Reykjavík: 7-Course Teppanyaki Tasting Menu with Fire Show

The fire show is the main event here. At Flame Restaurant and Bar, an English-speaking chef cooks your seven courses inches away, turning Icelandic ingredients into dinner with flames, utensil tricks, and plenty of showmanship. I like the mix of fresh local food and live cooking, especially the chance to try lamb, langoustine, salmon, and beef in one sitting.

I also like the setting. You’re in central Reykjavík, only about 200 meters from Höfði House and close to the sea, so you can pair dinner with a short walk. The main consideration is price: at $120 per person, this is a special-occasion meal, not a quick bite. The northern lights are also never guaranteed.

Key points at a glance

• Seven courses of Icelandic ingredients: Expect beef carpaccio, langoustine, arctic charr, lamb, vegetables, rice, and blueberry skyr.
• A chef-led fire show: Flames, spinning utensils, and grill work turn dinner into a small performance.
• A sake cocktail is included: You receive a welcome sake cocktail or a similar drink before the meal.
• Iceland’s only teppanyaki restaurant: This is a distinctive choice if you want something beyond standard Reykjavík dining.
• Central location near the ocean: Flame is close to Höfði House, Fosshotel Reykjavík, and a lighthouse used for possible northern lights viewing.
• Allow 90 minutes: The fixed tasting menu suits a planned evening rather than a rushed meal.

Dinner begins with fire, not a menu

Teppanyaki means cooking on an iron grill, but the appeal here is not simply grilled food. You sit close to the action while the chef prepares the meal in front of you, with open flames forming the visual center of the evening.

The restaurant presents this as a seven-course tasting menu built around Icelandic ingredients. That matters because the meal is not just Japanese-style food placed in Reykjavík. It uses local produce and seafood, then applies the teppanyaki format and Japanese touches such as teriyaki sauce, premium rice, and sake.

I like this setup for an evening when you want dinner to feel like an activity. You are not only ordering a dish and waiting for it to arrive. You see the cooking, hear the explanations, and get a front-row view of the chef’s technique.

The performance has also earned strong praise for its entertainment value. Chef Wilson is singled out for being personal and talented, while another evening included time with sous chef Kai. Those details suggest that the atmosphere can feel warm and interactive, though the exact chef working your meal may vary.

The seven-course menu, from carpaccio to skyr

The menu is presented as a sample menu, so individual details may change. Still, the listed progression gives you a clear idea of the meal.

Icelandic beef carpaccio

The opening beef course gives the dinner a refined start without beginning with the grill show’s heavier flavors. Beef carpaccio is served thinly sliced, so it works as a light first course before the seafood and grilled dishes arrive.

This is a good reminder that the menu is not seven versions of meat cooked over a flame. The early courses help build variety in taste and texture.

Tempura Icelandic langoustine

Icelandic langoustine is one of the meal’s headline ingredients. It is served tempura-style with homemade lava sauce, a playful name that fits the restaurant’s fire theme.

Langoustine is a prized local seafood choice, and this course gives you something more distinctly Icelandic than a generic shrimp dish. If seafood is a major reason you are considering the dinner, this is likely one of the most important courses on the menu.

Premium Japanese rice and fresh vegetables

The rice and vegetables provide balance between the richer seafood and meat courses. They may sound less dramatic than the fire show, but they are useful parts of a long tasting menu.

The inclusion of Japanese rice also helps connect the meal to teppanyaki tradition. You get Icelandic ingredients, but the meal still has a clear Japanese influence rather than feeling like an unrelated grill dinner.

Icelandic arctic charr with teriyaki sauce

Arctic charr is another local fish, and the teriyaki sauce adds a familiar Japanese flavor. This course gives the menu a second seafood moment after the langoustine, but with a different preparation and flavor profile.

I like that the fish course is not treated as an afterthought. Iceland is known for its seafood, and this menu gives you more than one chance to taste it in a structured meal.

Free-range Icelandic lamb with pepper sauce

The lamb is likely to be the heartiest course. Free-range Icelandic lamb is one of the country’s best-known foods, and serving it with pepper sauce gives the menu a clear savory finish before dessert.

This is also where the live cooking matters most. Guests have described watching the main course being cooked inches away, with flame work and spinning utensils during the preparation. You get the food and the show at the same time, rather than having the performance feel separate from dinner.

Blueberry skyr yogurt

The final course uses traditional blueberry skyr yogurt. Skyr is closely associated with Icelandic food culture, and this dessert keeps the meal tied to the country even after the Japanese-inspired courses.

It should suit you if you prefer a lighter finish after a large meal. After beef, langoustine, fish, and lamb, a skyr-based dessert makes practical sense.

The fire show is part of the meal, not a side act

The cooking performance is central to the experience. The chef works with open flame, grills the food in front of you, and uses utensils as part of the presentation.

The reviews point to fire tricks, utensil spinning, and stories about where the ingredients come from. That combination is important. A good teppanyaki meal is not just about someone cooking nearby. The chef’s timing, conversation, and ability to keep the table engaged shape the evening.

The tone can vary. One dinner was described as polished and highly entertaining, while another began with a little nervousness from the chef. That is worth keeping in mind if you expect a perfectly choreographed show every time. The food and staff were still described positively, but live performance always has some variation.

I would book this for a birthday, anniversary, family meal, or final-night dinner in Reykjavík. It gives you a shared event to talk about afterward. If you want quiet conversation and a private meal, the show may feel like too much.

A sake cocktail starts the evening

Your ticket includes a welcome sake cocktail or a similar drink. Several diners especially liked the cocktail’s flavor and presentation, and it gives the meal a clear opening rather than having the evening begin with the first food course.

This inclusion also adds some value to the $120 price. You are paying for food, service, the cooking performance, and a welcome drink, not just seven small plates.

The wording allows for an equivalent beverage, so you should not assume the exact cocktail will always be identical. If you do not drink alcohol, the available alternative is not specified in the information provided, so ask the restaurant directly before booking if that matters to you.

A useful Reykjavík location for an evening plan

Flame Restaurant and Bar is in a modern glass building area in central Reykjavík. It is about 200 meters from historic Höfði House and near Fosshotel Reykjavík, with the ocean not far away.

That location makes the dinner easy to fit into a city day. You do not need to arrange transportation as part of the experience, and the meeting point is directly at Flame Restaurant and Bar. The activity lasts about 1.5 hours, so you can plan another evening activity before or after it.

The nearby lighthouse by the sea adds an appealing winter possibility. You may be able to look for the northern lights there after dinner, but this should be treated as a bonus, not part of the meal itself. The lights are a natural event and cannot be guaranteed.

I would not book this dinner solely to see the aurora. Book it because you want the food and fire show. If the sky cooperates, the lighthouse walk can make the evening even better.

Is $120 a fair price?

At $120 per person, this is expensive for a meal in simple restaurant terms. It becomes easier to justify when you count the seven-course menu, the welcome drink, the chef’s performance, the central location, and the fact that this is presented as Iceland’s only teppanyaki restaurant.

You are also getting a meal built around several premium ingredients. Langoustine, beef, lamb, and fish appear across the menu, and the dinner is designed as a full experience rather than a single entrée.

Still, value depends on what you want from your evening. If your priority is the lowest-cost way to eat Icelandic food, you can find cheaper options. If you want a memorable dinner with a built-in show, the price is more reasonable.

The generous portions are worth noting. One diner said the meal was more substantial than expected and left them very full and satisfied. This is not a tasting menu that should leave you searching for a second dinner afterward.

Service can be warm, with occasional opening hiccups

The strongest praise goes to the staff. Wilson is described as friendly and personal, especially during a quieter dinner when the table was the only one present. Chef and sous chef interaction also helped make the experience feel less formal.

There were two reports of a rocky start involving a reservation not being immediately found. In both cases, staff worked to sort out the problem, and complimentary wine was offered as an apology. These incidents do not define the meal, but they show why arriving with your booking details ready is sensible.

The English-speaking instruction makes the experience accessible to international visitors. You can expect the chef and staff to explain the food and answer questions in English.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Transportation is not included, so you make your own way to the restaurant.

Who will enjoy Flame most?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want:

• A dinner that doubles as entertainment
• A taste of lamb, langoustine, arctic charr, and other Icelandic ingredients
• A central Reykjavík meal that fits into a 90-minute schedule
• A special evening with a welcome cocktail and a chef-led presentation
• A restaurant option that feels different from standard Icelandic dining

I would think twice if you want a quiet, slow meal with no performance. I would also compare prices if you are mainly interested in one excellent local dish rather than a seven-course menu.

Families, couples, and small groups are likely to get the most from the shared spectacle. Solo diners can still enjoy it, but the format is naturally social because the cooking happens in front of the table.

Practical booking advice

The experience offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful in Iceland, where weather can disrupt plans and city schedules can shift.

Check the available starting times before you book. The listed duration is 1.5 hours, but you should still give yourself room around the reservation if you plan a lighthouse walk or another activity.

Because the northern lights cannot be guaranteed, keep your expectations focused on dinner. In winter, look at the sky and local conditions after the meal, but do not treat this as an aurora tour.

Should you book this Reykjavík dinner?

Book it if you want Icelandic ingredients served with a strong visual performance. The fire show, the generous seven-course menu, the welcome sake cocktail, and the central location make this a good choice for a memorable evening.

I would especially choose it for a special occasion or for a night when you want an activity that requires no separate sightseeing plan. At $120, it is not a bargain meal, but it offers more than food alone.

Skip it if you prefer a low-cost local restaurant or a quiet dinner. For everyone else, Flame gives you a fun way to try Icelandic lamb, langoustine, fish, beef, and skyr in one sitting, with the added pleasure of watching the chef cook right in front of you.

FAQ

Where does the teppanyaki experience take place?

You check in at Flame Restaurant and Bar in Reykjavík. The restaurant is in a modern glass building area in the city center, about 200 meters from Höfði House and near Fosshotel Reykjavík.

How long does the experience last?

The dinner lasts about 1.5 hours.

What food is included?

The seven-course sample menu includes Icelandic beef carpaccio, tempura Icelandic langoustine with homemade lava sauce, Japanese rice, fresh vegetables, Icelandic arctic charr with teriyaki sauce, free-range Icelandic lamb with pepper sauce, and blueberry skyr yogurt.

Is a drink included?

Yes. The experience includes a welcome sake cocktail or a similar beverage.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included, so you make your own way to Flame Restaurant and Bar.

Can I see the northern lights during the experience?

You may have a chance to look for the northern lights at a nearby lighthouse by the sea in winter. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, and the instruction is provided in English.