36 Most Popular Australian Foods For Visitors In 2022

Don’t miss these delectable Australian foods when you come to this country! Aussie cuisine is really diverse and if you have enough time, you should totally try all of these dishes below! I’m sure that you will love all of them!

There are a lot of spectacular Australian dishes, but which one will be your favorite? Read this article, and you will discover the most typical and renowned foods from the hometown of kangaroo! Find out what they are right away!

Most Spectacular Australian Meat And Poultry Dishes

You may find some of the most unexpected types of meat in Australia, but they can be your favorite meat dish when you come to this country! Don’t hesitate to take a bite and you’ll be impressed by how they taste!

1. Kangaroo Meat

You may wonder why Australians eat their national animal, right? You should know that kangaroo is as juicy and tasty as any other type of meat that you have eaten! Kangaroo has become a staple protein source of indigenous Australians.

Kangaroo meat is uniquely lean as red meat. It is super low in fat content so you won’t have to worry about calories when eating it! Australians deal with kangaroo meat like other types of meat: they can marinate and sauté or make it into a steak if they want!

There is a typical belief that kangaroos cannot be eaten, but this meat is actually popular in Australia. Try this delicious and typical kangaroo and I’m sure you’ll be amazed!

Kangaroo meat may sound odd, but it is delicious and worth trying!

2. Crocodile Meat

Crocodile meat is available throughout Australia! The locals used to hunt crocodiles only for their skin to make leather accessories, but the Australian cuisine has developed so much that this white meat has become so famous in this country!

In Australia, they will make use of many cuts of the crocodile, such as steaks or ribs, and turn them into a perfect dish. One of the most common ways to cook crocodiles is to marinate the meat with citrus-based seasonings and bring it to fry on a pan.

3. Emu Meat

If you’ve ever searched for food names beginning with the letter E, you must have known about the emu – the largest native bird of Australia. 

Emu appears everywhere in the mainland of this country. It is a potential source of protein in Australian cuisine, which tastes somehow like beef or lamb. Unlike other types of poultry, the emu has red meat.

Australians can serve emu in many different ways. They can make it into steaks, wrap it with burger buns to create a perfect burger or roast it in a slow cooker for a delicious breakfast. There is also a type of meatloaf using ground emu instead of beef in Australia.

4. Barbecue Snag (Thick Australian Sausage)

Barbecue Snag is an Australian sausage type including pork, beef, or mutton. Australians likely serve these sausages between a hot dog bun with grilled onions and sauces (tomato sauce, mustard, BBQ sauce, etc.).

Barbecue Snag usually appears in a sausage sizzle, a community event in Australia and New Zealand. They usually sell these snags for fundraising in this grand event. The term “sausage sizzle” has also been used to call the Barbecue Snag itself since the 1980s.

5. Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Parmigiana, or Chicken Parmesan, is a poultry dish including chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs and dipped in tomato sauce and cheese. In Australia, its name may vary due to the region. The most well-known variants are “Parmi,” “Parma,” and “Parmy.”

This dish originates from American cuisine, and it is actually popular in American cities that consist of a huge number of Italian immigrants (New Jersey, New York, etc.).

You can order a dish of Chicken Parmigiana as a staple of pub food in Australia, along with a glass of beer. It is a perfect idea for a hearty Wednesday dinner. The locals will serve Chicken Parmigiana with chips and salad as a side under or next to the main ingredients.

See how this man prepares the Aussie Chicken Parmigiana dish!

6. Carpetbag Steak

Carpetbag Steak is a pleasant combination of beef and oysters covered in butter garlic sauce. This dish is popular in New Zealand and Australia. Especially in the 1950s and 1960s, it remarkably rose as a superstar dish in these countries!

Carpetbag Steak is from a fishing village named Mumbles in South Wales, UK. The latest Australian version will stuff fresh oysters inside a prime-cut beef steak and bring them whole to grill in an oven. Then, the cook will serve it with some Worcestershire sauce on top.

Most Scrumptious Australian Fish And Seafood

If you want a more refreshing meal for the dinner among thousands of Australian dinner recipes, take a look at the following fish or seafood dishes! Their names should totally stand in your must-try food list for the next trip to the homeland of kangaroos!

7. Sydney Rock Oyster

The Sydney Rock Oyster, whose scientific name is Saccostrea Glomerata, is an endemic oyster species of Australia and New Zealand. It is called the “jewels of the ocean” with its gorgeous appearance and lasting sweetness. It tastes best when freshly shucked.

Australians always consume Sydney Rock Oyster raw with a pop of vinegar or lime. If you want to cook it, just batter it with some flour and sauté it at low heat. Enjoy the oysters with a glass of Sémillon wine! They are a match made in heaven!

You can see this video to know more:

8. Moreton Bay Bug

Moreton Bay Bug is a marine crustacean with a large flat head and short narrow tail. You may mistake it with lobster from the first look, and it is also called Baylobster or Flathead Lobster. It is a popular seafood treat in Australia.

The edible part of Moreton Bay Bug is usually the flesh in its tail. The cook will chill them in the freezer for about 45 minutes, then bring them to poach, grill, steam, deep-fry, stir-fry to make soups, casseroles, curries, and many more.

9. Prawn Cocktail

Prawn Cocktail is a classic seafood dish for parties in Australia. It includes boiled prawns and cocktail sauce, served together in a glass. The special dipping sauce is a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise, and horseradish.

Prawn Cocktail’s origin traced back to the 19th-century when a California miner created a dish with oysters in a glass. This dish was a rising star from the 1960s to the 1980s, and it has kept its popularity since then.

10. Fish ‘N Chips

As its name suggests, Fish ‘N Chips basically include fried fish in batter and French fries. It is originally an iconic British dish before becoming popular worldwide. The first shop selling Fish ‘N Chips was by a Greek migrant named Athanasias Comino, who opened it in 1879.

Nowadays, there are approximately 4000 Fish ‘N Chips shops all around Australia. It is also a really popular name on the menu of most pubs and eateries in this country. Aussies usually use a catfish from the Mekong Delta called Basa to make the “Fish” part in this dish.

See how famous Fish ‘N Chips is in Australia!

11. Barramundi

Barramundi, also called Asian Sea Bass, is a versatile fish native to Australia and the Indo-Pacific. It is a catadromous fish from the Latidae family. Barramundi has a low content of calories but still consists of a large amount of Omega-3 and lean protein.

Aussies consume a massive number of Barramundi that they have to import the fish from other nations, which accidentally put pressure on the shoulders of Australian fishers and farmers. The locals also use Barramundi to make the former-listed Fish ‘N Chips.

Delectable Australian Savory Take-Away Foods

Australia is famous for take-away and convenience foods, which are also some of the best representatives of Australian cuisine. Among thousands of Australian lunch recipes and dishes, you can pick these delicacies for your meal! Enjoy the best Assie lunch ever!

12. Beetroot Burger

Beetroot Burger is a unique Australian burger with many toppings, such as blue cheese, fried eggs, avocado, pineapple, grilled onions, and of course, purple slices of beetroot. In Australia, burgers with beetroot reached their peak of popularity in the mid-20th century.

The standard recipe of Beetroot Burger includes meat and bacon, but there is also a famed variation for vegetarians and vegans. This wholesome version will not contain meat or egg but has nuts, beans, basic spices, and herbs.

13. Meat Pie

Meat Pie is a popular take-away snack in both Australia and New Zealand. The convenience version is palm-sized, and you can hold it with one hand. It has a flaky layer outside and a juicy filling inside containing minced meat, gravy, mushrooms, onions, and cheese.

This iconic pie is so famous in Australia that the Australians consider it their national dish! You can find Meat Pie everywhere throughout this country, from small unbranded outlets to huge branded bakeries and restaurants!

Let’s have a look at the following video!

14. Sausage Roll

Sausage Roll is the perfect kick-off for a new day among many Australian breakfast recipes! The cook will wrap fresh sausages from beef or pork with a flaky dough cover to create palm-sized buns and bring them all to bake in an oven.

Aussie will serve Sausage Roll with unique condiments such as barbecue dipping sauce or kewpie mayonnaise. It can be a convenient lunch or snack for your kids to enjoy during break time in school! Sausage Roll is also the favorite pastry of Aussie children!

15. Chiko Roll

Chiko Roll is another typical savory snack in Australia. The locals get inspired by the Chinese Spring Roll to make this dish. The filling usually has mainly barley and cabbage, carrot, beef, celery, and wheat cereal wrapped in a flour pastry.

Australians designed an innovative packaging for Chiko Roll with paper so that people could easily handle it at football matches. It has become a super famous take-away fast food throughout the country and even a significant cultural icon of Australia!

Chiko Roll has a significant relationship with the surf culture of Aussie. People sell it at the fish and chips shops or the corner kiosks by the beach for surfers to enjoy after a long surfing day!

16. Halal Snack Pack

Halal Snack Pack includes doner kebab with halal meat (chicken, beef, or lamb) and French fries topped with barbecue sauce, garlic, and chili. Sometimes, Aussies also add cheese, whilst yogurt, tabbouleh, and jalapeño peppers on top of the dish.

In Australia, you may find Halal Snack Pack in most menus under the shorter names like “snack box,” “snack pack,” “HSP,” or “mixed plate.” Its origin traced back to the 1980s right in Australia. A popular variation in Adelaide is the “AB” dish with gyro meat.

17. Continental Roll

Continental Roll, or Conti Roll, is another typical sandwich in Australian cuisine that adapts to Italian sandwiches. People will fill the bread roll with mixed meat (salami, mortadella, and coppa), cheese, dried tomatoes, pickled eggplants, beetroots, or carrots.

You may not find Continental Roll at the supermarkets since the locals usually sell it at lunch bars and delis. It first appeared in Australia when it was sold by Perth delis opened in 1936 named The Re Store. It started to gain fame when Di Chiera Brothers sold it in 1957.

18. Dagwood Dog

Dagwood Dog is the Australian version of hot dog sausage on a stick. The locals usually dip the sausage in the corn-based or wheat-based batter and then bring them to deep fry in boiling oil. They will then serve this hot dog with some ketchup as a dipping sauce.

Dagwood Dog originates from American cuisine. In Australia, you can also find Dagwood Dog under the names “Pluto Pup” or “Dippy Dog.” Its name may vary due to the regional conditions. Don’t be mistaken between Dagwood Dog and Battered Savv!

19. Fritz And Sauce

Fritz And Sauce is a classic sandwich in Australian cuisine that only includes white bread, Fritz, and some tomato sauce. It is the favorite sandwich of Aussie kids at school lunchtime! It is also a popular meal between the German settlers community.

The secret lies in Fritz. Fritz is a sausage including meat trimmings (beef, pork, lamb) with flour, starch, and spices. Fritz has other names in different regions, which are “Devon” in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, or “Polony” in Western Australia.

20. Dim Sim

Dim Sim is an Australian adaptation of Chinese’s Dim Sum, but they are deep-fried, not steamed. The size is also a big difference. Dim Sim is as large as half of the fist, while Dim Sum is much smaller. It is another favorite snack-on-the-go of Aussies!

The filling of Dim Sim often consists of minced meat, cabbage, and basic spices. The cook will coat the filling with a dumpling wrapper and make it into rectangular or circular shapes. It also has a vegetarian version with only carrot, vermicelli, and cabbage.

Australians used to serve Dim Sim to the gold miners in the 1800s with the mutton version. After that, a Chinese immigrant in Melbourne and an Australian superstar chef have made this dish so popular.

Best Australian Desserts And Sweet Pastries For You

Are you looking for great Australian dessert dishes to finish your perfect meal? Here are some best desserts and sweet pastries that you have to try at least once in your life! Trust me; if you have a sweet tooth, these food items will never disappoint you!

21. Pavlova

Pavlova is a famed dessert in Australia and New Zealand. Aussies make a Pavlova mixture from egg whites and bake it in a slow oven for a crisp crust outside. Then, the chef will top the baked item with whipping cream and a variety of tasty Australian fruits, most of which are berries.

It is named after Anna Pavlova, a renowned Russian ballerina. It was first a simple cream cake without an official name until the 1920s when it celebrated the dancer’s tours to Australia and New Zealand.

You may see Pavlova during summertime or on special occasions in Australia, especially on Christmas Day. But you can always find it in many supermarkets or bakeries around the country any time of the year.

22. Lamington

Lamington is a square sponge cake or butter cake bathed in chocolate sauce and coconut cravings. It is a national dessert in Australian cuisine. The original version of Lamington includes cream or strawberry jam filling in between the cake layers.

Like Pavlova, Lamington was named after Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland, in the final years of the 19th century. Today, it is an Australian iconic sweet treat that this country even has the National Lamington Day, which occurs annually on 21 July.

Let’s see this video:

23. Hot Jam Donut

Hot Jam Donut is a ubiquitous sweet cake all over Australia, especially in Victoria. You can find it in markets, food fairs, or food trucks. It is actually a variant of the jelly doughnut from America and Germany with the dough having more yeast.

Of course, Aussies will always serve the Hot Jam Donut hot or so warm that may burn your tongue if you don’t notice. It is also a great sweet pastry that you can enjoy while drinking coffee or tea in Australia.

24. Iced VoVo

Iced VoVo is an Australian biscuit that has a signature look with a red strip of raspberry jam and two pink strips of fondant icing. Aussies make it from wheat flour and top with shredded coconut. It is from a trademark called Arnott’s which was registered in 1906.

In 2007, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd mentioned Iced VoVo in his speech when he won the election. This event made the sweet treat so popular that there was a rise in Iced VoVo sales that year!

25. Pikelet

Pikelet is simply the Australian version of pancakes, but they are much thicker and smaller than the original edition from France.

The recipe for Pikelet is nearly the same as American pancakes with baking powder, milk, eggs, sugar, and self-raising flour. Compared to the American pancake, Pikelet’s batter is somehow thicker than that. Therefore, when it rises on the pan, it becomes heavier.

The toppings of Pikelet also include the most basic food items like jam, fruits, whipped cream, syrup, sugar, chocolate sauce, or whatever you like. Aussies like to have Pikelet in morning or afternoon tea.

26. Cruffin

Australian Cruffin is a combination of a muffin and a croissant. It originates right in Melbourne, Australia with the first version invented by Lune Croissanterie for Everyday Coffee in 2013.

The cook will prove and bake the layered dough in a mold for a muffin. When the dough is ready, they will fill it with jams, creams, curds, or custards and decorate it with a layer of powdered sugar. Enjoy the beautiful pastry with a cup of tea, and you’ll be amazed!

27. Yo-Yo Biscuit

Yo-Yo Biscuit is a classic dessert in Australia. It is called Yo-Yo for the appearance that looks pretty like the old version of the yo-yo toy. The “biscuit” part consists of custard powder, icing sugar, butter, vanilla, and flour, while the filling includes a 3-ingredient buttercream.

Custard powder is the secret weapon of Yo-Yo Biscuit since it makes the biscuits creamier and tastier than the typical baking powder. It also gives the sweet treats a beautiful yellowish color! So if you are going to make Yo-Yo Biscuit by yourself, don’t replace custard powder.

28. Fairy Bread

Fairy Bread is undoubtedly the most colorful dessert in Australia! It contains slices of white bread coated with butter and topped with solid layers of tiny rainbow-colored chocolate balls called “Nonpareils” or “Hundreds and Thousands.”

Aussie first witnessed the appearance of Fairy Bread in Hobart Mercury, an Australian daily newspaper, in 1929. This dish is truly the best sweet favor for the kids – they love it! The name “Fairy Bread” could come from a Robert Louis’s poem for children in 1885.

Everyone from young to old in Australia so adores Fairy Bread that this country even has a special day to celebrate this dish on 24th November annually!

29. Tim Tam

You may have heard about Tim Tam before! It is the brand of the all-time favorite chocolate biscuit of Australians. Arnott’s, the famed Australian biscuit company, first introduced Tim Tam in 1964. It was also the creation of Arnott’s former food technology director.

Tim Tam has a lot of variants that Arnott’s launched. In the 2000s, they introduced new versions of Tim Tac with different flavors such as dark or white chocolate, chocolate mint, chocolate orange, caramel, and honeycomb.

There is an enjoyable activity using Tim Tam called Tim Tam Slam! Using Tim Tam as a straw, a person will drink a hot beverage, such as hot cocoa. In one of their advertising campaigns in 2002, Arnott’s named this activity “Tim Tam Suck” to attract customers.

30. Anzac Biscuit

Anzac Biscuit is a typical type of sweet biscuit in Australia and New Zealand. Its original recipe first showed up in St Andrew’s Cookery Book published in 1921. It includes rolled oats, flour, butter, sugar, golden syrup, and coconut.

Do you know that Anzac Biscuit was invented during World War I? The very first version sent to soldiers was hard as a rock to lengthen the shelf life of the biscuits, so it is not really easy to eat. Fortunately, the present version is much softer and easier to absorb!

Fans of authentic Australian cookies cannot miss these crumbly biscuits. In fact, if you ever ask an Australian to name a cookie most famous in their country, the chances are that the answer they give you will be “Anzac Biscuit”.

31. Golden Gaytime Ice Cream

Australia is home to various delicious kinds of ice cream, and Golden Gaytime is a popular one that everyone craves! You cannot miss these freezing sweet treats when in Australia! 

It was first released in 1959 and has maintained popularity ever since. It is a toffee wrapped in vanilla biscuit crumbs.

Golden Gaytime consists of thousands of flavors for you to pick out! From the basics like strawberry and chocolate to more signature flavors like Unicorn, Piña Colada, Krispy Kreme, Birthday Cake, etc., you can choose anything you like or even combine them.

Recently, this trademark name has been controversial when the LGBTIQ+ community sends requests to both keep and change the name that mentions one of their sexual orientations.

32. Neenish Tart

If you are really into eating tarts, Neenish Tart is for you! It has a pastry base in the bottom and a sweet filling inside, including mock cream, icing sugar paste, gelatine-set cream.

The chef will decorate the tart with the dried icing in two different colors, which are usually the combination of white and brown or pink and brown.

Another version of filling may include butter, sweetened condensed milk with a squeeze of lemon, wrapped with a short pastry crust. There is also a Neenish Tart edition named Pineapple Tart in Australia with passionfruit icing and pineapple jam included in the filling.  

Most Tempting Australian Drinks You Have To Try!

Besides having the most tasting dishes ever, “the Land Down Under” also has its fair share of irresistible Australian beverages.

Aussies enjoy drinking beer, wine, coffee, and other drinks! If you want to fully experience becoming an authentic Australian, you should drink what they drink, too!

33. Australian Beer

Australians love to drink beer! Australian beer has a long history since the 18th century. The first official brewer was John Boston with the very first beer version including Indian corn with cape gooseberry leaves. More versions of beer have been developed since then.

Nowadays, if you visit Australia, you may easily come across a popular beer brand named Victoria Bitter, or VB for short. Aussie will sell this beer with a CO2 gas chamber that has been cooled for 8 hours beforehand. How cool is that?

You may also want to try Australian specialty beers that contain a large number of ales. Both microbreweries and major brewers will produce these types of beers.

34. Australian Wine

Have you known that Australia is one of the biggest exporters of wine? The Australian wine industry is a grand contributor to the economy of this country. Thousands of vineyards throughout Australia are located in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, etc.

Want to know the best wine varieties in Australia? The most outstanding wine names are Shiraz, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. They are usually named after the grape variety that they are made of.

After your big meal, drinking a glass of wine is a really great and “Aussie” idea!

Want to know more about Australian wine? Here you go!

35. Flat White Coffee

Flat White is the most famous Australian local coffee drink. It includes espresso with steamed milk, also called microfoam. The barista will decorate the top surface with velvety and foamy milk.

People may mistake Flat White with Cappuccino or Latte, but this actually has less bubbly and airy froth on top. Flat White was invented in the 1980s, but its origin is still a mystery since New Zealand also claims that it first appeared in their country.

36. Milo

Milo is definitely the favorite drink of Aussie kids! It is a malted powder that consists of chocolate flavors. Nestlé, the worldwide famous beverage brand, sells this product around the world.

Milo is similar to cocoa powder, but it is much sweeter. Besides drinking it as-is, you can integrate the chocolaty powder into an array of tasty sweet treats. For example, Postre De Milo is a brilliant Colombian dessert that combines Milo and pudding.

Milo was created in 1934 by Thomas Mayne, the Australian chemist working at Nestlé. The company launched it for the first time at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. This drink aims to help the children absorb enough nutrients to grow up conveniently.

Eat And Drink In Aussie Style, Will You?

When you are a traveler, it’s nothing better than experiencing what the locals eat and drink in their country! I hope you may somehow know a little more about Australian cuisine with thousands of extraordinary dishes with the above list!

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