While we were walking along Laugavegur searching for a place to dine, I remembered that the last time I was in Iceland, food was incredibly pricy. I remember seeing a restaurant advertising a shrimp dish for the equivalent of $75.00 per person; and that an ordinary hamburger cost approximately $25.00. I was not looking forward to how costly a meal was going to be — but then we spotted Reykjavik Fish Restaurant.
Reykjavik Fish Restaurant in Iceland. Restaurant Review.
We walked in through the entrance and down the few steps into the dining area, which looked rather warm, cozy, and quiet — which was a welcome respite from the cold early November evening.
Instead of at a table, one can choose to site by the large window and observe people walking by in the outside world.
A sign overhead instructed patrons to place their orders past that point…
…where a counter with the menu behind it was located.
Once the food and beverages had been ordered, customers then turn around and pick up their silverware and glasses. Ordinary tap water — with which you cannot go wrong no matter where you are in Iceland — is complimentary; and diners can serve themselves to that water as often as they like.
We chose a table towards the rear of the restaurant, which is the one in the foreground in the photograph above.
Menus — as well as napkins — are on every table. When our order was placed, we received what looked like a small metal weather vane with a fish on it — as well as the number of our table,
The traditional plokkari is Icelandic fish stew with rye bread and butter and was served in a small hot iron skillet. The ingredients for plokkari are basically haddock, potatoes, milk, and flour mixed with other ingredients — such as onions and salt. The dense dark rye bread sealed the deal. This dish was excellent. We would have ordered another one if we were still hungry. 2,990 Icelandic króna.
Baked Fillets of Arctic Char with Skyr Dill Sauce came with two pieces of fish, four small roasted potatoes, and several slices of cooked carrots that were garnished with beets and what seemed to be parsley. The portions were more generous than I expected; and the food was delicious. 4,990 Icelandic króna.
Final Boarding Call
The dining experience of Reykjavik Fish Restaurant was very good, with good limited service, as our food was served at the table. The ambiance overall felt warm and cozy. The food was definitely freshly prepared and of a high quality, as not a drop of it was left over. We were not only full; but we were also satisfied and happy with our dining choices. The prices were not expensive, either — especially for Iceland — as the entire meal cost $51.18.
I highly recommend dining here if you want a leisurely — and definitely filling and delicious — meal that includes traditional seafood dishes of Iceland.
Reykjavik Fish Restaurant has two other locations at the time this article was published.
Reservations are not necessary. We simply walked in and were immediately seated at a table.
Reykjavik Fish Restaurant
Frakkastigur 12
Reykjavik
Iceland
+354-578-5656
Operating Hours
- Open every day from 11:00 in the morning through 10:00 in the evening
Free parking is available on the street near the restaurant after 6:00 in the evening.
Major credit cards are accepted.
All photographs ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
