Hongmei Asia Restaurant — Restaurant in Zell am See

In a picturesque place like Zell am See, I had hoped to find a taste of home at this Chinese restaurant — instead, it turned out to be a spectacular disaster of “fake Chinese food.”

Each dish may have had a different name on the menu, but what arrived at the table was almost always the same: identical side ingredients, identical sauces, identical blandness. It felt as if the entire kitchen was built around a single stir-fry mix used for every dish.

As for the flavor — well, let’s just say it was clearly “customized” for foreign tourists. There’s nothing authentic about it, and even the most basic layering of taste was missing. It honestly made me wonder if the chef trained in a fast-food franchise rather than in Chinese cuisine.

What left an even worse impression was the owner’s attitude. Warm smiles and small talk for foreign guests, but when it came to us — fellow Chinese — we were met with cold stares, zero acknowledgment, and the bare minimum of service. This kind of double standard was more disappointing than the food itself.

And to top it all off, they asked us to pay by cash. In 2025, in Austria, even mountain huts accept cards — so one can only guess why this place insists on cash. I suspect the reason has more to do with taxes than “technical issues.”

All in all: disappointing food, awkward service, and a frustrating experience. If you’re looking for real Chinese food in Austria, do yourself a favor and skip this place. It might work for people who’ve never had Chinese food before, but if you have even a shred of expectation, this place will...

Cute Chinese restaurant with some Thai dishes. The waitresses and the waiter were very polite, we didn't have to wait long for the food. We had lychee juice topped with tab water (3.8€) and for starters a sweet sour soup (4.5€), that was oke at best. The food is served in a traditional Chinese manner, it's placed in the middle of the table and you take what you like. Watch out when you get your plates, they're hot! As main dishes we went for the beef with mushrooms and bamboo (13.5€) and because everyone in the reviews was recommending the duck, the crispy duck with soy sprouts (14.5€) and a portion of fried noodles (5.1€). All main dishes are served with a portion of rice, so we had a little bit too many side dishes 🫣 The beef was nice and tender, we were a little confused by the name and the actual dish we got. We were expecting more mushrooms and less other vegetables. The duck was soft and crispy the soy sprouts could have used some more spices as they tasted kinda boring. There was a sauce for the duck but it also wasn't that aromatic like many authentic Chinese restaurants offer. It seems like the chef was trying to please the European taste instead of focusing on the roots of the kitchen. When I go to a restaurant I expect authentic food, and not something adjusted to the taste of the country of residency. Sorry for being that harsh, overall we had a wonderful time and the food was good after all! Glad to...

I recently had lunch at Hongmei Asian Restaurant, and overall, it was a pleasant experience with a few notable points. After our meal, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a complimentary glass of a warm, Bokbunja-like (Korean raspberry wine-style) drink, which was a lovely touch.

For our lunch special, we ordered the Curry Chicken with Naan and the Kung Pao Chicken. As Austrian cuisine tends to be quite salty, we found the dishes at Hongmei to be a bit on the salty side for our taste.

The staff were generally friendly, and the restaurant itself was spacious and clean. The interior design was excellent, featuring appealing brown and wood tones that created a comfortable ambiance.

Additional Details & Tips They accept card payments, and the restrooms were clean. Parking is available, which is a big plus. To find it, head down the alleyway right next to the restaurant, towards the Haidvogl building, and the parking will be on your left. The restaurant entrance shares an entrance with the luxury apartments.

In summary, Hongmei Asian Restaurant offers a clean and spacious environment with friendly service and a thoughtful complimentary drink. While the saltiness of the food was a minor drawback for us, it's still a good option if you're looking for Asian cuisine...