There are many Asian restaurants in Vienna that have disappointed me. They play it too safe accommodating western tastes with their cooking. One restaurant I do however like is On - a fusion restaurant in my home district of Margareten. This is an original fusion restaurant presided over by master chef Simon Xie Hong that melds Chinese cuisine with traditional Austrian cooking and food products. It is nothing but creative and if On occasionally misses on one of its unique dishes, more often than not (as one says in English) they hit it out of the park. On is a restaurant that could be successful in many of the best "foodie" cities around the world.
A recent meal was excellent. I began with a sauerkraut cooked with tofu and greaves. It had a nice spicy undercurrent. Whoever would have thought such an unlikely combination could work so tastily? The next course was equally brilliant - a Gan Guo with Mangalitza. Wow, this dry pot with the popular Hungarian pork really earned the spotlight. A smooth Nero d'Avola wine was the perfect accompaniment to this mélange of flavors. Oh and did I mention the meal begins with complimentary breads, shrimp chips, and a special hors d'oevre. Come hungry to this restaurant!
Now if the food wasn't enough on its own, let me add that On has a very nice Schanigarten as well as one of the most charming Gastgärten (courtyard dining) in all of Vienna. On a warm summer evening, dining in the bi-level Gastgarten is magical. Chef owner Simon Xie Hong has three other very fine establishments in Vienna's 5th, 6th, and 7th districts. But his first restaurant - On in the middle of the narrow Wehrgasse - will always be a serious food lover's destination! read more