Best Vegan Meal

Joint Winners

Kemuri

Hverfisgata 2a

You’d be hard pressed to believe that Poles make up the majority of the Icelandic population if you had to go by their presence on the high street (or lack thereof). Kemuri is an ambitious little pierogi house that has for the past year served more than just nostalgic Polish fare. Vegan and vegetarian, handmade and made in house, Kemuri is also the first and only Polish restaurant on Reykjavík’s high street. With inspired takes on traditional pierogies (the sauerkraut and mushroom ones are particularly moreish), seasonal specials (wild mushrooms in the fall, festive offerings during the holidays), cakes and bakes, dining here feels like a personal dream buoyed and built by the community.

Chickpea

Hallveigarstígur 1

Photo by Art Bicnick

“I eat here just to talk to the owners,” confessed one panellist, “I order for work so often,” admitted another. With their scratch made food, and we mean scratch made — everything you see in the counters and on your plate is made fresh everyday by the small yet efficient team behind Chickpea. This is slow fast food done well, made intentionally, and with love. The wraps are either sourdough flatbreads or slow raised pita, the pickles are ugly rejects or a tie up with local cooperatives, all the condiments – kimchi, sauces and schmears traverse through Moldova somewhat, but the real star, the falafels, are made in the tradition of the dish. Dry chickpeas are soaked and ground coarse with plenty of fresh herbs a la the Levantine version or lean a bit more Nordic with the hot pink hued beetroot falafel. The wraps are filled to the seams, bursting with flavour and we strongly recommend saving space for one of their sweet treats to finish.