There’s no denying it, Australia is a melting pot of nationalities, cultures and customs. This is why we have practically every food you can think of on offer. Although we might not have a signature cultural cuisine – like Italy has its pasta or Spain has paella – Australia has no shortage of iconic snacks and unique dishes. So, we’ve rounded up the 25 most iconic Australian foods you have to try during your visit…
1. Vegemite Toast
You either love it or hate it, but this salty savoury spread is a national icon. For a real Aussie breakfast, pair it with avocado, salt and pepper on toast, which makes a surprisingly delicious combo.
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2. Meat Pies
These hot, flaky packages are on the menu of every social party, sporting match and are even acceptable for a hearty breakfast after a big night out. Try a classic Meat Pie with tomato sauce from the local bakery or service station. Or sample one of our many, many other popular types of pies like Beef Curry Pie, Butter Chicken Pie, Chicken & Leek Pie – or any other version you can find! Pie is always a good idea in Australia.
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3. Tim Tams
These much-loved chocolate-malted biscuits are now sold around the world due to their addictiveness. Do the ‘Tim Tam Slam’ by biting a corner off the top and opposite bottom side of the biscuit, then use it like a straw to drink a warm glass of milk or hot chocolate. You’ll thank us.
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4. Fairy Bread
A childhood classic at every kid’s birthday party (that we still wouldn’t refuse as adults), fairy bread is made from three simple ingredients: white bread, butter and hundreds and thousands (rainbow sprinkles).
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5. Fish & Chips
Nothing beats fresh fish and chips, with a lemon wedge and some chicken salt, when you’re down by the beach. Try the popular Australian fish barramundi, named from the Aboriginal language meaning ‘large-scaled river fish’ or sample some calamari rings AKA squid rings coated in crispy batter.
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6. Chicken Parmigiana
Despite its Italian name, the “parma” is an Aussie pub classic that consists of a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, ham and melted cheese. Served with crunchy hot chips and a side salad barely anyone eats, the Chicken Parma is the ultimate comfort dish.
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7. Pavlova
Pavlova is Australia’s national dessert, made of a soft filling and crisp meringue crust, topped with whipped cream and seasonal fresh fruits like banana, passionfruit, kiwi fruit and strawberries. Australia and New Zealand have a long-running dispute over who invented the dessert – but we Aussie’s claim it to be ours, regardless.
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8. Lamingtons
These square sponge cakes are Australia’s next most-cherished cake – often filled with jam and cream, the sponge is then coated in chocolate icing and dusted with coconut.
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9. Aussie BBQ
Sausages, pork, lamb, steak, you name it – Australians sure know how to barbeque up a feast. But I’m not sure where the infamous saying “chuck a shrimp on the barbie” came from because:
A) we call them prawns
B) I’ve never seen an Australian actually BBQ them!
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10. Golden Gaytime
Arguably Australia’s most-loved ice-cream, the Golden Gaytime has a vanilla and toffee ice-cream centre, dipped in chocolate and coated in biscuit crumbs. Nothing beats one of these ice creams on a hot summer day.
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11. Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koalas
These little chocolate frogs and koalas are made from the best of the best, Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate. They come in a range of delish flavours like strawberry, peppermint, pineapple and popping candy, too, though the plain Freddo Frog and gooey caramel Caramello Koalas are the most iconic.
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12. Pods
Pods are crunchy yet gooey bites of heaven with Mars Bar, Snickers or Twix filling. Shockingly, you’ll only find them in Australia and New Zealand.
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13. Snags
“Snags” or sausages are Australia’s version of the USA’s hotdog. Our version is simply a slice of white bread paired with a sausage and whatever sauce you fancy, and even caramelized onions if you want to be fancy. Head to the hardware store Bunnings Warehouse on the weekend to find yourself an iconic sausage sizzle.
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14. Arnott’s Biscuits
Arnott’s is the brand responsible for our beloved Tim Tams, but they also make other favourites like Mint Slices and Tiny Teddys. Buy an assorted biscuits pack to taste all the classics. They also have a range of savoury biscuits called Shapes that come in moreish flavours like Pizza, BBQ, Cheese and Bacon, and Chicken Crimpy. Every Aussie kid knows what it’s like to find a packet of Shapes or Tiny Teddies in their lunch-box, and it’s still the ultimate road trip snack.
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15. Fantales
These are extremely chewy caramel lollies coated in milk chocolate. The best part is their wrappers – each one comes with a different movie trivia question. It now comes in an ice cream flavour, too!
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16. Caramel Slice
This treat has a simple biscuit base with soft caramel filling and a thick dark chocolate top – all the ingredients for a recipe of success. It would be un-Australian for you to not indulge in one while you’re here! They’re easy to find to, with most Hot Bread shops and cheap bakeries selling them for just a couple of bucks.
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17. Milo
Milo is a malt drink powder which, when added to milk, makes a delicious, chocolatey, crunchy beverage. Ignore the tin’s recommendation of one scoop PER serving – you’ll want to add as much as possible to your glass of milk! During the cooler months, you can heat it up and enjoy a hot mug of Milo to keep you comfort.
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18. Bowen Mangoes
Australia has an amazing variety of tropical fruits, especially in the summer. There’s nothing better than a ripe, juicy mango to cool you down on a scorching day. We have a LOT of varieties, but the Bown – or Kensington Pride – is one of the most popular types to enjoy. There’s even a giant Bowen Mango statue in Queensland, made in honour of this perfect fruit…
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19. Bubble O’Bill
When a mango won’t do the trick on a summer’s day, you need a Bubble O’Bill. It’s an amazing blend of strawberry, caramel and chocolate ice-cream on a stick and it’s a classic Australian food. The ice cream is in the shape of a cowboy – Mr Bill himself – with a bubble gum ball for a nose.
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20. Twisties and Cheezles
These are two types of cheesy flavoured potato chips, comparable to the likes of American Cheetos – but these Australian cheesy snacks are on a whole other level.
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21. Cherry Ripe
Australia’s oldest chocolate bar is one-of-a-kind. Cherry Ripe’s are a long dark chocolate bar with a cherry and coconut filling. They’re so popular, they now come as an ice cream, huge Cadbury Old Gold chocolate block and baked cheescake.
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22. Sausage Rolls
Australian sausage rolls are another lunchtime favourite, made of sausage meat wrapped in a flaky puff pastry. Much like pies, they’re perfectly paired with tomato sauce. For the vegetarians out there, the popular spinach and cheese rolls are just as good!
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23. Smashed Avo
Avocado on toast is a breakfast staple among Aussies, usually sprinkled with feta cheese, pepper, salt, olive oil, sesame seeds and sometimes topped with poached eggs. You’ll find it in nearly any breakfast or brunch cafe, with extravagant varietals served in each eatery
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24. Chiko Rolls
Inspired by the Chinese spring roll, Chikos are a fast-food consisting of deep-frying rolls of beef, cabbage, celery and veg. They’re typically eaten by surfers after a day at the beach and they’re sold at most of our fish & chip shops or corner stores.
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25. Kangaroo
Some might find it weird that Australians eat their national animal, but kangaroo is incredibly lean, delicious meat and is becoming increasingly common in shops and restaurants. It’s low in fat and high in protein, iron and omega-3. You can buy it in fillet steaks, sausages or minced meat.
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