As Time Out Australia’s Travel Editor, eating and drinking my way around the country is genuinely part of the gig. Lucky for me, Australia’s food scene isn’t just incredible, it’s wildly diverse. This year, I dined at exciting new venues in our hottest cities, visited beloved local spots on remote islands and ate meals cooked by some of the nation’s best young chefs. To end the year on a sweet note, I’ve rounded up the best things I ate in Australia in 2025 – dishes so good I’d happily hop on a three-hour flight just for a second serving.
1. Scones from Bullara Station, Exmouth
I didn’t expect to eat one of the best scones of my life at an outback cattle station in rural Western Australia, yet Bullara kept surprising me. Freshly baked each morning at the on-site Woolshed Café (open from April to October), these beauties are big, fluffy and served the proper way: with a slather of strawberry jam and a very generous dollop of cream. Take my word, they live up to their local legend.
2. Kofta curry from Hanuman, Alice Springs
In an unassuming hotel lobby, 1,500 kilometres from the Northern Territory’s capital, lives Hanuman. I’d long heard the legends of chef Jimmy Chu’s beloved Southeast Asian restaurant from its OG Darwin outpost – but I didn’t expect my first taste to happen in Alice Springs. The menu is huge and honestly a bit overwhelming, so this needs to be a multi-course kind of meal. Just make sure to order the kofta curry, featuring plump vegetarian ‘meatballs’ in a rich cashew and tomato gravy. Then mop up every last drop with roti and rice.
3. Squid-ink paccheri from Post, Perth
Squid-ink pasta may have hit its trend peak in the mid-2010s, but Post proves that a good thing should never go out of style. The jet-black paccheri was cooked to al dente perfection and coated in a vibrant confit tomato oil sauce with just a hint of chilli. I'd fly five hours from Sydney to Perth for another bowl (almost) any day.
4. Banana bread from Bread + Butter, Launceston
All good things start (and end) with butter at this sleek bakery, café and coffee bar in Launceston. I swung by Bread + Butter for a pastry before heading to Cataract Gorge and was immediately drawn to a thick slab of banana bread gleaming in the glass counter. Toasted to perfection, a generous knob of butter melted across the surface like a skater gliding on an ice rink. The flaky walnut croissant also deserves a shout-out, and bonus: you can watch the team roll and fill them fresh through the window.
5. Agedashi tofu and onigiri plate from Comeco Foods, Sydney
This tiny, minimalist Japanese snack house on King Street – Sydney’s unofficial ‘Vegan Mile’ – has long been a favourite of mine, and a visit earlier this year (the first of several) reminded me exactly why. If it’s your first time at Comeco, go for one of their colourful onigiri plates. You’ll sample a bunch of Japanese condiments, from vegetable tempura and rice balls to braised mushrooms and a fresh salad. Think of it as a bento box packed neatly on a plate.
6. Clay pot sourdough from The Homestead Restaurant, Norfolk Island
Travelling to Norfolk Island definitely wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card (I didn’t even realise it was part of Australia until earlier this year). So you can imagine my surprise when one of my most memorable dining experiences happened 1,400 kilometres from the mainland. At the heart of the farm-to-table Homestead Restaurant is a wood-fired Argentinian Perilla grill, hand-built by chef Kurt Menghetti’s father, where he bakes his signature naturally-fermented sourdough. My loaf was cooked in a clay pot and served with creamy labneh. Honestly, it’s worth visiting Norfolk Island for the bread alone.
7. Sweet potato noodles from Azuma Den, Canberra
If you’re hunting Canberra’s hottest new opening – both in hype and heat – head straight to Azuma Den. I wanted to order everything on the menu at this immersive Korean-Japanese fusion spot in Kingston, but settled on a spread of dumplings, hibachi skewers and sides. The star of the night was the slippery sweet potato noodles, tossed with stir-fried vegetables and crowned with crispy enoki. Honestly, sweet potato noodles are way too underrated!
8. Mix shakshuka from Grandma’s Café, Townsville
Everything tastes better when grandma makes it, and this charming café in Townsville proves it. What made my meal truly memorable wasn’t just the food – the team were warm and welcoming, and the abundant greenery and rustic décor felt so homely. As recommended, I ordered Grandma Haya’s famous shakshuka. It features two eggs poached in a rich tomato sauce and served in a hot iron pan with fresh challah bread. Top tip: go for the ‘mix shakshuka’ so you can try two different types: I went for half spinach and feta, half open-fire eggplant, and wiped my pan clean.
9. Vanilla gelato from The Sundays, Hamilton Island
Earlier this year, Hamilton Island welcomed its first new hotel in almost two decades. The $35 million beachfront escape has all the luxe touches you’d expect, but my favourite part is The Sundays’ signature restaurant, the Catseye Pool Club, helmed by celebrated chef Josh Niland. Given his seafood prowess, you’re probably surprised to hear that the best thing I ate during my stay was a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream. It not only features in a sundae on the dessert menu, but all guests staying at The Sundays are treated to complimentary ice cream from 2pm to 4pm daily. Call me basic, but you can’t beat a classic!
10. Potato curry puff from Island Radio, Sydney
One of Sydney’s hottest new openings in the zhuzhy Wunderlich Lane precinct happens to be in my neighbourhood – lucky me! On my first visit to Island Radio, I tried the potato curry puff, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Its incredibly flaky outer shell encases a mildly spiced potato filling that, sadly, disappeared in just a few bites.