Reykjavík: 7-Course Teppanyaki Tasting Menu with Fire Show

The flames are the first thing to catch your eye: your chef cooks on a hot iron grill, turning a Reykjavík dinner into a small food show. I like that the menu puts Icelandic langoustine, Arctic char, and free-range lamb at the center, and that you get a welcome sake cocktail with the meal. One consideration: at $120 per person, this is a special-occasion dinner, not a budget-friendly way to eat out.

I also like the setting. Flame Restaurant and Bar is in a modern glass building near Höfði House and the sea, so the meal can pair well with a city evening or a winter hunt for northern lights nearby. Just keep expectations sensible: the lights are never guaranteed, and the restaurant does not provide transportation.

The essentials before you book

• Seven courses, one hot grill: Your meal includes beef carpaccio, tempura langoustine, Arctic char, Icelandic lamb, and a blueberry skyr dessert, with rice and vegetables.
• Cooking becomes the entertainment: The chef prepares food in front of you, with open flames and teppanyaki tricks along the way.
• A welcome drink is included: You’ll receive a sake cocktail or a similar beverage at the start.
• A distinct Reykjavík dinner: Flame Restaurant and Bar is described as Iceland’s only teppanyaki restaurant.
• A nearby winter possibility: The ocean and a lighthouse are close by, but northern lights sightings depend on nature.
• Plan for a 90-minute meal: The experience is wheelchair accessible, conducted in English, and does not include transportation.

A Reykjavík dinner with more than one kind of heat

Teppanyaki is cooking on a hot iron grill, and here the grill does double duty. It is the kitchen and the stage. The chef prepares the courses close to you, adding open-flame effects and utensil tricks while the food cooks.

That makes this a good choice if you want dinner to be an activity, not just a pause between sightseeing stops. The performance is part of the meal, but the ingredients give it a clear Icelandic identity: lamb, fish, and langoustine all make an appearance.

Flame Restaurant and Bar sits in a modern glass building in central Reykjavík, about 200 metres from Höfði House and Fosshotel Reykjavík. The setting puts you within reach of the city’s sights and the ocean, though the meal itself is the main event. Don’t book it as a guided city tour or a ride to a northern-lights viewpoint.

The restaurant is described as the only teppanyaki restaurant in Iceland. That gives the experience a useful point of difference, especially if you’re curious about Japanese-style grill cooking and want to see it paired with local ingredients. It is less useful if you’re simply seeking the cheapest or quickest dinner in town.

From welcome cocktail to blueberry skyr

The experience starts with a welcome sake cocktail, or a similar drink. It gives the meal a celebratory opening, and it is included in the ticket price. If you don’t drink sake, the wording allows for an equivalent beverage, but it does not specify what alternatives are available.

The seven-course menu begins with Icelandic beef carpaccio. This is the least theatrical part of the meal, but it sets up the local-produce theme before the grill takes over. You can expect the food to be explained as it arrives, which helps you keep track of the ingredients and sauces.

Next comes tempura Icelandic langoustine with homemade lava sauce. Langoustine is a prized Icelandic seafood, and the tempura treatment brings a crisp contrast to the tender shellfish. The lava sauce gives the course a playful nod to Iceland’s volcanic setting without turning dinner into a geology lesson.

Premium Japanese rice and mixed fresh vegetables accompany the meal. These are useful counterpoints to the richer seafood and meat courses, and the rice underlines the Japanese cooking style. They are listed as part of the sample menu rather than as separate headline courses.

Icelandic Arctic char arrives with teriyaki sauce. Char is a freshwater fish with a natural place on an Icelandic menu, while the sauce connects the local ingredient to the teppanyaki format. If you are keen to sample Icelandic fish without ordering a full seafood meal, this course offers a taste in the middle of a varied menu.

The Icelandic free-range lamb is served with pepper sauce and cooked on the grill in front of you. This is likely to be the meal’s most memorable savory course for anyone who associates Iceland with lamb. The flames and close-up cooking add a show element, but the ingredient itself is the real reason to pay attention.

The meal finishes with traditional blueberry skyr yogurt. Skyr is a familiar Icelandic staple, and blueberry gives the final course a fruit note after the sauces and grilled dishes. It is a distinctly local finish to a menu that borrows its cooking method from Japan.

The exact order and preparation can vary, as the menu is presented as a sample. Treat the courses as a guide to the kind of meal you’re booking, not a promise that every garnish or detail will be identical.

The chef is part of the meal

The chef cooks in front of you, so the meal has a more personal feel than a standard restaurant dinner. The fire tricks and utensil handling are there to entertain, but you also get a chance to hear about the ingredients and ask questions. That mix of skill, food, and conversation is what makes teppanyaki more than dinner served from a hot plate.

Wilson has been named as a chef at Flame, and Kai as a sous-chef. Their presence is not guaranteed on any particular date, but the names give you an idea of the human side of the experience: the staff can be part of the evening’s appeal, not just the cooking. If the chef talks through sourcing or welcomes questions, take the opportunity to ask about the Icelandic ingredients.

The fire show is not a separate performance you watch before dinner. It happens as the food is prepared, so you can follow the cooking while courses arrive. That makes the experience lively, though the pace and energy may depend on the chef and the evening.

The meal lasts about an hour and a half. That is enough time for several courses and a show, but it is still a defined dinner booking rather than an all-evening event. If you have another timed activity planned, leave room for the meal to run its full course.

Is $120 worth it?

At $120 per person, this is a premium meal. You are paying for seven courses, a welcome cocktail, Icelandic ingredients, and live cooking entertainment in one sitting. The value is strongest if you want all of those things together, rather than simply a plate of local food.

Langoustine, Arctic char, and free-range lamb give the menu a clear sense of place. The chef’s performance adds something you would not get from an ordinary dinner, and the inclusion of the cocktail helps make the price easier to assess. Still, there is no transportation included, and the ticket is for the meal rather than a broader Reykjavík excursion.

I’d see it as a good fit for a birthday, a couple’s evening, or a night when you want dinner to be one of your planned activities. It may be less appealing if you prefer quiet dining, want to choose individual dishes, or are watching your food budget closely. The set tasting format means you are buying into the menu as a whole.

The overall rating is 4.1 out of 5 from 50 ratings, so the experience is not a guaranteed hit for every diner. The strongest points are the chef’s show, the food, and the welcoming service. There have also been occasional arrival hiccups, so check in with staff at Flame Restaurant and Bar and allow a little patience if your reservation is not immediately found.

Setting the evening around Flame

Because transportation is not included, you need to make your own way to the restaurant. Its central Reykjavík location, near Höfði House and Fosshotel Reykjavík, can make it convenient to pair with time in town. The address is also close to the ocean, which gives you an option for a walk before or after dinner.

The northern-lights possibility is a bonus, not a reason to book on its own. A nearby lighthouse by the sea may offer a place to look for the aurora in winter, but the lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. Clouds, conditions, and timing are outside the restaurant’s control.

If you are hoping to see the aurora, keep the dinner and the sky-watching plans separate in your mind. You can enjoy the meal even if the night stays dark, and you should not count on the restaurant to arrange a ride or a dedicated aurora outing.

The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and the experience is conducted in English. Starting times depend on availability, so check the options for your date. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance qualifies for a full refund.

Who will enjoy this meal most?

This experience suits you if you like watching food being prepared and enjoy a little theatre with dinner. It is especially appealing if you want to taste several Icelandic ingredients in one sitting without planning a separate seafood and lamb meal.

It can also work well for a special night when you want a shared experience to talk about afterward. The chef’s fire work and the course-by-course format give the evening a natural rhythm, while the cocktail and dessert make it feel like a complete occasion.

If you’re dining with children or someone who dislikes flames, noise, or food prepared in front of them, consider whether the performance style will be welcome. The supplied details do not specify a minimum age, menu substitutions, or dietary accommodations, so ask the restaurant directly before booking if those matter.

Should you book Flame Restaurant and Bar?

Book it if a seven-course dinner with Icelandic ingredients and live teppanyaki cooking sounds worth $120 to you. The strongest reason to go is the combination of langoustine, Arctic char, lamb, and a chef working just in front of you. The welcome cocktail and blueberry skyr make the meal feel finished rather than like a short demonstration.

Skip it if you’re looking for a low-cost dinner, a quiet table, or a guaranteed northern-lights sighting. The aurora is only a possible extra, and the restaurant does not provide transport. For an evening when food, fire, and local ingredients are the plan, this is a distinctive Reykjavík choice.

FAQ

How long does the teppanyaki experience last?

The experience lasts about 1.5 hours.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a seven-course menu and a welcome sake cocktail or a similar drink.

What ingredients are served?

The sample menu includes Icelandic beef carpaccio, langoustine, Arctic char, free-range lamb, rice, vegetables, and blueberry skyr yogurt.

Is the food cooked in front of me?

Yes. The chef prepares the meal on a teppanyaki grill in front of you, with an open-flame show.

Where is the restaurant?

Check in with staff at Flame Restaurant and Bar in Reykjavík. It is in a modern glass building about 200 metres from Höfði House and Fosshotel Reykjavík.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included.

Can I see the northern lights nearby?

You may have a chance to look for them at a nearby lighthouse by the sea in winter, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What language is used during the experience?

The instructor language is English.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.