Whether it's the landscape, the wildlife, or manmade wonders like the Sydney Opera House, Australian food is something that too few people think about. Just ask an Aussie what typical Australian food is, and you'll see plenty of answers.
Australian food is as diverse as Australia itself. It is a tantalising fusion of unique flavours. Shaped by native ingredients, agriculture, and migration, it offers a culinary adventure like no other. From the humble meat pie to native bush foods, let's explore the most iconic Australian foods and their distinct flavours.
1. Meat Pie
Meat pie is an Australian classic. You could call it the national dish. This Aussie comfort food is everywhere, from tiny country towns to stadiums during footy matches. The traditional meat pie is a hand-sized pastry with savoury minced beef, gravy, and sometimes onions, mushrooms, or cheese.
You can have it with a squirt of tomato sauce, too!
meat pies every year. About 14 pies per person.
2. Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken Parmigiana ("parmi" or "parma") is often at the top of a pub's menu. It is another hearty, no-nonsense dish that Australians love. It's a crumbled chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, slices of ham, and melted cheese. It's often served with chips and salad.
It originated in Italy but was adopted and transformed by Australian pub culture.
Is it a "parma" or "parmi"? What do you say?
3. Vegemite on Toast
Vegemite on toast. Nothing says “Aussie breakfast” like it. Take a slice of fresh white bread, toast it, and slather butter on it before adding your vegemite.
Vegemite is a spread made from brewer's yeast extract for those who don't know. It was invented in Melbourne in 1922 to use the by-products from the brewing industry. It's so simple that anyone can prepare it, but with a few cooking tips, you should be able to move from Vegemite on toast to something more impressive.
Go easy! A thin layer of Vegemite is all you need. Aussies know that too much can be overwhelming!
4. Barramundi
Barramundi is one of Australia's most popular native fish dishes. Its mild flavour and flaky white flesh make it versatile in the kitchen. Barramundi can be found on Australian menus across the country. Some of the popular ways to serve it include:
- Grilled with lemon and herbs — keeping it simple to let the natural flavour shine
- Pan-fried with crispy skin, often paired with a fresh salad or roasted veggies
- Battered and served with chips for a next-level fish and chips experience
- In native bush cuisine, sometimes cooked whole over an open fire
Barramundi farming is a growing part of Australia's aquaculture sector, helping meet demand while protecting wild populations.
5. Kangaroo
Kangaroo meat can be consumed and has been an essential source of protein for Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. It's currently considered a lean, healthy, and sustainable meat choice. It's also the kind of food you'd see on Food Safari, an Australian cooking show.
Even better, kangaroo meat has a lower environmental impact than traditional livestock, making it a good option for eco-conscious foodies.
6. Lamington
Lamington is a small square of sponge cake coated in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut. You'll find them everywhere, from local bakeries to school fundraisers to Australia Day celebrations in January.
July 21st is National Lamington Day in Australia. They're so popular that they get their own day!
7. Damper
Damper, the original Aussie bread, baked over hot coals and enjoyed under the stars, is the true taste of Australia's history and bush culture.
It's a quick bread made from white flour, salt, and water or milk. Usually, it's cooked directly in the ashes of a campfire or in a pot called a camp oven. The damper was initially made to create fresh bread on the go, using ingredients that could last for weeks without refrigeration, which is essential for life in the remote Australian outback.
8. Pavlova
Pavlova is a light, airy meringue cake topped with fresh cream and fruit. It's a good choice for summer celebrations, such as in December and January. The secret to a perfect pavlova is to beat the egg whites just right and let the meringue cool slowly in the oven to avoid cracks!
9. Tim Tams
Tim Tams are Australia's favourite biscuit. They're two layers of chocolate malted biscuits filled with a creamy chocolate centre and coated in milk chocolate. Crunchy, creamy, chocolatey, nobody seems to be able to resist them.
Tim Tams are sold every year. About one pack per person.
10. Fish and Chips
If you think fish and chips are British, you're partly right. This dish was brought over by British settlers in Australia, but Australian fish and chips use local seafood, freshly caught fish, and crispy chips.
Common fish include:
- Barramundi: a native favourite, often grilled for a healthier option
- Flathead: known for its sweet, delicate flavour
- Snapper: another local choice, especially popular in South Australia
- Whiting: small, light, and flaky fish
- Gummy shark: sold as "flake" in Victoria
11. Fairy Bread
Most Australians who attended a birthday party will have had fairy bread. This treat is white bread, butter or margarine, and hundreds and thousands. Cut them into triangles for easy eating, and make sure that there's enough for everyone. It's not necessarily what Australia's best chefs will be making, but you can guarantee they've likely had it before!
12. Sausage Sizzle
Whether outside your local Bunnings on a Saturday morning, at school fundraisers, or at community events, the sausage sizzle is Australia's unofficial national meal.
What's in a sausage sizzle:
- A grilled sausage (often beef or chicken)
- Served on a single slice of white bread (no fancy buns here!)
- Topped with grilled onions
- Finished with a squirt of tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, or mustard
13. Anzac Biscuits
The Anzac biscuit is more than just a sweet treat. It's part of Australia's national identity, military history, and culinary traditions.
Anzac biscuits are made from:
- Rolled oats
- Flour (usually white)
- Golden syrup or treacle (for that rich caramel flavour)
- Coconut (desiccated coconut adds texture and flavour)
- Butter
- Sugar
They don't use eggs because they need to last a long time, as they were sent to soldiers in care packages during World War I.
14. Grilled Crocodile
Grilled crocodile combines Indigenous food traditions with modern gourmet cooking with a mild flavour similar to chicken or fish but a firmer texture. Crocodile meat can be found at tourist venues, high-end restaurants, specialty butchers, and farmers' markets. We don't recommend trying to source it yourself!
15. Wattleseed Ice Cream
Wattleseed ice cream blends native ingredients, combining bush tucker and contemporary flair. Wattleseed is a native plant from the Acacia tree. It is one of Australia's most iconic plants, and Indigenous Australians have used it for thousands of years.
16. Emu
The emu, which stands alongside the kangaroo on Australia's coat of arms, is another native of Australia that occasionally appears on a plate. Rich, dark, and gamey, this high-protein, low-fat option is one of the healthiest red meats in Australia's native food scene. Emu meat has less fat than chicken and is often described as richer in flavour than kangaroo — a great choice for adventurous food lovers!
17. Chicken and Cheese Scrolls
Almost every bakery in Australia offers chicken and cheese scrolls alongside pies and sausage rolls. These savoury bakery favourites are a great snack or lunch option, especially for busy Australians.
A chicken and cheese scroll is a soft, bread-based pastry rolled up with a savoury filling of:
- Seasoned chicken (often shredded or minced)
- Melted cheese (cheddar or tasty cheese is common)
- Sometimes extras like spinach, BBQ sauce, or sweet chilli for added flavour
18. Coffee
Australians love their coffee. Australia is home to big-chain coffee shops, independent cafés, and local roasters. Coffee is taken seriously, and the flat white is Australia's gift to coffee-drinking culture.
The flat white was invented in Australia and New Zealand — though both countries still argue about who did it first.
Was the flat white invented in Australia or New Zealand?
19. Seafood Platter
With so much good seafood, almost everyone in Australia loves a seafood platter. Some of the things you'll find on one include:
- Fresh prawns (a must-have, especially in summer)
- Oysters are served naturally or with dressings like lemon, mignonette, or chilli vinaigrette.
- Crab or lobster, depending on the season and location
- Smoked salmon or other cured fish
- Grilled or battered fish fillets — often snapper, barramundi, or flathead
- Sometimes mussels, scallops, or calamari for extra variety
- Accompanied by fresh bread, lemon wedges, sauces, and sometimes salad
20. Wine and Cheese
There's nothing better than a good glass of wine paired with the right cheese. You can expect this kind of thing to be served by Australia's Michelin-starred chefs.
While we could dedicate an entire article to Australian wine, start with the following if you're just getting started:
- Barossa Valley (South Australia) — known for robust Shiraz
- Yarra Valley (Victoria) — famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- McLaren Vale (SA) — home to bold reds and stunning scenery
- Hunter Valley (NSW) — renowned for Semillon and Shiraz
of the country's wine.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
