Zum Scharfen René: Where Street Food Meets Craftmanship
René Kachlir, founder of the renowned Viennese sausage stand Zum Scharfen René, has become a local culinary icon at Schwarzenbergplatz, serving award-winning sausages, homemade curry sauces, and some of Vienna’s hottest chili creations to loyal regulars, night owls, and curious visitors. With a passion for authentic Austrian street food and quality craftsmanship, René has now brought the beloved flavors of his Falstaff-acclaimed stand into people’s homes, carefully refining each product in collaboration with local producers to offer top-quality Würstel and sauces for cooking and grilling at home. DeliveryRank features an exclusive interview.
Vom Scharfen René offers proprietary “Würstl” made with its own recipes and special spices. How did you develop your signature sausage recipes, and what makes them stand out in terms of flavor and quality?
Vom Scharfen René is not the outcome of a fleeting idea, but the culmination of a lifelong devotion to honest food and traditional craftsmanship. My journey began in the world of gastronomy in the early 1990s, working in renowned restaurants—from classic Viennese establishments to international fine dining venues. Yet my true ambition lay elsewhere: I wanted to take Austria’s beloved Würstel and reimagine it, elevating it to a standard worthy of both tradition and culinary excellence.
The real beginning took place at Vienna’s iconic Naschmarkt, where I spent countless hours experimenting, tasting, and perfecting what would eventually become our signature recipes. The market became my creative workshop, teaching me how to unite heritage with innovation—to craft Würstl that evoke familiarity while surprising the palate with depth and boldness.
Today, our sausages reflect more than two decades of experience, passion, and relentless pursuit of quality. We work exclusively with premium regional meat and develop our own spice blends, constantly refined to perfection. The result is a product deeply rooted in Austrian culinary tradition, yet uniquely expressive and full of character.
Your product line includes homemade curry sauces alongside sausages. How do you approach pairing your sauces and Würstl for an optimal taste experience, and what led you to introduce sauces into your offering?
I have always felt that a truly exceptional sausage deserves a sauce of equal quality. That belief made the creation of our own homemade curry sauces a natural evolution of the brand. For us, it’s never just about adding a condiment—it’s about designing a sauce that enhances the Würstel, highlighting its flavor rather than overwhelming it.
Each sauce is crafted with the same precision and care that goes into our sausages, developed to complement rather than compete. From delicately mild varieties to fiery chili blends for the adventurous, our range reflects both balance and boldness. By introducing sauces, we found a new avenue for creativity and were able to offer our customers a complete, refined, and memorable taste experience.
You’ve expanded your reach such that your products are now available in over 400 Billa and Billa Plus stores across Vienna and Lower Austria. What operational challenges and strategies have allowed you to scale from a stand to widespread retail distribution?
When I opened my first Würstelstand at Schwarzenbergplatz in 2005, I could never have imagined that one day our products would be found across Vienna and Lower Austria. Yet through hard work, determination, and unwavering passion, that vision gradually became reality. Today, our Würstl and sauces are available in more than 400 Billa and Billa Plus stores.
The path to this point was anything but easy. As demand increased, maintaining our high standards became our greatest challenge. We had to refine our production processes, build reliable partnerships, and ensure that—despite the growth—we never compromised on the soul and character of our products.
Our philosophy remains clear and uncompromising: growth is welcome, but never at the expense of quality. Every bite should evoke the same feeling as it did on the very first day at the stand—authentic, fresh, and full of flavor.
On your site, you recommend enhancing the flavor of your sausages by simmering them in a clear beef broth before grilling. How have such cooking tips shaped customer perception, and do you see them as part of educating consumers about the “right” way to enjoy your products?
For me, enjoying a Würstl is far more than simply eating – it is an experience. That’s why I enjoy sharing small but meaningful preparation tips, such as briefly simmering the sausages in clear beef broth before grilling.
These subtle details elevate both flavor and texture, and they demonstrate the care and thought we put into every product. More importantly, they create a deeper connection with our customers. They see that we’re not merely selling food – we’re sharing passion, craftsmanship, and a way of enjoying Würstl the way it was truly intended.
As a brand that balances food craftsmanship with e-commerce and physical presence, how do you maintain quality, packaging, and logistics—especially for deliveries and regional in-store placements—so that your Würstl and sauces arrive fresh and intact?
Quality is the cornerstone of everything we do. Whether our products are served at the stand, placed on supermarket shelves, or delivered through online orders, they must always meet the same uncompromising standard. We use carefully selected packaging to preserve freshness and protect each item in transit, and we collaborate with reliable logistics partners to ensure fast delivery and perfect condition upon arrival.
Every step—from production and cold-chain handling to shelf presentation—is meticulously planned. This is how we guarantee that our Würstl and sauces reach our customers exactly as intended: fresh, full of flavor, and of exceptional quality.
If you would like to find out more about René Kachlir, please visit https://vomscharfenrene.at/