Reykjavík Grapevine - Aug 2019, Page 14

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2019
14
Best Cheap Meal
Icelandic Street Food
Lækjargata 8 & Laugavegur 85
You can’t beat the prices at this tiny spot with a big heart. All the soups
are available in a bread bowl with—wait for it—unlimited refills! You
can choose from a lamb soup, a buttery traditional plokkfiskur and a
veggie soup, and your refill can even be a taste of another dish. Ice-
land prides itself on the quality of its lamb and fish, so kjötsúpa and
fiskisúpa are safe bets. If you’d like to try affordable local food, and
you're very, very hungry, this is the spot.
Runners Up
Chicken Soup at Vietnam
Grandi Mathöll, Grandagarður 20
In a foodhall environment packed full
with tempting choices, this chicken
soup is a clear stand-out dish. The
serving is generous, and best of all,
it comes in at well under 2,000 ISK.
"There's a whole chicken thigh in
there," said the panel. "The broth is
slow-cooked for that deep, rich com-
fort-food flavour. I’ll be coming back for
this one."
Lamb Street Food
Grandagarður 7
Food wrapped in a flatbread is a uni-
versally-loved thing of beauty. At Lamb,
they take things a few steps further
and make everything from scratch.
Anything you order sits under the 2,000
ISK tag. What’s lesser known however,
is that their wraps are perfect for
sharing, making it the cheapest meal in
town by far.
Previous Winners
2018: Icelandic Street Food
2017: Bike Cave
2016: Noodle Station
2015: K-Bar (RIP)
2014: 10-11 after 14:00
Best Family Restaurant
Hamborgara-
fabrikkan
Höfðatorg, Kringlan
The Hamborgarafabrikkan burger chain
is a kids' favourite, and it's ideal for a
lunch outing with the family. There are
plenty of distractions for young diners,
including borrowed iPads and head-
phones to keep the kids entertained
and distracted. The child-friendly vibe
explains why it continues to be a popu-
lar haunt for birthday parties, so don’t
be surprised by the chorus of “hún á
afmæli í dag” wafting around the room
every now and then.
Runners Up
Kaffi Laugalækur
Laugarnesvegur 74a
For many a young parent, the cafe
stop at the end of a long stroll is the
proverbial pot of gold. Kaffi Lækur is
especially popular with new parents,
with a special kids’ corner for crawlers
and drawers. The generously topped
chicken and pesto ‘litla gula hænan’
and the ‘shawarmabaka’ are our top
lunch picks. The parents will love this
spot, and there's plenty for kids, too.
Hard Rock Café
Lækjargata 2A
A good family place needs to be appeal-
ing to parents and kids alike. The Hard
Rock Café caters perfectly to the needs
of a family group, with a diverse menu,
special kids plates, colouring menus,
free drink refills, and lids on drinks to
help contain spills.
Previous Winners
2018: Jamie's Italian
2017: Hamborgarafabrikkan
2016: Laundromat
2015: KEX Hostel
Best Vegan Meal
Sumac
Laugavegur 28
One of the persistent faves with the
local vegan community, despite not
catering solely to vegans, Sumac’s Mid-
dle Eastern-inspired fare makes it the
vegan destination to beat. No insipid
‘nut steaks’ in sight here: instead, the
kitchen treats vegetables as the star
of the show, eggplants are grilled to
silkiness, the cauliflower roasted whole;
often draped with bright pomegranate
arils, it’s a treat for anyone. Ask for
the Lebanese wine; the interesting
backstory of its harried continuance
seals the outing.
Runner Up
Gló
Laugavegur 20b
Healthy hot-spot Gló’s Laugavegur
location is 100% vegan, and completely
delicious. Their signature skál (bowl,
in English) menu comes in several
variations—from an Indian dahl bowl
with a side of mango chutney, to the
fad-pleasing keto bowl to keep your net
carbs in check—and the burgers and
mainstay spinach lasagna are always
tasty.
Newcomer
Veganæs
Tryggvagata 22
One of our few exclusively vegan places,
Veganæs shows how vegan food can be
just as down-and-dirty as a burger joint.
“You don’t need to have a yoga mat
under your arm when you go there,”
said the panel. It's in a lively spot: catch
a drag show while you’re dining.
Previous Winners
2018: Skál and Mat Bar
2016-7: Kaffi Vínyl
2015: Teni
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2019
Dining
If they're over 7mm wide they're chips, not fries
NATURALLY
DELICIOUS
FLAVOURED BY THE WILD PASTURES OF PURE
ICELANDIC NATURE. TASTE THE DIFFERENCE.
FIND A RESTAURANT SERVING FREE RANGE ICELANDIC LAMB NEAR YOU
ICELANDICLAMB.IS/PARTNERS