Booking choice: The Reykjavik Food Walk, from $146 per person. Check dates Tour details
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur means "the town's best hot dogs", and the stand has been selling them in central Reykjavik since 1937. It sits by the harbour end of the old town, a few minutes from Harpa and Ingolfstorg, and the queue is part of the experience.
Below: the history, the toppings, how to order, and which food tours build the stand into the route.
The quick answer
Order "eina med ollu", one with everything: ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade, crispy fried onion and raw onion. The sausage is a lamb-based blend with pork and beef. The traditional tasting, food and drink, private and street food tours list Baejarins Beztu Pylsur as a stop, and Food Walk guests report a stop at the famous stand.
What is Baejarins Beztu Pylsur?
A small hot dog stand in central Reykjavik, open since 1937 and now the city's most famous place to eat.
It started on Austurstraeti and moved to Tryggvagata in the 1960s, by the harbour end of downtown. In 2006 the Guardian named it the best hot dog stand in Europe, and the visit by Bill Clinton in 2004, when he ordered his with mustard only, is still part of the legend. Today the company runs 13 stands, from Tryggvagata and Austurstraeti out to Keflavik Airport, according to the stand's own site.
What makes the Icelandic hot dog different?
The sausage is made mostly with Icelandic lamb, blended with pork and beef, which gives it a milder, slightly sweet taste and a snappy skin.
The toppings matter as much as the sausage: the crispy fried onion and the sweet brown mustard (pylsusinnep) are what most visitors remember.
Want the hot dog with a story? Many Reykjavik food walks stop at the stand.
Check dates for the Reykjavik Food WalkHow do you order an Icelandic hot dog?
Ask for "eina med ollu", one with everything.
Everything means five toppings:
- Ketchup
- Sweet mustard (pylsusinnep)
- Remoulade
- Crispy fried onion
- Raw onion
If you want fewer, just name the ones you want.
Which food tours stop at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur?
The traditional tasting tour, the food and drink walk, the private food tour and the street food walk all list the stand in their itinerary.
| Tour | Hot dog stop | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik Food Walk | Usually | Listing: "a hot dog stand"; guests mention the famous stand |
| Traditional food tasting | Yes | Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in the itinerary |
| Food and drink walk | Yes | Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in the itinerary |
| Street food walk | Yes | Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in the itinerary |
| Private food tour | Yes | Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in the itinerary |
| Hot chocolate food walk | Yes | "Icelandic hot dog" in the tastings |
| Food and beer history walk | Yes | "The famous Icelandic hotdog" in the listing |
The hot dog, Arctic char, lamb and rye bread ice cream in one walk from Harpa.
Explore the Reykjavik Food Walk Tour detailsIs the queue long?
It can be: guests on one food tour report waiting in line for an hour at a busy time, though the line usually moves fast.
On a food tour the stop is built into the route, so you do not plan the visit around the line yourself.
Is the Icelandic hot dog actually good?
Most guests think so: one food tour guest called it the best hot dog he has ever had, another said it was his favourite thing all day.
Not everyone agrees; one reviewer on the food and drink walk found it disappointing after the long wait. Expect a very good, cheap street snack rather than a gourmet meal, and order it with everything the first time.
Taste it with a local guide and four other stops on the Reykjavik Food Walk.
Check dates for the Reykjavik Food WalkWhere else does the walk take you?
The stand is a few minutes' walk from Harpa, Ingolfstorg and the Parliament House, so tours fit it between other stops.
Several food walks then head up Laugavegur or Skolavordustigur toward Hallgrimskirkja. For the rest of the menu, read traditional Icelandic food explained, and to pick a tour, see Reykjavik food tours compared.
Frequently asked questions
What is in an Icelandic hot dog?
A lamb-based sausage blended with pork and beef, in a bun with ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade, crispy fried onion and raw onion.
How do you say one with everything in Icelandic?
"Eina med ollu".
How old is Baejarins Beztu Pylsur?
The stand opened in 1937, first on Austurstraeti, and moved to Tryggvagata in the 1960s.
Is there a vegetarian hot dog?
No vegetarian sausage appears on the stand's own site, so plan on the lamb blend. The Food Walk operator arranges vegetarian menus if you ask when booking.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
The Reykjavik Food Walk: Lunch or Dinner
- 3-hour walking tour with a local foodie guide
- 4 to 6 local eateries, from food trucks to sit-down restaurants
- 8+ tastings, such as Arctic char, Icelandic lamb, cheeses and rye bread ice cream
Traditional Icelandic Food Tasting Tour
- Guided walk with about six food stops in the old town
- Tastings from lamb soup and fish to fermented shark
- Water and alcoholic drinks, as listed
Street Food Walking Tour
Harbour to Hallgrimskirkja, ending with ice cream
