Grill 66

Iceland does not have McDonald's — the last one closed in 2009 and became a minor cultural event. What it does have is Grill 66, a homegrown fast food chain that fills roughly the same niche with an American Route 66 theme and prices that count as genuinely cheap by Icelandic standards.

The Food

The menu is built around burgers, and they are perfectly decent. Not revelatory, not gourmet, but well-constructed and satisfying in the way that a good fast food burger should be. The names pay tribute to stops along America's Route 66 — you can order a Memphis, an El Reno, or a St. Louis — which adds a touch of personality to what is otherwise standard fast food fare.

Sandwiches, chicken meals, and the occasional fish option fill out the rest of the menu. Nothing will surprise you, but nothing will disappoint you either. This is reliable, honest, quick food.

Why It Matters for Travellers

If you are driving the Ring Road, Grill 66 becomes a genuinely useful reference point. With locations in Selfoss, Borgarnes, Husavik, and elsewhere, it offers a consistent, affordable meal when your options are otherwise limited to gas station sandwiches or expensive restaurant stops.

In Reykjavik itself, the Alfheimar location is outside the tourist zone, which means you are eating with locals who know it for what it is — quick, affordable food that does the job.

Practical Tips

Do not expect fine dining. Do expect a filling meal for roughly half what you would pay at a tourist-oriented burger joint downtown. The drive-through is handy if you are passing through on a road trip. Multiple locations across Iceland make this a reliable fallback wherever your travels take you.