Fun fact: As of the end of the 2024 financial year, there were close to 7,000 pubs, bars, and taverns in operation across Australia. And everything single one of them has lots of character and as well as enjoying a nice cold beer, glass of wine or mixed drink at them, they also offer some great food. Pub grub it is often called. Every town has a pub or two offering good Australian food. Whether it is your local pub you visit regularly or a new one as you live work and play in Australia, there are many meals that are regular food items. Here are some of my Aussie pub food favourites. What are yours?

Now I usually have a good glass of wine or a beer with my favourite Aussie pub food. Like many, I don’t eat out all the time, as I try to conserve costs by cooking my own meals while I travel. But otherwise you do find me eating at one of the many places to eat in Australia. 

Aussie Pub Food Favourites

Aussie Burger

Topping my list of Aussie pub food favourites is the hamburger and who doesn’t love a good Aussie burger! A classic burger consists of meat patty in a bun with salad, cheese and sauce. For non-meat eaters and vegetarians you can have a chicken or veggie patty. Sauce can be tomato sauce or ketchup or barbecue sauce. Burgers mostly come served with a side salad (sometimes) or chips. Chips of different sizes – skinny like fries or ‘fat’ like chips or even bigger like wedges. One of my favourite burger meals I’ve had is from the Coldstream Brewery, Coldstream, Yarra Valley, Victoria. The Yarra Valley is noted for being one of Australia’s premier wine regions but also has many pubs.

Chicken Parmigiana (Parma or Parmi)

Another of my Aussie pub favourite meals is a chicken parmigiana. Depending on the Australian state you are in you may call it a ‘parmi’ or a ‘parma’. Sometimes you may call it a ‘snitty’. My son often goes to our local pub for a ‘snitty’ with his mates! So what is a chicken parmigiana? Well it is a chicken snitzel lightly fried then has tomato sauce, ham and cheese melted on top. This is served with salad and chips. The one in the image is from when enjoyed dinner at the General Havelock on a recent visit to Adelaide.

Fish & Chips

Fish and chips is one of those classic Aussie pub food favourites enjoyed by many. Usually you get to choose the ‘fish of day’ but sometimes not. For this fish and chips meal I enjoyed some beautiful flathead tales served with chips and salad with some tartare sauce on the side. YUM! I had this delectable fish and chip meal at the Rosebud Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

Gourmet Pizza

A number of pubs I have been to lately now have gourmet pizza on the menu. Lamb, yoghurt and rocket and BBQ chicken are two I have tried recently. And most of the time they will have Hawaiian and Margarita on the kid’s menu. I think pizza is a great addition to any Aussie pub menu – very enjoyable with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink. The pizza in this post was enjoyed on a weekend in Perth. 

Pasta

If pizza is on the pub menu, then there are often some pasta dishes. One I’ve seen quite a lot, and that I ordered at Eden Pub, Eden, NSW is Chilli Prawn and Chorizo Linguini – very nice! Often you can get Spaghetti Bolognaise and other pasta dishes, but it will depend on what the chef has put on the menu. Eden was once the headquarters of the whale industry in Australia and has the fantastic Whale Museum and Killer Whale Trail. Plus great seafood! 

Bowl of Chips or Wedges

Sometimes you don’t feel like a big Aussie favourite pub meal, instead a bowl of chips or a bowl of wedges will suffice. I like how wedges are served with sour cream and chilli sauce while chips are served with tomato sauce.

Are You Ready to Enjoy Great Aussie Pub Grub?