Amazing gem in the center of Vienna! After several days of Schnitzel we were ready to branch out…read moretonight and Hao was absolutely perfect! The restaurant is located just opposite the Burggarten, and easy to find with Google maps ( a must for tired travelers.) We were able to make same day reservations and were seated immediately when we arrived. The menu was thorough and informative (and available in both German and English.) We ordered Xiao Long Bao (a favorite) and Crispy chicken noodle soup (to try out the house made noodles which came highly recommended.) The water we ordered came chilled(!!) and I added a pot of Ginseng Ginger tea which was presented beautifully and tasted perfect.
The Xiao Long Bao came in a steamer of 3- perfect for one person, but one more would have been nice for splitting between two people. The taste made up for it though- they were large, filled with juice, meat and flavor, and HOT. Absolutely delicious. Shortly after our soup arrived and it was perfection. The presentation is reminiscent of a Japanese bento box, with several elements each presented separately- great for allowing the diner to personalize the meal. I'm trying to limit grease intake, so having the friend chicken on a separate plate was an unexpected delight, allowing me to enjoy it without it taking over my meal. There was also a small serving of a kimchi/sauerkraut type cabbage dish, and a plate with onions and cilantro to add to your taste.
But the noodle soup is why I'm writing this review. The soup itself was a chicken based broth with the depth of flavor I would expect from a fine dining location. It was rich, silky, and complex. The noodles had the bite that tells you they are fresh not dried- long, perfectly between the thickness of a ramen noodle and an udon noodle, and complimented the broth perfectly. In addition, the soup was filled with fresh, beautiful vegetables-- carrot, bok choy, bean sprouts, broccoli, mushroom, zucchini...
In all honesty, this meal was one I will remember for a very long time. If you are in Vienna, add this to you the TOP of your list.