Food is half the adventures when you travel. One look at all travel blogs will show you that culinary creations are just as important as the cultural landmarks and natural landscapes. It’s always X Dishes to Try in Melbourne or X Unique Desserts in Perth. To taste that community’s food is to capture that place’s spirit.

It comes as no surprise, therefore, that travelogues recommend traditional Australian food when you travel the continent. It doesn’t make sense to eat come all the way here just to eat McDonald’s or get a cup from Starbucks, right? You won’t run out of options-the country has many small diners that sell Aussie favorites like chicken parmigiana and fish and chips.

Rarely do you see travel blogs that recommend the wonderful fusion cuisine that’s just as popular in the country. Why go for bagoong rice when you can recreate them with bagoong sauce by Filipino condiments brand Barrio Fiesta at home? Why go for pad thai noodles when you can get one at a local joint at home?

Because these dishes won’t taste as unique; when it comes to fusion cuisine, there’s a certain twist only Australians can give.

Fusion Food: Should You Try It?

Tourists are not encouraged to try fusion food places for the same reason you don’t go to a fast-food chain while traveling: you came here to experience Australia, so make the most of your time and dine exclusively on traditional food. This means a menu limited tosnags (sausages), lamingtons (square-shaped sponge cakes dipped in chocolate and coated with coconut), pavlova (a meringue-based dessert with a crisp crust and soft center topped with whipped cream and fruits), meat pies, barramundi (grilled or seared river fish), and grilled kangaroo.

Delicious as this list is, it still feels limited. This is Australia, alright, but this isn’t exactly how most Australians eat. Locals have a huge variety of options, so don’t expect to dine on kangaroo every day. There are lots of fusion food places that are popular among local diners.

By limiting your gastronomical adventures to strictly traditional food, you miss out on the chance to experience the fusion cuisine that Australians eat.

The Case for Fusion Food

Australian cuisine is rich and varied, thanks partly to its vast terrain; it’s so expansive that there are areas that resemble temperate weather, some mirror the humid climates of tropical countries, and others are the gentle in-between. This gave rise to different kinds of produce, which in turn paved the way for Australian dishes that combine different flavors.

It’s no surprise then that blending European techniques and Asian flavors comes easy to Australians. Celebrity chefs in the 80s popularized the idea of using a cooking method from one culture while borrowing ingredients from another, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.

Today, there are many fusion creations that excite the senses. There are Vietnamese spring rolls filled with Australian herbs, Australian prawns served with rice flavored with Filipino bagoong, and Midlands lamb cutlets served with Thai herbs and spices. There is crispy tempura made with Australia’s fresh seafood, pan-roasted duck with dashi sauce, and local sausages in Indian curry.

So the next time you visit the continent, don’t forget to try the fusion restaurants. It may be fun to stay within strictly traditional Aussie food, but remember, fusion food is part of the Australian experience.