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← Food guide ☏
Food guide

Austria food guide for Indian families: vegetarian, Jain and what to eat

Written by The Trip Keeper team Content updated 30 Oct 2026 Facts last checked 30 Oct 2026
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The short answer

Austria is meat-and-potatoes country at heart - schnitzel, Tafelspitz, goulash, sausages - but Indian families manage well: Vienna has a strong vegetarian and vegan restaurant scene plus many Indian restaurants, and the famous desserts (Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarrn, Marillenknodel) are all vegetarian. Cheese dishes like Kasespätzle fill the gap, though they often arrive topped with crispy onions. Jain families need to ask (onion-garlic show up in sauces and garnishes) but get by, especially in Vienna. Halal is easy in Vienna, with its large Turkish community.

Vegetarian-friendlinessManageableOur editorial view
Jain food possibleWith effortOur editorial view
The one phrase to learnIch esse kein Fleischikh ES-uh kine FLYSH · I do not eat meat. Universally understood in Austria - city menus mark vegetarian dishes, and staff take the request seriously.
Indian restaurants in main tourist areasYes

Local dishes

Wiener Schnitzel Wiener Schnitzel

Not vegetarian Not Jain

The national dish: a large, thin veal escalope breaded and fried golden in clarified butter, served with lemon, potato salad or parsley potatoes. Proper Viennese restaurants take enormous pride in it.

Watch out for: Veal, so not vegetarian. Cheaper menus offer "Schnitzel Wiener Art" - the same dish in pork, which many Indian families avoid. Not halal by default; ask at Turkish-run restaurants for halal versions.

Tafelspitz Tafelspitz

Not vegetarian Not Jain

Vienna's beloved boiled beef: silverside simmered for hours with root vegetables, served in its broth with apple-horseradish, chive sauce and roast potatoes - Emperor Franz Joseph's favourite meal.

Watch out for: Beef, so not vegetarian. The broth and sides make a warming winter meal for meat-eaters; everyone else should steer to the dumpling and dessert menus.

Wiener Gulasch Wiener Gulasch

Not vegetarian Not Jain

Vienna's take on Hungary's goulash: beef stewed silky in a paprika-rich gravy, thicker and smoother than the Budapest original, served with bread dumplings or Spätzle.

Watch out for: Beef, not vegetarian. The paprika warmth is the closest Austrian cooking comes to Indian spice - meat-eaters missing masala should order it.

Käsespätzle Kasespaetzle

Vegetarian Not Jain

Austria's Alpine comfort food: soft egg noodles baked with melted mountain cheese and topped with crispy fried onions - the dish skiers dream about on the last lift down.

Watch out for: Vegetarian but arrives crowned with fried onions - Jain families must ask for it without. Contains egg and dairy, so not vegan.

Apfelstrudel Apfelstrudel

Vegetarian Jain-friendly

The strudel that conquered the world: paper-thin stretched pastry wrapped around apples, cinnamon, raisins and buttery breadcrumbs, served warm with vanilla sauce or ice cream.

Watch out for: Vegetarian and Jain-friendly (no onion, garlic); contains butter, so not vegan. Some kitchens soak the raisins in rum - ask if alcohol is a concern.

Sachertorte Sachertorte

Vegetarian Jain-friendly

Vienna's most famous cake: dense chocolate sponge layered with apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, invented at Hotel Sacher in 1832 and still served there with unsweetened whipped cream.

Watch out for: Vegetarian and Jain-friendly; contains egg and butter, so not vegan. The original at Cafe Sacher is worth the queue - go mid-afternoon to dodge the worst of it.

Kaiserschmarrn Kaiserschmarrn

Vegetarian Jain-friendly

The Emperor's shredded pancake: a thick, fluffy pancake torn into pieces, caramelized with butter and sugar, scattered with raisins and served with plum compote - dessert that eats like a meal.

Watch out for: Vegetarian and Jain-friendly; contains egg and dairy, so not vegan. Big enough to share between two or three - order one for the table.

Marillenknödel Marillenknoedel

Vegetarian Jain-friendly

Summer's apricot dumplings: whole Wachau apricots wrapped in potato or curd-cheese dough, boiled, then rolled in buttered, toasted breadcrumbs - served in homes, Heurigen taverns and markets from June to August.

Watch out for: Vegetarian and Jain-friendly; contains butter, so not vegan. Seasonal - look for them in high summer, especially around the Wachau valley.

Würstel from a Würstelstand Wuerstel

Not vegetarian Not Jain

The sausage-stand ritual: a hot Burenwurst, Frankfurter or cheese-filled Käsekrainer sliced into a bun with mustard, eaten standing at a counter - Vienna's democratic fast food, open till late.

Watch out for: Pork or mixed pork-beef, so not vegetarian and avoided by many Indian families. Some stands sell chicken sausages - ask. A cultural sight even if you only watch.

Mozartkugel Mozartkugel

Vegetarian Jain-friendly

Salzburg's little chocolate monument: a ball of pistachio marzipan and nougat coated in dark chocolate, invented in 1890 - the silver-and-blue originals come from Cafe-Konditorei Furst.

Watch out for: Vegetarian and Jain-friendly in the classic recipe; contains dairy, so not vegan. The airport souvenir boxes are fine, but the Furst originals in Salzburg are the real thing.

How to order vegetarian

Show these lines to the staff. Say them aloud if you like.

Vegetarian
Ich esse kein Fleisch
Say it: ikh ES-uh kine FLYSH

I do not eat meat. Universally understood; city menus mark vegetarian dishes and staff take the request seriously.

Vegetarian
Ist das vegetarisch?
Say it: ist dus vay-guh-TAH-rish

Is this vegetarian? Point at any menu item and ask. For stricter checks, "Ist das vegan?" works the same way.

Jain (no onion, no garlic)
Ohne Zwiebel und Knoblauch, bitte
Say it: OH-nuh TSVY-bel oont KNOB-lowkh BIT-uh

Without onion and garlic, please. Understood in restaurants; Indian restaurants in Vienna know Jain orders by name.

About Jain food

Jain families manage with effort. Even the vegetarian classics need care: Kasespätzle comes topped with crispy onions, potato salad and soups often start with onion, and strudel fillings can hide raisins soaked in rum. Say "ohne Zwiebel und Knoblauch, bitte" - staff understand. Vienna makes it easier: the official tourism board lists dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and the many Indian restaurants know Jain orders by name. The dessert canon (Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarrn, Marillenknodel, Mozartkugel) is onion-garlic free. Supermarkets make self-catering simple.

Backup plans

  • Vienna has an officially curated vegetarian and vegan restaurant scene, plus many Indian restaurants
  • The great desserts - Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarrn, Marillenknodel - are vegetarian
  • City menus mark allergens and vegetarian dishes; ask "Ist das vegetarisch?"
  • Supermarkets (Billa, Spar, Hofer) stock vegetarian staples, fruit and ready salads for self-catering
  • Halal: Turkish and Middle Eastern eateries are common across Vienna

For parents and seniors

For parents: Austrian dining is gentle and civilized - the coffee house is the great institution, so plan a slow afternoon with a Melange (Viennese coffee) and a shared slice of cake; afternoons at Cafe Central or Cafe Sacher are a memory in themselves. Soups (Frittatensuppe, potato soup), soft dumplings and strudels are easy on the teeth, tap water is excellent, and restaurants serve dinner early by Indian standards. Spice levels are very mild - carry a favourite pickle if breakfasts need help.

Trips to Austria

We have no open trip to Austria right now. Tell us your dates and we will help you find one.

Quick questions

Is Austria good for vegetarians?

Better than its schnitzel reputation suggests. Vienna has a dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurant scene curated by the official tourism board, city menus mark veg dishes, and the whole dessert tradition - strudel, torte, dumplings - is vegetarian. Smaller Alpine towns are meat-heavier; there, Käsespätzle (without the onion topping) and dumplings save the day.

Can a Jain family manage in Austria?

Yes, with asking. The watch-points: Käsespätzle arrives topped with fried onions, soups and potato salads start with onion, and strudel raisins may be rum-soaked. Say "ohne Zwiebel und Knoblauch, bitte" and staff will work with you. Vienna's Indian restaurants know Jain orders by name, and the desserts are safe ground.

Is halal food available in Austria?

Yes, especially in Vienna, which has a large Turkish and Middle Eastern community - halal kebab houses, butchers and restaurants are common across the city, and some Viennese restaurants offer halal schnitzel. Salzburg and Innsbruck have Turkish eateries too. Look for the halal sign or ask.

What is the one dish we must try?

Meat-eaters: a true Wiener Schnitzel (veal) at a traditional Beisl tavern. Everyone: Apfelstrudel warm with vanilla sauce, a slice of Sachertorte at a grand coffee house, and Kaiserschmarrn shared at the table. In summer, Marillenknödel apricot dumplings; in Salzburg, the original Mozartkugel.

Is Austrian food spicy enough for Indian tastes?

No - Austrian seasoning runs mild, with paprika the warmest note (try Wiener Gulasch). The fix is Vienna's big Indian restaurant scene and the Turkish eateries; Salzburg has Indian restaurants too. Carry pickle if your breakfasts need help.

Are there Indian restaurants in Austria?

Yes - Vienna has many Indian restaurants across the city, from simple curry houses to upscale dining, and Salzburg and Innsbruck have several each. They understand Jain and pure-veg orders. Outside the cities, choices thin out, so plan town stops around supermarkets and Italian restaurants (pizza margherita, pasta al pomodoro).

Sources

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