Essential Icelandic Phrases For Ordering Food And Dining Out
Author
Eating out in Iceland is a wonderful way to experience the local culture and taste unique dishes.
Knowing a few basic Icelandic phrases makes the dining experience much more enjoyable.
Most restaurant staff in Iceland speak excellent English.
However, making an effort to order your meal in Icelandic is always highly appreciated by the locals.
This guide covers the most practical phrases you need for ordering food and dining out in Iceland.
Table of Contents:
Arriving at the restaurant
When you walk into a restaurant, you should start with a simple greeting.
You’ll usually need to ask for a table for a specific number of people.
In Icelandic, you use the word borð (table) followed by the number of guests in the accusative case.
Here are the most common phrases to use at the host stand.
Góða kvöldið.
Borð fyrir tvo, takk.
Borð fyrir fjóra, takk.
Við erum með pöntun.
Looking at the menu
Once you sit down, you might need to ask for the menu.
The Icelandic word for a restaurant menu is matseðill.
You might also want to ask the waiter for their personal recommendation.
Icelandic restaurants frequently offer a daily special, which is a great way to try fresh local ingredients.
Gæti ég fengið matseðilinn, takk?
Hvað mælir þú með?
Hver er réttur dagsins?
Ordering food and drinks
When the waiter returns, you’re ready to place your order.
The most common way to order in Iceland is by saying ég ætla að fá.
This literally translates to “I intend to get”.
It’s the polite and standard way to request something in Icelandic.
Ég ætla að panta.
Ég ætla að fá fisk dagsins.
Og að drekka?
Ég ætla að fá einn bjór, takk.
Gætum við fengið vatnsglas?
To help you navigate the menu, here are a few essential food and drink translations.
| English | Icelandic |
|---|---|
| Water | Vatn |
| Beer | Bjór |
| Coffee | Kaffi |
| Fish | Fiskur |
| Meat | Kjöt |
| Chicken | Kjúklingur |
| Vegetarian dish | Grænmetisréttur |
Dietary restrictions and allergies
It’s very important to communicate any allergies clearly to the restaurant staff.
Icelandic restaurants are generally very modern and accommodating to various dietary needs.
You can use the phrase ég er með ofnæmi fyrir to state what you’re allergic to.
Eruð þið með grænmetisfæði?
Ég er vegan.
Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir hnetum.
Er glúten í þessu?
Paying the bill
When you’re finished with your meal, it’s time to ask for the bill.
The Icelandic word for the bill is reikningurinn.
You don’t need to worry about calculating a tip in Iceland.
Service and VAT are automatically included in the menu prices.
Tipping is absolutely not expected, though you can leave a little extra if the service was truly exceptional.
Gæti ég fengið reikninginn, takk?
Get ég borgað með korti?
Við ætlum að skipta reikningnum.
Maturinn var mjög góður, takk fyrir.
