THE ICELANDIC HOT DOG

The Icelandic lamb, pork and beef hot dog

The Icelandic Hot dog should definitely be on your top ten Icelandic foods to try. There is no fast food that comes close in popularity to the Icelandic Hot Dog. We call them Pylsur or Pulsur. The best hot dog you find is the ones sold at Bæjarins Beztu. That literally means The Town’s Best. And it’s actually true. And that, of course, is where we stop in our Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour.

So how to order a hot dog?

The easiest thing to do is to order “one with everything “. That means you will be served a hot dog in a soft bread bun with raw onions, fried onions, special ketchup made with apples, lightly spiced mustard, and remoulade. Remoulade is a mayonnaise that has been mixed with gherkins and capers.

Bill Clinton came to Iceland in 2004 and asked for one with just mustard. We call it the Clinton. But I think he made a grave mistake; it is just so much better with all the other stuff. No decent Icelander would have just the mustard!

Kim Kardashian and the Kardashian clan also came to Iceland a few years ago. We’re unsure what she ordered, but hopefully, one with everything. 

What’s in the hot dog?

The hot dog is mainly made with lamb, pork, and beef. It’s rich in flavour, and at the Town’s Best, they are rumoured to be braised in beer.

Bæjarins Beztu / The Town‘s Best

This is one of the oldest operating companies in Reykjavik, serving hot dogs for over 80 years. It is a family-run company that has been selling hot dogs for over four generations.

They have food stalls in six places, one in the centre of Reykjavik just by Kolaportið, the Reykjavík Flea Market. You can read our blog on the market here. One of the reasons they have maintained their status is that they never went posh despite much success. They have, in fact, stayed precisely the same, never extended their menu or even changed the hot dog stand. They just stick to what the people love, a good old Icelandic hot dog. And people queue in all kinds of weather and stand outside in the cold to enjoy that delicious bite of a warm hot dog.

For many generations, Icelanders have driven with their families to the centre and stopped at the hot dog stand. They end their evenings of beer drinking at the hot dog stand, their Saturday or Sunday walk at the hot dog stand or a walk with the dog, who also would enjoy a bite at the hot dog stand. I, for one, have grown up doing all of that.

The opening hours of the original hot dog stand?

Sundays through Thursdays = 10 am – 2 am

Fridays and Saturdays = 10 am to 04:30 am

One hot dog should be enough, but honestly, many people go for the second. Even if that means queuing again, don’t miss out on trying this delicious treat.

By joining our Reykjavik Food Tour, you will definitely enjoy an Icelandic Hot Dog and more of what Reykjavik offers for your taste buds.

This is also the perfect treat after our Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour.

And if you get a craving for an Icelandic Hot Dog when you’re back home, there’s no need to fret! We have got you covered on how to order it!

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1 Response
  1. […] With the warm weather comes the urge for a cool, sweet treat. And even if our warm weather is still as little chilly for you, you should still find your way to one of our many ice cream parlors and try Iceland style ice cream! It’s not that much different from what you think, but we have some flavors that may become your favorites! Take one of our food lovers tours and find out where the best place is for salted licorice ice cream or a frozen treat featuring our beloved rye bread. And if sweets aren’t your thing, there are plenty of places to try our famous Icelandic hot dogs! […]

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