You are at the office and it is nearly lunchtime. Your stomach starts rumbling and you crave something tasty but do not want to spend a fortune. We feel you. Eating well on a budget can be tricky when you are time-poor too. But have no fear – Iceland is here! They have got a brilliant range of mouthwatering yet affordable lunches to enjoy, whatever your office hours. From hot and hearty mains to lighter bites, snacky sides and sweet little treats, Iceland will fill you up without emptying your wallet. Their innovative Iceland Office Hour Offerings make it easier than ever to get your fill of delicious flavour on a budget. So read on to discover their tasty time and money-saving lunch solutions! With Iceland, you can enjoy quality mealtimes every day.
Iceland’s Best Budget Meals Under $5
Hearty Soups and Stews
If there is one thing Icelanders know how to make, it is a delicious soup or stew. Head to any local café around lunchtime, and you will find steaming bowls of Kjötsúpa, a hearty lamb stew, or Fiskisúpa, a creamy fish chowder. Most bowls are well under $5 and fill you up on a cold day.
Pylsur (Hot Dogs)
Icelanders love their pylsur, which are usually made of a blend of beef, pork and lamb. You can find pylsur stands all over Reykjavík serving the Icelandic version with crunchy fried onions, sweet brown mustard and remoulade sauce. Grab a classic Pylsa for under $3.
Skyr
Similar to yoghurt, skyr is a cultured dairy product that is high in protein and calcium. It comes in a variety of flavours like blueberry, strawberry and rhubarb, and a small cup will only set you back around $2. Skyr is perfect for breakfast, as a snack or even as a light dessert.
Flatkaka
For a sweet treat, try flatkaka, a fried flatbread usually topped with sugar, cinnamon and butter. You will find flatkaka at bakeries around Iceland for under $2 per piece. Best served warm, the doughy flatbread pairs perfectly with an afternoon coffee or hot chocolate.
Kleina
If you have a sweet tooth, you cannot go wrong with kleina, fried or baked doughnuts usually filled with jam or custard. A bag of freshly made kleina from your local bakery should cost around $3 to $4, though they are so delicious you may end up buying more than one bag!
Top 10 Iceland Ready-to-Eat Delicacies for Busy Office Days
Skyr Yoghurt
No Icelandic diet is complete without skyr, a thick and creamy yoghurt. Skyr is high in protein and calcium, with a mild tangy flavour. Grab a tub of skyr and top it with fresh or frozen berries for a quick office snack.
Lamb or Fish Sandwiches
For a heartier lunch option, try an open-faced sandwich with lamb, fish or vegetables. Icelanders love their lamb and fish, and sandwiches are an easy way to enjoy them. Look for sandwiches with remoulade, a creamy tartar sauce, or frystiklettur, crunchy fried onions.
Plokkfiskur
This traditional fish stew is comforting and filling. Made from boiled potatoes, fish such as cod or haddock, onions and cream, plokkfiskur is usually seasoned with herbs like thyme and bay leaves. It is the perfect warm lunch on a cold day.
Hafragrautur
Oatmeal may not sound exciting, but hafragrautur is a beloved Icelandic breakfast dish. The oats are cooked in milk or water until thick, then often topped with cinnamon, sugar, butter, skyr or fruit like bananas. Quick, budget-friendly and satisfying, hafragrautur will fuel you up for the workday ahead.
Vinaterta
For a sweet treat, try vinaterta, a layered cake filled with rhubarb jam and custard. The tart rhubarb and creamy custard are complemented by a light sponge cake. Vinaterta is a popular cake in Icelandic bakeries and homes. Enjoy a slice with your afternoon coffee or tea.
With so many delicious and affordable Icelandic options to choose from, you will never have a boring lunch break again. Fill up on skyr, sandwiches, fish stew or oatmeal and power through your afternoon. And save room for a slice of vinaterta … you deserve it!
FAQs on Iceland’s Tasty and Affordable Food Selections for Office Hours
What are some budget-friendly Icelandic cuisine options during office hours?
Iceland has some delicious and affordable lunch options if you are on a budget. Try fish and chips, Iceland’s take on the British classic. Fresh cod or haddock is battered and fried, served with thick-cut chips. You can get a hearty portion for around 1,500 ISK. Soup and bread are also budget-friendly. Seafood chowder, lamb soup or creamy mushroom soup will fill you up for under 2,000 ISK.
If you are in a rush, grab an open-faced sandwich, called smørrebrød. Toppings like egg salad, fish pâté, or roast beef are loaded onto bread. A single smørrebrød starts around 800 ISK. For heartier fare, meatballs, sausages or a burger will satisfy without breaking the bank. A plate of Icelandic meatballs, kjötbollur, with mashed potatoes, brown sauce and lingonberry jam is around 2,500 ISK.
What are the must-try Icelandic specialities during office hours?
Some classic Icelandic specialities are worth trying on your lunch break. Pylsur, Iceland’s hot dogs, are made from a blend of beef, lamb and pork. They are usually served in a bun and topped with fried onions, remoulade sauce, ketchup and sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep. You can grab a pylsur from a stand for around 400 ISK.
For seafood, try sild, pickled herring. Herring fillets are cured in vinegar, sugar and spices. Sild is usually served on rye bread with butter. A small plate is around 1,200 ISK. Skyr, a cultured dairy product similar to yoghurt, is a popular dessert. Plain or flavoured with berries, skyr is high in protein and calcium. A small cup starts at 350 ISK.
What are the popular drinks during office hours?
To wash it all down, choose from a range of non-alcoholic drinks. Coffee, tea and bottled water are always available. For something different, try an Icelandic soda like Egils Appelsín, an orange soda, or Egils Malt Extrakt, a malty soda. Fruitis, fruit-flavoured soda water, comes in flavours like rhubarb or sea buckthorn. Or grab a smoothie, juice or milk-based drink. Prices for drinks are usually between 350 to 800 ISK.
Conclusion
So there you have it – some budget-friendly flavours to fill up on during those long office hours, without having to break the bank. With Iceland’s range of tasty and affordable lunches, afternoon snacks, and hot and cold drinks, you can stay satisfied and energised throughout the workday. And the best part? You get restaurant-quality food for a fraction of the usual cost. Next time 3 pm rolls around and you are flagging, do not reach for another coffee. Head to Iceland instead for an office hour pick-me-up that will rejuvenate you until clocking-off time. With delicious options like sandwiches, salads, pastries and hot pots of noodles or pasta, you will look forward to lunchtime at your desk. Iceland helps add a little joy to the daily grind.
