Wiener Schnitzel is iconically Viennese (Wiener means Viennese, after all). A true Wiener Schnitzel will be made from veal (von Kalb, in German). A true Wiener Schnitzel will be pounded paper thin and fried, resulting in a crispy edged piece that extends well beyond your plate. Pork and chicken Schnitzels are regularly offered at restaurants in Austria, but note that they are not the real deal. I say this all with mixed feelings as I abstain from eating veal for personal ethical reasons. But you do you, boo. Also notably, a Wiener Schnitzel will be served with lemon (use it, squeeze it) and a sauce made from Preiselbeere. Preiselbeere are not to be confused with cranberries - they are not the same. True Wiener Schnitzel is also not cheap.
So Falstaff, a popular food and travel magazine, asked Austrians to vote on their favorite restaurant for Wiener Schnitzel. I will paste the link below. The results are as follows (note that I’ve been saying for years that Figlmüller is not just for tourists):
Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, 1010
Figlmüller Bäckerstraße, 1010
Meissl & Schadn, 1010
Pichlmaiers zum Herkner, 1170
Zum Schwarzen Kameel, 1010
Huth Gastwirtschaft, 1010
Café Imperial, 1010
Meixners Gastwirtschaft, 1100
Witwe Bolte, 1070
Restaurant Rote Bar, 1010
*the number next to the name indicates the district. The two middle numbers tell you the district. For example, 1010 = 01 = First District; 1070 = 07 = Seventh District. Every street sign in Vienna also includes the district number.
My personal list includes the following for Schnitzel, note not necessarily Wiener Schnitzel:
Café Anzengruber, 1040
Café Rüdigerhof, 1050
Concordia Schlössl, 1100
Am Nordpol 3, 1020
Restaurant Salzamt, 1010
Mahlzeit! (This is like saying Bon Appetit in German.)
https://www.falstaff.com/at/news/falstaff-sucht-das-beliebteste-wiener-schnitzel-oesterreichs-2026