A Guide to Australian Food

Vegemite

Vegemite is an Australian food product made famous by the Men at Work song “Down Under.” This Australian edible is actually a paste-like spread made by Kraft. It's salty tasting and somewhat bitter. Its ingredients are brewer’s yeast extract and a mixture of vegetable and spices. Vegemite gets spread on everything from toasted bread slices and sandwiches to crackers, biscuits, and even crumpets.

Foodie Tip: Large quantities of vegemite can be perceived as tasting “terrible” or “disgusting,” but in moderation, vegemite is a great addition to any snack or meal.

Dim Sim

The Dim Sim may have an Asian-sounding name, but it's an Australian food inspired by the Chinese dumplings with a similar moniker. Dim sims are stuffed with pork or some other type of meat, and this Australian food is steamed, deep fried, or barbequed. Their skins are thicker than their Chinese counterparts, and they are easy to find at Chinese take-away shops, fish and chip stands, and many other places that sell quick snack bites.

Chiko Roll

The Chiko Roll is an iconic Australian food similar to an Asian spring roll. The Australian version is a deep friend snack, with a dough crust and a filling typically made of spices, beef, barley, onion, celery, green beans and carrots. This Australian food is eaten with your hands, not silverware, and is a very popular snack.

Australian Burger

Australians love a good burger, but an authentic Australian food version differs from typical American fare. When you're eating Australian food, don't be surprised if your beefy burger is topped with pickled beets, grilled pineapple ring, mayonnaise and a fried egg to top it all off. You can easily find American-style burgers at fast food stands, but Australian burgers are offered at many fish and chip shops if you have an adventurous palate.

Kangaroo Meat

No animal is as readily associated with Australia as the kangaroo, and these marsupials are also an Australian food item for the gastronomically curious. While kangaroo is not a commonly eaten staple, you can find this Australian food pretty easily as sausages and various cuts of meat.

Fairy Bread

Don't be surprised if you're at a party and see a colorful Australian food called fairy bread. This kids' treat consists of triangular slices of bread, slathered with butter and coated in colored nonpareils. This whimsical goodie is especially popular at children's parties.

Chocolate Bars

There are many interesting chocolate bar varieties in Australia, so save room for some sweets when you try Australian food. Favorites include the Violet Crumble, with its honeycomb-like interior, the Tim-Tams layered chocolate biscuit bar, and the Cherry Ripe, with its cherry and coconut filling. You can find a wide variety of Australian candy bars at various shops.

Now that you know the type of food you’ll be eating, check out the best Brisbane restaurants.