A Würstelstand (literally "sausage stand"; plural Würstelstände) is a traditional Austrian street food retail outlet selling hot dogs, sausages, and side dishes.[1] They are a ubiquitous sight in Vienna.[2]
Würstelstände were initially movable stalls created during the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to provide a source of income for disabled veterans. Not until the 1960s were the sales stands allowed to become stationary. Especially in Vienna's inner city, many of them can be found near transit hubs and around subway stations,[3] providing a late evening catering for night owls. In some Austrian cities, mobile Würstelstände hold operating licenses only for nighttime sales.
Especially the original Viennese Würstelstände have cultivated their own terms for certain products, deeply rooted in the regional dialect and its tradition for dark, bittersweet humor. Here are some prominent examples:
This slang is widespread in Austrian media and often used in Film and TV series, in literature, music and on stage wherever a Würstelstand is present.