Description: This iconic dish consists of breaded and fried veal or pork, typically served with potato salad or lingonberry jam. It’s a must-try when visiting Vienna, the birthplace of this beloved dish.
Where to Try: Figlmüller (a famous schnitzel spot in Vienna).
2. Sachertorte
City: Vienna
Description: A decadent chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam, covered in a rich chocolate glaze. The Sachertorte is a symbol of Vienna’s pastry culture.
Where to Try: Hotel Sacher (the original place where Sachertorte was created) or Demel for a similar treat.
3. Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel)
City: Vienna & Salzburg
Description: A classic Austrian dessert made of thin layers of dough filled with apples, cinnamon, raisins, and sugar. It’s often served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and a side of whipped cream.
Where to Try: Café Central in Vienna or Café Tomaselli in Salzburg.
4. Tafelspitz
City: Vienna
Description: A traditional Austrian boiled beef dish, usually served with horseradish, apple sauce, and potato pancakes. It’s hearty and comforting, often seen as a royal dish in Vienna.
Where to Try: Plachutta (a famous spot for Tafelspitz in Vienna).
5. Kärntner Kasnudeln
City: Klagenfurt (Carinthia)
Description: These are delicious dumplings filled with a mixture of cheese, potatoes, and herbs. Often served with a side of melted butter or a creamy sauce.
Where to Try: Local restaurants in Klagenfurt, particularly around the Carinthian region.
6. Tiroler Gröstl
City: Innsbruck (Tyrol)
Description: A hearty, rustic dish of fried potatoes, onions, bacon, and leftover meat, often topped with a fried egg. This is a popular comfort food in the Tyrol region.
Where to Try: Gasthof Weisses Kreuz in Innsbruck.
7. Wiener Würstchen (Vienna Sausages)
City: Vienna
Description: These sausages are often served with mustard and bread and are typically eaten as a quick snack or meal in Vienna.
Where to Try: The iconic Zum Schwarzen Kameel or at any of Vienna’s many street food stalls.
8. Salzburger Nockerl
City: Salzburg
Description: A fluffy, sweet soufflé made with egg whites, sugar, and vanilla, baked to a golden perfection. It’s a great dessert to enjoy in Salzburg, where the dish originated.
Where to Try: Café Konditorei Fürst in Salzburg.
9. Striezel
City: Vienna & Linz
Description: A sweet, braided bread often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack. Sometimes it’s filled with poppy seeds, nuts, or raisins.
Where to Try: Local bakeries in Linz or Vienna, such as Bäckerei Felber.
10. Brettljause
City: Graz (Styria)
Description: A traditional Styrian platter consisting of cured meats, cheeses, pickles, bread, and regional specialties. It’s perfect for a casual, light meal.
Where to Try: Any traditional tavern or heuriger (wine tavern) in Graz.
11. Eierschwammerl (Chanterelle Mushrooms)
City: Vienna & Salzburg
Description: These golden chanterelle mushrooms are highly prized in Austrian cuisine and are often served with cream sauces or in a variety of dishes.
Where to Try: Local restaurants during the mushroom season, especially in Salzburg and Vienna.
12. Marillenknödel (Apricot Dumplings)
City: Wachau Valley
Description: A sweet dessert made of dumplings filled with fresh apricots, dusted with sugar, and served with melted butter and breadcrumbs. A local delicacy in the Wachau Valley, famous for its apricots.
Where to Try: Small local eateries in the Wachau Valley.
13. Backhendl
City: Vienna & Salzburg
Description: Fried chicken, often served with a side of potato salad. It’s a popular dish in Austrian beer gardens and family restaurants.
Where to Try: Gasthof Pöschl in Vienna or Café Tomaselli in Salzburg.
