Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur facts for kids
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The flagship stand in Tryggvagata
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| Industry | Street food |
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| Founded | 1937 in Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Area served
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Reykjavík |
| Products | Hot dogs |
| Owner | Guðrún Kristmundsdóttir |
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur means "The Town's Best Hot Dogs" in Icelandic. It's a famous small chain of hot dog stands. You can find them in Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland.
History of the Hot Dog Stand
This hot dog chain has been open since 1937. The very first stand was set up on Austurstræti street. This was right in the center of Reykjavík. The current owner, Guðrún Kristmundsdóttir, is the granddaughter of the founder.
In the 1960s, the main stand moved to Tryggvagata. This new spot is across from the Harpa Concert Hall. It's still the main location today.
In August 2004, former United States president Bill Clinton visited the stand. He was in Iceland for a UNICEF meeting. This visit made the hot dog stand very famous. It started appearing in many travel guidebooks about Iceland.
Two years later, in August 2006, a British newspaper called The Guardian chose Bæjarins Beztu as the best hot dog stand in Europe. Today, it is popular with both tourists and local people. There are three more locations in Reykjavík. On a busy day, they sell over a thousand hot dogs!
What Makes Their Hot Dogs Special?
Bæjarins Beztu sells hot dogs made mostly from lamb. They also include some pork and beef. The hot dogs are served in a bun.
You can choose from different toppings:
- ketchup
- sweet mustard
- remoulade (a creamy sauce)
- crisp fried onions
- raw onion
Many customers like to get "eina með öllu". This Icelandic phrase means "one with everything." As of May 2022, a hot dog cost 600 krónur. This was about €4.20.
Famous Visitors
Many famous people have visited this hot dog stand. In 2004, former US president Bill Clinton ordered a hot dog. He asked for only mustard on it. This was seen as a very unusual request at the time. People still talk about it today!
Other well-known visitors include:
- Metallica singer James Hetfield
- Actor Charlie Sheen
- Reality TV star Kim Kardashian
The main stand was also shown on the travel TV show No Reservations. This show was hosted by Anthony Bourdain. South Korean pop idols Go Won and Olivia Hye from the group Loona have also visited.
Author and YouTube personality John Green talked about the stand on his podcast The Anthropocene Reviewed. He also wrote about it in his book, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet. He visited the stand in 2008.
