Vienna’s iconic mains, from schnitzel to boiled beef

Vienna’s cooking grew out of imperial court life and the city’s famous Gasthaus culture—food that’s straightforward, comforting, and meant to be shared. The “headline” dishes are the ones most people associate with Austria: Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz (boiled beef with classic sides), plus hearty pan and roast dishes like onion-y beef plates (Zwiebelrostbraten) or fried chicken (Backhendl).