If you’re heading on an adventure to the ‘Land Down Under’ and you’re a foodie then you’re likely searching for foods to try in Australia. One of the best things about traveling is trying the local delicacies and iconic foods available at your destination, particularly if you consider yourself a foodie.
Italy, France, and Thailand are considered some of the best places to find fresh produce and fine food, but Australia has earned a place on that list.
Australia’s food scene is a wonderful mix of fresh produce, indigenous ingredients, and international flavors. So why not make the most of your visit to Australia and indulge in the country’s famous cuisine?
Here are six foods to try in Australia to tick off your foodie bucket list when visiting Australia.
Here are 6 Foods to Try in Australia
Sample Fresh Seafood
Perhaps it goes without saying that one of the best foods to try in Australia is fresh seafood. Surrounded by oceans, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that Australia is home to some of the freshest and best-tasting seafood in the world.
You’ll be spoiled for choices when dining at the many seafood restaurants available in Australia: fish and chips, crayfish, oysters, prawns, and many other types of shellfish are readily available in most states.
Queensland is a popular tourist destination for families, backpackers, and foodies. When planning your trip down under, make sure you book accommodation on the Sunshine Coast.
This coastal city is home to a number of restaurants and bistros serving delicacies such as fresh-off-the-trawler Mooloolaba prawns and local reef fish.
Or, if you’re heading a little further down South, no trip would be complete without experiencing the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. As you make your way along this iconic Aussie road, make sure you stop off at the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-operative down by the water.
Founded in 1948 by local fishers, it’s still one of the best places to enjoy abalone, scallops, lobster, and snapper straight from the source.
Immerse Yourself In Cafe Culture
Have you ever wondered why the popular US coffee chain Starbucks never really took off in Australia? Two words: cafe culture. And the experience is a must for foods to try in Australia.
Australia is well known for its bustling cafes and laid-back attitude towards afternoon tea. If you’re planning to stay in Sydney, take some time to check out The Rocks, a historical district none too far from the city’s Central Business District but worlds away in terms of ambiance.
You’ll find all sorts of quirky little cafes and restaurants teeming with foods to try in Australia where you can start your Sunday morning right by enjoying smashed avocado on toast topped with a poached egg and a freshly brewed latte on the side.
Cafe culture is present Australia-wide, but if you had to pick which city does it best, it would have to be Melbourne. Try the iconic Saint Ali, a small coffee roastery located in the CBD.
It offers up to 15 different single-origin coffees and 50 blends daily, depending on what’s available.
Try Some of Australia’s Famous Wine
Next on our list of foods to try in Australia is wine, wine, and more wine. Australia is known for its wines, particularly with regard to the varietals produced in famous wine regions such as McLaren Vale, Great Western, and Barossa Valley.
You’ll find a range of different bottles and brands at all the best wine bars, supermarkets, import shops, and bottle shops across Australia.
Coffs Harbour in New South Wales is known as the “birthplace” of Australian wine production. You can find out more about this fascinating history by visiting the wineries that have been established here over time, including the Charlie Hall vineyard.
It’s also worth noting that Kooyong Creek in Victoria has been a popular site for winemakers since 1865. Surely, if you’re a foodie, then the wine is a must for you among foods to try in Australia.
Try ‘Bush Tucker’
If you’re looking for culturally authentic foods to try in Australia then you have to try ‘bush tucker’ on your visit.
Australia is a country with a rich indigenous history and culture. The Aboriginal people, who have lived in Australia for at least 60,000 years, survived off native flora and fauna for generations, or what’s sometimes known as bush tucker.
If you’re planning to go on a trip to Australia, why not try out some indigenous delicacies? You’ll never know until you give it a whirl. In the land Down Under, kangaroo is a popular dish.
Kangaroos are native to Australia and are usually roasted over an open fire with vegetables such as pumpkin and yams.
Many 5-star Australian restaurants also draw inspiration from bush tucker. Ochre restaurant in Cairns has a long history of utilizing indigenous ingredients.
So if you’re the adventurous type of foodie, why not try their emu wantons, green ant gravlax, or wattleseed pavlova?
Tuck Into A Famous Aussie BBQ
Paul Hogan, aka Crocodile Dundee, said it best in 1990 when he told future visitors to “put another shrimp on the barbie.” When it comes to foods to try in Australia, no culinary experience is complete without indulging in this cooking custom.
Whether it’s done on a barbie (a small portable BBQ grill) or in the fireplace, enjoying lamb chops, sausages in bread, and chicken skewers is a must-do for any foodie traveler.
Dine at an Award-Winning Restaurant
Don’t get me wrong, there are a huge number of ‘hole in the wall’ style eateries in Australia where you can get a delicious meal at an affordable price. But Australia is also home to award-winning restaurants with some of the world’s best chefs cooking up little plates of heaven.
When it comes to foods to try in Australia, I highly recommend splurging on lunch or dinner at one of these fine dining establishments:
Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide
Recently dubbed restaurant of the year by Gourmet Traveller, at Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide you’ll be taken on a culinary journey of 20 different flavor combinations thanks to chef Justin James’ tasting menu.
The restaurant sits amongst the stunning 51-hectare Adelaide Botanic Gardens, which creates the perfect setting for enjoying the very best food and wine.
Vue de Monde in Melbourne
You can’t talk about fine dining in Australia without mentioning Vue de Monde. Located on the 55th floor of the iconic Rialto building, you can enjoy some of the best views Melbourne’s CBD has to offer while you dine.
Vue de Monde has been awarded a Michelin Star 6 times thanks to chef Chef Shannon Bennett’s commitment to creative cuisine using some of Australia’s best fresh produce. It’s a must for any fine dining enthusiast among foods to try in Australia.
Oncore by Clare Smyth in Sydney
Clare Smyth is the only British chef in the UK to hold 3 Michelin Stars, so when she opened her first international restaurant, Oncore, in Sydney, it was no surprise it quickly became a world-class dining destination and a must-do for any foodie traveling to Australia.
The menu boasts some of Smyth’s classic dishes, including ‘potato and roe’ – seaweed beurre blanc, herring, and trout roe that will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.
Dan Arnold in Brisbane
Brisbane native and Michelin star chef Dan Arnold launched this restaurant of the same name in 2018. Since then, it’s built a reputation as the go-to place for modern Australian cuisine with sophisticated flavors from around the world.
The three-course menu is always changing, so it’s the perfect place for foodies who are looking to try fine dining foods to try in Australia that are fresh and contemporary. Wine matching is also available for every course to bring out the full flavor of every dish.
In Closing
So there you have it, the best food in Australia. These six foods to try in Australia will prove to be an experience when visiting down under for foodies.
No matter where you plan to go, this popular destination is home to delicious food that is sure to please every kind of palette, so make sure you pack your appetite as well as your suitcase.
