Icelandic Hot Dogs

Icelanders are close to fanatical about their hot dogs, and one bite tells you why. In a country known for being expensive, a pylsa (or pulsa, as many people say it) is still the cheapest way to eat a local specialty standing up.

What makes them different

An Icelandic hot dog is made mostly from lamb, with pork and beef, which gives it a flavor you won't find in an American frank. The toppings matter just as much:

• ketchup
• sweet brown mustard (pylsusinnep)
• crispy fried onions
• raw onions
• remoulade (remúlaði), a mayonnaise-based sauce with relish

To get all of them, ask for "eina með öllu", one with everything. You can buy hot dogs all over the country, at stands, convenience stores and gas stations, so they're a road-trip staple too.

Bæjarins beztu pylsur

In Reykjavik, the stand everyone talks about is Bæjarins beztu pylsur, which means roughly "the town's best hot dogs". It has been selling them on Tryggvagata, down by the harbor, since 1937. Look for the little red stand and the line in front of it. The line moves fast, but it gets long after the bars close on weekends.

The original stand keeps late hours: 9:00 to 1:00 Sunday to Wednesday, until 2:00 on Thursday, and until 6:00 on Friday and Saturday.

Famous customers

Part of the appeal is who has eaten there. When Bill Clinton visited Iceland in 2004, Mæja at the counter called out to him as he walked by. He was on a diet, so he had his hot dog with mustard only, and a mustard-only dog has been called "a Clinton" ever since. Metallica's James Hetfield has stopped by too, and in 2006 the British newspaper The Guardian named it one of the five best street food stands in Europe.

What it costs now

When I first wrote this, a hot dog cost 280 ISK, just over US$2 back then, and I told everyone to order two. As of March 2026 a hot dog is 880 ISK, and 1,330 ISK with a soft drink. The manager told the newspaper Morgunblaðið that higher labor costs are the main reason. It's still the cheapest hot meal downtown, and I still say order two. More ideas in Dining on a Budget in Reykjavik.

Other Bæjarins beztu locations

The company now has 13 locations: 10 in the Reykjavik area, 2 on the Reykjanes peninsula and 1 in Hella in South Iceland. A few worth knowing:

• Austurstræti 10-11, downtown, open 24 hours.
• Laugavegur, open 11:00 to 22:00 daily.
• Keflavík Airport, open 24 hours. The airport stand is by the gates for Schengen flights, and you'll need a boarding pass with a QR code.
• Hella, open 10:00 to 22:00, handy on a drive along the South Coast. See Traveling to Vik from Reykjavik.

Heading to or from the airport? The Reykjanes peninsula had nine eruptions near Grindavík between December 2023 and August 2025, and the Icelandic Met Office says magma is still building up, so if you plan any stops there, check safetravel.is first. Getting from Reykjavik to Keflavik covers the transfer.

FAQ

How much is a hot dog in Iceland?

At Bæjarins beztu, 880 ISK as of March 2026. Gas station and convenience store prices vary.

What's a "Clinton"?

A hot dog with mustard only, named after Bill Clinton's order in 2004.

Are Icelandic hot dogs really made of lamb?

Mostly. They're lamb-based, with pork and beef mixed in.

For more local food, see Icelandic Delicacies.

Photo by jayneandd