Farewell to Maschu Maschu: Viennese cult restaurant closes after 23 years!

Farewell to Maschu Maschu: Viennese cult restaurant closes after 23 years!

The Viennese gastronomy scene has to accept a bitter loss: the esteemed oriental restaurant “Maschu Maschu” will close after 23 years. The two locations, one in the 7th district and the other in downtown Vienna, are open until December 13th. Operator Avi Yosfan said goodbye to his customers in an emotional video message on Instagram and regretted that the business had no longer been profitable in recent years. “Maschu Maschu” made oriental cuisine popular in Vienna with its pita and falafel and is considered a gastronomic institution, especially in the Neubau district, where it was a popular place to stay for many years. On the restaurant's website, Yosfan thanked his employees and guests for their support over the past few years.

The story of “Maschu Maschu” begins in the 1990s, when Yosfan opened the first branch at Rabensteig 8. A few years later, the second location followed on the corner of Neubaugasse and Lindengasse. Over the years, the restaurant has contributed significantly to the revival of oriental cuisine and made falafel trendy in the city. But despite its historical value and great popularity, the financial challenges in recent years could not be overcome, which ultimately led to its closure, as the Kurier reports.

Another setback for the catering industry

At the same time, another well-known oriental restaurant in Vienna, the restaurant chain “La Roche”, was faced with serious financial problems. The “Tadros Gastronomie KG” behind the chain has filed for bankruptcy and proceedings have been opened. Locations in Ottakring and one on Margaretenstrasse are affected. However, the restaurant in Margareten remains open for the time being. The corona crisis was already a hard blow for the company, and the extreme inflation in purchasing ultimately led to the economic collapse headtopics reported. Despite good value for money and generous portions, the concept was not financially viable.

Such news is currently circulating through the city and shows how much Viennese gastronomy is struggling with challenges. The loss of the two popular restaurants will certainly have a big impact on guests and lovers of oriental cuisine.

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