Allergy-Conscious in Vienna: My Travel Plan and Food Diary
- Laura Drazniece
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 8
I’m so excited to finally visit Vienna! I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the city — from friends, fellow travelers, and just about anyone who’s been. Honestly, I haven’t met a single person who didn’t fall in love with Vienna. I’ll only be there for a short time, but I’m hoping to catch a few of the main sights and just soak in the atmosphere.
Lately, I’ve been watching a TV series about Sisi (Empress Elisabeth), so I’m extra curious to walk through parts of the city that may remind me of scenes from the show. Those elegant dresses, the ballrooms, the era — so dreamy! I can’t wait to connect those historical images with the real-life beauty of the city.
But of course, travel isn’t just about seeing beautiful places. At some point during the day, you need to eat — and that’s where things get a little tricky for me. I travel with multiple food allergies: eggs, nuts, sesame, and one of the more unusual ones — citric acid (yes, really!). So when it comes to food, I always need to plan ahead.
Vienna Street Food: Sausages with a Side of Caution
Vienna is famous for its Würstelstands — sausage stands that are part of the city’s culture. One of the most iconic is Bitzinger, which I looked up in advance. Luckily, they list their ingredients online — a small but important victory when you have food allergies.
Unfortunately, many of the sausages contain citric or ascorbic acid, which are no-go ingredients for me. I’ll still try to check out some local shops once I’m there — maybe a bio-market or traditional butcher will have something safer. But to be honest, I’m not getting my hopes up too high. If I can’t find one that’s safe, I’ll just enjoy the atmosphere and skip the sausage.
Wiener Schnitzel – For Later, Not Now
Next on the list is the famous Wiener Schnitzel. It’s such a classic, but the traditional preparation includes eggs and wheat in the breading — eggs are problematic for me. That rules out trying it in most restaurants.
I realized pretty quickly that the only way I could enjoy a schnitzel safely would be to make it myself, with ingredients I trust. But during the trip, I know I’ll be too tired at the end of a busy day to start cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen. So I came up with a new idea: I’ll save the schnitzel for after the trip.
Once I’m home, I’ll recreate a Vienna-style dinner night for my family. I’ll cook an allergy-friendly schnitzel, maybe even set the table with some classical music and Vienna photos, and turn it into a little post-trip celebration.
Sweet Vienna Memories: Sachertorte (Back at Home)
Ah, — the legendary Viennese chocolate cake. It looks delicious, but between the eggs, it’s just not a safe option for me while traveling. Rather than take the risk, I’ll wait until I’m home and make my own version.
There are some great recipes out there that I can adapt to be egg-free, maybe even gluten-free too. That way I can still have a slice of Vienna — just made my way, safely.
Original recipe: https://www.sacher.com/en/original-sacher-torte/recipe/
What I Can Try: Tafelspitz
One traditional dish that does look promising is Tafelspitz — boiled beef with vegetables, served in a clear broth. The ingredients are usually very simple and clean, so it seems like one of the safer options for someone like me.
I’ll just be careful to ask about sauces or accompaniments, which can sometimes include unexpected ingredients. But I’m looking forward to trying it and finally enjoying something truly local!
When in Doubt: Italian Comfort
Since Austrian cuisine has so many allergy triggers for me, I know I’ll need a fallback — and Italian food usually works well. A simple Pizza Margherit should be safe. I’ll just have to double-check whether the sauce is made in-house or from a can. If it’s fresh, great. If not, I’ll move on.
My Vienna Game Plan
Check out sausage stands like Bitzinger online — avoid if ingredients contain acids or allergens.
Try Tafelspitz — local, simple, and usually free of problem ingredients.
Stick to Italian basics when in doubt.
After the trip: host a Vienna dinner night at home with safe homemade schnitzel and Sachertorte!
It might not be the most traditional foodie trip, but I know I’ll make it work in a way that’s both safe and memorable. And who knows — maybe I’ll even create some new traditions along the way. I’ll keep you posted!