It is no secret that food is serious business in the Land Down Under. The Aussies are blessed with top-notch fresh gourmet produce and a diverse range of ethnic cuisines; the natives take immense pride in ensuring their food and beverages are nothing but the best.

Avid foodies would fly all the way to Melbourne for the best coffee and cafe food, travel to Sydney for its hip and trendy restaurants. Noosa — a world-famous surfing spot — has a thriving food scene. Gold Coast has no lack of good food, too. Australia is indeed the go-to destination for indulgent epicureans. Here are 10 Restaurants In Australia You Must Visit At Least Once In Your Life.

#1 ADRIANO ZUMBO PATISSERIE, SYDNEY

Adriano Zumbo is a household name in Australia; he has seven stores across the country and has starred in MasterChef Australia. The celebrated Australian patissier is a brilliant tastemaker who is constantly pushing the boundaries of desserts. Do drop by Adriano Zumbo and try his outrageous flavoured macarons and the iconic magnificent croquembouche tower.

296 Darling Street
Balmain, NSW 2040
Tel: +61 2 9810 7318
Mon to Sat: 8am – 6pm
Sun: 8am – 5pm

#2 BILLS, SYDNEY

Bill Granger first opened Bills in 1992 in Darlinghurst and there was no turning back. The cafe flourished on a simple concept of serving fresh and hearty cafe food in an ultra friendly ambience. Word of Bills’ awesome Scrambled Eggs and the legendary Ricotta Hotcakes soon spread far and wide, where celebrities and travellers would make a special trip down to Bills to savour its goodness.

433 Liverpool St
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Tel: +61 2 9360 9631
Mon to Sat: 7.30am – 3pm
Sun: 8am – 3pm

#3 BISTRO C, NOOSA

Bistro C’s beachside location makes it a popular destination for romantic weddings and other private events; it is also a must-visit when in Noosa, Sunshine Coast.

Each comprehensive menu is largely inspired by the available local produce in its region, where you can expect items such as Pacific Oysters, Seared Scallops, Coconut Chicken Salad and more. While you are at it, their mussels in white wine sauce are to die for.

49 Hastings St
Noosa Heads QLD 4567
Tel: +61 7 5447 2855
Daily: 7.30am – 11.30pm

#4 CHIN CHIN, MELBOURNE

Despite its no-reservation policy, South-east Asian fusion restaurant Chin Chin is still packed to the brim every night.

Upscale homemade Asian inspired tapas are served in a pub-like setting and mouthwatering delicacies include Wok Fried Spanner Crab Omelette, Rendang Curry of Wagyu Beef and Banana Roti. Bookings are only allowed for groups larger than eight.

125 Flinders Ln
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: +61 3 8663 2000
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri and Sat: 11am – 11.30pm

#5 CIAO ITALIA, PERTH

Ask anyone where the best Italian restaurant in Perth is and they will direct you to Ciao Italia.

The 17-year-old restaurant is located at the corner of Douglas Avenue and queues start forming way even before 5pm. After securing a table, treat yourselves to handcrafted pastas, wood-fired pizzas and the tastiest tiramisu you will ever have!

273 Mill Point Road
South Perth WA 6151, Australia
(Corner of Douglas Avenue)
Tel: +61 8 9368 5500
Sun and Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 5pm – 10pm

#6 HURRICANE’S GRILL 

Hurricane’s Grill Darling Harbour is an institution in Sydney. The steakhouse restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows boast an unrivalled view of Sydney’s skyline.

No dining experience at Hurricane’s Grill is complete until you have tried their signature ribs. And if you still have the appetite, do give their equally impressive premium Australian burgers and steaks a shot too!

Harbourside Shopping Centre
433-436 Darling Dr
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 2 9211 2210
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
Sat and Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm

#7 INNOCENT BYSTANDER, MELBOURNE

Award-winning Innocent Bystander—situated in the heart of Yarra Valley—is an hour’s drive away from Melbourne city.

Their on-site restaurant, Giant Steps, is a stunning dining space with small plates and big plates options; their pizzas are a must-order. Head over to the counter for an exciting wine tasting session too; it is a classic Innocent Bystander experience. The 2015 Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir is highly recommended.

336 Maroondah Hwy
Healesville VIC 3777
Tel: +61 3 5962 6111
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 10pm

#8 MADTONGSAN II, BRISBANE

For an authentic Korean meal, head to Brisbane’s Madtongsan II. The Korean restaurant is crowded at any time of the day – a testimony to its overwhelming popularity.

Sink your teeth into generously portioned Bi Bim Babs and Jjigae at extremely affordable prices. We dare say it is one of the best Korean restaurants in Australia.

1/85 Elizabeth St
Brisbane City QLD 4000
Tel: +61 7 3003 1881
Mon to Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm

#9 PROUD MARY, MELBOURNE

One of the best cafés in Melbourne, Proud Mary has every right to be proud of what they have achieved since its opening.

It has established an exceptionally high benchmark for quality coffee in Melbourne. The food here is on point too; we would recommend their Ricotta Hotcake and Pork Belly Sandwich.

The food here is on point too; we would recommend their Ricotta Hotcake and Pork Belly Sandwich.

172 Oxford St
Collingwood VIC 3066
Tel: +61 3 9417 5930
Mon to Fri: 7am – 4pm
Sat and Sun: 8am – 4pm

#10 SOCIAL EATING HOUSE + BAR, GOLD COAST

Social Eating House + Bar is hands down our favourite restaurant in Gold Coast. Open till midnight daily, the contemporary restaurant impressed us to no end with their divine tapas inventions. Each dish is meant for sharing, so order several and enjoy the communal dining concept. Their gorgeous looking deconstructed desserts are so decadent – one is certainly not enough.

Open till midnight daily, the contemporary restaurant impressed us to no end with their divine tapas inventions. Each dish is meant for sharing, and we loved the counter seats for we could watch the chefs in action; it sure elevated the whole dining experience.

Shop 137-138/3, Oracle Blvd
Broadbeach QLD 4218
Tel: +61 7 5504 5210
Daily: 12pm – 12am

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Forget about the ubiquitous cheesecakes and red velvet cupcakes. If you are in Australia and searching for a dessert that is unique to Australians, look no further. The extremely delicious Lamington can be easily found in cafes and bakeries across Australia.

An Australian Lamington comprises a moderately-soft squarish cake coated with a thin layer of chocolate icing before it is covered with desiccated coconut. The insides of the Lamington is at times stuffed with cream or jam.

Indeed, no trip to the Land Down Under is complete till you have tried this sugary treat.

An interesting trait of the Lamington is that the cake used is actually denser than the typical genoise sponge but lighter than a butter cake. The Lamington’s outermost coat of toasted coconut shreds gives it a crunchy texture and is a great contrast to its softer insides. Do note that some Lamingtons do not have any fillings inside it and that largely depends on the pastry chef’s preferences.

Historians have pinpointed the birth of Lamingtons in Australian State Queensland, but recent studies argued that it was first invented in New Zealand. While it is difficult to determine the exact origin of the first-ever created Lamington, Australians have long embraced the delicious dessert as their national dish.

Lamingtons are commonly eaten throughout the year and becomes even more popular during Australia Day. Of course, it is a hit too at any Australian-themed parties. Most Aussie kids resonate well with this iconic dessert and regard it as a beloved childhood snack. Having said that, this does not mean that the Lamington is strictly restricted for children only as adults too are often seen indulging in this lovely dessert.

The most traditional Lamington would be two square-shaped sponge cakes sandwiching a generous amount of whipped cream. The cake halves are each rolled till they have gained a slim coating of chocolate and then dusted with semi-dried grated coconut.

Many pastry chefs have been recreating the dessert in the recent years and offering many alternative variations. We have seen Lamingtons merged with doughnuts and even transformed into ice cream sandwiches! The integration of other unconventional elements into Lamingtons is indeed a representation of Australia’s growing ethnic diversity.

Regardless on whether it was the Aussies or Kiwis or even the French who invented Lamingtons, the sugary treat will still remain a local dessert that holds a special place in the hearts of Australians.

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.