My Vienna Foodscapade

Vienna had me taking the most steps during my trip, and let me tell you, I also managed to load up on enough calories to fuel those walking escapades!

My first taste of Vienna was the incredible Chicken Schnitzel – a deep-fried chicken breast served with fries and ketchup. Picture this: thinly sliced chicken coated in golden breadcrumbs and fried to perfection. I swapped out the regular potatoes for sweet potatoes because why not? Bonus points for the menu being in German and English, making my life easy. This mouthwatering meal at the Zum Riesenrad Cafe was my warm welcome to Vienna right after a thrilling ride on the Ferris wheel!

For my first breakfast experience in Vienna, I secured a reservation at the iconic Cafe Central. Here’s a pro tip: snag an early booking to beat the crowds and avoid the breakfast queue!

Dating back to 1876, Cafe Central has transformed over the years. Once known as the “University of Chess” for hosting numerous chess masters and a hotspot for writers, it has evolved into a historical coffee house where tourists flock to savour mouthwatering traditional cakes. I saw this lady seriously writing throughout breakfast, regardless of the chitchat around her. The cafe must have inspired her.

I arrived 20 minutes before the café opened and secured a spot among the first ten people for breakfast. The flawless architecture and the vibrant array of cakes on display captivated me. I opted for Rührei mit Schinken, Blattspinat und Kernöl (scrambled eggs with ham, leaf spinach, and pumpkin seed oil). I know it might sound like a lot—I’m almost feeling like a glutton as I write about it. However, it was the perfect hearty breakfast to fuel the over 20,000 steps I was about to embark on. To complement the meal, I washed it down with a glass of water and indulged in a Wiener Melange (Viennese coffee)! Trust me, it was worth it!

Before heading to Vienna, I had read about Tresniewski (pronunciation struggles? Join the club!), known for its petite sandwiches featuring various toppings and egg-based spreads. After visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral, I stopped for a quick energy boost before continuing to the Schonbrunn palace. Faced with an array of options, I sought recommendations from the lady at the counter, and let me tell you, I had no regrets. This is an absolute must-try!

Wiener Schnitzel

Let me tell you about the absolute gem for indulging in the traditional Wiener Schnitzel vom Kalb – the incredibly acclaimed SIXTA restaurant! Now, anyone who knows me knows I’m all about that “good” food. Why bother spending on something that won’t leave you grinning from ear to ear and utterly satisfied? I started my feast with Thunfisch (Tuna, avocado, and seed oil) as an appetizer, setting the stage for what was to come. The Wiener Schnitzel and mixed salad took centre stage as the main course, and let me tell you, it was a culinary masterpiece. The potato and green salad? Pure perfection – the best I’ve ever had. That Schnitzel? was on point! By the time I finished my delightful dinner, those 21,100 steps for the day suddenly didn’t seem so bad.

Kaiserschmarrn

Sounds exotic, right? Meet the traditional, fluffy, and lightly caramelized scrambled pancakes of Vienna. I decided to kick off my morning at Kurkonditorei Oberlaa [Dommayergasse] for breakfast, given its proximity to Schonbrunn Palace and early opening hours. As I enjoyed the pancakes with apple juice, some strange impulse led me to order a dessert. By the time I finished, it felt like I had absorbed so much sugar, and my blood sugar levels were through the roof. The pancakes were good, but despite the worldwide hype for these scrambled pancakes, they didn’t quite make it onto my list of “amazing foods of the world.”

Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel)

While watching the movie “Sachertote,” I couldn’t resist the temptation to try the apple strudel in Vienna, especially after Fanny’s persistent hype and insistence that Karl give it a shot. I visited the Cafe Central once more for a taste of their apple strudel. While it was enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had inundated my system with excess sugar during my Vienna culinary expedition.

Austrian Goulash

Before going to the airport, I embarked on one last culinary adventure with an Austrian meal that had caught my eye online. After placing my order at a restaurant (I’ll keep the name under wraps), I eagerly awaited my dish while sipping my apple juice. When the waiter finally arrived with a plate of stew, I couldn’t help but ask, “Is this it?” to which he responded with a confident “yes.” Curious, I inquired about the accompaniment, and to my surprise, he said, “bread.” My eyeballs were practically popping out of their sockets in disbelief. I pressed further for potatoes or dumplings and got dumplings served. See, in my home country, Nigeria, no one heads to a restaurant for a serving of “bread and stew.” The joke was on me. I couldn’t fathom spending a significant amount on beef stew when I could whip up a finger-licking stew at home for a fraction of the cost. Someone online had painted a picture that left me feeling a tad tricked. The whole incident is so amusing that every time I recall it, I either break into a smile or burst out laughing.

Wrap up

My culinary journey in Vienna was a blast. With only a few days to spare, I couldn’t sample all the highly recommended dishes, but the meals I did try were fantastic—except for the Goulash. I indulged in so much apple juice that it could last a lifetime. The plan is to return to Vienna and make sure to taste the renowned Sachertorte, Spargel, Tafelspitz, and Wiener Wurstel. Despite the exhaustion from all the walking, the food experience made every step and every penny spent on the trip worthwhile.

When you visit Vienna, which meals would you like to experience?