The Icelandic Hot Dog

The Icelandic hot dog, or pylsa, is the nation's beloved fast food, made from a blend that includes Icelandic lamb, giving it a distinctive taste. Ordered eina med ollu, one with everything, it comes loaded with raw and crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard and remoulade, most famously from the little Baejarins Beztu stand in Reykjavik, a national institution.

What you actually see

• The lamb-based hot dog - the distinctive pylsa in its bun.
• One with everything - the full array of onions, mustard, ketchup and remoulade.
• Baejarins Beztu - the legendary Reykjavik hot dog stand.
• The crispy and raw onions - the double-onion topping.

When to go

Year-round; a quick snack any time of day, and a late-night staple. The famous Reykjavik stand often has a cheerful queue.

Honest expectations

It is humble fast food, but genuinely good and a real local institution, so it is worth the modest queue. It is cheap by Icelandic standards, which is a relief. The lamb blend gives it a taste unlike an ordinary hot dog.

Nearby

The famous stand is by the old harbour in Reykjavik; stands are found across the country.