The story
Vina presents uncompromising Vietnamese cuisine in Graz through the steady direction of the Nguyen family. Robert and Thi Ba Nguyen opened their Kalchberggasse location in late 2023 to share flavors they grew up with. They shortened the country name to capture the essence of their heritage while keeping the Vietnamese kitchen strictly traditional. The main dining room serves everyday classics alongside a separate fine dining area for structured tasting menus. This commitment to straightforward preparation recently drew a 12 point rating from Gault&Millau.
Lemongrass and fresh chilies anchor the Vietnamese cooking tradition here. Guests regularly order Gà Xào Sả Ớt, a stir fried chicken dish that relies on direct heat rather than heavy sauces. The beef variation follows the same method, arriving alongside turmeric rice and jasmine grains. Shrimp cooked with tamarind and slow simmered Pho provide quieter counterpoints to these spicy plates.
The dining room combines contemporary architecture with careful attention to material detail. Architects at INNOCAD layered dark green walls, matte black surfaces, and subtle gold trim throughout the space. A large living plant wall introduces natural movement while translucent curtains partition the floor into quieter zones. This deliberate layout recently secured an International Property Award for leisure interior design.
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Remove a few letters from "Vietnam" and you're left with "Vina". That’s exactly what the name is meant to convey, according to the Nguyen family, who brought Vietnamese culinary culture to Graz with their restaurant Vina—and along with it, the truly spicy dishes. The standout dish (and quite magnificent in its own right) is the Gà Xào Sả Ớt. Translated, it means chicken stir-fried with lemongrass and an abundance of chili peppers. Or the Bò Xào Sả Ớt, featuring beef, served as a fiery curry with turmeric and jasmine rice. Occasionally, they also offer a fine-dining menu featuring dishes not listed on the regular menu. All in all, Vina is definitely a winner. Address: Kalchberggasse 7 8010 Graz, Austria Contact: 0676 5772587 table@vina-restaurant.at https://www.vina-restaurant.at/
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