2 June 2026 | The Australian Hotels Association (WA) has announced the finalists in the state’s most hotly contested culinary battle, the 2026 AHA & Little Creatures WA’s Best Steak Sandwich competition, which features two categories: Perth Metropolitan and Country WA.
Now in its 19th year, the competition celebrates the creativity and quality of steak sandwiches served at pubs, hotels and hospitality venues across Western Australia. Entries were assessed through a combination of public online voting and mystery judge visits, with the top four venues in each category progressing to a live cook-off at the AHA Hospitality Expo at Crown Perth. This year, more than 40 Perth venues and 16 regional venues entered the competition.
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said venues and chefs continue to lift the bar each year.
“Every year we see venues and chefs push the boundaries with creativity, quality and fangability. The steak sandwich is a true pub classic but in WA it has become an iconic showcase of the talent and passion within our industry,” Mr Woods said.
“Finalists have been exceptional, representing some of the most fangable and very best steak sandwiches in Australia. We are looking forward to an outstanding live cook-off at the AHA Hospitality Expo.”
Fangability is a culinary term used in the Australian hospitality industry. It describes how easily you can bite through a steak sandwich, enjoying the meat’s tenderness and the sandwich’s structural integrity so the ingredients hold together and the flavour meets the palate in perfect harmony.
The finalists in the WA’s Best Steak Sandwich competition are:
COUNTRY WA VENUES
- Brugan Brewery/Wokalup Tavern
- Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra
- Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
- Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach
PERTH METROPOLITAN VENUES
- Carrington’s Bar and Grill, Hamilton Hill
- Sorrento Beach Club
- Stirling Arms Hotel, Guildford
- The Last Local, Canning Vale
The Country WA winner will be crowned on 30 June 2026; the Perth Metropolitan winner on 1 July 2026. Judges will consider meat tenderness, presentation, originality, sauces, flavour, value and sides.
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INFO FOR EDITORS
The AHA Hospitality Expo is WA’s leading trade-only hospitality expo. It is staged over two days at Crown Perth and features more than 40 exhibitors showcasing food, beverage and services, as well as expert-led masterclasses and the finals of WA’s Best Cocktail and Steak Sandwich competitions. The Country final is on 30 June and the Perth final on 1 July. If you would like to attend for media purposes, please contact Kim Forrester (details below) for accreditation and further information.
About the finalist’s steak sandwiches
Country WA finalists
- Brugan Brewery / Wokalup Tavern – $36
Italian charred beef flank, house focaccia, onion and capsicum jam, taleggio, truffle mayo, rocket and crispy onions, served with chips. - Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra – $32
Chargrilled Midway Farm scotch fillet in toasted Ovenden brioche with aged smoked Tasmanian cheddar, bacon and onion jam, buttercup lettuce, beetroot and beer-battered onion rings, served with sea salt and oregano chips. - Settlers Tavern, Margaret River – $33
Local grass-fed rump steak cooked medium rare with smoked tomato chutney, bacon jam, rocket and aioli on toasted local bread, served with chips and house-made pickles. Swiss cheese and streaky bacon available as extras. - Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach, Broome – $34
Margaret River scotch fillet, cheddar, bacon, Spinifex Australian stout caramelised onions, rocket, tomato, BBQ sauce and aioli on Turkish bread, served with chips.
Perth Metro finalists
- Carrington’s Bar and Grill, Hamilton Hill – $30
Scotch fillet on toasted Turkish panini with bacon, Swiss cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, gherkin, BBQ chimichurri aioli and tomato relish, topped with a jalapeño cheeseball and served with chips. - Sorrento Beach Club – $34
MB2+ O’Connor picanha steak with creamy entrecôte sauce, crispy red onions and parmesan on ciabatta. - Stirling Arms Hotel, Guildford – $31
Slow-braised beef rib with mustard onions, pecorino, air-dried salted tomatoes, sweet pickles and rocket with lemon dressing on house-made focaccia. - The Last Local, Canning Vale – $31
Scotch fillet on toasted sourdough with crispy bacon, crunchy onions, smoky aioli, rocket, tomato and melted cheese, served with chips.
For more info, contact Kim Forrester, Media and Communications Executive, on 0411 777 593 or email mecom@ahawa.asn.au
The AHA(WA) is the authoritative voice for the hospitality and accommodation industry in Western Australia. Since 1892, we have protected and developed the interests of our members, through strong representation and the pursuit of industry excellence. Our mission is to ensure the hospitality industry remains a vital part of the Australian way of life and to amplify the voices of those we represent.
