Traditional Viennese food is a beautiful blend of influences that come from anywhere in Russia to France and every place in between. With Austria once being part of the Habsburg Empire, this old-world fusion of flavors gave birth to the core of Viennese food, which is also heavily influenced by Austrian ingredients and dishes. Now, these dishes can be found throughout Europe but are specific to Vienna, which prides itself on culture and tradition.

Related: Tibet Has Its Own Cuisine And It's An Old World Full Of New And Exciting Flavors

Out of all the regions in Europe, Vienna has one of the most diverse cuisines thanks to its history, and the food is a reflection of that. While you may have heard of some of these dishes through Austrian and German cuisines, many of them are rooted in Vienna and appeared there before anywhere else. There are many twists and turns in Viennese food that account for its diversity in flavor and that's why its dishes are so beloved, especially these.

Apfelstrudel

When visiting Vienna, you can't leave without trying apfelstrudel. In fact, it's recommended that you start your day with it! This is the most well-known Viennese pastry and can be found nearly everywhere, almost on every street corner.

The inside of this phyllo-like pastry is filled with a delicious combination of apples, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and bread crumbs. It's a great combination of flavors and much of the time, these pastries can be smelled before you even see them - they're that good!

Sachertorte

This cake is the epitome of Viennese desserts and was created in 1832, giving it a long history with the country. The brilliant chef behind its creation was Franz Sacher, hence the name, at the age of only 16 years old. This cake consists of a dense layer of fudgy chocolate that has a thin layer of apricot jam and is covered in a thin layer of dark chocolate icing.

The cake's flavor is decadent, rich, and not overly sweet, with a flawless balance between the apricot jam and the use of dark chocolate. In Vienna, this cake is absolutely iconic and one of the most well-known desserts on most restaurant menus.

Related: Patisserie Is An Edible Art Form, And These Are The French Pastries You Should Be Looking For

Wiener Würstel

This sausage originated in Germany but became popular in Vienna, and is made traditionally with beef or pork. Nowadays, the sausage can even be made with chicken and is served quite simply with a side of mustard, bread, ketchup, pepperoni, and horseradish.

It's a quick snack for most people in Vienna and can be purchased from street vendors. Most people consider Weiner würstel to be a staple in Viennese food culture.

Wiener Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel is another iconic dish in Vienna but can be found throughout Germany as well. Traditionally, the dish is made with veal cutlets that have been pounded out thin and are breaded and fried.

While red cabbage is a common side to have along with the dish, lemon is usually the only thing that's served on the side. If lemons aren't included, then redcurrant jelly will be the second option and, sometimes, for a complete meal, a bit of potato salad is added to the dish.

Tafelspitz

Tafelspitz is a unique dish that's specific to Vienna and starts with a beef tailpiece. The beef is then cooked in a broth along with root vegetables and a dill cream sauce. Apples, baked potatoes, or breadcrumbs are usually served with the dish once everything has been sliced.

The beef and vegetables are simmered for a long length of time until everything is falling apart and tender, with the broth being leftover as a tasty soup. Therefore, every part of this dish is edible and delicious.

Kaiserschmarrn

It could be said that Vienna is wholly known for its delicious desserts and kaiserschmarrn is certainly one of them. The base of this dish starts with a fluffy pancake that's topped with powdered sugar and applesauce.

The pancakes are slightly sweet and have a cloud-like texture while the powdered sugar adds hints of extra sweetness and the applesauce adds a bit of tang and acidity to round everything out.

Punschkrapfen

It shouldn't be surprising that next is yet another dessert and this one is just as visually appealing as it is delicious to eat.

Punschkrapfen is a punch cake that features a bright, hot pink interior consisting of apricot jam and nougat chocolate, and the entire thing is soaked in rum. The cake itself is often covered with a light pink layer of fondant, making it look like something more akin to a gift than an actual cake.

Next: You're Probably Not Ready For The Most Popular Desserts In The World, But Here They Are