This classic Aussie chicken dish – with roots in Italian-American cooking – is a staple offering at many pub menus in the country. Whether you call it a parmi/parmy or a parma (but never a parmo), there’s huge debate about where does the best parmigiana in Australia. One contender, in terms of the holy mix of size, quality, topping and chips, is the Corner Hotel in Alexandra, Victoria. Dating back to the gold rush era, this hotel has award-winning parmas that are huge, source free-range chickens and have a house secret crumb. Eight options ranging from traditional Australian to vindaloo and the double banger await those keen to explore this sensation.

It’s no surprise that Aussies love to grill, and nothing is more important to a good barbie than a decent sausage – whether you’re at a mate’s place or at your local Bunnings for a sausage sizzle. Traditional Australian sausages are usually pork or beef, but if you’re feeling adventurous, there are other animals to sample. Wrap a slice of bread around your snag and top it off with some fried onions and your favourite sauce. According to the Australian Meat Industry Council’s Sausage King competition, the best beef snags are found in Gatton, QLD, and the best pork bangers come from Mount Gambier, SA.

The lamington, often hailed as Australia’s “National Cake,” was voted an icon by the National Trust of Queensland. Named after Lord Lamington, a former governor with a noted sweet tooth, this simple square of sponge—dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut—has become a nationwide favourite. Variations include versions layered with cream or jam, which many consider essential. Perfect with a cup of bush tea or one of Melbourne’s renowned coffees, lamingtons are found in bakeries and cafés across the country. While believed to have first been served in Toowoomba, their popularity has spread far and wide, with Sydney’s Flour and Stone bakery often praised for making some of the best.

If tomato, lettuce, onions and a juicy meat patty just isn’t enough burger, then maybe you should try the Aussie gut-buster with ‘the lot’. Take a burger bun and stuff it with barbecued meat, salad, sauce and, for the Australian twist, add a slice of pineapple, some pickled beetroot and a fried egg. The perfect Australian food after a long day surfing or relaxing on the beach. Every city, or even suburb, claims to have the best burgers in Australia, so finding the very best is tricky. Somewhere to start your search may be Easey’s in Collingwood, Victoria, a bar and grill that regularly wins awards for this Australian cultural food.

Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to inventing this famous dessert, created in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova’s cultural visit to Australasia in the 1920s. As a truly Australian after-dinner sweet, the pavlova’s crispy meringue crust, light fruit filling and whipped cream topping ensure it’s a family hit. Australian food claims on this dish go back to the 1930s and Perth’s Esplanade Hotel. While that hotel no longer exists, the city still holds a strong claim on the dessert. Where you can find the best dish is still contested, but add your voice to the ongoing debate by trying the options at Whisk Creamery, C Restaurant in the Sky or The Treasury Lounge Bar.

An Australian comfort food, you may think that a pie’s a pie, available in any flavour with any filling. However, many would lay their lives on the fact that a traditional Australian pie should be hand-sized, filled with mincemeat and gravy, and topped with tomato sauce. A gourmet version with mashed potato and mushy peas is also popular, but any other variant surely falls under a different category. In 2024, the winner of the Great Aussie Pie Competition for ‘plain meat pie’ for chunky and mince pies was the Buddy Bakery Melton in Melton, VIC

Forget about fish and chips, feast on fresh Australian barramundi, a name which means ‘large-scaled river fish’ in the Aboriginal language in the Rockhampton area. Grilled, fried or seared skin-side first, it’s a much healthier alternative to battered fish, and a cultural Aussie meal. Whether you catch your own or sit back and let someone else take care of the hard work, heading up to Queensland gets you some of the best fish in Australia. Try somewhere like George’s Paragon Seafood Restaurant or The Barra Boys (both in Brisbane) to see how it should be cooked.

Vegemite on toast is a simple yet iconic Australian food, perfect for breakfast, lunch or a quick snack. Made from yeast extract rather than vegetables and often compared to British Marmite, it’s surprisingly versatile. Every Australian has their own take on the spread — from the butter-to-Vegemite ratio to toppings like cheese, avocado, or even honey. Core Espresso on Newcastle’s Darby Street famously served a deconstructed version, giving diners the chance to experiment and create their perfect bite.

Australian cuisine isn’t just about barbecued meats and fresh seafood — there are plenty of vegetarian favourites too, with pumpkin soup holding a special place on the menu. Best served in the colder months, and easiest to find when you head south, there’s something incredibly satisfying about a bowl of pumpkin soup eaten by the fire. Add a Granny Smith apple, which were first grown just outside of Sydney, for an authentic Australian dish. For a memorable bowl, head to the snowy slopes of Thredbo, where Avalanche Café has earned praise from visitors seeking a warming pumpkin soup.