of open-crumb bakers while
their mastery of buttery viennoiserie
is unparalleled. Try their Danish topped
with rhubarb, or the Escargot—a rolled
pastry studded with raisins. Gourmet
sandwiches to go will make any journey
that much better and their house-made
sodas are a treat.
Runners Up
Brauð & Co.
Frakkastígur 16
This Danish style reluctant bakers bak-
ery has been the talk of the town ever
since they first opened their doors. An
express speed expansion hasn’t been
kind to their consistency, but thankful-
ly, the dense rugbrauð—Danish-style
bread—is stellar as always. Keep your
eyes peeled for their ‘bolla.’
Deig Workshop
Tryggvagata 14
NEWCOMER Barring kleina and the
odd US chain, we’ve been a doughnut
starved nation. But thanks to Deig, fresh
fried doughnuts are a reality. Should
we gush about the custard filled creme
brulee doughnut or cry for the now
discontinued surmjölk and Cheerios
doughnut? (Bring it back!) They make
pretty good bagels too. Psst... they
open at 7am.
Previous Winners
2018: Joint: Sandholt / Brauð & Co
2013-7: Sandholt
Best Coffeehouse
Bismút
Hverfisgata 82
From new kid on the block to heading
the pack, a caveat is needed for Bismút.
This is not the place to curl up in a cosy
nook with a book, or—more likely—your
laptop. If you find Bismút cosy, then
odds are you can name more than
ten Herzog movies. This one is strictly
for people-watching, coffee-guzzling,
art-viewing, and conversations on tall
stools. But what glorious coffee they
brew. “It’s a proper third-wave coffee
house set in a small art gallery,” said
the panel. So go get your caffeine fix,
and check out some local art in the
process.
Runners Up
Reykjavík Roasters
Brautarholt 2, Kárastígur 1,
Ásmundursalur
With their boffin-like obsession with
the perfect roast, one of our panellists
said: “this is your typical curated roast.”
Roasters offer the millennial experience
without the Berlin sangfroid—it’s the
quintessential Scandi coffee house expe-
rience. Visit Kárastígur for take-outs and
Brautarholt to work away from your desk.
Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
Melhagi 20-22
“It’s the perfect coffee house for
different age groups and vibes,” said
our panel of this all-purpose neighbour-
hood coffeehouse and café. If you’ve
had your first kid and you know your
Muuto from your Ferm Living, this is the
spot to grab a slice of carrot cake after
a splash in the Vesturbæjarlaug pool.
Previous Winners
2018: Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
2017: Reykjavík Roasters
2016: Stofan
2015: Kaffihús Vesturbæjar