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Would you like to cut back a little on food spending while in Iceland? Many restaurants and bistros offer special offers during lunch hours, the most common one probably being a free soup with a course from today?s menu. Some places also have a special lunch menu which has courses less expensive than the à la carte evening menu.  Kringlan and Smáralind, the two largest shopping malls in Iceland,  both offer an impressive variety of fast food options. There's everything from world-known American chains to an all Icelandic Booztbar which specializes in healthy fast food. If you prefer a homely atmosphere, visit the affordable Thai restaurant Núðluhúsið. The all time favourite Icelandic fast food is "pylsa" (hot dog), sometimes called the Icelandic national food. We encourage you to follow in the footsteps of former USA president Bill Clinton and Metallica singer James Hetfield who both sampled the delicious Icelandic hot dog during their visit.

For eating in the quiet of your hotel room you might opt for places offering home delivery. Most pizza places deliver pizza right to your door and offer 2 for 1 deals if you pick up the food yourself. If you're not in the mood for a pizza you could just as well get a delivery of great Indian food from Shalimar restaurant.  

If your accommodation has cooking facilities, why not try out some of the Icelandic recipes in the chapter. You'll find all the ingredients you need in the next supermarket. The cheapest supermarkets in Iceland are Bónus, Nettó and Krónan. While at the supermarket be sure to buy "skyr", a unique Icelandic non-fat dairy specialty. Looking and tasting somewhat like yogurt it's actually a type of fresh cheese, though tasting completely different. It comes in many flavours and forms and those in a hurry can even grab a bottle of liquid skyr.
Delightful places to visit for cheap but good bite to eat are the bakeries. Most of them offer a wide range of sandwiches as well as the tempting delicious pastry. Follow in the tradition of the locals and ask the bakeries in the center of town for old bread to feed the ducks at Tjörnin, the city pond, a popular activity among Icelandic families during weekends.

More information about budget dining can be found on our website www.restaurants.is (for an Icelandic version check out www.veitingastadir.is).