Fine Restaurant

In a city of seafood, lamb, and New Nordic tasting menus, Fine Restaurant is an anomaly — and a welcome one. This small Chinese restaurant on Raudararstigur has earned a devoted following by doing something that sounds simple but is remarkably rare in Reykjavik: serving authentic Chinese food. Not adapted, not fusion, not "Chinese-inspired." Actual Chinese food, made by Chinese chefs, with homemade dumplings and noodles that would not be out of place in Chengdu.

The Food

The name is a pun: the Chinese character on the sign means "rice" or "meal," while "Fine" in English suggests the quality of the cooking. Both readings are accurate. The dim sum is made fresh daily — steamed dumplings, bao buns, and wontons that arrive hot and delicate and taste unmistakably handmade. The noodles are pulled in-house, which gives them a texture and bite that no dried packet can replicate.

The Sichuan dishes are the kitchen's strongest suit. The mapo tofu has proper heat and the distinctive numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorn. The chili chicken is bold without being punishing. The lamb noodle soup is a meal in itself — rich, fragrant, and deeply warming, especially welcome on one of Reykjavik's greyer days.

For those less inclined toward chilli, the menu offers milder Cantonese-style options, and the staff are helpful about steering you toward the right heat level.

The Setting

Fine Restaurant is small. The space on Raudararstigur seats perhaps 30 people at close quarters, and the decor is functional rather than atmospheric. This is not a place for a romantic dinner or a special occasion — it is a place to eat good food. The second location in Hafnarfjordur offers a similar experience with slightly more space.

Practical Tips

Reserve. The restaurant's size and popularity mean that dinner, particularly at weekends, often requires a booking. Call ahead. Weekday lunches (available Monday to Friday from 12:00) are easier to secure a table.

Dim sum strategy. The dim sum is priced per piece/basket, and it is easy to over-order when everything sounds good. Start with three or four items and add more if needed — the kitchen works fast.

Lunch value. The weekday lunch menu offers the best value, with set options that are priced well below the evening a la carte.

Location. Raudararstigur is a short walk east from Laugavegur, slightly off the main tourist drag. The walk takes five minutes and leads you to a restaurant that most tourists walk past without knowing what they are missing.

Fine Restaurant is proof that Reykjavik's food scene extends beyond the familiar trinity of seafood, lamb, and skyr. For anyone craving bold, genuine Chinese flavours after days of Nordic restraint, it is the best option in the country — and one of the most satisfying meals you will eat in Iceland at any price.