Summer may have taken a short break in Vienna, but what better way to recapture that holiday feeling than with a plate of Asian street food? Asia Pavillon delivers exactly that. The restaurant channels the lively charm of street food stalls across Asia. Right down to the small, slightly uncomfortable plastic chairs that make it all feel delightfully authentic.
The only difference? It’s all indoors. With no terrace in sight, Asia Pavillon is the perfect spot to escape a rainy day while still indulging in bold, travel-inspired flavors.
indoors @Asia Pavillon
second room @Asia Pavillon
The food is distinctly Chinese, so the name Asia Pavillon is a bit misleading. There’s nothing else from the continent on the menu, which is fine by me. It’s always better to stick to what you know best. Since the focus here is street food, I opted for starters and smaller dishes, though the menu also offers main courses, so there’s something for everyone.
I went with Kou Shui Ji, a cold marinated chicken leg (bones included) served with garlic, coriander, and spring onions. The presence of bones instantly brought back memories of a duck dish I once had in Quy Nhon, Vietnam. So far, so authentic.
Kou Shui Ji @Asia Pavillon
The chicken was juicy and tender, served with a surprisingly delicious chili-peanut sauce that hadn’t been mentioned on the menu. Some of the smaller bones were soft enough to crunch through, while the larger ones I left aside.
Interestingly, my plate looked almost identical to the Liang Fen my friend ordered. Cold mung bean noodles topped with cucumber, coriander, and a rich sesame-peanut paste. I gave the noodles a try, and they had a pleasantly earthy, bean-like flavor. The sauce, unsurprisingly, was the same as the one on the chicken—and just as satisfying.
Liang Fen @Asia Pavillon
My second dish was Yu Bing, steamed fish cake with spring onions. Served in a bamboo steamer, the surprise hit the moment the lid came off. It didn’t look like much—certainly not what I expected. Pale and slightly soggy-looking, it resembled thin slices of wet dough more than anything else. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving. The fish cake was delicious—especially when paired with the soy-ginger sauce on the side. A perfect reminder that you really shouldn’t judge food by its appearance. That said, I’m still wondering what happened to the spring onions. They were nowhere to be found on the plate.
Yu Bing @Asia Pavillon
My friend was craving tofu and went for the Zha Dou Fu, deep-fried tofu served with peanut sauce. It arrived with a beautifully rich golden color, and the portion looked absolutely massive at first glance. But the bowl had a hidden divider inside, topped with a modest amount of sauce. It was definitely not peanut, though still tasty. Just not nearly enough of it. The tofu itself would’ve benefited from being cut into smaller, bite-sized cubes; the oversized pieces were a bit unwieldy. After the second bite, the lack of sauce started to show—the dish turned bland fast, which was a shame given its promising start.
Zha Dou Fu @Asia Pavillon
Last but not least, she ordered the Gyoza, here called Shu Cai Jiao. These vegetarian dumplings came filled with glass noodles, carrots, and cabbage. Unlike the usual pan-fried versions, these didn’t get the full potsticker treatment and arrived with just a faint roasting tan on the bottom. Maybe the kitchen was in a rush? Still, my friend enjoyed them. Since dumplings are a staple for her at just about any Asian restaurant, I’ll assume they were solid. In my opinion the lack of a golden hue at the bottom made them not particularly memorable.
Shu Cai Jiao aka Gyoza @Asia Pavillon
The restaurant was fairly busy while we were there, with a high turnover of tables. Which makes sense, as the plastic chairs and overall setup aren’t exactly made for lingering. But in my opinion, the kitchen delivers. It’s definitely a spot I’d like to return to and explore more of the menu. Yours, Pollybert
Asia Pavillon
1030 Wien, Favoritenstrasse 1
Tel: +43 1 9413133
Mon-Sat: 11:30-22:30
https://www.asia-pavi.at/
