Top Dining Spots for Christmas Lunch

The nation has spoken, and Australia's favourite dining spots have been announced. Zomato, the world-leading restaurant search and booking platform has revealed the most popular eateries in each state, as Aussies spent over $45 billion dining out this year.

In NSW it appears Asian inspired cuisines are the predominant flavour of the year with Korean BBQ restaurant, Sydney Madang the most popular. The Grounds of Alexandria Café, Café Cre Asion, Mr. Wong and Mappen Noodle Restaurant also appear among the state's favourite.

Foodie capital Melbourne is a little more diverse in its top tastes with Carlton based brunch spot, Humble Rays, along with CBD café, The Hardware Societe and Asian fusion eatery, Chin Chin. Italian pasta bar, Tipo 00 in the CBD and insta-friendly Richmond based health sanctuary, Serotonin Eatery also made the top five.

In Brisbane cuisine favourites swung between XXXX Brewery Alehouse in Milton to Coffee Anthology in the CBD. Asian-based hot spots were Happy Boy in Fortitude Valley and the CBD's Maru Korean BBQ while those hungering for a burger look to Miel Container in the city.

Perth diners prefer the American inspired menu of RoyAl's Chicken & Burgers in East Victoria Park. Coffee houses, LouVe in the CBD and Bayswater's tbsp. captivated food lovers, alongside Italian eatery, Prego Restaurant and Korean BBQ hot spot, Palsaik Namoo.

Argo on the Parade in Norwood and the city's Osteria Oggi were the favourites in SA. Mandoo Korean Dumplings, Peel St and Wasai Japanese Kitchen in the CBD also drew in foodies from around the state.

In Hobart the Machine Laundry Café topped the state along with The Glass House, Franklin and Drunken Admiral. While it looks like the Honey Badger found fame and a fanbase in Hobart with its dessert café.

Ryan Flanagan, Zomato Country Manager says, "Australia is becoming one of the leading foodie nations around the world. We enjoy dining out and we are much more adventurous and conscious around our food choices."

"Our data is showing a year-on-year increase in Australians choosing to dine out."

When it comes to new restaurants to open in 2018, Spice World in Sydney; Japanese Ramen restaurant Ippudo of Melbourne and Pochana by Kinn Thai in Brisbane were most popular; along with Perth's Ippudo; Bam Adelaide and Hobart's Born in Brunswick.

With hospitality data capturing 65,000 outlets around Australia, Zomato houses the most comprehensive and representative hospitality data. The restaurant rankings arise from data analysis from Zomato's platform on the most popular searches by Australians.