Kurdo Kebab (Akureyri, Iceland)

 Skipagata 2, Akureyri, Iceland

 

Kurdo Kebab is a rather big kebab place in the center of Akureyri in North Iceland. They serve a host of the classics : shawarma, wrap or plate, with chicken, beef, or lamb, humus, but also various pizzas.

 

I get the Special Kurdo Kebab Chicken (ISK 1490 or ~$11.50), which comes with pieces of marinated chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and two sauces, one spicy. Wrapped in a Lebanese bread, it is a big sandwich and remarkably tasty.

 

VERDICT: 87/100

While not technically a kebab, as meat is not shaved, it is tasty!

Shellskálinn (Eskifjörður, Iceland)

 Strandgata 13, 735 Eskifjörður, Iceland

 

Shellskálinn is an old-school snackbar, in a gas station, that does burgers, sandwiches, pitas, and even pizzas. It has only a few tables inside and it is quite bumping on this Saturday early afternoon.

I get a burger with bacon and egg, which comes with fries, and a soda (the delicious local Appelsin) for a total of ISK 2320 (ca. $18). The fries are coated while the burger is also prepared meat, a bit chewy, as is the bacon.

 

VERDICT: 78/100

Very basic snackbar food

Hafnarbúðin (Höfn í Hornafirdi, Iceland)

Ránarslód 2, 780 Höfn í Hornafirdi

 

Hafnarbúðin is a rather small snackbar that serves burgers, sandwiches, fries, onions rings, and salads. The specialties are fish and lobster, as this place is just off the sea in a small touristic town in South Iceland. It is packed on this August early evening.

I get the Fishburger (ISK 1740 or ~$13.50)) and a Pylsa or Icelandic Hot Dog (ISK 430 or ~$3). The fishburger is  original and tasty, though not very special, and the hot dog is the standard tasty Icelandic version.

 

VERDICT: 83/100

Decent but not remarkable snackbar

Smiðjan Brugghús (Vik, Iceland)

Sunnubraut 15, 870 Vík, Iceland

 

Smiðjan Brugghús is a modern brewpub in the small touristic town of Vik in South Iceland. It is known for its beer and burgers but also serves ribs and wings. It’s a tourist favorite, which it tries to commodify by selling blingy swag.

 

I get the Onion Ring & Bacon Burger (ISK 2990 or ~$23), which comes with fries (which I hadn’t noticed), so I ordered a side of Onion Rings (ISK 990 or ~$7.50). The burger is big and comes with bacon, lettuce, tomato, an onion ring, and chili mayo. An excellent burgers, grilled perfectly medium. The fries are thin and coated (like BK) and presented lukewarm. The onion rings are pretty good, thick coating with reasonably thick onion inside, and zesty chipotle mayo dip.

 

VERDICT: 87/100

Very solid US burgers in cool setting

Chikin (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Ingólfsstræti, Reykjavík, Iceland

 

Chikin is a US-Korean-type fusion street food place that serves various chicken boas and burgers as well as a few special sides (sweet potato waffle fries, pineapple kimchi).

 

I get a Spicy Chicken Bao (ISK 790 or ~$6) and a K-Town (ISK 1790 or ~$14). They are both fried chicken with Gochujang Mayo, chili slaw, coriander and scallions, but one is a relatively small bao and the other a rather large burger. The chicken is perfectly fried, very tasty, but also very salty and has a kind of buttery taste to it.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

Cool place but with limited options.

Pylsuhúsið (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Hafnarstræti, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland

 

Pylsuhúsið is another hot dog stand, not too far from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and next to Hlölla Bátar. It serves hot dogs in different varieties, including bratwurst and chili dogs, as well as ice cream. I get the Icelandic Hot Dog, which was roughly $4, and very similar to BBP, but without the remoulade, I think. It was good, but not remarkable. 

 

VERDICT: 86/100
A standard Icelandic hotdog.

Hlölla Bátar (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Hafnarstræti, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland

 

Sandwich stand on popular square in downtown Reykjavik that offers “boats”, that is sandwiches (6” or 12”) with mostly warm meats, lettuce and sauce.

 

I get the 6” Bacon Boat (ISK 1050 or ~$8). The sandwich is a toasted soft grain bread with a few strips of not crispy bacon, which mostly taste salty, while the lettuce and "Hlölla sauce" (mayo or aioli)  don’t change taste much.

 

VERDICT: 80/100

Decent but not remarkable. CRazy overpriced, of course, but this is Iceland.