Zorbian

In a city where a simple lunch can easily cost ISK 3,000 or more, Zorbian feels like a minor miracle. This small, family-run Syrian restaurant on Hringbraut serves some of the most flavourful, filling, and affordable food in Reykjavik, and it does so with the kind of warmth and generosity that makes you want to come back the next day.

What to Expect

Zorbian is modest in size and decor. This is not a place that trades on atmosphere or design. The interior is clean and functional, with a few tables, a counter for ordering, and the intoxicating smell of spiced meat and fresh bread that hits you the moment you walk through the door. The focus is entirely on the food, and that is exactly as it should be.

The restaurant is family-run, with recipes rooted in Syrian culinary traditions. The welcome is warm and genuine -- the kind of hospitality that Middle Eastern cultures are rightly famous for. Orders are prepared fresh, and while you might wait a few minutes longer than at a typical fast-food spot, the difference in quality is immediately apparent.

The Menu

The menu reads like a greatest hits of Middle Eastern street food. Shawarma wraps are packed with tender, well-seasoned meat and fresh vegetables. Falafel is made in-house and arrives crispy on the outside, soft and herby within. BBQ meat platters come with rice, salad, and flatbread -- meals that are clearly built for appetite rather than presentation.

Hummus is smooth and properly tahini-rich. Sides of fattoush salad and pickled vegetables add freshness and acidity. Everything is prepared with the kind of care and consistency that suggests recipes refined over generations.

The portions deserve special emphasis. They are enormous. A single shawarma wrap at Zorbian would feed two people at many other Reykjavik restaurants. A BBQ platter is genuinely challenging for one person to finish alone. For budget-conscious travellers, Zorbian is nothing short of a revelation.

Practical Tips

Hringbraut runs along the southwestern edge of central Reykjavik, connecting the Vesturbaejar neighbourhood to the city centre. Zorbian is an easy walk from downtown -- about 10-15 minutes from Laugavegur heading west -- or a short bus ride.

The restaurant is open from 10:00 on weekdays and 11:00 at weekends, closing at 22:00 daily. No reservations are needed; it operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and the turnaround is quick enough that you rarely have to wait long.

For visitors from countries with established Middle Eastern food scenes, Zorbian holds its own against far more celebrated restaurants. For visitors from countries where such food is harder to find, it will be a genuine highlight of the trip. Either way, the combination of authentic flavour, generous portions, and Reykjavik's lowest price point makes Zorbian essential eating.