Mickey Phull, chef and owner of The Last Local in Canning Vale, has claimed victory in the 2026 Perth's Best Steak Sandwich Competition, marking his fifth win overall and the second for his venue. The winning entry featured a $31 scotch fillet on toasted sourdough, topped with crispy bacon, crunchy onions, smoky aioli, rocket, tomato, and melted cheese, served with a generous side of chips.
Judges Praise 'Fangability' and Unique Ingredients
Judges highlighted the sandwich's incomparable fangability—a term denoting ease of eating—alongside rashers of maple candied bacon and a wedge of deep-fried Camembert cheese as key differentiators. Phull, previously head chef at Karalee on Preston, had earlier secured three Best Steak Sandwich titles for that Como establishment under the Australian Hotels Association WA awards.
Phull's Reaction and Staff Celebration
“I’m so excited,” Phull said. “I’m excited for my chefs, and I’m excited for the business. We will continue providing the absolute best steak sandwich throughout the year and come up with the new one next year, so hopefully we could do it again next year, but this year we’ve got the bragging rights.” Following the announcement, Phull declared all staff could take the day off to party, adding, “It would not have happened without these guys, they put their heart and soul into this.”
Confidence in the Winning Recipe
Despite expressing shock at the win, Phull was confident in his creation. “I had one last night, just to make sure, and I had one for breakfast, and I knew I couldn’t make it any better. This had it… it was sensational, the amount of sugar levels, the caramelisation of the onions, the crusty bread, it all played a part.”
Metro Finalists and Competition Context
The high-stakes cook-off saw The Last Local compete against metropolitan heavyweights including Carrington’s Bar and Grill in Hamilton Hill—seeking a third consecutive win—Sorrento Beach Club, and Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford. AHAWA chief executive Bradley Woods remarked, “This competition is a celebration of how far the humble steak sandwich has evolved in WA, particularly when it comes to fangability. 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.”
Country WA Category Winner
On Tuesday, The Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra won the Country WA category with a $32 sandwich featuring beef from local Midway Farm. Owner Karl Bullers said, “It’s sensational. We currently sell between 300 and 400 steak sandwiches a week. Now we’ve won, it’ll go through the roof.” Premier Roger Cook, a judge for the country final, praised country pubs: “Country pubs are essential. They are the town square in the modern village. They’re where people interact with their community and they’re part of the fabric and soul of every country town.”
