ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Austria
Five dishes to try in Austria, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Austria
Wiener Schnitzel
Thin veal cutlet breaded and fried in butter or lard.
How to have it: Order it with potato salad and lemon; the cheaper pork version is labelled vom Schwein.
Tafelspitz
Boiled beef served in its broth with apple-horseradish and chive sauces.
How to have it: A Viennese classic; drink the broth first, then eat the beef with roast potatoes.
Käsekrainer
Smoked pork sausage with small cubes of cheese inside.
How to have it: The classic order at a Würstelstand; comes with mustard and bread, often late at night.
Goulash Gulasch
Beef stewed with plenty of paprika and onions in a thick, rich sauce.
How to have it: A Viennese Beisl (pub) staple; order it with a bread roll or a Semmelknödel.
Sachertorte
Dense chocolate cake with apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze.
How to have it: Served with unsweetened whipped cream; Hotel Sacher and Demel in Vienna both sell it.
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Questions
What food is Austria famous for?
Wiener Schnitzel (thin veal cutlet breaded and fried in butter or lard) comes first on our list, followed by Tafelspitz, Käsekrainer, Goulash and Sachertorte.
What is the national dish of Austria?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Austria is Wiener Schnitzel: thin veal cutlet breaded and fried in butter or lard. Order it with potato salad and lemon; the cheaper pork version is labelled vom Schwein.
Which dishes in Austria are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Sachertorte. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Austria?
Käsekrainer (smoked pork sausage with small cubes of cheese inside).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.