Austrian Food In Vienna: 11 Best Local Dishes & Where to Eat Them

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There is so much amazing food to eat in Austria, it can get difficult to decide what’s really worth trying! That’s why I’ve composed this list of all the best Austrian food in Vienna.

Here are some of the best ways to spend 48 hours in Vienna! If you’re traveling with children, be sure to check out this awesome post on Austria with kids.

To be clear, there is more than one place to eat all of this food. Each place listed in this post has been personally vetted by a travel blogger.

Below, learn all about all the best Austrian food in Vienna!

Würstel

In Austria, there are Würstel stands absolutely everywhere. You can’t avoid them! Honestly, I still dream about the Würstel I had in Vienna… that’s how good it is! It’s truly the best Austrian food in Vienna.

What is Würstel?

Würstel is a sausage made with pork and beef. It’s usually encased in a sheep’s intestine. Würstel is smoked before serving!

Where can you get Würstel in Vienna?

Well… there are many places. I personally recommend getting it at Bitzinger, which is one of the top places to get Würstel in Vienna. There’s a good reason for this! It’s super affordable since nothing is more than €4.

What type of Würstel should I order at Bitzinger?

There are many options of Würstel to try, though I think Kasekrainer is the best. I had it three times during my 48 hours in Vienna… that’s how great it was.

Kasekrainer is a Würstel that’s filled with cheese! Yes, you heard me right. AMAZING CHEESE. You can’t go wrong with that!

At Bitzinger, they even serve your Würstel inside a big baguette that is only cut open on one side. How clever is that? That way, your toppings (they’ll give you ketchup and mustard unless you tell them otherwise) don’t make a huge mess while eating.

You could also get it served without bread. If you choose this option, they’ll chop it up for you and give you little utensils so you can dip them into condiments.

Apfelstrudel

What is apfelstrudel?

Apfelstrudel is just what it sounds like: apple strudel! We have this amazing dessert in the United States, but it tastes even better in Vienna since it originated in Austria.

Apple strudel to me tastes like a top-notch apple pie. It’s apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon covered in a thin pastry crust. Sugar is usually put on top to finish it off. Sometimes the dessert is also served with whipped cream or ice cream.

Where can I try apfelstrudel in Vienna?

There are so many places in Vienna to try apple strudel, the best Austrian food in Vienna, but I personally recommend getting it at the Hofburg Cafe. This cafe is conveniently part of Hofburg Palace.

I had to wait in a short line to get in, but it was well worth it! The apple strudel was served with ice cream and whipped cream and it was decorated so nicely. I couldn’t get enough of it!

Wiener Schnitzel

What is wiener schnitzel?

Wiener schnitzel is made from boneless veal that is breaded and is usually served with a lemon and potato salad. This differs from German schnitzel which is made with pork chops.

Where can I get wiener schnitzel in Vienna?

There are many places all across the city where you can try wiener schnitzel. Just try any local restaurant!

If you’re interested in trying it at the place where I had it, then check out Zum Englischen Reiter in Prater Amusement Park.

I’m sure that this may not be considered the best place to try wiener schnitzel, but it was the best schnitzel that I had in my time traveling Europe, and I tried it quite a few times! It was super affordable too.

No trip to Vienna is complete without trying this, the best Austrian food in Vienna.

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Sachertorte

What is sachertorte?

Sachertorte is a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and an apricot jam filling. It is sometimes served with whipped cream as well, though not always.

It is absolutely divine but can be very filling. I recommend splitting it with a friend as I did! I’m not sure I could’ve sat and had the whole thing on my own because it was quite dense, but I think that makes it so tasty.

Where can I get sachertorte in Vienna?

Just like the apple strudel, I recommend getting sachertorte at the Hofburg Cafe which is part of Hofburg Palace. It was absolutely divine.

If you are interested in getting sachertorte where it was created, then check out Hotel Sacher’s Cafe Sacher, which is said to be the best sachertorte in Vienna. The line there was way too long, so I decided to come to Hofburg Cafe instead. I do not regret my decision!

Many people come to Vienna far and wide to get sachertorte, the best Austrian food in Vienna.

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Schokocroissant

What is schokocroissant?

A schockocroissant is essentially a chocolate-filled croissant. Little do most people know, the croissant was actually invented in Austria – not France! I can’t recommend enough that you try one of these while you’re in Austria.

Where can I get schokocroissant?

There are so many different places where you can get one of these. Just check out any local bakery! The one that I recommend most is Anker, which has multiple locations across the city of Vienna. I visited the one that was near the Prater Amusement Park.

The croissant at Anker is filled with chocolate that tastes like brownie batter. Yes, you read that right. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried before in my life. I wish I had these in Boston, because gosh I miss the taste of them!

Knoedel

What is Knoedel?

A traditional dish in many Central European countries, Knoedel is basically boiled dumplings. They are traditionally made of flour or potatoes and served as a side dish to other traditional dishes such as the Saint Martin Goose in November.

In Austria, Knoedels can also be served as meatballs in a soup, but the true art of Viennese craftsmanship comes when it comes to turning them into deserts.

Filled with soft cheese, jam, apricots, or plums, these are on the menu of almost every Viennese coffee house. It’s the best Austrian food in Vienna.

Where can I get Knoedel?

Our recommendation is to either enjoy them at the atmospheric Landtmann Cafe on the Ringstrasse or to find a branch of the pastry maker Konditorei Oberlaa and enjoy freshly made Knoedel with either plum or apricot. 

If you have more than three days in Vienna, take a trip to Vienna’s 10th district where, at Reumanplatz, the salon Tichy serves Eismarillenknoedel – bread dumplings wrapping and ice-cream core that wraps an actual apricot! Enjoy!

Recommended by Anca from Dream, Book, and Travel. 

Coffee

Why try coffee in Vienna?

Coffee. Liquid gold. A gift from the culinary gods. No matter how you describe it, coffee, cake, and Vienna go hand in hand. There’s a particular twist, a certain regal feeling to having a coffee in Vienna.

The traditional Vienna coffee is a little different from your average latte and should always be served with a side of torte or a tray of petit fours.

Accompanied by a small glass of sparkling water and air-light steamed milk. If you’re more of a long-black fan, never fear that’s always an option too.

Where should I get Coffee in Vienna?

While coffee itself might not be considered a food to try, having coffee in a Viennese coffee house is just one of those odd things you must try at least once in your Vienna visit. The lines are long, you can’t book and the ordering system can be a bit odd but it really is an experience on its own.

The perks of having a coffee at a traditional Vienna coffee house are that no one cares if you’re dining solo, if you want to stay for hours and debate all the world’s problems, or if you want a quick coffee & cake fix.

This is a reflection of how Vienna is the perfect European city for solo travellers. If you’re going to just visit one coffee house in Vienna, then you better make it Cafe Central!

Recommended by Jean from Travelling Honeybird

Marillenknödel

What is Marillenknödel?

Marillenknödel (apricot dumplings) is a sweet Austrian dish made of dough, apricots, and breadcrumbs. The dough is usually made of potatoes or quarks.

Dumplings are formed from the dough and the apricots are wrapped in the dough and then boiled in water. Breadcrumbs and sugar are roasted in a pan with butter. The cooked dumplings are then rolled into the breadcrumbs and topped with powdered sugar.

Often, Marillenknödel is served with sugared breadcrumbs and apricot compote on the side. 

Where can I get Marillenknödel?

The restaurant “Woracziczky” in the 5^th district of Vienna serves delicious Marillenknödel – but only during the apricot season until August. A further great tip for Marillenknödel is the “Knödelmanufaktur”. That’s a restaurant specializing in all kinds of dumplings.

Recommended by Maria from A World of Destinations.

Zwiebelrostbraten 

WHat is Zwiebelrostbraten?

Zwiebelrostbraten is roast beef with onions in gravy; yes, the Viennese love their beef! In the case of this dish inspired by Swabian culture, the meat is fried in a pan and topped with caramelized onion rings. What gives the sirloin its particular flavor is the sauce made from drippings. 

Where can I get Zwiebelrostbraten?

Most traditional Viennese restaurants will serve Zwiebelrostbraten, but for a fully authentic experience, we recommend taking a stroll from the Opera down on Wiedner Hauptstrasse until you reach Cafe Wortner, a neighborhood restaurant that we believe serves some of the best dishes in town.

And if you have not yet decided where to stay in Vienna, this neighborhood is our best tip! We have lived here for ten years now! 

Recommended by Anca from Dream, Book, and Travel.

Käsespätzle

What is Käsespätzle?

Käsespätzle is a traditional dish from the Allgäu region of Bavaria. You can find it in many cities across Austria and Switzerland as well, although in Germany it is rarely found further north than in Frankfurt or Mainz. It is one of my favourite foods, but it is a very filling dish!

Käsespätzle is the german version of mac and cheese but is made with hard-cooked egg noodles and then fried with onions on top. Once you’ve tried it I guarantee you will be going back for more!

Where can I get Käsespätzle in Vienna?

While this dish is not unique to Vienna, there are many places in Vienna where you can find Käsespätzle. If you are looking for it on a menu, please note that it can also be written as Kässpatzen (Bavarian slang) or Spätzli (in Switzerland).

Coming from someone who studied abroad in Vienna, one of my favourite places to find it is in Prater.

Many of the park’s little restaurants or traditional German/Austrian-style restaurants have it on the menu. If you are looking for it in the city, check out the brewery or pub-style restaurants that feature other traditional Austrian dishes as many offer Käsespätzle as well!

Recommended by Kelly from The Weekend Wanderluster.

Tafelspitz

What is Tafelspitz?

In Vienna, this is known as the Emperor’s favorite dish. Viennese and visitors alike will immediately infer we are talking about Emperor Franz Joseph, who, according to a cookery textbook from 1912, always had a fine piece of boiled beef served at his table.

Tafelspitz is boiled beef served in broth, with a side of purred apples and horseradish, and seasoned with potatoes and other vegetables.

But hold on to your hat! Restaurants that respect the tradition will wait for you to drink the broth first, before serving you the meat seasoned accordingly. 

Where can I get Tafelspitz?

Traditionally visitors eat Tafelspitz in Vienna at Plachutta, which has several locations around town, but the most famous one is at Wollzeile 38, very close to the city’s main park, the Stadtpark.

For a less touristic experience, we recommend the Gmoa Keller at Am Heumarkt 25, a mere 5-minute walk across the said park. 

To fully enjoy your Tafelspitz, the best time to visit Vienna is during spring or autumn, when you can actually sit outside at the restaurant’s amazing Schanigarten to savor it. 

Recommended by Anca from Dream, Book, and Travel.

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