Indian tiffin culture lands in Australia – here’s where to get yours

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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These Aussie tiffin services are serving up authentic, home-cooked Indian meals – and they’re perfect for curious travellers hungry for culture.

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, chances are you’ve stumbled across the “tiffin lady", aka Lily Baria – a creator who unboxes her daily delivery of Indian food with reverence and joy. Each day brings a new surprise, stacked inside traditional stainless steel containers known as tiffins. Millions are watching, drooling and wondering: how do I get one?

And you don’t need to go to India to experience this. A growing number of tiffin services are popping up around Australia, and for travellers, they offer a deliciously unexpected way to connect with culture through food.

@lilybaria What I eat for lunch in India! #tiffin #indianfood #goanfood #goa #fyp ♬ original sound – Lily Baria

What exactly is a tiffin?

The tiffin system originated in India more than 130 years ago and is still going strong. In Mumbai alone, more than 200,000 home-cooked meals are delivered daily via an ultra-efficient network of dabbawalas (lunchbox couriers who carry hot meals to people across the city).

A typical tiffin is made up of round, stainless steel compartments stacked vertically and fastened with a latch. Each level holds a different dish, say, saag paneer in one, roti in another and gulab jamun tucked neatly into the top tier. It’s comforting, seasonal and full of soul – like a hug from someone’s mum in food form.

Why tiffins are trending

woman wearing a dark outfit holds a traditional embossed silver metal tiffin food carrier with four compartments. The container features intricate floral patterns and a black handle, evoking cultural heritage and craftsmanship
For food-loving travellers, tiffin service is a way to experience the rich variety of regional Indian cuisine. (Image: Getty Images / Pikusisi-Studio)

Beyond the viral TikTok fascination, these services are taking off in Australian cities. For many Indian Australians, the tiffin is a taste of home in a foreign place. For food-loving travellers, it’s a way to connect with that story and experience the rich variety of regional Indian cuisine beyond what’s on a standard restaurant menu.

Best of all? These services are small, local and often run by passionate home cooks. Here’s where to find them.

Launceston

Perhaps the most surprising entry on the list, OM Foods delivers weekly South Indian tiffins around Launceston. Dishes are all made from scratch using local ingredients. Orders open weekly via their website and are available for casual customers, not just subscribers.

Brisbane

Run by a passionate home cook, Beejay’s Home Kitchen is a Brisbane-based tiffin service offering rotating Punjabi and Gujarati meals, with generous portions and that just-like-home taste. The menu changes regularly, and pickup or delivery is available in select suburbs – a fun off-the-beaten-path foodie experience for visitors staying nearby.

Adelaide

Butter & Bite specialises in wholesome, balanced tiffin meals featuring a curry, four rotis, dal and rice. Available for delivery, the meals are prepared with love and focus on authentic flavour with a modern edge. Portions are generous and perfect for anyone craving a taste of home-style Indian cooking while exploring Adelaide.

Sydney

Tiffin Service Co. menus are diverse and delicious, with tiffins often including sabzis, lentils, raita, roti and something sweet to finish. Meals feel straight out of Mumbai, making it a must-try for travellers in Sydney with a passion for authentic Indian home cooking and cultural eats.

They also run a dedicated monthly tiffin subscription service exclusively for UNSW students, offering home-style Indian meals delivered Monday to Friday over a 20-day plan.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s multicultural food scene embraces the tiffin trend with Taste of Home , which delivers traditional Indian meals across metro Melbourne. Menus rotate weekly and are crafted to feel like home.

What to expect

A retro Indian tiffin lunch box filled with vegetarian food. And chapati.
Tiffins aren’t just meals, they’re a cultural experience. (Image: Getty Images / bonchan)

Most tiffin services require you to order in advance – often the week before – and may offer pickup, delivery or both. Some operate on a subscription basis, while others allow one-off orders. The menus usually change daily or weekly, based on what’s in season or what the cook is craving.

It’s worth noting that these services aren’t restaurants – individuals or small teams often run them out of home kitchens, community kitchens or shared cooking spaces. That’s part of the charm. It’s food made with love, not mass production.

Why it’s worth seeking out

@lilybaria SUNDAY TIFFIN 😩😩😩 #TIFFINTOK #tiffin #india #indianfood #goa #goanfood ♬ original sound – Lily Baria

Tiffins aren’t just meals, they’re a cultural experience. For Indian-Australians, they’re a powerful link to home. For travellers, they’re a rare chance to engage with a tradition that’s been quietly feeding millions for generations.

And let’s be honest, there’s something undeniably joyful about opening a mystery lunchbox and discovering what’s inside.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Incredible day spas and hot springs to visit in Victoria

    Katie CarlinBy Katie Carlin
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    From geothermal pools and luxury spa sanctuaries, Victoria’s mineral-rich waters and restorative landscapes offer total renewal.

    I pass waving coastal spear-grass and coast saltbush as I follow the curving path through 15 hectares of thoughtfully curated gardens at the Mornington Peninsula’s Alba Thermal Springs & Spa . I hang my robe at the entrance and slip into the first sunken geothermal pool I find – feeling the tension from the 90-minute drive from Melbourne melt away as I watch steam dance across the surface in the late afternoon light. There are 31 pools, a mix of geothermal, cold plunge and botanical, that range in temperature and design, spread over six regions.

    a woman relaxing at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula
    Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I gravitate toward The Hemisphere, with its dry sauna, steam room, cold plunge and dreamy open-air pool called The Hide. But it’s Alba’s brand-new Sanctuary that really elevates the experience. The five luxurious stand-alone villas and two additional studio rooms opened in June 2025 and feature an indoor fireplace, oversized bathtub with views across the bay, a deck and extensive all-inclusive (minus the cocktails) mini-bar.

    After dining at Alba’s Thyme restaurant, I return to my villa, content to fall asleep early listening to the fire crackle, feeling thoroughly restored. While Alba is one of the newest in the region, it’s certainly not the only place to enjoy a soothing soak. Here are others to book for a wellness weekend.

    Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa

    A woman bathes in the new Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa private bathing room with marble tiled walls
    The marble private bathing room is one of five new designs. (Image: Supplied)

    Nestled in the Daylesford region, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa has been welcoming guests to its historic bathhouse for 130 years. With a $1.7 million renovation now complete (part of the 21st season of Channel 9’s The Block), find five new private bathing rooms, an apothecary experience where guests blend a custom body scrub and all-new spa treatment menu.

    There are three bathing areas: Bathhouse for communal bathing for all ages, adults-only Sanctuary and a private bathing space for a personalised experience – try the skin-softening Mineral Milk Bath.

    Lake House Daylesford

    the pool at Lake House Daylesford
    The main pool at Lake House Daylesford. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Inciting deep exhales, the spa at Alla Wolf-Tasker’s iconic Lake House has long been a beacon of wellness in the region. Tucked into the cottage gardens that wind down to the lake’s edge, the spa is beautifully and deliberately cloistered away from guests and diners visiting the celebrated on-site restaurant.

    From Ayurvedic facials and hydrotherapy that makes use of Daylesford’s mineral waters, to cocooning thermal rituals and massage, treatments here promote tranquillity. While a day spa experience is delightful on its own, staying on the property adds a luxe layer to your corporeal renewal, especially if you’re in your own private spa villa.

    Metung Hot Springs

    the Metung Hot Springs' glamping tents by the river
    Glamping tents at Metung Hot Springs. (Image: Emily Godfrey)

    Imagine immersing yourself in a barrel overflowing with geothermal water, all while taking in views of Gippsland Lakes. It’s one of several unique bathing experiences available at Metung Hot Springs .

    There’s also a floating sauna and a Reflexology Walk constructed with carefully placed stones designed to stimulate the acupressure points in your feet as you walk. The 12-hectare site opened in 2022 with three bathing areas – Bathing Ridge, Lagoon Precinct and Hilltop Escarpment – and premium glamping tents that feature king-size beds and private bathing barrels.

    Four more blissful day spas to visit

    Lon Retreat & Spa is an award-winning, adults-only retreat on the Bellarine Peninsula.

    Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs features sensory caves and cleansing waterfalls in Warrnambool.

    Peninsula Hot Springs renews with 70 bathing and wellness experiences.

    The Benev is an indulgent spa and luxury accommodation in Beechworth.

    the Peninsula Hot Springs
    Bathe in beautiful surroundings at Peninsula Hot Springs. (Image: Tourism Australia/Harry Pope/Two Palms)