I didn’t appreciate the food in Australia when I studied abroad here. In fact, I didn’t like it all. I found most places we went out to dinner overpriced for small portions, and the food was underwhelming in general. I had a couple of memorable meals, but left Australia thinking it was not a country known for its cuisine.
Moving back here it has been a different story. I feel that I’ve unlocked a whole new world of dining out. I’ve tried new foods here for the first time (like Laksa) and have started to appreciate things that are unique or popular in Australia.
Here are a few of my favourite “good eats” that can be found in lovely Sydney and all around Australia.
It’s a world of new noodles in Sydney. All different types of different and delicious noodles that I’ve come to love and so many I’ve yet to discover. I was especially impressed by the Pork spare rib ramen at Gumshara. I don’t know how I went so long without ever having Laksa before. I now celebrate Laksa Thursdays so I have an excuse to have it weekly!
Dumplings at Din Tai Fung have redefined what I thought dumplings could taste like. The Ayam Goreng (Malaysian style friend chicken) from Mamak is some of the best fried chicken I’ve had. Roti was another great new food discovery. I get hungry thinking about it.
Weekend brunch must be my favourite meal in Australia. It’s all wonderful, including everything from bacon and egg rolls to the full Aussie breakfast with eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, toast and tomato. There is a beautiful coffee culture here and I love enjoying a flat white with brekkie.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll appreciate Australian chocolates. I love Cadbury’s Giant Buttons, and Arnott’s Mint Slice. Try Pavolova, it’s uniquely Australian. Macaroons are delicious little cookies that are all the rage here lately. I had my first Adriano Zumbo macaroons from his shop in Manly a couple months ago. It melts in your mouth. My favourite macaroon so far was in Melbourne at Scocolate. They won an award for Melbourne’s best chocolate macaroon last year (and it’s well deserved).
I enjoy some of the quicker to-go options here as well. Fish and chips on a summer day next to the beach puts a smile on my face. I like a “sausage sizzler” grilled up by the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club on a Saturday.
This is just a snap shot of the good eats in Australia. I can’t believe I used to tell people I didn’t like the food in this country. What was I thinking?
What are your favourite foods and restaurants in Sydney and around Australia?
Hannah DeMilta 
Oh YUM, Hannah! What a fantastic list!
Have you ever visited Manly Italian? Their food is absolutely sensational.
Not yet, but I should. Thank you for the recommendation!
I don’t seem to eat Italian food as much here. I did have a really good Italian in Leichhardt with a friend.
it’s been awhile since I’ve had Australian cuisine but I remember loving Tim Tam cookies.
Ah yes, I was just discussing with a friend at brunch this morning how Oreos to Americans are comparable with Tim Tams to Australians. Definitely a classic and fave!
Yum. The portion size thing is something a few of my American friends have spoken about… But I guess it’s about what you grew up with. I always feel filthy when I see a big plate of food that I know I won’t be able to eat! Almost vulgar 🙂
As for good eats, there are a few. I like black star pastry and campos coffee in newtown, bourke st bakery and pizza mario in surry hills, coalfax chocolates in haberfield and cafe sopra in Potts point!
I want to visit all those places Adam — let’s go!
Yum!! I am already hungry for breakfast so your post is the final nudge to get me out of bed…and I have Oz to thank for breakfast too (ricotta hotcakes!).
I had my first laksa and roti there too — and I wonder where they have been all my life!
Next time you go to Zumbo, have a macaron for me 🙂
I just had ricotta and berry hotcakes this morning as well. I was surely have a macaroon and think of you next time I’m at Zumbo Heather!
Oh my goodness – I feel like we failed you when you studied here then. o leaving not thinking this was a foodies paradise… Altho you did study abroad on the Goldie! 😉
I think part of the issue was being on the GC, part of it was being with a bunch of friends who were also not local. I’m lucky in Sydney to have my friends who live here to make recommendations and take me new places. We stuck with what we were familiar with mostly. A lot of burgers, pub food, Italian and the occasional Thai place. It gets old.
Pies Pies Pies. How I miss you! Harry de Wheels will be the first place I head to the next time I step off a plane in Australia.
totally – i mean i lived in boston 5 years and then when i got back here to sydney – i rented an apartment near coogee beach – and ate meat pies for breakfast every day – and sydney rock oysters at night – of course washed down with lashings of beer … etc..
pavlova is uniquely NZ! Please don’t tell me you have been brainwashed into thinking the australians invented it! check out wikipedia for the background on the debate..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)
my mum makes the best pavlova ever. kiwi fruit on top with crushed up cadbury flake…
That sounds delish, and yes – apparently I have been fooled. I was told it was uniquely Australian 🙂