Indian cuisine a hit with foodies Down Under

Indian cuisine is one of the top favourites in the menus of Aussie gourmets and gourmands.

Chinese cuisine tops the food charts Down Under followed by modern Australian, Italian and Thai.

Indian food is placed firmly at the fifth slot, according to the data, collected and analysed by research company BIS Shrapnel.

The study shows Australians eat out on average seven times a month.

"You can see the phenomenal development. Back in 1960, only 12 per cent of the family food budget was spent on eating out; today, we're talking 42%, which is a very big difference," News.com.au quoted BIS Shrapnel business unit manager Sissel Rosengren, as saying.

She added: "It's not the special treat it used to be. Two-thirds of diners chose fast-food chains, up from 55% in 2000, while 59% went to restaurants and 50% to cafes.

"During the economic downturn, people didn't go out as often and they didn't spend as much each time.

"But because we have made eating out a way of life, they didn't stop eating out: they traded down."

Aussies shell out a monthly average of $79 at restaurants and $57 a month on takeaway, it was found.