Bad Boys Burgers & Grill

Let us be honest: a burger restaurant inside a petrol station on the highway out of Kopavogur does not sound promising. Everything about Bad Boys Burgers & Grill suggests you should drive past. And yet, locals keep coming back, the portions are generous, and the prices are the kind of numbers you quietly photograph and send to friends who have just paid ISK 3,500 for a mediocre burger on Laugavegur.

The Food

The menu is straightforward. Burgers, fries, and a handful of extras. No pretensions, no truffle oil, no brioche buns described in three languages. What you get is a well-made, properly seasoned burger with fresh toppings, cooked to order. The patties are thick, the cheese is melted rather than merely placed, and the fries are crisp.

The burger of the day is worth asking about — it rotates daily and comes at a discounted price that borders on the charitable. There are also chicken options and a few wraps for those who want variety, but the burgers are the reason to come.

The Setting

This is not a restaurant you visit for the ambience. The interior is clean and functional, with the slightly clinical lighting of a petrol station forecourt. There are a few tables inside, but many people opt for the drive-through window or takeaway. If you are on your way to or from Keflavik Airport, it sits almost directly on the route and makes for a painless stop.

Why It Works

Bad Boys succeeds because it understands its own identity. It is not trying to be a gastropub or a gourmet burger bar. It is a place where you can get a genuinely good burger, quickly and cheaply, in a country where both "quick" and "cheap" are rare when it comes to food. The punch card loyalty system is a nice touch — ten meals and the eleventh is free — and the staff are consistently friendly.

Practical Tips

Getting there. From central Reykjavik, head south on Kringlumyrarbraut towards Kopavogur. The restaurant is on Hagasmara, visible from the main road. If you are driving from the airport, it is a natural stop before entering the city.

Best for. Budget travellers, families, anyone tired of paying Reykjavik prices for average food. Also an excellent late-night option when downtown kitchens have closed.

Order at the counter and collect when your number is called. Service is fast — usually under 10 minutes. For an even quicker stop, use the drive-through.

In a city where a simple lunch can cost the same as a dinner elsewhere in Europe, Bad Boys is a genuine find. It will not change your life, but it will fill you up for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere — and the burger will be better than it has any right to be.