Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

Eating out in Iceland can be pricey, so much that it’s considered a bit of a treat instead of an everyday expense. But there is one affordable street food that locals in Reykjavik can enjoy on the regular: the hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, a family business that has been running since 1937.

The original stand originally opened on Austurstræti street and moved during the 1960s to Tryggvagata, a popular area known today for the Harpa Concert Hall and the Phallological Museum. It has since spawned three branches across Reykjavík, and is currently owned by Guðrún Kristmundsdóttir, the granddaughter of the founder.

Bæjarins Beztu’s signature hot dog is rather simplistic, consisting of a bun, a sausage, and some condiments. What makes it unique is that the meat in its pylsur (sausage) is mostly lamb, a quintessential ingredient in Icelandic cuisine, with some pork and beef added to it. The options for the condiments include ketchup, sweet mustard, rémoulade, crisp fried onion, and raw onion. While locals often order eina með öllu, or “one with everything,” a hot dog with mustard only is called a Clinton, a jocular reference to the U.S. president who ordered just that while visiting Iceland in 2004 for a UNICEF conference.