Street food in Vienna

I haven't been in Vienna for about 7 years, but I really enjoy the Naschmarkt. It is fun walking past all the stalls and there is take away food and if I recall correctly, some sit down places. I also love to take in the art deco painting and the surrounding buildings.

I've made note of some sausage stands around Vienna for my upcoming trip. If you search "Sausage Stand" on Google Maps zoomed into Vienna there are many that come up, such as Bitzinger Sausage Stand near the Opera House and Wiener Würstl near St. Stephen's Cathedral.

What I've done is created a saved folder on Google Maps "Vienna Food" and pinned various options, so presumably if we're out and about and hungry I can pull up my phone and see if there's anything in particular nearby that I thought looked good.

Here some notes about fast food traditions in Vienna.

The first McDonalds in Vienna opened in 1977. Before that fast food did not exist in the big variety as it now does. Additionally, approximately until the late 1960s, eating outside on the streets or in parks was considered as inappropriate behavior.

The oldest, most likely the very first, now traditional, fast food in Vienna was invented more than 120 years ago and is served ever since more or less unchanged (and eaten inside). If you see a place called Trześniewski, you should pop into and give it a try.

A Polish immigrant bearing that unpronounceable name created these little rectangular pieces of brown bread covered with 30+ different spreads. I love it, although no all flavors.
Here you can see the pictures: https://www.trzesniewski.at/shop/broetchen

Usually people eat 3 or 4 pieces and drink a Pfiff Bier (a "whistle of beer", 125 ml or 4 fl.oz.).

Although this the oldest fast food in Vienna, it is not the most popular, because it is considered as "upper-class" fast food. Ordinary people, in former times blue-collar workers, but now practically everybody, go for different variants of sausages offered at snack stands everywhere in the city.

Their offerings are closely watched by the locals, discussed in newspapers, and ranked and rated in lists. To get an overview watch this short video (having English subtitles and commentary), in which a renowned chef of a famous restaurant is glossing this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jMdLfZ7sDk

I was at Naschmarket today. There are more sit down places now than stands. But there are a few.

They seem to be more spread out over the city.

Of course, there is the famous Wurstelstand zum Hohnen Markt. And the chain Leberkase Pepi with a few locations around the city....and my lunch yesterday.

After reading about sausage stands, I wondered if Austria has Curry Wurst, or is that just a German thing?
I had it a few years ago in Germany and enjoyed it and I wouldn't mind getting some more.
Do you know of any places that have it in Vienna?

Thank You,
Mark

Googling "currywurst vienna" brings up many options.

Great, thanks for the info. I Didn't know it was one word.

Yes, you can find Currywurst in Vienna. Not as many places as say Berlin but you can find it.

I had sausages today and one of the options was Currywurst.

I suggest trying the Kasekrainer. That's sausage with cheese inside.

As said, Currywurst is typical (north) German. Typical German habits, e.g. language, food, drinks, behavior, are not well valued in Austria, especially not in Vienna.

Currywurst is a completely tasteless sausage without its sauce, which makes the difference between the offerings.

Given the local variety of sausages in Vienna there is absolutely no reason to eat Currywurst here.

In the same vein, Vienna being the city of coffee, every local prefers a café over Starbucks.

Street food as I think you are imagining, hasn't really caught on in Vienna. You won't find food trucks or meals to go so easily as Viennese really like to sit down and enjoy a meal.

That said, Vienna does have an established culture of Würstelstands, which are everywhere in the city. The classic choice is a Käsekrainer (don't even ask for a currywurst here). In addition to the Würstelstands, you will find Kebab/Döner stands also everywhere, which also serve pizza typically. Some are better than others. Noodle stands are also very popular now and also pretty much everywhere.

For a quick lunch on the go, most Viennese go to a bakery for a sandwich. Anker, Strock, Der Mann and BackWerk are some of the most common. Most grocery stores also have good items to go.

If you want to be a bit fancier, then perhaps check out the Kaiserschmarrn to go from Demel, gourmet to go options from Billa Corso at Hohermarkt, great Vienna boxed items at Schachtelwirt, dumplings from Ballroom1010 or o.m.k1010.

Of course there are the markets - you can get good falafel from Naschmarkt.

Rick mentioned the sausage stands in Vienna in the newsletter this week https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/wining-and-dining-in-vienna

This discussion brings back great memories of my first visit to Vienna almost 40 years ago. Weisswurst and Gösser beer for lunch, purchased at a wurst wagen in the shadow of Stephansdom. Yum!

Thanks, Mary, that was a good read. I have to see if I can get to Demel to try the chocolate.

For fast meals when you are on the run in Vienna, I recommend Billa grocery stores. They have a wide variety of quick things to eat from hot food by the pound to a great variety of good pre-made sandwiches. The typical grocery store in Europe maybe has 3 or 4 sandwiches to choose from, Billa maybe has 20 sandwiches or more to choose from. If you get a coke, you can also get a cup of ice from the coffee shop area. I frequented the one on Neuer Markt. This one has tables and chairs inside and outside.

I recommend Billa grocery stores. ... you can also get a cup of ice from the coffee shop area. I frequented the one on Neuer Markt. This one has tables and chairs inside and outside.

The big grocery store chains have one or two "luxury" outlets in Vienna. Billa on Hoher Markt (or Spar at Schottengasse) are of this kind. Don't expect the service described at regular stores.

Not sure if this counts, but I saw "Leberkas-Pepi Wien Operngasse" on a YouTube video I was watching. https://maps.app.goo.gl/KqLinHZozLmA4w5V6

What you want is an "Imbiss" or snack van. They are all over the place. Also in Vienna the coffee shops serve a lot of the same purpose. Open face sandwiches are a big deal.

Lebergas Pepi are a chain of places that serve "Lebergas"--similar to bologna but thicker sliced and warm. This chain has a choice of numerous types with different meats and ingredients. It's usually served as a sandwich on a semmel (roll).

Think of it as Viennese fast food.

The one mentioned above is the location near the Opera House.

Leberkas-Pepi is the #1 for Leberkäse in Vienna. There are only two outlets, a small one in Operngasse (as mentioned above) which has only about 10 variants, and the bigger one (located in main train station) offering up to 20 different flavors.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jf87UeNTebM65QUx7

wmt1, thanks, I've bookmarked both.