Gastronomic Exploration in Vienna: From Hidden Gems to Supermarket Shopping
Austria This article shares honest dining experiences from various places visited during a trip to Vienna. From a restaurant with a great atmosphere near the Art History Museum to local supermarket shopping and a Korean restaurant, we introduce a diverse gastronomic journey in Vienna.
Burgring 1: A Restaurant with a Special Atmosphere
After visiting the Art History Museum, we visited Burgring 1, which had high ratings, and it boasted a better atmosphere than expected. The cute cutlery wraps were particularly enviable. Here, we ordered beef tartare, fish and chips, and a Pimms cup with cucumber, along with beer. The drink with the refreshing taste of cucumber was highly recommended. The fish and chips were the epitome of crispy on the outside and moist on the inside; the warm fried fish and fries were fantastic with mayonnaise. However, we were disappointed because we ordered the beef tartare without knowing it was raw meat, so it didn’t suit our taste.
BILLA CORSO: Supermarket Shopping and Unexpected Finds
We stopped by the BILLA CORSO supermarket to buy wine and some inexpensive meat. While the sushi was disappointing, the chocolate donuts were surprisingly delicious. We were particularly surprised by the low price and good quality of the pork belly and sausages. We regretted not bringing kimchi and instant rice. The chocolate donuts were so delicious that we bought them again after leaving the supermarket, which was very satisfying.
Eissalon am Schwedenplatz: Gelato Shop Exploration
While enjoying shopping near St. Stephen’s Cathedral, we stopped by a gelato shop despite the chilly weather. Among the many gelato shops, we randomly entered Eissalon am Schwedenplatz and ordered four flavors. We couldn’t understand the meaning of ‘stracciatella G’ marked with a highlighter on the menu, even with a translator, but the flavor we chose by intuition was the best. It was a milk-flavored ice cream with chocolate chips, and the cookie and strawberry flavors did not meet our expectations.
McDonald’s: Satisfying Hunger with a Familiar Taste
We had a simple meal while shopping at McDonald’s, located at the entrance of the city. When we didn’t even have the energy to look for a restaurant, we ordered a Big Mac, Signature New Grill Burger, and mini shrimp fries, which were familiar tastes. As expected, the taste you know is the best. Thanks to the familiar flavors, we were able to comfortably satisfy our hunger.
Kokos: The Majesty of a Highly Praised Korean Restaurant
Although it was far from our accommodation, we visited Kokos Korean Restaurant, drawn by its rave reviews, and it was a place that made us think we were glad we visited. Among the side dishes of kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and seasoned seaweed salad, the kimchi was truly the best ever. While oyster kimchi might be polarizing, it was perfect for my taste. The budae jjigae (sausage stew), which was highly recommended in reviews, was quite spicy, but it had a deep flavor within its spiciness, making it perfect for enjoying with a drink. The owner felt like a tsundere, but there was a subtle warmth in their care.
Vienna Central T (Asia food): Disappointing Buldak Bokkeummyeon
We ordered Buldak Bokkeummyeon (spicy stir-fried chicken noodles) at the Asian food corner in the Vienna Central Station food court. Although the menu was diverse, as Koreans, we couldn’t just pass it by. We also ordered meat dumplings, chicken cheese balls, and shrimp tempura along with the Buldak Bokkeummyeon, but overall, it was a bit greasy and slightly heavy. The Buldak Bokkeummyeon, which we had the most expectations for, was disappointing. It tasted similar to rose spaghetti, with cheese and tomato, making it more creamy than spicy. It was much less spicy than the budae jjigae we had yesterday, and if you’re expecting Buldak, I highly recommend not ordering it. The price was reasonable, but the portion size was small, so the value for money wasn’t great. However, the advantage was being able to taste various menus in small portions.
