Classic Aussie Food: A Guide

Calling all foodies! Australian food isn’t all ‘shrimps on the Barbie’…

Here’s our ultimate guide to essential Australian food. From cupboard staples to Sunday afternoon favourites through to pub feeds, don’t forget to sample the classics.

Tim Tams

Popular with backpackers, kids, tourists and everyone all over Australia, the Tim Tam is the ultimate Aussie chocolate biscuit. Iconic for all Aussies, the Tim Tam has become a staple of Aussie cupboards, and they tend to go down a treat! They are packaged chocolate bars. Check out the confectionary aisle of any supermarket in Australia, and you’ll find them!

Vegemite

The condiment that divides a room, and the ‘coriander’ of Australian spreads.

Whether you enjoy it or not, trying vegemite has become a rite of passage for all tourists visiting Australia and soaking up the full Aussie experience.

Most people eat it on toast with lots of butter. Others eat it with avocado on toast. Perhaps you want a bit of cheese chucked in. It’s very salty, so some people like to balance it out with something a bit sweeter. Normally enjoyed on a cracker or toast, vegemite can be enjoyed in a whole variety of different ways.

Meat Pies

Pies are the highlight of any Aussie Road trip. Travel up the coast and you might start seeing croc pies! The country is kneaded with an array of pie shops that have become as essential to all Aussie towns, as much as a servo station or pharmacy would be too.

Make sure you sample a meat pie or two! They’re filling, warming and delicious.

Coffee

It might not be a ‘food’ but to Aussies, coffee is certainly as essential as eating!

Coffee is the life force of Melbourne, but it’s also well-loved everywhere else around the country. Melbourne coffee culture is internationally recognised, and it’s hard to get a bad cup of coffee in the Melbourne CBD. Countrywide, you’ll find coffee served pretty much anywhere.

Chicken Parmigiana

This is a classic Aussie pub grub dish. The chicken parmigiana (or ‘parmy’) is a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, ham and cheese. Normally served with salad and chips. Normally found at the pub. Order yourself a chicken parmy for an Aussie ‘pub feed.’

BBQ

Try and get yourself to an Aussie Barbeque while you’re in Australia!

There are heaps of free BBQ areas built into public picnic areas and parks, which means you’ll be able to cook yourself up a storm any day of the week.

Kangaroo

You’ll be able to find Kangaroo meat from any Aussie supermarket franchise. Otherwise, you can find it from a local butcher. Kangaroo is very high in protein and low in fat, so it’s quite a lean meat. Try kangaroo sausages for a different take on a hot dog, or cook up a kangaroo steak.

Battered Sav

Deep friend sav sausage that is covered in batter, it’s normally then covered in ketchup. These are a key staple of any Aussie fairground trip.

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward began with a passion for travel and turned it into a thriving tourism business. He co-founded Sightseeing Tours Australia after starting out as a tour guide in Melbourne. Cameron delights in helping visitors get the most from their trip to Australia. Whether he's leading tours or writing about his favourite places, Cameron loves sharing his local insight with fellow travellers.