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 AM, 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.
