By Ty Malcolm
In a country where drink refills cost money and you don't have a meal plan, sometimes it seems daunting, trying to budget for food. If you aren't cooking for yourself, here's where to eat in Vienna when you're on a budget! For reference: for every €10 you throw in 2016, you are paying between $11 and $12.
DER WIENER DEEWAN
This has to be #1 on the cheap eats list, because it's free. Well... almost. You pay whatever you want! At this Pakistani buffet restaurant in the 9th district, only drinks have a set price. The food consists of several chicken, beef, and vegetarian options to put on rice or bread. You can go back for as many plates as you want! Since I usually order a drink besides water, I hand over a €10 bill and just say "Danke" (German for "thanks," but Austrian code for "I don't need any change back"). But in theory, you could drink water and eat the buffet and pay €2 or €3. But the food is so good, and the staff is so friendly, you won't want to short-change anyone! Great area downstairs if you have a large group.
PIZZERIA MAFIOSI
My #2 is a pizzeria tucked away in the 15th district, where I live. I found it on a "Map of Vienna for young and clever people" we were given at registration. The cheapest pizza is €3.50, the most expensive maybe €5. Each of these pizzas can feed two people, no problem. If you have friends that only take a slice or two, maybe you could feed 3 or 4 -- seriously! Drinks are also on level for Vienna -- €10 will cover two people, no problem. I really enjoyed the pizza, and they also have space for larger groups.
SPAR
This store, whose name literally means "save," is something I would compare to a much smaller Whole Foods on the WU campus. It comes in so clutch when I get out of class and need to eat quickly before orientation. You can walk in, get in a short line, and get a mozzarella/tomato focaccia toasted in front of you. Grab a drink from the shelf (there must be 100 different options!) Then you walk over to the automated check-outs and wave your Austrian bank card at the machine and it takes off €3 and you are on your way! No hassle, no waiting 20 minutes for your slice of Whole Foods Pizza... it's perfect. You can also build a sandwich with some of their assorted meats, cheeses, and breads, all cut/baked in-house! No space to eat inside though - sit at one of the many tables, benches, or sculptures on the WU campus.
Various Bakeries
This tip was given to me very early on - getting breakfast and drinking coffee at the fancy Viennese cafés too frequently will blow through your budget! Take it down a notch and check out some of the bakery chains to be found around the city. Less seating, no newspapers, no waiters in tuxedos - these are the trade-offs to get a better priced meal in the morning. The pastries at these establishments will likely still be fresher than what you're used to in Washington DC, and might even be cheaper! In the afternoon, many also offer flatbread pizzas and various melts alongside the croissants and bread. Popular chains are Ströck and Der Mann and Aida.
Various Street Restaurants
Like GW students looking for food trucks outside Kogan, the Viennese are never too far from "street food." In Vienna, there is an Imbiss (food stand) for every type of cuisine - Italian, Turkish, Chinese, and of course traditional Austrian food. The Imbiss closest to my dorm is called OKAY PIZZA, which definitely gave us a laugh when we walked by. As if to add to the...charm... most of the dishes they advertise are Turkish dishes like kebap, and döner. It's like €3 for a good sized chicken döner, with whatever toppings you want. If they ask, "zum Mitnehmen?" say yes - you want it to-go! It's a perfect mobile snack for when you're on the move in the city. Yep, really: I'm advising you to order Turkish food from a street stand called OKAY PIZZA.
So in conclusion, even if you didn't prepare your own food (which will almost always be cheapest), you could still get along fine in Vienna with €100 - €150 per week if you ate at places like this.
Thanks for reading!