1 July 2026 | The Australian Hotels Association (WA) has announced the winners of the 2026 AHA & Little Creatures WA’s Best Steak Sandwich competition following two live cook-offs at the AHA Hospitality Expo at Crown Perth.
Now in its 19th year, the competition continues to attract strong entries from across Western Australia, with venues reimagining one of the country’s most iconic pub classics.
Finalists competed in two categories — Country WA and Perth metro — and earned their place in the cook-off via public online voting and mystery judge visits.
Country WA Winner
The Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra claimed the Country WA title with a steak sandwich created by David Brown.
The winning sandwich featured chargrilled Midway Farn scotch fillet in toasted Ovenden brioche with aged smoked Tasmanian cheddar, bacon, onion jam, buttercup lettuce and beer-battered onion rings, served with sea salt and oregano chips.
Judges said the sandwich stood out for its “fangability” and use of local beef from Midway Farm in West Pinjarra.
The Country WA judging panel included The Honourable Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia, Bradley Woods (AHA WA CEO), Kerry Appathurai (Lion Executive General Manager) and Caroline Taylor (TV chef).
Perth Winner
In the Perth metro category The Last Local in Canning Vale was awarded top honours.
Chef Mickey Phull impressed judges with a creation comprising a Scotch fillet on toasted sourdough with crispy bacon, crunchy onions, smoky ailoi, rocket, tomato and melted cheese, served with chips.
The entry was recognised for its overall succulent fangability, enhanced by sneaky rashers of maple candied bacon, finished off with a wedge of deep-fried Camembert cheese, setting it apart in a competitive field.
The Perth judging panel consisted of WA Minister for Tourism Honourable Reece Whitby MLA, Bradley Woods, Ashley Fullelove (Lion WA State Sales Manager) and Natalia Cooper (Channel 9 journalist and weather presenter).
AHA(WA) CEO and Chief Steak Sandwich Judge Bradley Woods said the competition continues to reflect the depth of talent across the state’s hospitality industry.
“This competition is a celebration of how far the humble steak sandwich has evolved in WA, particularly when it comes to fangability,” Mr Woods said.
“The competition brings together venues from across the state to showcase their creativity, technique and understanding of what makes a great pub favourite, and once again the standard was extremely high across both finals.”
This year, more than 40 Perth venues and 16 regional venues entered the competition. Judges considered meat tenderness, presentation, originality, sauces, flavour, value and sides.
Regional winner photographs are here:Â
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1644707027541088&type=3
Metro winner photographs are here:Â Â
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1644704930874631&type=3
Photography credit: Ammon Creative
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INFO FOR EDITORS
The AHA WA’s Best Steak Sandwich competition has been running since 2007 and has become a cult favourite across the state. The high-stakes contest features two categories – Perth Metropolitan and Country WA – and culminates in an exciting live cook-off at the Hospitality Expo, judged in front of peers by a panel of experts. Finalists are chosen through a combination of online public voting and mystery judge visits, with the top four from each division advancing to compete on stage. Sandwiches are judged on meat tenderness, presentation, originality, chips, sauces, flavour, value — and, in the words of CEO Bradley Woods, their “fangability”. This legendary contest can drive significant additional sales for venues that take part, boosting their profile and attracting new customers.
The finalists in this year’s competition were:
 COUNTRY WA VENUES
- Brugan Brewery/Wokalup Tavern (chef Lee Collins)
- Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra (chef David Brown)
- Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (chef Adrien Bouchet)
- Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach (chef Igor Rossi)
 PERTH METROPOLITAN VENUES
- Carrington’s Bar and Grill, Hamilton Hill (chef Jaspreet [Jas] Singh)
- Sorrento Beach Club (chef Luca Kitching)
- Stirling Arms Hotel, Guildford (chef Nick Hasler)
- The Last Local, Canning Vale (chef Mickey Phall)
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.
 For more info, contact Kim Forrester, Media & Communications Executive, on 0411 777 593 or 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.
