Best Asian Restaurants in Reykjavík: A Local Food Guide

Reykjavík has a stronger Asian food scene than most visitors expect, with everything from Tibetan-Japanese ramen to Sichuan-style boiled fish packed into a few walkable downtown blocks. This guide covers the city's best Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and ramen spots, with prices, addresses, and what to order. It's based on years of firsthand visits by Arctic Adventures team members who live and eat in Reykjavík.

Asian food in Reykjavík is worth trying because the city's small, walkable downtown packs in a surprisingly varied lineup that's easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. Reykjavík is compact, and almost every restaurant in this guide is within a 15-minute walk of Laugavegur, the main shopping street. After a few days of traditional Icelandic food: lamb soup, salted cod, and skyr, a hot bowl of ramen or a real green curry can feel like a genuine reset for the stomach.

A lot of this depth comes from immigration. Iceland's foreign-born population has grown steadily over the past two decades, with Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities among the more established Asian groups in the country. Most of the restaurants below are family-run by chefs and owners from those communities, which is why the food tastes closer to the source than visitors might expect in a city of around 140,000 people. Asian cuisine is also popular with Icelanders themselves. It's common to see local families ordering a big shared table at a Thai or Chinese restaurant on a weekend evening, which is why several places have family-style set menus.

Reykjavík's Asian food scene is small enough to summarize at a glance. The table below pairs each main category with the strongest current pick, so you can choose by craving or by which neighborhood you're already in. Every restaurant in this guide is in central Reykjavík unless noted, and the addresses link out to Google Maps further down in each section.

The order below starts with ramen because it's the easiest entry dish for first-time Asian-food visitors to Iceland, then moves through Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese before closing with bubble tea. Skim to the cuisine you want, or read straight through if you're picking dinner for the next few nights.

The strongest ramen choice in Reykjavík is Ramen Momo, the first dedicated ramen restaurant to open in Iceland. Founders Kunsang Tsering and Erna Pétursdóttir started it in 2014 with a single counter at Tryggvagata 16, near the Old Harbor. In 2024, they opened a second, larger location at Bankastræti 8 in a former Kaffitár space, with more seating and a slightly different menu that leans into the bar side of ramen culture. 

Both kitchens make their own organic noodles in-house, which is rare anywhere and almost unheard of in a country this small. The owners are Tibetan, which is also why the menu has momo dumplings (a Tibetan staple) alongside the more familiar Japanese-style bowls.

The chashu ramen is the safest first order: rich pork-bone broth, braised pork belly, soft-boiled egg, and a splash of sesame oil. For heat, the tantanmen (dan dan ramen) layers spicy minced pork over a thicker, more concentrated broth, topped with a soft-boiled egg and chili oil. 

Portions run on the smaller side, so a practical move is to add the homemade pork gyoza (five pieces per order) to a bowl of ramen for a full meal. Expect to spend around 3,200 to 5,000 ISK ($23 to $36 / €21 to €33) per person. Vegan options are on the menu, and reservations aren't needed. Hours are typically Monday to Friday, 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM, and weekends, 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Both Ramen Momo locations are an easy walk from anywhere in the city center. The original at Tryggvagata 16 is a two-minute walk from the Old Harbor whale watching dock, and the Bankastræti 8 branch is closer to the lower end of Laugavegur.

Thai food has the deepest roots of any Asian cuisine in Reykjavík, and two restaurants are leading the category: Ban Thai for a proper sit-down dinner, and Krúa Thai for a fast, affordable midday meal. Long-time Reykjavík residents have eaten at one or both of these at least once.

Ban Thai is at Laugavegur 130 and has been open for more than 30 years, making it the city's oldest Thai restaurant. The kitchen has a roughly 160-item menu and refuses to dial down spice or sweetness for local palates, which is the main reason regulars stay loyal. The Panang and Massaman curries are the consistent standouts, with deep coconut-based sauces and proper heat. 

Ban Thai is dinner-only, opens daily at 5:00 PM, and reservations are essential because the dining room is small and the kitchen cooks every dish to order, which slows service during peak hours. Expect 5,000 to 8,000 ISK ($36 to $58 / €33 to €54) per person.

If you'd rather skip the reservation and eat in a relaxed setting, Krúa Thai just below Hallgrímskirkja church at Skólavörðustígur 21a is the better choice. It's family-run by Thai chefs, no reservations needed, and around 3,500 ISK ($25 / €23) per person. The Pad Thai and beef noodle soup (ask for rice noodles instead of egg) are the staple orders, and the Tom Kha Gai and Tom Yum Goong soups are also very popular. 

Curries here are lighter than Ban Thai's, so if curry is your priority, save it for Laugavegur street restaurant. Krúa Thai opens weekdays 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Saturdays 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM, and Sundays 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM. A second location at Bæjarlind 14–16 in Kópavogur helps if you're staying outside downtown.

Hraðlestin is the most flexible Indian restaurant in Reykjavík, with four locations across the capital area and a menu broad enough to handle everything from a quick lunch to a longer dinner. The first downtown branch opened in 2003 by Chandrika and Gunnar Gunnarsson, who also run Reykjavík's oldest Indian fine-dining restaurant, Austur-Indíafélagið, founded in 1994. The chain has since expanded to Hverfisgata 64a, Grandagarður 23 in the Grandi harbor district, Hlíðasmári 8 in Kópavogur, and Grensásvegur 3. 

The chefs are Indian, and the spice blends are imported directly, which shows up in the food. Top recommended dishes include the vegetarian curry platter, the Lamb Korma made with Icelandic lamb, and the classic Chicken Tikka Masala.

The format is closer to fast-casual than fine dining: counter ordering, generous portions, and a menu that runs from naan rolls and chicken thali platters to the more familiar tikka masala and lamb madras. The vegetarian curry platter is a strong opener, with chickpeas slow-cooked in a thick, layered sauce served over basmati rice. 

The Lamb Korma uses Icelandic lamb, which gives the meat a mellower texture than the dish usually has elsewhere, balanced against coconut milk and warm spice. The lunch menu is noticeably cheaper than the dinner menu, so an early-afternoon visit is best for the value.

Hours vary by branch. The Hverfisgata 64a downtown location currently opens daily from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, while other branches open earlier for lunch. Always check the specific branch's hours on the Hraðlestin website before going. Note the spelling: Hraðlestin uses the Icelandic eth (ð), and many English-language listings drop it and spell it "Hradlestin."

Reykjavík's Chinese food scene has shifted in the past few years away from generic takeaway and toward regional, owner-run kitchens. Two places lead the category for visitors: FINE Restaurant for a small, careful menu with a Sichuan lean, and Mr. Zhu Asian Restaurant for shareable group meals near the Old Harbor.

FINE Restaurant (饭) opened in 2017 on Rauðarárstígur street, a one-block walk from the Hlemmur bus terminal. The name is a bilingual pun the owners are clearly fond of: 饭 (fàn) means "meal" or "rice" in Chinese, and the English "fine" signals careful, well-made food. It sums up what they're after, which is Chinese roots and Western dining standards. The kitchen leans to Sichuanese cuisine, with the Spicy Chicken (La Zi Ji), Mapo Tofu, and Sichuan-style boiled fish (made with Icelandic cod) as the signature orders. 

The chicken comes deboned, which makes it more accessible to first-time diners than the version typically served in China. The full menu runs broader than the signature dishes suggest, with influences from Sichuan, the north of China, and the lighter Jiangsu-Zhejiang style.

The owners have lived in Iceland for over 17 years and run the small dining room with a tight team. Their goal, as they tell it, is to show the difference between authentic Chinese cooking and the simplified takeaway versions most Icelanders grew up with. They describe themselves as a bridge between two food cultures: bringing real Chinese cooking to a market shaped by takeaway versions, and translating it for Icelandic palates that didn't grow up with Sichuan heat.

Two diners can comfortably share three dishes and rice for around 4,000 ISK ($29 / €27) per person, which is a fair benchmark when a standard Western main in central Reykjavík typically costs the same or higher. Hours are weekdays 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM and weekends 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Reservations are usually not needed for two or three diners; larger groups should book ahead. There's a second location in Helluhraun.

Mr. Zhu Asian Restaurant is the better fit for groups. It's at Geirsgata 9 in the Old Harbor area, directly across from the whale watching check-in operated by Special Tours, the Arctic Adventures family operator at that dock. The owner and chef are from Northeast China, the menu is Sichuan-leaning but tuned slightly down for international diners, and the dining room can seat large groups (50-person group meals are possible with advance booking).

Signature orders include stir-fried lamb with scallions, Sichuan-style boiled beef, and the same boiled fish FINE is known for, all using fresh local Icelandic lamb, beef, and cod. Expect 4,000 to 6,000 ISK ($29 to $43 / €27 to €40) per dish, with portions built for sharing. Plan for two or three diners minimum.

The strongest Vietnamese option in central Reykjavík is Asia Food at Laugavegur 103, near Hlemmur food court and bus stops 9 and 13. Despite the generic name, the owner is Vietnamese and the menu is mostly Vietnamese too, with a smaller selection of Thai curries, Chinese-style mapo tofu, and Korean kimchi soup rounding it out. It's a comfortable walking-distance option for anyone exploring downtown, and it works equally well for a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner.

The standout dish is Thịt bò sốt vang, a Vietnamese red wine and tomato beef stew with tender beef shank, well-seasoned carrots, and potatoes. It carries a subtle Western influence (similar to a French daube), but the flavor layers suit an Asian palate, and it pairs well with either a baguette or rice. It's especially good in Iceland's cold weather. 

The Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and Bún (vermicelli bowls) are also reliable, well-balanced everyday orders. There's also a hot pot for groups of five or more, with meat, seafood, vegetables, and tofu, which is unusual in Reykjavík and worth booking ahead for. Expect 2,800 to 3,800 ISK ($20 to $27 / €19 to €25) per person.

Two more options earn space here for travelers who want either Chinese street food or a fast Vietnamese lunch. Both fill a different niche than the sit-down restaurants above.

Chinese Flavour (华味) at Snorrabraut 29 started as a food truck in October 2018 and moved into a brick-and-mortar space as business grew. The owner is from Beijing, but the menu leans Sichuan, with beef noodle soup, La Zi Ji (spicy fried chicken), and Hui Guo Rou (twice-cooked pork) as the most-ordered dishes. It's also the only spot in Iceland selling Chinese street snacks like jianbing (savory crepes) and roujiamo (a Chinese-style meat sandwich), plus homemade xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and lamb skewers. 

Considering how limited some ingredients are in Iceland, the technical range here is impressive. Chinese Flavour works equally well for solo dining and for a group, with pricing from 2,500 to 5,000 ISK ($18 to $36 / €17 to €33) per person. A snack lands at the low end; a sit-down meal with several dishes hits the upper.

For a Vietnamese lunch on the move, the Bánh Mi stall inside Hlemmur Mathöll food hall (Laugavegur 107) makes the best banh mi sandwich in central Reykjavík: crisp baguette, marinated protein, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and chili. It's a 10-minute eat-and-go option if you're heading from the bus terminal toward the rest of Laugavegur, and the rest of the food hall has plenty of non-Asian options if your group can't agree. Hlemmur Mathöll is open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Iceland only started getting proper bubble tea shops around 2018, and the selection is still  pretty small. Almost all the worthwhile bubble tea spots are concentrated in downtown Reykjavík, which means if you're staying near Laugavegur or the rainbow street, the closest shop is usually a short walk away. Bubble tea here skews younger (Icelandic adults still tend to default to coffee or soda), but vegan milk tea has become a quiet local favorite, and most shops have plant-based options.

Yocha at Laugavegur 101 is the current top pick. The shop only opened at the end of 2025 and became popular almost immediately. The must-try is the Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea made with fresh Icelandic milk, with soft, chewy pearls. 

Walking out with a hot milk tea under a clear Reykjavík sky on a Northern Lights night is the kind of small, specific sweet Iceland moment. The Taro Matcha is the other signature; as of early 2026, Yocha is the only bubble tea shop in Iceland offering taro-based drinks. You can customize sweetness levels, order hot or iced, or ask for less ice, the same way you would in Asia. Their cheese foam is also genuinely good and tastes the way cheese foam should, which is a rarity in Reykjavík.

Drinks run around 1,100 ISK ($8 / €7), which is normal by Icelandic standards. The menu and current hours are on the Yocha Wolt page.

Baboo Tea opened Iceland's first proper bubble tea shop and is still the most established name in town. The menu is long, but the Classic Milk Tea and Jasmine Green Milk Tea are the easy go-to orders. The tea flavor at Baboo is noticeably stronger and less aggressively sweet than at most chain bubble tea shops, which is a plus if you prefer your tea to actually taste like tea. For non-pearl drinkers, there's a full range of other toppings (coconut jelly, popping boba, and others), plus smoothies and fruit slushies that are popular with Icelandic teenagers.

Baboo Tea has two locations, both downtown, both owned by the same operator and serving the same menu. The first is at Skólavörðustígur 6b, just below Hallgrímskirkja church near the famous rainbow street, slightly tucked behind the street-facing shops, so look carefully. The second is at Laugavegur 100, in the lobby of a hotel building near the upper end of the main shopping street. Drinks typically cost around 850 to 1,200 ISK ($6 to $9 / €5 to €8). The shop is also co-branded as Chatime.

Asian food in Reykjavík is reasonable by Icelandic standards but expensive by international ones. A rough benchmark: a casual Thai or Vietnamese meal costs around 2,800 to 3,500 ISK ($20 to $25 / €19 to €23) per person, a sit-down Chinese or Thai dinner is priced at 4,000 to 8,000 ISK ($29 to $58 / €27 to €54), and ramen is in the middle at 3,200 to 5,000 ISK ($23 to $36 / €21 to €33). Considering a basic steak in a downtown Western-style restaurant typically starts above 4,000 ISK before sides, the ratio is fair.

Most Asian restaurants are concentrated in central Reykjavík and the majority are within easy walking distance of Laugavegur, which makes them straightforward to fit into a day of sightseeing or after a tour. For groups and families, several spots (Mr. Zhu and Ban Thai among them) have family-style menus that scale down the per-person cost when ordering to share.

The strongest picks are Ramen Momo for ramen, Ban Thai for a sit-down Thai dinner, FINE Restaurant or Mr. Zhu for Chinese, Asia Food for Vietnamese, and Hraðlestin for Indian. Yocha covers bubble tea. Almost all of them are within a 15-minute walk in central Reykjavík, which makes them easy to fit around sightseeing or tours.

Ramen Momo is the strongest answer. The original location at Tryggvagata 16 has been making organic in-house noodles since 2014, and the newer Bankastræti 8 location adds more seating and a separate menu. Order the chashu ramen for a first visit, or the tantanmen if you want spice.

Ban Thai on Laugavegur is the long-standing favorite for a sit-down Thai dinner, with a 160-item menu and uncompromising spice levels. Krúa Thai near Hallgrímskirkja is the better choice for a casual lunch or relaxed dinner without a reservation. Pick Ban Thai for Panang or Massaman curry, Krúa Thai for Pad Thai and Tom Yum.

Hraðlestin is the most accessible option, with four locations across the capital area, an extensive menu of street-food-style dishes, and chefs trained in India. The Hverfisgata 64a downtown branch is the most central. Aim for the lunch menu, which is noticeably cheaper than dinner.

Yes, two stand out. FINE Restaurant near Hlemmur runs a careful Sichuan-leaning menu in a small dining room, while Mr. Zhu near the Old Harbor is the better choice for groups thanks to its larger space and shareable dishes. Chinese Flavour rounds out the category for street food and quick bites.

Yocha at Laugavegur 101 is the current top pick, with fresh-milk brown sugar boba and the only taro-based drinks in Iceland as of 2026. Baboo Tea is the original, with two locations: Skólavörðustígur 6b near the rainbow street and Laugavegur 100. Drinks at either shop typically run 850 to 1,200 ISK.

Asian food is one of the better-value sit-down options in Reykjavík. A casual meal usually costs 2,800 to 3,500 ISK ($20 to $25) per person, while a full sit-down Chinese or Thai dinner runs 4,000 to 8,000 ISK ($29 to $58). It's still pricier than what you'd pay in most other countries, but the local benchmark is generous.

If you're staying anywhere along Laugavegur or near Hlemmur, you can walk to every restaurant in this guide. The most central are Ramen Momo (Tryggvagata or Bankastræti), FINE (Rauðarárstígur), Asia Food (Laugavegur 103), Bánh Mi at Hlemmur Mathöll, and both bubble tea shops.

Only at Ban Thai, where reservations are essential because the dining room is small and the kitchen cooks every dish to order. Everywhere else in this guide accepts walk-ins, though Mr. Zhu requires advance booking for groups of six or more.

A good Asian dinner is one of the easier wins on a Reykjavík visit, especially after a long day on a tour. Browse Arctic Adventures' Reykjavík tours and day trips to plan the rest of your itinerary, and let our guides show you around while you pick the curry for dinner.