Kasspressknödel: Tirolean Cheese Dumplings, © Tirol Werbung/Ilvy Rodler

14 Must-Eat Foods in Tirol

Tirol’s got the goods when it comes to fresh produce and hearty local delicacies, from cheese dumplings to “Tiroler Gröstl”. While you’re in Tirol, seek out some of the following quintessential foods…

Let’s make it official: Tirol is an amazing place to eat and drink, serving up some of the best food in the world. There is no shortage of amazing restaurants to inspire warm feelings, from friendly country inns to on-mountain eateries, you’ll find an endless selection of delicious and hearty specialties prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Bacon or cheese dumplings are a Tirol staple, best enjoyed in soup or with sauerkraut and salad. No trip to Tirol is complete without a delicious “Kiachl”, a traditional fried yeast dough pastry. We also love our desserts – “Moosbeernocken” and “Strauben” are real Tirol favourites. While you’re in Tirol, seek out a couple of the following quintessential foods…

1 · Tiroler Speckknödel

A real Tirol staple, these are large round boiled bread dumplings with bacon that are best enjoyed in broth or with sauerkraut and salad.

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2 · Tiroler Gröstl

Known as Gröstl, this bacon, onion and potato fry-up is a real Alpine filler and tastes great served with a fried egg. Traditionally, it is a delicious and satisfying way of using up yesterday’s left-overs. It makes a great shared-from-the-pan mountain lunch.

Known as Gröstl, this bacon, onion and potato fry-up is a real Alpine filler and tastes great served with a fried egg. Traditionally, it is a…

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3 · Kaspressknödel

These flat bread dumplings are filled with grey or mountain cheese and have been real Tirol favourites for generations. The cheese dumplings are pressed flat and cooked until golden brown on both sides. Cheese dumplings are served in a beef broth or with a green salad.

These flat bread dumplings are filled with grey or mountain cheese and have been real Tirol favourites for generations. The cheese dumplings are…

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To the original recipe

4 · Tiroler Marend (Brettljause)

A hearty Tirolean “ Marend” – the original in-between snack with dry-cured and smoked specialties like speck and sausages, mountain cheese and delicious bread which is traditionally enjoyed in the Heart of the Alps in the afternoon or early evening during a merry get together. Today’s “Marend” refines these traditional tidbits with lard, cold cuts of roast pork and horseradish.

A hearty Tirolean “ Marend” – the original in-between snack with dry-cured and smoked specialties like speck and sausages, mountain cheese and…

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5 · Kasspatzln

Literally ‘little cheese sparrows’, “Kasspatzln” are a kind of soft egg noodle or dumpling mixed with grated cheese, oven-baked and sprinkled with fried onion. A savoury delight!

Literally ‘little cheese sparrows’, “Kasspatzln” are a kind of soft egg noodle or dumpling mixed with grated cheese, oven-baked and sprinkled with…

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To the original recipe

6 · Kiachl

Tiroler Kiachl, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

Kiachl is a traditional fried yeast dough pastry that are fried in boiling lard. It is either eaten savoury with sauerkraut or sweet with cranberry jam, dusted with confectioner's sugar. In the past the pastry was mostly eaten during the harvest and on holidays, especially for parish fairs.

Kiachl is a traditional fried yeast dough pastry that are fried in boiling lard. It is either eaten savoury with sauerkraut or sweet with cranberry…

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To the original recipe

7 · Schlutzkrapfen

These Tirolean-style pasta parcels are also known as ‘Schlutzkrapfen’. The dough-and-egg crescents with hearty potato filling are boiled in salt water and served with brown butter and parsley.

These Tirolean-style pasta parcels are also known as ‘Schlutzkrapfen’. The dough-and-egg crescents with hearty potato filling are boiled in salt water…

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8 · Moosbeernocken

Moosbeernocken, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

An Alpine treat! There is a short season of wild-growing mountain blueberries that every decent traditional restaurant in Tirol will exploit to prepare this delicious dessert, which is like blueberries in a pancake-like form, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

An Alpine treat! There is a short season of wild-growing mountain blueberries that every decent traditional restaurant in Tirol will exploit to…

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9 · Strauben

Strauben, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

“Strauben” translates to “ruffles”. We won’t tell if you eat more than one of these toothsome delights. A batter of flour, eggs and milk is poured through a funnel or pastry bag to form ‘unruly’ curls (hence the name), fried to even brownness, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with cranberry jam.

“Strauben” translates to “ruffles”. We won’t tell if you eat more than one of these toothsome delights. A batter of flour, eggs and milk is poured…

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10 · Apfelradln

Apfelradln, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

Another sweet treat are “apple wheels”: Apples are dipped into batter and carefully dropped in a pan, fried until they start to brown on both sides and served immediately, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

Another sweet treat are “apple wheels”: Apples are dipped into batter and carefully dropped in a pan, fried until they start to brown on both sides…

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11 · Zillertaler Krapfen

Zillertaler Krapfen, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

This most popular of all Zillertal Valley specialties is by far not the easiest to prepare – but will never be missing whenever Tiroleans have a reason to celebrate – this traditional Zillertal dish comes with a tasty grey cheese filling in a crispy exterior.

This most popular of all Zillertal Valley specialties is by far not the easiest to prepare – but will never be missing whenever Tiroleans have a…

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12 · Kaiserschmarren

We have to admit, “Kaiserschmarren” is an icon of Austrian cuisine, not especially of Tirol. However, we love it that much, and eat it that often at on-mountain eateries that we consider it an absolute must-eat food of Tirol. Kaiserschmarren is a fluffy shredded pancake, which has its name from the Austrian Emperor, Kaiser Franz Joseph I, who was very fond of this kind of dish. Made from a sweet batter using flour, eggs, sugar, salt, and milk, Kaiserschmarren is baked in butter , torn with forks and served with stewed plums.

We have to admit, “Kaiserschmarren” is an icon of Austrian cuisine, not especially of Tirol. However, we love it that much, and eat it that often at…

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To the original recipe

13 · Tiroler Paunzen with Apple Sauce

Traditional "Tiroler Paunzen" are made using a potato-based dough which is then cooked in a mixture of clarified butter and rapeseed oil.

14 · Buchteln

Buchteln, © Tirol Werbung / Kathrin Koschitzki

"Buchteln" are a bit like edible clouds. The ingredients: butter, schnapps, sugar, flour and eggs. If you get the mixture just right, the taste is truly heavenly.