Food · Adelaide · Australia
What to eat in Adelaide
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Adelaide, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Adelaide skyline, December 2022.jpg : Ardash Muradian from Australia derivative work:, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Pie floater, Frog cake and Farmers Union Iced Coffee. Build a picnic from the cheese, smallgoods and bread stalls at Central Market, then carry it to Victoria Square or the Botanic Garden. Book weekend dinners and Fringe-season tables ahead; restaurants near the festival hubs fill early.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Pie floater
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Australia.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Street food
1.Pie floater
A meat pie turned upside down in a bowl of thick green pea soup, topped with tomato sauce, an Adelaide late-night tradition and a protected state heritage icon.
Where: Pie carts and bakeries; the Adelaide pie-cart tradition dates back to the late 1800s.
Dessert · Vegetarian
2.Frog cake
A small sponge cake with cream, coated in pink, green or brown fondant and shaped like a frog's head, created by Balfours bakery in 1922.
Where: Bakeries and cafés around the city and Central Market.
Drink · Vegetarian
3.Farmers Union Iced Coffee
A sweet, milky iced coffee in a carton that South Australians famously buy in such numbers that it has outsold leading cola brands in the state.
Where: Every service station, deli and supermarket in South Australia.
Dish
4.King George whiting
South Australia's prized white fish, delicate and sweet, usually served simply grilled or in a light batter.
Where: Seafood restaurants at Glenelg and Henley Beach, and fish stalls in Central Market.
Dish
5.Coffin Bay oysters
Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, known for their clean, briny flavour and creamy texture.
Where: Oyster bars in the city and seafood stalls at Central Market.
Street food
6.Yiros
Adelaide's spelling of the Greek gyros: shaved lamb or chicken in pita with garlic sauce, onion and tomato, reflecting the city's large Greek community.
Where: Late-night shops on Hindley Street and Greek restaurants around the city and Norwood.
Snack
7.Fritz and sauce
Fritz is a mild, pale luncheon sausage of German origin, and South Australian children grow up eating slices of it with tomato sauce in a sandwich.
Where: Delis, butchers and supermarkets across the state.
Snack · Vegetarian
8.FruChocs
Apricot and peach pieces coated in milk chocolate, made by South Australia's Menz since the 1940s and recognised as a state heritage icon.
Where: Supermarkets, newsagents and souvenir shops.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Barossa shiraz
Rich, full-bodied shiraz from the Barossa Valley, where some vineyards have vines more than a century old.
Where: Cellar doors in the Barossa, wine bars in the city and the National Wine Centre on North Terrace.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Clare Valley riesling
Dry, citrusy riesling from the Clare Valley, a classic match for local seafood.
Where: Wine bars and restaurants across Adelaide, and cellar doors in Clare, about 1 hour 45 minutes north.
Snack
11.Mettwurst
Smoked German-style sausage made since the 19th century by descendants of Prussian settlers in Hahndorf and the Barossa.
Where: Butchers in Hahndorf, Tanunda and Angaston, and smallgoods stalls at Central Market.
Food experiences
Central Market grazing
Build a picnic from the cheese, smallgoods and bread stalls at Central Market, then carry it to Victoria Square or the Botanic Garden.
Cellar door tastings
The Barossa, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills each have dozens of cellar doors; many now require bookings, and a driver or tour lets everyone taste.
Gouger Street and Chinatown
Chinatown's food courts and Gouger Street's Asian restaurants offer quick, good-value meals near the market.
Laneway bars
Small bars on Leigh Street, Peel Street and Gilbert Place serve South Australian wine and cocktails in narrow, intimate spaces.
Quick bites and street food
- Pie floater — Pie carts and bakeries; the Adelaide pie-cart tradition dates back to the late 1800s.
- Yiros — Late-night shops on Hindley Street and Greek restaurants around the city and Norwood.
- Fritz and sauce — Delis, butchers and supermarkets across the state.
- FruChocs — Supermarkets, newsagents and souvenir shops.
- Mettwurst — Butchers in Hahndorf, Tanunda and Angaston, and smallgoods stalls at Central Market.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Frog cake, Farmers Union Iced Coffee, FruChocs, Barossa shiraz and Clare Valley riesling. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book weekend dinners and Fringe-season tables ahead; restaurants near the festival hubs fill early.
- Many cellar doors now take bookings for tastings, especially at weekends.
- Tap water is free and safe; ask for a jug.
- Kitchens in suburban restaurants often close around 9pm.
- Card payments are standard; some places add a small surcharge for cards on Sundays and public holidays.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for very good table service or rounding up is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fritz | South Australian luncheon sausage |
| Stobie pole | Steel-and-concrete power pole invented in Adelaide |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Bottle-o | Liquor shop |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Adelaide famous for?
Pie floater, Frog cake, Farmers Union Iced Coffee and King George whiting. A meat pie turned upside down in a bowl of thick green pea soup, topped with tomato sauce, an Adelaide late-night tradition and a protected state heritage icon.
+Is Adelaide good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Frog cake, Farmers Union Iced Coffee and FruChocs.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Adelaide?
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for very good table service or rounding up is appreciated but optional.