Isolated by harsh, freezing oceans and defined by a dramatic, volcanic landscape, Iceland is a country where simply surviving the environment was historically the primary objective. Arriving in Reykjavik for a very early, 2005 episode of No Reservations, the mission was to confront the bizarre, stoic, and fiercely proud culinary traditions born out of pure necessity. The food scene here is an extreme study in preservation, relying heavily on fermentation, smoking, and the rugged local lamb and seafood. The journey is legendary for its unflinching look at these challenging realities, contrasting the refined, modern takes on smoked puffin and organic lamb with the notoriously acquired taste of Hákarl—putrefied, fermented shark chased with a potent local schnapps known as ‘Black Death’. Yet, amidst the bizarre and the challenging, the narrative highlights the profound, universal comfort of a perfectly executed late-night hotdog, slathered in remoulade and crispy onions. It is a wonderfully weird, darkly comedic exploration of a society forged by ice and fire. Here are the essential, unforgettable locales that anchored this frosty Nordic adventure.
When Anthony Bourdain visited Reykjavik, Iceland on his show No Reservations Season 1 Episode 2, he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased on No Reservations – Anthony Bourdain Iceland, all in a convenient list:
READ MORE: REYKJAVIK: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANDREW ZIMMERN ON DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS
DISH – Kjötsúpa
WHAT IS IT?
Traditional Icelandic soup of fatty lamb, rutabaga, onion, carrot, celery, cabbage and leek, thickened with a fistful of rice.
WHERE IS IT?
World Class
Reykjavík, Iceland
ANTHONY BOURDAIN ICELAND NOTES
World Class is a gym that also houses a laugar café/spa restaurant.
DISH – Smoked Puffin, Organic Lamb Chops, Blini, Heitt Súkkulaði, and Brennivín
WHAT IS IT?
Smoked Puffin – dark, tender smoked puffin meat; Organic Lamb Chops – with barley, seasoned with fresh dill and dill oil; Blini – little pancakes that accompany caviar and pickled dishes; Heitt Súkkulaði – hot chocolate spiked with rum; Brennivín – traditional Icelandic brew also known as “Black Death”, a sort of schnapps made with potatoes and flavored with caraway.
WHERE IS IT?
VOX Brasserie & Bar
Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, 108 Suðurlandsbraut 2
Reykjavík, Iceland
ANTHONY BOURDAIN ICELAND NOTES
VOX Brasserie & Bar is where Anthony Bourdain got his picnic eats.
READ MORE: PARIS: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON NO RESERVATIONS
DISH – Hákarl and Plokkfiskur
WHAT IS IT?
Hákarl – Icelandic cured shark dish; Plokkfiskur – cod, onions, potatoes and béchamel sauce spiced with curry.
WHERE IS IT?
Þrír frakkar
Baldursgata 14
Reykjavík, Iceland
ANTHONY BOURDAIN ICELAND NOTES
The name of this restaurant translates to “three Frenchmen” or “three trench coats”.
DISH – Pylsur
WHAT IS IT?
Icelandic hotdog sandwich with ketchup, mustard, curry sauce, remoulade, raw white onions, and crispy fried onions.
WHERE IS IT?
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Tryggvagata 1
Reykjavík, Iceland
ANTHONY BOURDAIN ICELAND NOTES
Popular hotdog place in Iceland.
READ MORE: TRAVEL WITH HAND LUGGAGE ONLY: TRICKS AND TIPS
This infamous plunge into the Icelandic winter remains one of the most culturally defining and hilarious episodes of his early television career. In his broader body of work, it is historically significant for cementing his reputation as a traveler willing to try absolutely anything—most notably enduring the putrefied shark, which he famously declared one of the worst things he ever ate. Yet, the true brilliance of the episode lies in his deep respect for the resourcefulness of a culture that learned to survive in one of the harshest environments on earth. The pure joy he found in the simple, perfect execution of the legendary Bæjarins Beztu hotdog proved that great food doesn’t require complexity, just context. Brave the bitter wind, order the local schnapps, and let the strange, beautiful resilience of the north captivate you.11916
