Victorians call it a parma. Much of the rest of Australia insists it’s a parmi. Whatever side of the debate you’re on, there’s one thing most Australians can agree on: few pub meals are more iconic.
A crispy chicken schnitzel topped with Napoli sauce, melted cheese and served with a generous helping of chips has become a staple of pub culture across the country. But while Australians still appear deeply attached to the classic dish, new research suggests many are becoming more conscious about what they’re willing to spend on a meal out.
According to a national survey commissioned by Betty’s Burgers, 45 per cent of Australians say a proper pub-quality meal isn’t worth what they’re currently being asked to pay for it. More than half (56 per cent) say they’re more conscious about what they spend eating out than they were two years ago.
The findings have prompted Betty’s Burgers to launch what it describes as its biggest burger yet: the Loaded Parmi Burger.
Available for a limited time across the brand’s 75 restaurants nationwide, the burger features an RSPCA Certified crispy chicken breast, triple cheese blend, bacon, fresh tomatoes, tomato relish and Betty’s signature seasoned fries.
The twist is that the chips are loaded directly into the burger rather than served on the side.
According to Betty’s Head of Culinary Jonathan Alston, the burger was designed to pay tribute to one of Australia’s favourite pub meals while offering a more affordable option.
“The pub parmi is sacred in this country and rightly so,” Alston said.
“It’s not just a meal, it’s a ritual. We wanted to honour that ritual and do it the Betty’s way: fresh, generous, made to order, with the chips where they belong, inside the burger.”
The research suggests Australians still have a strong connection to traditional pub food.
Nearly one in three Australians (31 per cent) said the chicken parma or parmi is the meal that best captures the feeling of a pub night. In Victoria, where the debate over what to call it continues to rage, that figure rises to 37 per cent, the highest of any state.
The survey also found that chips remain an essential part of the pub experience for many Australians. One in three respondents said a meal needs to include chips to feel like a proper pub feed. Among Australians under 25, that figure jumps to 44 per cent.
Sport and food also remain closely linked. Nearly one in three Australians said a hearty, filling meal is what turns a game night into a proper occasion, while 22 per cent said the food they eat while watching live sport is just as important as the game itself.
Whether chips belong inside a burger may prove almost as divisive as the parma-versus-parmi debate itself.
What appears less controversial is Australians’ affection for the pub classic. The challenge, according to Betty’s research, is that many diners are becoming increasingly selective about how much they’re willing to pay for it.
The Loaded Parmi Burger is available now at Betty’s Burgers locations nationally for $15.95 for a limited time. A Parmi & Beer bundle featuring a Better Beer Ginger Beer is also available in restaurant for $22.
