Where To Get The Best Vegan Schnitzel In Vienna

So you’re looking for the best vegan Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna? You came to the right place. I tried every restaurant in Vienna that offers a vegan Schnitzel to provide you with some answers.

Whether you’re visiting and want to cross some Austrian classics off your vegan food bucket list or you’ve been living here for years and just crave a good old “Breslteppich” (us Viennese like to lovingly call our Schnitzel a “crumb-rug”) like grandma used to make it, here are 10+ great options on where to find a vegan Schnitzel in Vienna.

But first of all:

What is a Wiener Schnitzel and how is it traditionally served?

Traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made from thin veal cutlets (around 4mm) and breaded in egg, flour, and breadcrumbs and then fried in lard or clarified butter. So very much not vegan.

However, we’ve come a long way as a nation since the Schnitzel’s invention in the 1830s so we now have Schnitzel that is not made from baby cows.

Vegan Wiener Schnitzel is usually made from wheat or spelt gluten (seitan), pea-protein, or sometimes soy. I don’t think I have to tell you why that’s the better choice ethically or environmentally.

Traditionally a Wiener Schnitzel is served with the following side dishes:

• Potato salad
• “Green” salad (lettuce in a light vinaigrette)
• Cranberry jam
• and a lemon wedge

So usually the side dishes and condiments are vegan, however always double-check the potato salad, as long as you’re not in a vegan or vegetarian place. Sometimes it’s made with beef broth.

To find the best vegan Schnitzel in Vienna I assessed the following points:

• How did the Schnitzel taste? (Duh)
• Are the side dishes vegan and what are your choices? Do they have cranberry jam?
• Is the restaurant’s ambiance nice or should you rather grab a quick bite and leave?
• How vegan-friendly is the restaurant? Is the Schnitzel the only vegan option or is the whole place vegan?
• If the restaurant also serves meat: do they use a separate fryer for the vegan options?
• What’s the Schnitzel made of? Seitan, pea-protein, soy?
• And finally: the price. Under 10€? Over 20€ or somewhere in the middle?

Of course, my assessment is highly individual and your opinion might differ. So please keep that in mind!

But I wouldn’t be a (compassionate) snob if I weren’t strict and honest in my reviews.

So, let’s just dive in. Mahlzeit!

All-Vegan Restaurants

Velani

Schönbrunner Str. 235, 1120 Wien

The vegan Wiener Schnitzel at Velani is one of the most authentic ones in Vienna, in my opinion. To be fair, it’s been almost 20 years since I’ve had a non-vegan Schnitzel, but this one’s close to how I remember it: thin, crispy, and big enough to cover the whole plate.

It comes with potato salad and a lemon wedge, as is traditionally the case. Cranberry jam, however, is extra.

If you don’t like potato salad, you can also choose between fries and baked potatoes as a side.

While this is my personal favorite taste-wise, I do not like the ambiance at Velani. It seems cold and uninviting and the interior of the restaurant is much too minimalist in contrast to the authentically Austrian “Wirtshaus”-style cuisine that is served.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Velani if:
You want a really good Schnitzel and don’t care all too much about the interior of the restaurant.

Formosa

Barnabitengasse 6, 1060 Wien

Disclaimer: Formosa is currently closed and moving to a new location!

Taste	4/5
Side dish(es), condiments	3/5
Restaurant ambiance	2/5
Overall vegan-friendliness of the restaurant	5/5
Separate fryer for veg* dishes	Restaurant is fully plant-based (only offers honey as add on)
Base	Seitan
Price	€€
Overall rating	14/20

Formosa is truly an institution. It’s been around for literally decades and I remember buying my first (horrible) piece of vegan cheese here in 2006.

It’s more of a small fast food place almost compared to a full-on restaurant and most of the dishes are Asian (the owners are Taiwanese). The interior is cheap and a little worn down but if it’s warm enough you can sit outside. It’s definitely not a place to stay and hang out after you’re done eating.

The vegan Schnitzel is nice and crunchy and comes with a side salad, potato salad, or optionally fries, and a lemon wedge. Both salads are very garlicky, which isn’t traditional but still tasty. Unfortunately, they do not serve cranberry jam.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Formosa if:
You just want to grab a quick bite during lunch.

Loving Hut

Maria Kuhn Gasse 6, Lokal 2/Stiege 3, 1100 Wien

Ok, I felt like I had to include Loving Hut because it’s an all-vegan restaurant, but Wiener Schnitzel is not their strong suit. It came pre-cut into strips (actually perfect for me as I had my 2-month-old daughter with me!) and covered in teriyaki sauce. The potato salad is made with mayonnaise so that’s also not traditional. It tasted ok, the Schnitzel was reasonably crispy but if you’re looking for THE best vegan Schnitzel in Vienna, Loving Hut is not it. They do have other amazing dishes though like vegan cheese sticks!

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Loving Hut if:
You have to have Teriyaki sauce with every dish.

Vegetarian Restaurants

Landia

Ahornergasse 4, 1070 Wien

Landia just might be one of the oldest places in Vienna to get a vegan Schnitzel. This vegetarian restaurant has been around for many years and is close to Neubaugasse. So it makes a great place for a mid-shopping lunch.

The schnitzel is decent if a little thick and comes with baked potatoes and tartar sauce. I however swapped the tartar sauce for cranberry jam, because I’m a traditionalist.

The interior is a little 90s but unfortunately not in a cool way.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Landia if:
You’re in the area shopping and need a break.

Rupps

Arbeitergasse 46, 1050 Wien

Rupps is an all-vegetarian pub specializing in hearty dishes and whiskey (over 1000 different kinds!). Apart from 4-5 dishes, all of their menu is vegan.

The schnitzel is very tender and tasty and comes with two sides: either hashbrowns or rice and carrot salad or potato salad. I of course had to choose the potato salad for the original experience and I actually went with the carrot salad instead of rice or hashbrowns because I didn’t feel like loading up on carbs.

Both salads seemed to be pre-bought but they were still good enough. The schnitzel does not come with cranberries, but we asked for some and weren’t billed for them, which is nice.

All in all the vegan Wiener Schnitzel at Rupps is tasty and the portion size is more than decent for the price (we actually took one of them home because we were stuffed. Did anyone say Schnitzelsemmel for lunch the next day?) and the atmosphere is super cozy and relaxed.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Rupps if:
You love whiskey or just enjoy a relaxed pub atmosphere.

Omni Restaurants

Das Augustin

Märzstraße 67, 1150 Wien

Das Augustin is one of my favorite restaurants in Vienna. Not necessarily because the food is outstanding, but because I just love the ambiance!

It used to be an old traditional Viennese Wirtshaus that’s been hipsterized a few years ago and it’s just incredibly cozy. The outdoor seating area is also very cute AND there are two adorable cats living at the restaurant!

The vegan Schnitzel is decent if a little tough and comes with the traditional potato salad, lemon wedge, and cranberry jam.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Das Augustin if:
You want to spend a nice evening with a mixed friend group and stay for a drink or two after dinner.

Figlmüller

Bäckerstraße 6, 1010 Wien

I had high hopes for Figlmüller as it’s one of the most famous Schnitzel restaurants in all of Austria. However, it’s pretty expensive for what it is. The schnitzel tasted good, which was to be expected from the brand “Planted” but you can actually buy the schnitzel at the grocery store and make it at home and save around 15€. It comes with a “green salad” that tastes like window cleaner and a lemon. You can however order some fries which were pretty great, actually! Cranberry jam is extra and costs €2,50.

When I went there in December, the waiter told me that the potato salad wasn’t vegan, so I opted for the fries. Since then Figlmüller has confirmed that their potato salad is in fact vegan.

The schnitzel is your only vegan option at Figlmüller, and you can only get it at their Bäckerstraße location, not at Wollzeile for some reason. Absolutely book a table ahead, you’ll most likely have to wait in line otherwise.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Figlmüller if:
You want the full-on tourist experience.

Zur Allee

Schwarzenbergallee 40, 1170 Wien

Zur Allee is a lovely little hut in the middle of a large park which makes for a perfect weekend stroll. The schnitzel comes with fries but you can easily exchange them for homemade potato salad. Cranberries have to be ordered separately but I don’t think we were charged for them. The schnitzel was decent, however nothing to write home about, and tasted a little “healthy”. Nonetheless, I would come back!

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Zur Allee if:
You need to get out of the city and want to enjoy a Schnitzel in nature.

Zu den Goldenen 3 Kugeln

Simmeringer Hauptstraße 96a, 1110 Wien
Handelskai 94-96, 1200 Wien

Zu den 3 goldenen Kugeln is a Styrian chain restaurant that specializes in Schnitzel. A while ago they also added a vegan option! They have two outlets in Vienna and we tried the one in Millenniumcity (20. district).

Even though it’s in the middle of a modern mall, they recreated the rustic feel of a traditional Austrian restaurant.

The vegan Schnitzel is good, but nothing to write home about. But you do get to choose between several side dishes (cabbage salad, green salad, fries, parsley potatoes, or rice with peas.).

Unfortunately, the potato salad is NOT vegan or even vegetarian, as it is prepared with beef broth. When we tested it a few months ago the waiter told us it was vegan so either he made a mistake or they changed the recipe. Just a heads up!

And on the plus side, at €9,90 this is currently the cheapest option for a vegan Schnitzel in Vienna.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at 3 Goldene Kugeln if:
You want a cheap vegan Schnitzel or are out with an older group like your family.

Weingut Feuerwehr Wagner

Grinzinger Str. 53, 1190 Wien

Weingut Feuerwehr Wagner is a beautiful Heuriger in the quaint village-esque part of the 19th district. A Heuriger is typically a vineyard selling and serving its own wines as well as offering food from a buffet. If you can, definitely choose to sit outside in the beautiful courtyard or garden!

As Feuerwehr Wagner offers a typical Heurigenbuffet, you can choose from a variety of vegan side dishes. The staff will gladly tell you which are vegan.
The options include several salads (potato, tomato, corn, beans, green bean, and cucumber salad) as well as fries

I of course chose the classic potato salad and cranberry jam as sides (and shared a mixed salad plate with my husband for some veggies). The potato salad tasted homemade but could have used a little more salt for my taste. The Schnitzel itself was good, however, the texture is a little bit mushy, I personally prefer a Schnitzel with a bit more bite.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Feuerwehr Wagner if:
You want to enjoy some incredible vegan wine with your Schnitzel and get the real Viennese Heurigen experience!

Gürtelbräu

U-Bahnbogen 24, 1080 Wien

The vegan schnitzel at Gürtelbräu was alright. However, it was not coated in breadcrumbs but in seeds, and the schnitzel is served with fries which made the whole dish very heavy and greasy. So all in all, I wasn’t impressed.

Have your vegan Schnitzel at Gürtelbräu if:
You’re already out drinking beer and get hungry.

The Best Vegan Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna is…

And the winner is Rupps!
Followed by Velani and Feuerwehr Wagner.

Let me know what you think and if I missed any places!

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If you’re new to Vienna or visiting, you can find more tips on where to go and what to see as a vegan and compassionate snob right here:

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