Hot meals after passport control are rare at KEF T1, and Mathús is one of the few places airside where you can actually sit with a plate of fish or lamb instead of chips and candy.
Mathús sits airside in Terminal 1 after security at Keflavík, with mains regularly pushing into the $$$ bracket and a Google rating around 4.5 stars. Google reviews call out fish of the day, burgers, and Icelandic lamb, so you’re looking at real hot food rather than quick-grab pastries.
Figure on paying more than you would in central Reykjavík: travelers mention burgers and mains that feel expensive even by Iceland standards, and beer or wine can push a simple meal over 5,000–6,000 ISK per person. The tradeoff is you get a proper plate and a seat near the gates instead of eating prepacked snacks at 03:00.
Food quality gets reasonable praise for airport standards: one reviewer liked the fish of the day, others call the burgers “okay,” and lamb dishes show up in several comments. If you care more about something hot before a 6–8 hour long‑haul than about fine dining, this is one of the more realistic options in Terminal 1.
Service is the weak spot in the reviews. Multiple people mention slow tickets and long waits for food during the early-morning departure wave between roughly 05:00 and 08:00, plus tables not being cleared quickly so the dining area can look messy when several flights board at once.
There is a small self‑service setup for water and condiments, mentioned in several Google reviews, which helps if you’re in a rush or sharing plates. Regulars often skip alcohol or share a main to keep the bill sane, then top up with snacks from nearby shops if they’re still hungry.
Tip: Aim for mid‑morning or mid‑afternoon outside the big bank of US and Europe departures if you want a sit‑down meal here without stressing about slow service.