These are the seven most famous Austrian dishes and snacks; the food you simply have to try when you travel to Austria.
1) Apfelstrudel and hot chocolate
The perfect comfort food after a long mountain hike. Almost every restaurant and café in Austria serves apfelstrudel and hot chocolate. The quality and taste differ greatly. I’m not sure why, but during my trip to Austria in 2020 I liked many of them and during my 2021 trip none.
This traditional Viennese strudel, called apfelstrudel, consists of elastic, very thin dough (similar to filo dough), apple slices and raisins. The dough is rolled up to create thin layers. If the apple is spread over the entire surface, the layers that end up between the filling will not be fully cooked.
The dish is usually served with vanilla sauce (it can taste dry without it) and whipped cream, and sometimes with vanilla ice cream.
To complete your sugar boost, you can order a hot chocolate with it. As with the apple strudel, the quality of this hot chocolate can vary. I often found the sugar-free whipped cream tastier than the rather bland tasting hot chocolate. I think I got too used to hot chocolate made with real chocolate instead of the milk + powder variety. But still, if you’re in Austria, you just have to order one once in a while.
2) Kaiserschmarrn
Kaiserschmarrn are Austria-style thick scrambled pancakes. It is a dessert, but beware of that designation: it is as filling as a full meal. The pancakes are caramelized and have a sweet taste. It is said that this dish got its name from Emperor (“Kaiser”) Franz Joseph I, who liked this dessert very much. The schmarrn part means scrambled or shredded.
3) Wiener Schnitzel
Finally, the Austrian dish named after the capital of Austria: Wien (Vienna). A Wiener schnitzel is a thin, breaded, pan-fried cutlet. If not specified, pork is used for the meat portion of the schnitzel. Often you can also choose turkey or veal. There are variations such as the cordon bleu, which you see in the photo above (taken at Blaa Alm near Loserberg).
Those of you who have visited Japan will be reminded of Tonkatsu, which is also a schnitzel, but thicker.
If you can’t stomach any more Wiener schnitzels, look for a Korean restaurant in Austria for something different.
4) Fish from the lakes
Restaurants near the lakes often have grilled or otherwise prepared freshly caught fish on the menu. Trout and char are plentiful. The fish is usually served with boiled potatoes with parsley.
5) Game stew with red cabbage and knödel
A trip to Austria would not be complete without a hike (or drive) to a mountain hut and a hearty meal. A game stew fits perfectly in this setting. Knödel are Austrian bread dumplings. You’ll often see them as a side dish instead of potatoes, but you can also order knödel soup (in which case they usually come with bits of bacon).
6) Bread with cheese and ham
You can’t go wrong with a varied platter of bread, local cheese and meat. Especially not if it comes with a view. The variety on your plate depends on the establishment. The surprise is what makes it the most fun. Austria produces all kinds of cheese (from hard cheese to cream cheese), bread with spicy undertones and smoked ham.
7) Goulash soup
This soup will thoroughly warm you in the middle of a hike. Goulash soup is a national dish from Hungary, but is widely served all over Central Europe. It is a stew of meat seasoned with paprika and other spices. Depending on the restaurant, the soup may be filled with vegetables, egg slices and diced potatoes or served more watery.
