There is no question that the food is wonderful in Australia – but if you’re wondering what some of the classic foods from Australia are, then this post will help.

12 Classic Australian Foods you need to try

1. Chicken parma

This hugely popular Aussie meal won’t go down in history as being the most flavoursome thing you’ll ever eat. But, it is oh so satisfying and comforting.  

The classic chicken parmigiana (it’s no surprise we’ve shortened its name to just chicken parma) is best served from the kitchen at an Aussie pub.

Also, it tastes best alongside a pot of cold beer.

A chicken parmigiana is a chicken fillet, bashed a few times to flatten it out, and make it bigger. It’s then prepared by dusting in flour, egg wash and covering in breadcrumbs and then shallow fried in oil.

Once it’s golden brown, it’s covered with homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese and then grilled until it’s melted. Sometimes a piece of crispy bacon or a few slices of ham is added to the mix too.

A chicken parma is usually served with chips and salad. Take it from me, this is going to be a super filling meal – so arrive hungry!

2. Meat pie

This is THE classic Australian food you must try while here. Aussies love meat pies and would put it on the top of the list of foods from Australia you need to try.

Don’t waste your time and try just any meat pie, ask a local where you can find a great pie. They’ll probably direct you towards a bakery, small cafe, or corner store.

An Aussie meat pie is a savoury meal and it’s most popular at lunchtime. You’re in luck if you can get one that has just come fresh from the oven.

There are many fillings to choose from, yet the most common is minced beef or chunks of steak with gravy. For the adventurous, the standard fillings of steak often come with onion, pepper, or mushrooms too.

Nowadays, fillings for pies are becoming super fancy! Think lamb and rosemary, roast chicken and vegetables, and even Indian-style buttered chicken or lentil and spinach too.

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3. Fish & chips

I have to admit it, we cook fish and chips pretty well in Australia. It makes sense that it’s on our list of classic Australian foods.

Our country is completely surrounded by the ocean, so the fish is usually freshly caught that day. 

There’s nothing better than going for a weekend away to one of the smaller coastal towns or these 8 best beaches in New South Wales in Australia to order fish and chips, then enjoy it on the beach. You can unwrap your meal right there and enjoy it as you watch the sun go down.

Just watch out for those cheeky seagulls! (sea birds in Australia).

Your fish will typically be battered and deep-fried. If you prefer it grilled, you can ask the shop to prepare it this way instead, no worries. If you really want to pimp out your first Aussie fish and chips experience, order a few fried dims sims and potato cakes too. 

4. Vegemite on toast

You either love it or hate it, but most Aussies have grown up with this stuff and we love it! No visit to Australia is complete without having tried vegemite at least once.

So what is vegemite? It’s a dark paste made from leftover brewers yeast extract with different vegetable and spice additives.

It’s kind of similar to marmite in the UK, but let’s not get into that debate between Brits and Aussies about which one tastes better; we’d be here all day.

The most popular way to enjoy vegemite is on toast with loads of butter. You can also spread it on bread or even dry biscuits too. The secret here is in the application of the vegemite.

Don’t overload your toast with too much of the stuff. It can be overbearing as the flavour is quite savoury and a little salty.

I’d recommend a ‘dabbing action’ and apply it in small amounts. Once you’re on board as a ‘happy little vegemite’ (the initial ad campaign in Australia for marketing vegemite to the nation, listen here), you’ll be adding it to other food too.

I eat vegemite with melted cheese, and avocado, I sometimes add a small spoonful to stews and sauces to add depth of flavour.

Vegemite can be purchased from any supermarket in Australia in a number of different-sized jars. We love the stuff so much that they also produce it in a travel-sized tube to take on holiday.

You can always spot an Aussie at the breakfast buffet carrying the bright yellow tube of vegemite. 

5. Pavlova

Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to being the creators of this famous dessert. It’s usually Christmas or special occasions when you’ll see this eye-catching delight adorn the kitchen table.

Crispy meringue crust under fruit filling of strawberries, mangoes, kiwi fruit, passionfruit and fresh whipped cream on top. It’s pretty special. 

Either way, you could say pavlova is one of the famous foods from Australia & NZ.

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6. Sausage roll

Sausage rolls are another lunchtime favourite and the best ones can be found in small family-run bakeries. A sausage roll is made of minced sausage meat, wrapped in puff pastry and baked until perfectly golden. You know you’re onto a good thing when the pastry is nice and flaky.

I’ve eaten some of the best sausage rolls in Australia in Cairns, Queensland. Check out my post on the 12 best cheap eats in Cairns.

Sausage rolls have really kicked it up a notch over the past decade, with so many new flavour creations. I’m talking flavour combinations such as lamb, rosemary and pine nuts or feta, spinach and pumpkin and pork and fennel, to name a few.

Add a dollop of homemade chutney to your sausage roll or just stick with the standard tomato sauce on top.

Don’t miss these classic foods from Australia during your visit.

7. Burger with the lot!

When we ask for a burger with the lot in Australia, we ask you to load it up with absolutely everything!

We know it’s going to be an absolute mission to try and squash that burger enough to get our mouths around it, but maybe that’s the thing…the challenge? 

A burger with the lot is typically a grilled beef patty with all the usual suspects. Tomato, lettuce, and cheese on a white burger bun. It’s always topped with a fried egg, sliced beetroot and pineapple (from a can), and then the sauce of your choice.

You can find a good burger with the lot from most ‘fish and chip’ shops or small cafes and take-away fast food shops. The Boathouse restaurant in Yeppoon, Queensland, makes one of the best burgers ever!

Read more on our list of best places to eat in Yeppoon.

8. Lamingtons

The lamington is a generous-sized, square-shaped sponge cake which has been dipped in chocolate and then coated in desiccated coconut.

You can also find the famed lamington with cream or jam filling.

The best lamingtons can be found in small family-run bakeries or good cafes. And like any good cake, the lamington tastes best alongside a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Widely recognised as the ‘National Cake of Australia’, this treat is an Australian icon, named after Lord Lamington, a former Governor of Queensland.

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9. Snags

The ‘snag’ or sausage is what the bratwurst sausage is to the Germans or what the hotdog is to Americans. You can’t leave the country without trying this classic Australian food.

Honestly, it’s such a simple thing to cook, no actual skill is required.

A snag is simply a grilled sausage from the local supermarket (you can purchase them in a bulk-size packet for a very affordable price).

It’s served in a slice of white bread, a few charred onions on top, and ketchup too.

If you’re keen to sample a typical Aussie sausage sizzle, head down to Bunnings on the weekend. Bunnings is one of Australia’s biggest hardware stores. Y

You can ‘grab an Aussie snag’, freshly grilled from the BBQ, charred onions, and all from the tent at the front of the store for a few dollars.

Alternatively, you’ll always find a bunch of grilled snags at an Aussie BBQ because kids love them. They’re also cheap to buy. Those who love snags say that they taste bloody good when eaten cold too.

10. Arnott’s shapes

Arnott’s is a biscuit brand in Australia that is responsible for slinging out some of the most popular biscuits in the country. Whatever you do, make sure you pick up a ‘packet of shapes’ at some point during your visit to Oz.

Arnott’s Shapes are simply oven-baked savoury biscuits of different shapes and you can choose from a variety of flavours. Hands down, my favourite flavour since I was a child has to be BBQ shapes. Coming in at a very close second place would have to be Pizza Shapes.

The best part about a bag of shapes is getting to the bottom of the packet and finding all the seasoning resting at the bottom…yum!

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11. Tim tams

The Tim Tam is arguably Australia’s most loved chocolate biscuit. It consists of two malted biscuits separated by a light chocolate cream filling and coated in a thin layer of textured chocolate.

Because of its ongoing popularity, this biscuit is now sold worldwide. Nowadays, they come in the form of many great new flavours.

I love the ‘Original’ Tim Tam, but look out for the salted caramel and manuka honey biscuits, they’re fantastic.

12. Aussie BBQ

Australians enjoy spending time outdoors. If the weather is good, we love grilling food outside or inviting our mates for a BBQ.

You name it; almost anything and everything can be found on an Aussie BBQ grill. Pork/lamb chops, different cuts of steak, sausages, hamburgers, chicken pieces, and even seafood.

Additionally, we’ll grill thin slices of potato, and let’s not forget the onion. We love charred, almost burnt sliced onion that tastes good on anything.

This all tastes wonderful alongside cold salads such as coleslaw, potato salad, and green salad. There will always be an endless supply of white sliced bread. Don’t forget that Aussies love to put tomato sauce (ketchup) on everything.

And, if you’re visiting Australia to explore our beautiful country, don’t miss our 9 top tips for doing the Big Lap of Oz. Imagine all of the classic Australian foods you could try on an Aussie road trip!

Is there anything you would add to our list of classic Australian foods?

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Travel Tips for Australia

You may be interested in reading our Ultimate Brisbane to Cairns 14-Day Road Trip Itinerary. We’ve got some great tips for doing the Big Lap of Oz, and we managed to see many of these iconic 30 best Big Things in Australia.

Some highlights of the trip were hiking around the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland. Check out our accommodation & camping guide for staying in the Park and don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Carnarvon Gorge, which lists all the best hikes!

There are so many great things to do in Yeppoon and a bunch of great restaurants and places to eat too.

And if you’re visiting the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands, here are 5 reasons why you need to Reefsleep on the Great Barrier Reef.

For more great tips and advice for travel in Australia, head to our AUSTRALIA page.