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Thali

🇦🇺 The food of Australia

61 dishes from Australia, best known first, across 3 cities and regions.

Australian cooking brings together native ingredients, British traditions, and influences from many immigrant communities. Meals often feature meats like beef, lamb, and chicken, with barbecues and roasts being especially popular. Modern Australian cuisine blends European techniques with Asian and Mediterranean flavours, while bush foods and local produce add a distinct character.

  • Barbecued meat is closely associated with Australian food culture.
  • Australia leads the world in lamb and mutton consumption per person.
  • Chicken is the most eaten meat by weight in Australia.
  • Fish and chips shops often serve flake, a type of shark, instead of cod.
  • Modern Australian cuisine blends European and Asian influences.

The cooking of Australia

Australian cuisine is shaped by its Indigenous heritage, British colonial roots, and waves of immigration from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Early diets drew on native plants and animals, known as bush tucker, with methods like roasting over open fires. British settlers introduced wheat, beef, and sheep, making bread and meat central to meals. Later, Italian, Greek, Chinese, and other communities brought new dishes and flavours, leading to a diverse food culture. In recent decades, chefs have combined European cooking with Asian and Middle Eastern tastes, creating what is called Modern or Contemporary Australian cuisine.

Staple foods in Australia

Wheat-based bread, beef, lamb, and chicken are core foods, with dairy products like milk and cheese widely consumed. Vegetables and fruits, both native and introduced, are common, including apples, bananas, and stone fruits. Seafood is available but less central than meat. Bush tucker ingredients, such as macadamia nuts and native berries, are used in some dishes but are not everyday fare for most Australians.

Lunch in Australia 29 dishes

Lunch at pubs, known as counter lunches, often includes steak and chips, chicken parmigiana, mixed grills, or roast meats with vegetables. Sandwiches made with smallgoods (cold cuts like ham, bacon, and salami) are also common. Lunch is typically a lighter meal than dinner but can be substantial, especially in social or pub settings.

From region to region in Australia

Food habits vary across Australia. In the north, tropical fruits are more common, while the south grows temperate fruits and vegetables. Queensland and New South Wales are known for beef and sugar cane, while Victoria focuses on dairy. Seafood preferences differ by region: southern states favour flake (gummy shark) in fish and chips, while northern areas feature barramundi. Indigenous bush foods also differ by local flora and fauna.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Australian cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Australia

Adelaide 2Queensland 1South Australia 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Doughnut 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSweet fried or baked rings or balls, often glazed or filled Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks CappuccinoVegetarian 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreEspresso with steamed milk and a thick layer of milk foam, served in a small cup Drink, Breakfast Phophở 🇻🇳 Vietnam and 5 moreVietnamese rice noodle soup with beef or chicken in aromatic broth Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Scone 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA quick bread, sweet or savoury, served with tea in Britain and beyond Bread, Tea time, Breakfast Bánh mì 🇻🇳 Vietnam and 5 moreA Vietnamese baguette sandwich with savory fillings and pickled vegetables Sandwich or wrap, Breakfast, Snacks Dim sum点心 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA variety of small Chinese dishes served with tea, often for brunch Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Hot cross bunVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreA sweet, spiced bun with a cross on top, eaten at Easter Bread, Breakfast, Snacks CrumpetVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreRound, spongy griddle bread with a porous top, often eaten toasted with butter Bread, Breakfast, Snacks PastizzVegetarianPastizzi 🇲🇹 Malta and 5 moreMaltese savoury pastry filled with ricotta or curried peas Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks Full breakfast 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreA hearty cooked breakfast plate with meats, eggs, bread and regional extras Main dish, Breakfast Cruller 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreDeep-fried twisted or ring-shaped pastry, often topped with sugar or icing Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.