Bambus Restaurant

Pan-Asian restaurants that promise to cover four or five cuisines under one roof usually disappoint. Bambus, occupying a smart space on Borgartun in Reykjavik's business district, is one of the exceptions. While the menu ranges ambitiously from Peking duck to Japanese sashimi to Thai curries, the kitchen delivers with a consistency that earns repeat visits from a loyal local following.

What to Expect

Bambus occupies an elegant ground-floor space on Borgartun, surrounded by office buildings and corporate headquarters. The interior is refined without being stuffy: dark wood, warm lighting, and enough space between tables to allow comfortable conversation. It feels like a proper restaurant rather than a takeaway with pretensions, which is exactly the right tone for the food being served.

During weekday lunchtimes, the room fills with business diners from the surrounding offices, drawn by set lunch menus that offer good value. In the evenings, the pace slows and the atmosphere shifts towards a more considered dining experience. Weekend nights attract couples and groups celebrating special occasions.

The Menu

The Peking duck is the star, and deservedly so. Ordered in advance for the table, it arrives with crispy, lacquered skin, tender meat, thin pancakes, spring onions, and hoisin sauce. It is one of those dishes that commands attention and rewards sharing. If you are visiting Bambus for the first time, ordering the duck is not optional.

Beyond the duck, the Chinese section of the menu is strongest. Handmade dumplings -- boiled or deep-fried -- are excellent. Spring rolls are light and properly crispy. The wok-fried dishes have the kind of smoky intensity that suggests a kitchen with serious heat at its disposal.

Thai curries, Japanese tempura, and Korean-influenced plates round out the menu. These are competently executed rather than revelatory, but they provide useful variety for groups with mixed preferences. The kitchen clearly knows its way around multiple traditions, even if the depth is not quite equal across all of them.

Practical Tips

Borgartun is Reykjavik's main business street, about a 15-minute walk east of the city centre or a short bus ride. The neighbourhood lacks the tourist appeal of Laugavegur, but it compensates with easier parking and lower stress levels. If you are driving, there are spaces available on the street and in nearby car parks.

Weekday lunch (11:30-14:00) is the best time for value. The set menus are priced below the evening a la carte, and the food is every bit as good. For the Peking duck, visit in the evening and consider calling ahead to pre-order -- it requires preparation time and is not always available on the spot.

Bambus also delivers through Wolt, which is convenient for hotel stays. The dumplings and curries travel well; the duck, unsurprisingly, is best eaten fresh from the kitchen.