What Austrian dishes do you recommend?

Question

I am planning on attending a language school in Vienna, Austria next summer and since I'm at work, hungry, and bored my thoughts drifted to food. Sooo, I thought I'd ask what Austrian dishes you'd all recommend I try during my stay! :-)

Answer 1

I recommend "Steirischer Backhendlsalat" (Styrian Salad with fried chicken)

It typically consists of breaded and fried chicken strips served on a nice selection of different types of lettuce, tomatoes and other veggies. Sometimes there is also potato salad, but without mayo.

What makes it "Styrian" (Styria is a provice in the south of Austria) is Kürbiskernöl (pumpkin seed oil). Be prepared - it looks like old motor oil when it comes out of the bottle and turns a rich green when stirred. Taste-wise it reminds me of walnuts, and it also has a roasted flaovor to it.

Yummy!

Answer 2

Beside the world famous Wiener Schnitzel (which I don't really like but think any person who visits Austria should try) and an Apfel Strudel, I would recommend Steirischer Backhendlsalat, Zwiebelrostbraten ( a thin slice of top sirloin topped with flour-dipped fried onions), Kaesespaetzle (literally translated into English: little cheese sparrows:-). However, this dish is something for the cold months of the year as a real calorie-bomb. Don't forget to order a glass of Schnaps afterwards, it will do your digestion good. Go for Griecherl-, Zwetschken- or Marillenschnaps). For dessert, try Palatschinken (austrian pancakes) or just go to that famous Oberlaa Cafe in Vienna and choose anything you like from those specialities they offer. If you love chocolate, make sure you get that piece of Sacher tart, but in a cafe of Sacher Hotel ONLY, as this is where the tart "was born" and they still keep the original recipe a secret. The tart DOES taste different there and is simple beyond delicious.

Answer 3

I have only been to Austria once and was with some locals that their son ordered a macaroni and cheese type dish made with what they called stinky cheese and I tell you this he was sitting 10 feet away and when they brought the dish out my throat started to gag,they say it is good but you need to get it past you nose.

Answer 4

You got some good answers, Kitty, but here are a couple more from an Austrian-American who spends a lot of time in Austria.

Hungarian goulash is usually very good in Vienna.  This is beef cooked forever with onions and spices, especially paprika, and the gravy is usually to die for.

Pork roast is another dish that hardly ever disappoints.  As an American, you'll probably want to trim off some more fat, like I do, but there is usually plenty of luscious meat left.

You can usually get very good trout, if you like fish.  They have something called "salmon trout" (Lachsforelle), which is a trout with pink flesh, and very good.

Another thing is soup.  They make great soups, especially beef broth.  A beef soup with vegetables makes an excellent lunch.  Try beef soup with "Fritatten", those are left-over crepes cut into ribbons and put in the soup like noodles.

In many Austrian restaurants, you still order items separately.  You might order meat and a salad, or meat, potatoes, and a salad, or fish, dumplings, and a salad.  This is not always true in touristy places, where they cater to people who expect a dish all put together.  Make sure you know which way it is, or you might end up with a piece of meat and nothing else, or a plate full of food plus side dishes.  It is perfectly fine to ask how the food comes -- even Austrians do that.

Do you know that Austrians usually eat dinner at noon and a small supper at night?  That is why offices and stores are often shut from noon to 2 PM.  Austria has really great sausages and cold cuts, potato salad, cole slaw, and such, so supper can be a real adventure, and you don't have to go out to a restaurant.

Answer 5

I'll tell you the most famous...."Wiener Schnitzel"...(Sacher Torte as the ultimate dessert ...by the way)Well back to Schnitzel..and you don't have to be in Vienna to get creative on this one at home: You can use Veal, Chicken or Pork filets thinly cut...then u put flour in one bowel, scrambled eggs in the second bowl , plain bread crumbs in the third bowl...now u season the meat with salt and pepper and start the breading: slide the meatslices through the flour first ..then through the eggs and then through the breadcrumbs ...next fry in pan with lots of butter...enjoy ...cranberry compott tastes very good with it ...I cook this quiet a lot for my family and friends and they all go crazy over it..lovin it

Here's other must haves for when you are there in Austria:

Filled meat dumplings, beef gulasch, leberkaese, well you'll find out    I better stop now cause I'm already trooling..lol

Answer 6

Wiener Schnitzel is definately your best choice... it is made from veal, and veal only. Not chicken or pork or whatever starz said. Also, unless you go to Germany you wont find cranberry compott anywhere with your schnitzel, try mayonayse salat instead. Schweinebraten mit k***t & knoedel or Krenfleisch in the winter. Desserts you should try are Germknoedel or Kaiserschmarnn...