Best Asian restaurants in Reykjavik by cuisine
If you are looking for the best Asian restaurants in Reykjavik, downtown is a very good place to start. From sushi and ramen to Indian curries, Thai favourites, Vietnamese pho, and hand-pulled Chinese noodles, central Reykjavík has a surprisingly strong Asian food scene. If you count the old centre, Laugavegur, Hlemmur, Hafnartorg, and Grandi as part of the same walkable food orbit, you can eat your way across Asia without ever going far.
This is not a strict ranking of the one best restaurant in each category. It is a practical local guide to the best Asian restaurants in downtown Reykjavík, organised by cuisine, with a final “Other” section for places that do not fit neatly into one box. Whether you are craving Chinese noodles, Nepalese spice, Thai comfort food, sushi, ramen, or something a little different, downtown Reykjavík has you covered.
Chinese restaurants in downtown Reykjavik
If you are looking for Chinese food in central Reykjavík, there is more than one good answer. Fine Restaurant has become a favourite with many Chinese visitors, which is usually a very good sign. It is especially known for serving real Sichuan food, with the kind of bold, spicy flavours that stand out from more generic pan-Asian menus. If you are after proper Chinese cooking and a solid sit-down meal just off the main downtown stretch, Fine is a very strong choice.
Another great option is Mr. Zhu Asian Restaurant. Its location near the harbour side of town makes it a useful choice if you are exploring around Geirsgata, the old harbour, or heading toward Grandi. It helps round out the Chinese options in the centre nicely.
For noodle lovers, Biang Reykjavík deserves a stop. It stands out for hand-pulled biang biang noodles and offers something a little different from the usual stir-fry route. If you want Chinese food with a bit more texture, heat, and comfort, this is one of the most interesting choices downtown.
Then there is Chinese Flavour, which adds another layer to the Chinese section. It is more casual in feel, but useful precisely because not every meal in Reykjavík needs to be a long sit-down dinner. If you want something quick, hearty, and flavourful, it is worth knowing about.
Indian and Nepalese restaurants in downtown Reykjavik
This may be the strongest section in the whole guide. Reykjavík has several good Indian and Nepalese restaurants downtown, and each one brings something slightly different.
Austur-Indíafélagið is one of the city’s classic names. It has been serving Indian food in Reykjavík for decades and remains one of the most established Indian dining rooms in the centre. If you want a more classic, polished Indian dinner, this is a very strong place to start.
Shalimar is another essential downtown pick. It presents itself as Pakistani cuisine, but in practical terms it absolutely belongs here because it delivers the kind of curry-house comfort many visitors are looking for: rich sauces, naan, rice dishes, and warming flavours right in the heart of town.
Gandhi is another central option and a very good choice if you want a proper sit-down Indian dinner near the centre. It works well for both a relaxed evening meal and something a little more special.
Hraðlestin has been around for years and remains a dependable name for Indian food in Reykjavík. It is family-run, well known, and easy to recommend for visitors who want something proven and central.
On the harbour side, Himalayan Spice brings Nepalese cooking into the mix. It is a very good option if you are staying near the old harbour and want spice, grilled dishes, or something slightly different from the standard Indian lineup.
And finally, Annapurna belongs here too. It blends Indian and Nepali cuisine, which makes it a natural fit for this section and another reason why downtown Reykjavík’s Asian food scene is more varied than many visitors expect.
Thai restaurants in downtown Reykjavik
Thai food and Icelandic weather are a very good match. When Reykjavík is cold, wet, or windy, few things hit the spot like a hot curry or a wok dish with real flavour.
Ban Thai is one of the city’s best-known Thai restaurants and has been a go-to for years. It is an easy option if you are staying around Hlemmur or the upper part of downtown. If you want a classic Thai dinner in central Reykjavík, it is one of the safest bets.
Krua Thai adds another useful central choice. It is well placed if you are exploring Hallgrímskirkja and the surrounding streets and want something flavourful that is still close to the heart of town.
Mai Thai Bistro rounds out the Thai section nicely. It is another solid Laugavegur option and a reminder that Reykjavík’s main shopping street has more than cafés and bars if you know where to look.
Vietnamese restaurants in downtown Reykjavik
Vietnamese food is one of the best things to eat in Reykjavík when you want something comforting but not too heavy. Broths, herbs, rice noodles, spring rolls, and grilled meats all work especially well after a long day walking the city.
Pho Vietnam is one of the most convenient picks in town, right at the bottom of Laugavegur near the old centre. That location alone makes it easy to recommend, especially for travellers who want a quick bowl of pho without leaving downtown.
Mama Kitchen is another good downtown choice, with Vietnamese staples like pho and fresh spring rolls. It is casual, flavourful, and easy to work into a day in town.
With Grandi included in the downtown definition, Viet Noodles also deserves a place in this guide. It is a strong option if you are spending time in the harbour area and want Vietnamese rather than fish and chips for once.
Sushi in downtown Reykjavik
Reykjavík’s sushi scene gives you a few different moods. You can go more polished, more casual, or more quick-and-convenient depending on where you are and what sort of meal you want.
Sushi Social is one of the best-known sushi restaurants in the centre. It is stylish, established, and very well placed for a dinner that feels a little more special than a quick lunch stop.
Sushi Train gives you something more casual and fun. It is a very easy choice for families, groups, or anyone who wants fresh sushi without turning dinner into a big formal event.
Umami Sushi + Bar at Hafnartorg is another very solid downtown option. Hafnartorg is now firmly part of many visitors’ walking route through central Reykjavík, and this is a good place to stop if sushi is what you are after.
Other great Asian spots in downtown Reykjavik
Not every great Asian restaurant in Reykjavík fits neatly into one national category, and that is where this final section of our best Asian restaurants in Reykjavik guide comes in.
Ramen Momo absolutely belongs here. It is one of the best downtown choices when the weather is bad and you want something hot, fast, and deeply comforting. Ramen in Reykjavík weather just makes sense.
Hosiló sits a little outside the usual category system too. It is the sort of place to choose when you want something more creative and chef-driven rather than a straightforward bowl of noodles or curry.
Bao Bite Noodle Bar is another useful addition. It is casual, central, and built around East Asian comfort food like noodles, soups, dumplings, and other quick flavour-packed dishes, making it a great stop during a day in the city centre.
Flame also fits best here. With teppanyaki on the menu and a location close to Hlemmur, it counts comfortably as part of the broader downtown zone.
And if you want something genuinely different, Eldhús Iru in Grandi is well worth knowing about. It brings Indonesian cuisine into the mix, which alone makes it one of the more unusual and interesting entries in this guide.
Conclusion
Downtown Reykjavík may be compact, but that is exactly why this guide works: you can eat your way across the best Asian restaurants in Reykjavik without travelling far. So yes, try the Icelandic classics while you are here. But also leave room for ramen, sushi, biang noodles, pho, Thai curry, Indonesian dishes, and a very good Indian dinner. Reykjavík is better fed than many first-time visitors expect. We hope you enjoyed our best Asian restaurants in Reykjavik guide!
Planning your food stops around the city? You might also like our guide to things to do in Reykjavík, our Reykjavík Food Lovers Tour, and our tips on where to eat in Reykjavík.
