Looking for halal food in Reykjavik and halal restaurants in Reykjavik? Have no fear, Reykjavik the capital of Iceland does cater well for Muslims and Halal food!
I’ve been to Iceland twice and I know it’s a popular destination for Muslim travellers because here you can really see the beauty of God’s creation!
Some people may be surprised to know that there are many Muslims living in Iceland from around the world and this has created a pretty good scene of halal food in Reykjavik as well as a lovely mosque to visit too!
Halal Food Reykjavik
I’m going to share with you the top halal restaurants in Reykjavik but also where you can eat halal food in Reykjavik whilst also experiencing local cuisine as personally, although it’s nice to have it on offer, I don’t like travelling to a country and always eating another cuisine. Like in this example, going to Iceland and eating Middle Eastern or Asian food the whole time!
I wanted to try Icelandic food and from my 2 group tours that I took of mostly Muslim women, we did try a lot of local food too so it can be done!
As well as this being a guide to halal food in Iceland and Reykjavik, I have added a few points about the mosque and modest swimwear in pools in Iceland at the bottom of this to help you travel Iceland as a Muslim.. hint, there’s nothing to worry about!
Halal Icelandic Cuisine
I want to start by sharing that Fish, as you can probably imagine, is hugely popular on menus in Iceland with most restaurants having at least 1 fish dish and normally a ‘fish of the day dish’ meaning we can get a non-meat, halal meal in Iceland.
Iceland is also very good for vegans and vegetarians and I’ve always found at least one item on the menu to be vegetarian, so again, good for Muslim travellers to Iceland as when there’s no halal meat, go veggie or have fish!
Soup is a common dish in cafes in Iceland and most of the time it’s vegetarian and the cheapest thing on the menu! It will come with a bread roll and honestly, the bread in Iceland is something else!!
Continuing with this theme, I’m going to give you two restaurants in Reykjavik I loved that are not ‘halal’ but they serve either fish or a good vegetarian option and very traditional Icelandic food because I don’t think that we should miss out on local food just because we want to eat halal meat!
Reykjavik Fish Restaurant
- Cuisine – Fish
- Website Link
- Google Maps Link
There are 2 restaurants in the city centre for Reykjavik Fish Restaurant. It’s a very informal restaurant perfect for lunch or dinner and not expensive when you compare how expensive food in Iceland can be!
They have a range a fish dishes as well as some chicken options. I think you can’t go to Iceland and not have Fish and Chips! Here, they serve a great portion of Fish and Chips for a good price.
If you want to try a local fish dish, go for the Traditional Plokkari it’s a fish stew that looks like this. It also comes with Rye bread which is a common type of bread in Scandinavia and paired really well with this dish and some butter!
Svarta Kaffið
- Cuisine – Icelandic
- Facebook Link
- Google Maps Link
There are only 2 options in this Icelandic restaurant in Reykjavik – meat and vegetarian and both are soups served in a bread roll! (The meat option is not halal)
We thought this was a super cool concept, how often do you eat soup from a bread bowl?? This restaurant is only small and its super popular with tourists although it has traditional charm.
It’s a great place to visiting during winter in Iceland to warm up with a bowl of veggie soup and should be on your list of places to eat in Reykjavik to try some local food!
Halal Restaurants in Reykjavik
Here are a list of halal restaurants in Reykjavik. I have gathered this information to the best of my knowledge based on online reviews, restaurant menus, websites and speaking to the restaurants however if you are concerned about the certification etc, I recommend you speak to the restaurant directly and confirm.
WARNING – I have seen quite a few posts for halal restaurants in Reykjavik that say Sumac Grill and Gandhi Indian Restaurant serve halal meat however I received emails from them both to confirm that they do not. So Sumac Grill in Reykjavik is not halal and Gandhi Indian Restaurant in Reykjavik is not halal!
Meze
- Cuisine – Turkish
- Website Link
- Google Maps Link
This is my favourite halal restaurant in Reykjavik because although it is Middle Eastern, there are dishes you can choose that are more like traditional Icelandic Cuisine.
For example, the lamb is Iceland is a must try! The lambs get free rein of the island all summer and a very good life and this means.. they taste good too!
If you want to try halal lamb in Reykjavik I suggest ordering the Lamb Chops from Meze. I’ve had it on both my visits and it’s really good. It has some spices on it but generally, it feels like an authentic Icelandic lamb dish with some nice potatoes and veg.
Kasbah
- Cuisine – Moroccan
- Website Link
- Instagram Link
- Google Maps Link
A popular Moroccan Restaurant in the harbour is high on this list of halal food in Reykjavik because of it’s high quality authentic Moroccan food.
It has a 5 star rating on TripAdvisor with many people saying how tasty the food is, and it’s all halal.
Eldhús Iru (Ira’s Kitchen)
- Cuisine – Indonesian
- Website Link
- Instagram Link
- Google Maps Link
A fairly new halal restaurant in Reykjavik is Eldhús Iru which is an Indonesian restaurant created by a couple who have been living in Iceland for 15 years so its lovely to support local Muslims in their business venture.
Well located by the harbour close to attractions like FlyOver Iceland, Whales of Iceland and the Lava Show, here you can get all the Indonesian favourites like Mie Goreng, Satay and Chicken Soup knowing this is some of the best halal food in Reykjavik!
Be sure to book tickets to these brilliant Reykjavik attractions:
Mandi
- Cuisine – Syrian
- Website Link
- Instagram Link
- Google Maps Link
If you’re looking for some halal food in Reykjavik that you know in the form of falafel and shawarma. Mandi in Reykjavik is the place to head!
Here you’ll be able to get a full menu of halal meat options including lamb with lots of Middle Eastern offerings that you know with competitive prices (for Iceland anyway!).
Shalimar Pakistani Cuisine
- Cuisine – Pakistani
- Website Link
- Instagram Link
- Google Maps Link
An informal restaurant and takeaway offering halal food in Reykjavik is Shalimar Pakistani Cuisine and they proudly note on their website they are halal.
Rated as a 4 on TripAdvisor people find their food delicious and are surprised to find such good South Asian food this far up in the Northern Hemisphere!
Himalayan Spice
- Cuisine – Nepalese
- Website Link
- Instagram Link
- Google Maps Link
For halal South Asian food in Reykjavik with a bit of twist to what you’re used to, head to Himalayan Spice.
Well located by the harbour in a bright yellow building, you can have a meal here with a water view and it makes for a great place to visit before or after Whale Watching!
TripAdvisor comments advise it is halal and the restaurant have replied to say they are happy to offer halal options to serve Muslims coming to Reykjavik!
Think Nepali MoMo’s, Thali and Biriyani, the food here will definitely impress you!
Arabian Taste
- Cuisine – Syrian
- Facebook Link
- Google Maps Link
If you’re looking for quick halal food in Reykjavik, Arabian Taste offer a take-away and fast food with Middle Eastern dishes such a kebab, shawarma, kibbeh and hummus.
You’ll find lots of options for halal food in Reykjavik here with lots of foods you know of for a good price because it is an informal quick setting.
Durum
- Cuisine – Turkish
- Website Link
- Google Maps Link
For a quick meal for value for money Durum on one of Reykjaviks main streets offers a range of foods like lamb kebab, wraps, pizza, fish & chips and big breakfasts.
They are stated as one of the halal places to eat in Reykjavik and they are Turkish but do offer ham on the menu so double check when you go with on what you order!
Grand Mosque of Iceland
Whilst reading this post you might be interested to know about the Muslim community in Reykjavik. There is a grand mosque in Reykjavik which is fairy central (although a 30 minute walk from the main city centre). It’s close to Perlan Museum so you can plan to visit there before the mosque
BOOK TICKETS HERE FOR THE PERLAN BEFORE ARRIVING TO ENSURE YOU GET THE TIMESLOT YOU WANT!
I’ve seen a few videos of Ramadan in Iceland in the past which talks about the extreme hours they have to fast in summer, and don’t fast in winter. These videos have showed that the Muslim community in Iceland is very close, diverse and welcoming so do pop in and support them.
Modest Swimwear in Iceland’s Pools
I know this is a halal food guide to Iceland Reykjavik but if you’re a Muslimah reading this and wondering about whether you can wear modest swimwear in the swimming pools in Iceland? I want to share that you can!
RELATED POST: TOP TIPS FOR VISITING ICELAND’S BLUE LAGOON!
I’ve been to 3 thermal pools in Iceland – the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon. All of these say they are fine with modest swimwear. In fact, in the Blue Lagoon they allow shorts and t-shirts over regular swimwear which is good for modesty and sun protection.
One, when I asked just reminded me that the pools are warm and if you’re wearing more layers just be sure you stay hydrated and conscious of the heat as you may heat up more which is understandable.
Book your tickets to the famous pools near Reykjavik here:
One of the other questions Muslims have around the pools in Iceland is getting changed and the privacy available. I will be honest and say that in Iceland, it’s very normal to have large changing rooms with people getting changed in front of one another and walking around naked.. it’s just part of the culture.
However, in the more tourist centred pools, you will find a private changing cubicle or two that you can go inside if you wish.
You also may have heard that you have to shower naked before going into the pools which again, from running my group tours and having many Muslim ladies attend, Muslims don’t like the idea of.
Technically, yes you are asked to shower naked before entering the pool and Icelanders will do this.
But I found, firstly, showers in the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon to be cubicles so you can un-dress more in these and be private and secondly, no one really checks if you have showered without swimwear before going into the pool. All you do have to do is to shower with your modest swimwear on and ensure it is fully wet and then go into the pool.. which is hygienic procedure in many pools.
Is there Halal Meat in Iceland?
Yes, there are actually a few thousand Muslims living in Iceland, which for a small 333,000 population of the country is quite a bit! Most of the Muslims in Iceland live in Reykjavik so there are many restaurants serving halal meat in Reykjavik in Turkish, Syrian, Pakistani, Indian and Moroccan Restaurants.
Is Iceland Safe for Muslims?
I’ve been to Iceland twice with groups of ladies, many of which were Muslim and we found it very safe for Muslim travellers. In Iceland, you mostly deal with other tourists and locals involved in tourism. Everyone is very busy seeing the country and doing their own thing that there is no reason not to feel safe. Iceland has local Muslims with halal food on offer, the Grand Mosque of Iceland and modest swimwear is allowed in the pools with no problem.
I hope this helps you with halal food in Reykjavik and a bit of a halal guide to Iceland!
- For more of my related posts see:
- Visiting Iceland in May and June – What it’s Like, Weather & What to Pack!
- 16 Cafes for Halal Brunch in Manchester You HAVE to Try!
- BEST Halal Restaurants in Manchester. ULTIMATE Guide to Halal Food Manchester!
- 7 Travel Hacks Muslim Women Must Know!
- Retreats For Muslim Women Around the World! Come and Join Us!