Vegemite is a notoriously yeasty spread that can be found in nine out of ten pantries in Australia. It all began in 1922 when the Fred Walker Company (known today as Kraft Food Company) employed a chemist to invent a new spread from one particular ingredient that is rich in Vitamin B.
He called it Vegemite, a spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract, spices, and vegetable additives. Its texture is thick, gluey and dense, similar to peanut butter, while its color is dark red to brown, almost jet black. The taste is an acquired one, as Vegemite is extremely salty.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
SAO biscuits are Australian savory biscuits or crackers which have been trademarked by Arnott’s since 1904. According to the producer, these biscuits are made from seven layers of flaky pastry, and they have a distinctive light and bubbly texture.
Many generations of Australians are fond of these biscuits because of the small holes on their surface. When buttered and squeezed together, two biscuits produce ‘worms’ of butter which start to emerge from the tiny holes. The same effect is achieved if the filling includes Vegemite.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Spaghetti on toast is a unique creation consisting of canned spaghetti served on a piece of toast. The dish is regularly served as comfort food in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, either for breakfast or lunch. It is recommended to top the dish with some grated cheese before serving.
MOST ICONIC Spaghetti on Toast
Dolly Varden cake is an iconic cake that’s especially popular at children’s birthdays in Australia. The cake was named after a character named Dolly in one of Charles Dickens’ novels (Barnaby Rudge) and the ensuing fashion style with bright colors, bold patterns, and different layers of fabric.
The earliest recipe for the cake calls for four layers: chocolate, a white layer made with egg whites, a rose layer made with cochineal, and a yellow layer made with egg yolks, along with the frosting. Once baked, the multi-colored layers are stacked to create a visually attractive cake, and nowadays the layers come in a variety of flavors and colors.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Dagwood dog is a popular Australian festival staple consisting of a hot dog on a stick that is dipped in batter, then deep-fried in hot oil. Before serving, the tip of Dagwood dog is typically dipped in tomato sauce, making it even tastier.
This savory treat is also known as Pluto pup and Dippy dog, depending on the region.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Hot Dog
MOST ICONIC Dagwood Dog
Fritz and sauce is a classic Australian sandwich that's especially beloved by children. It consists of two slices of bread, a bit of tomato sauce, and fritz. Fritz is a type of sausage made of beef, lamb, and pork trimmings, starch, flour, and seasonings.
The bread is buttered, then topped with the fritz slices and sauce. The sandwich is completed with the second slice of bread on top. Fritz is a tribute to the large number of German settlers in South Australia, and this sandwich is usually prepared for school lunch or an afternoon hike.
MOST ICONIC Fritz and Sauce
Vegemite on toast is an authentic Australian breakfast food, and very polarizing at that, since people either love it or hate it. However, Australians love it, as Vegemite is an ingredient that is in nine out of ten pantries in Australia. It all began in 1922 when the Fred Walker Company (known today as Kraft Food Company) employed a chemist to invent a new spread from one particular ingredient that is rich in Vitamin B.
He called it Vegemite, a spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract, spices, and vegetable additives. Its texture is thick, gluey and dense, similar to peanut butter, while its color is dark red to brown, almost black. The taste is an acquired one, as Vegemite is extremely salty.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Yo-yo biscuits are South Australian shortbread cookies made with flour, butter, milk, eggs, and honey. They were originally invented by Menz Company, but today the biscuits are produced by a company named Arnott's. They have a crumbly texture and are often arranged as a sandwich with a dollop of buttercream in the middle.
MOST ICONIC Yo-Yo Biscuits
Continental roll is an Australian sandwich influenced by Italian cuisine. The sandwich consists of a crusty and chewy bread roll filled with cheese, Italian cold cuts (usually mixed meat – mortadella, salami, and coppa) and a variety of condiments.
Pickled eggplants and sun-dried tomatoes are the most common condiments, but there is also a choice of typical Australian ingredients such as grated carrots and beetroots. The sandwiches are traditionally sold at delis and lunch bars, and they usually can't be found in supermarkets.
MOST ICONIC Continental Roll
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
A pie floater is an Australian dish that is most commonly consumed in Adelaide and Sydney. It consists of a traditional Australian meat pie that is usually submerged upside-down in green pea soup. It is believed that the origins of the dish lie in traditional English dishes of pea soup with eel and suet dumplings (dumplings in soups were known as floaters).
The usual accompaniments to a pie floater include tomato sauce or mint sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or malt vinegar. Pie floater has an impressive history that can be traced back to over 130 years. It was invented in Port Pirie, South Australia in the 1890s by a bakery operator named Ern "Shorty" Bradley.
MOST ICONIC Pie Floater
View more
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “28 Worst Rated Australian Foods” list until April 20, 2025, 2,596 ratings were recorded, of which 2,291 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.