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"Must Try" Food Places in Vienna

Food in Vienna

Okay, this is something I find mandatory, knowing that I have lived in Austria for almost 2 years now. I know with my love of food, cooking and travelling, I confirm myself as quite trust-able in my judgement when it comes to food. To me, when you are travelling, or eating out, it is not just about the taste that makes the food great. It s also about the price, portion, freshness and the most important is the “localness” or “trueness” of that food or how that food should be presented in the way its place of origin would present it. Even if you are already at the local place, you sure know if something looks touristy. That’s why; I always avoid eating at big restaurant, with English menu (in non-English speaking countries) or pictures displayed, because they tend to be pretentious. Also when eating street food, you can expect authenticity quality with less price, but doesn’t mean you just pick any pizza slice or order any kebab that could probably taste “meh”. You have to have some TASTE! and don’t be lured by cheap price, and end up being full from food that is not even tasty. Eating is something you should be grateful for, and appreciate; the process of how food comes from the farm until it can come on a plate in front of you.

Anyway, here I would like to share the list of places and foods that I have tried, in and around Vienna with great, unique, qualified food. Of course, I have visited some of them more than once so I highly recommend these to you. The places in this list are just randomly put, not ranked and classified.

1.    Harvest bistrot – Taborstrasse (EUR 7 – 15)
This place serves great vegan food and the menus are not boring. Most of them are actually the vegan version of meat-based dishes, in which they use tofu, soya beans as the substitute. You can dine in order from the menu, and also enjoy their “Sunday brunch”. The brunch is served like buffet with warm soup, salad, rice, curry, cereals, cakes, and other sweets. it cost є7 for a whole plate or є14 for unlimited buffet. To me , this place is special because my boyfriend (before he was mine) tried to fine a nice place where I could eat and enjoy non meat meal. Even noe, each time I come there or just pass by, I feel the sweetness of this place.

2.    Joseph brot – Landstrasse (EUR 10-20)
A perfect place for fancy breakfast, also for their baked goods. I went once to this place when my boyfriend (before he actually was) wanted to take me somewhere out for my birthday and pay for my meal. It was actually a week before my birthday but that time I had to go back to Indonesia for my visa.  The breakfast menu has varieties of breads, jams, cheese, spreads, coffees and teas, also cold cuts.The breads were baked to perfection. on some random days,  I also tried the choco cheese brownie and topfen-golatsch (like a pastry-bread with cream cheese inside), which really cheered me up.

3.    U box kebap and durum – Schwedenplatz (EUR 3 – 7)
This is my most favorite street food in Vienna, just turn left at the U4 exit Schwedenplatz. I come here many, many times when I feel really hungry, or when I dont feel like cooking but just want something huge, cheap but tasty. The Vegetarian kebap is like nothing else in Vienna. You can fork out the veggies and cheese inside because it s abundant. There are also pizzas, hot dogs, that you can get quite cheap but of higher quality compared to other stalls. You can also get a U BOX membership card which I think will get you certain discount.

4.    Berliner Doner – zieglergasse (EUR 3-7)
This is my no.2 kebap place in Vienna. Some people think that this is the best one in town, which I understand why. But the vegetarian one was not as satisfying and very standard, just with little veggies, feta cheese. But I’m pretty sure the non veggie ones are tasty. You can get double chicken, or lamb kebap, rolls, pita. I have been there once, but will definitely come again with friends who are meat eaters, because it s more of a good deal.

5.    That’s Amore – Barichgasse (EUR 6 – 15)
I must say that the pizza here is the one closest, or even resemble exactly to the ones in Italy. Pizzas taste awesome, the dough is chewy and some part a bit burnt, but it s just the wood oven taste that makes them great. If you are really hungry and love cheese, go for “that’s amore” pizza because it has mozzarella and also ricotta inside the crust. But I would go for the simplest tastiest one, which is “margeritha”. Next time, I will just order this one but with double mozzarella. Yummy!



6.    Pizza Mari – Taborstrasse (EUR 6 – 15)
This is the no.2 pizza place in Vienna, and I rank them based on their similarity to the real Italian pizza. This place also bake pizzas in stone oven, and the dough is comparable to the one I had in Milano called  “Fratelli la Bufala”. It was great, you can feel like homemade, down to earth, non-pretentious taste.

7.    L’osteria – Bräunerstraße (EUR 5 – 10)
This is kinda like a chain pizza place which creates pretty generic pizza, and way far from the real Italian/Napoli pizza. But I recommend this place because it has variety of flavours and you can get your pizza with any toppings possible. Nice and various. Also, the pizza id huge (40 cm diameter), so sometime you just cut into parts and exchange it with your friends, so that you can try different tastes. The branch in the first district is really cozy, like a proper expensive dining place while in fact it is not expensive at all.

8.    Schone perle – Taborstrasse/Große Pfarrgasse 2
Very authentic, local, Austrian food. What I like the most is that it is vegetarian friendly, and the portion is quite generous. The first time, I had the quiche with mangold, fetacheese and salad. And my boyfriend had the knoedel, sauerkraut and some beef chops. Check here for many more unique Austrian: taste http://www.schoene-perle.at/gasthaus/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Perle_Speisekarte_26_dt.pdf




9.    Demel – am Hofburg (EUR 4 – 8 for sliced cakes, EUR 20 – 25 in total)
The first cafe/dessert place that I went to in Vienna, and I was kinda satisfied because it is actually one of the top 2 café in Vienna for it Sachertorte (and the other one is Café central, I think). So, besides trying the famous chocolate cake and latte, I also ordered something of the menu called “ Kaiserschmarn”!!! I just heard that it s a great Austria dessert in winter and it is true. It feels like breakfast cause basically it is shredded pancakes with plum sauce. But at Demel, they made it really fresh, warm and special. The place also has a tiny shop at the front where you can get their cookies, chocolates products. When you re in Vienna, it is a must to visit place.




10.  Café dreschler – Naschmarkt, near kettenbrueckengasse (EUR 4 – 20)
Another nice cafe and actually pretty decent. I went there with on a Sunday morning with a friend. It was a comfy place to just sit and chat. I got myself a cup of brauner (just really thick coffee) and a chocolate mousse cake. They also have brunch menu on Sunday, daily lunch specials, breakfast menu, and when I observed the foods that people ordered, they are actually nice. Check out here for more interesting lunches http://www.cafedrechsler.at/en/menu_print.php


11.  Das wieden – favoritenstrasse
Another nice cafe to hang out. I used to spend some days with my classmates from the Deutschkurs to just drink coffee. From mélange, to latte. They also have breakfast and lunch menu which is worth trying. Check out here : http://das-wieden.com/documents/food.pdf

12.  Flugfisch – untere augartenstrasse
I usually don’t go for Chinese food because in Vienna, they mostly have rice, noodle and stir fries which I know I can cook better anyway. But this time, I was so sick and my boyfriend to me here for the set menu. Only for EUR 6.90 you get a soup, sushi, and a main dish (like rice and noodle). you can also order them separately to taste more of their varieties. But I recommend you to go for the set menu!

13.  Santos bar and grill – Taubstumengasse (Eur 7 – 20)
I came and will only come here for the lunch menu deal. For Eur 10 I could get a whole buritto dish, and nachos + dips. Just come between lunch hour (latest at 4 pm) then you can get this cheap deal. There are also stuffs I want to try like enchiladas, fajitas. They alsohave burgers and steaks, and various wine.

14.  Fresco grill – schottentor (EUR 10-20)
Another Mexican place which tasted okay, pretty standard actually, just like when you buy it at the food court. But the menus sound more Texmex, rather than  real Mexican. They have hard and soft tacos, burittos, quasedilla, etc.

15.  Tortillería y Antojitos Mexikanos – leopoldgasse (EUR 8 – 15)
Decent and authentic Mexican food. This is the first place where I could eat buritto and its component in a plate, like a whole meal, and also the cactus. It s pretty tasty. The design of the place is also very Mexican with yellow dominant and piñatas hanging on the ceiling. The cooks are real Latinos. Just look at the photo and you know I could bear Chipotle, salsa and guac in one go!


16.  Duru kebap – Thaliastrasse (EUR 4-9)
The best place for all you can eat breakfast buffet. Oh my,,,I swear I will come here again. The buffet is really cheap and plenty of cheese, salads, spreads, and Turkish tea. They also have warm food like kebap and pide. I just like it because it s cheap and great variety.

17.  Liman restaurant – payergasse (EUR 10-20)
The fine dine in place for proper Turkish food. That time I was so obsessed with Mediterranean food, and before my trip to Istanbul, my boyfriend took me to this place. Turkish food are really pleasing to the eye because they are colorful and plentiful. They have different types of soups, salads, and other appetizers like Dolma (my favorite). And for the main dish we had Antep Ezmesi, and some baked rice dish. Just by reading the menu makes me hungry : http://www.liman-restaurant.at/speisekarte-html/pdf/speisekarte.pdf

18.  Soup and salad – Dresdner strasse (EUR 3 – 7)
This is actually a small place near my uni and I go here couple of times with my friends. They mainly have different types of soup, rice curry, and pastas. The rice curry menus are only few but very healthy. The veggie ones are yellow curry with coconut milk, there is one with chilli and turkey. They also have 50% off everyday starting from 6 pm. Cheap abundant food for hungry students.

19.  Natsu sushi – gumpendorfer strasse(EUR 3-10)
It is to me the one and only place where I want to eat sushi. You may notice that all the items in the menu are 50% off. Yes its true, so enjoy and you can order many types of sushi, tofu, also big meal like noodle, rice and stir fry. But I always come for the sushi and the tofusalat. So worth it!




20.  Zanoni zanoni – lugeck schwedenplatz (EUR 3 – 9)
my one and only ice cream place in Vienna. I lost count on how many times I have been here, especially during summer. Apart from their varieties of ice cream, also tried their ice cups menu. I cant wait to get one too!


21.  Golden harp the irish pub – erdbergstrasse (EUR 7-18)
Pub food on the weekend? there is nothing better than here at Golden harp. The waiter was super friendly that time. I ordered the veggie burger, which was so worth the money when I look at what I got. The patty was fried in perfection, and made of not only potatoes, but some herbs, corns and red beans, plus coleslaw and salad on the side. I like it. They also offer different types of burgers, and finger foods. They also have like a daily lunch menu which is quite inexpensive. Give it a try, guys! http://www.goldenharp1030.at/speisen---getraenke.html

22.  I love veggie burger – Am salzgries 9 (EUR 8-18)
     One special place dedicated to bring out the best flavor in burger for vegetarians. Their burgers taste amazing, and always comes with chips. You can also pick the sauce type, patty (if you want gluten free) and the bun (vollkorn or classic). I tried the Farmhouse burger and the BBQ one, surely I cant wait to try the others. Check here for more flavorful veggie burgers http://www.veggie-burger.at/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SPK_ILVB1010Wien_20160822_web.pdf


24.  Henry’s kitchen – wien mitte (EUR 10-25)
A great Warm food buffet place. It is quite expensive because you pay per grams of the food, but they offer nice taste for those who have been travelling and want to get over aeroplane food taste. There is also salad bar, soups, rice, noodles, curries, and stir fries. One full bown of meal like in the photo costs around EUR 7 and the big one costs EUR 10. It is pretty okay and decent.


25.  Nguyen’s pho house – lechenfelder strasse (EUR 7-20)
Great place for PHO (vietnamese soup noodle) and spring/summer rolls. I like it that there are varieties in curries and the soup flavor, eventhough there s always one type for vegetarians. I recommend this one if you crave for Vietnamese food. check for more here http://www.nguyensphohouse.at/content/NguyensPhoHouse_Speisekarte.pdf

26.  Miznon - Schulerstraße 4 (EUR 7-15)
I went here unexpectedly when I was walking around the city, and I felt hungry, so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. This place is so attractive with many cauliflowers shown at the front window. They have a special menu of a whole grilled cauliflower. The main menu is pita bread with different fillings. So, I ordered the “Ratatouille” and my boyfriend tried the “intimate meat moment” (something called like that). It was simply tasty and  different.

27.  Maly heuriger – grinzing (end of tram 38) (EUR 5-15)
This is where I had my first heuriger experience. Among other heuriger in Grinzing, this one is the best to me. and the best thing is the Austrian atmosphere, if you come in the evening, it s nice to enjoy the sunset while listening to those guys wearing lederhosen and playing accordion. The food are also quite cheap. My favorite one is the knoedel, with asparagus salad. For non-veg one, I think the best if you eat the knoedel with pork belly and a bit of sauce from the pork juice. My favorite drink here, beside the house wine is traubensaft gespritz. So if you want to experience the Austrian village type dining, go to this heuriger. Avoid those that are located in city centre cause they are more expensive and you wont get the feeling.

I will try posting more pics from other places. Hopefully I can find them. Until next time…

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