Flame Veitingahus

There is something inherently theatrical about teppanyaki dining, and Flame Veitingahus in Reykjavik leans into that spectacle with considerable style. This is not a restaurant where you sit quietly and wait for a plate to arrive. Here, the cooking is the show, and the chef standing behind the searing iron griddle is as much performer as craftsman.

The Experience

Flame houses one of the largest teppanyaki tables in Iceland, seating up to thirty-two diners around a central cooking station. The chefs are trained in the Japanese teppanyaki tradition -- knife skills, fire work, the rhythmic choreography of multiple dishes being cooked simultaneously -- and they bring genuine personality to the performance. Ingredients are tossed, flames leap, and food arrives on your plate still sizzling from the grill.

It is entertaining, yes, but the food is not sacrificed for showmanship. The quality of what lands on your plate is genuinely impressive.

The Food

What elevates Flame beyond the typical teppanyaki chain is the Icelandic ingredient list. Atlantic salmon, fresh from cold northern waters, takes on a beautiful char on the griddle. Icelandic lamb, already among the finest in the world, is cooked to precise temperatures and served with simple but effective accompaniments. Langoustine appears in premium menus, sweet and tender with a light sear.

Set menus typically include a sequence of courses -- appetiser, soup, main, and dessert -- allowing the chef to demonstrate range across the meal. The progression from delicate to hearty is well judged, and portion sizes are generous without being overwhelming.

The Setting

The restaurant is located slightly outside the city centre in the Katrinartun area, which means a short walk or taxi from downtown. The interior is modern and clean, designed to keep attention on the cooking stations rather than competing with them. The atmosphere is lively without being loud, and the communal seating encourages conversation between neighbouring diners.

When to Go

Flame works particularly well for celebrations, group dinners, and occasions where you want the meal itself to be an event. It is not the place for a quiet dinner for two -- the format is inherently sociable and energetic. Book ahead, especially for weekend evenings, as the limited seating means popular slots fill quickly.

For a dining experience that combines Icelandic ingredients with Japanese technique and genuine entertainment, Flame is hard to match in Reykjavik. It is expensive, it is theatrical, and it is thoroughly enjoyable.