The best steak sandwiches around Perth
The people’s sandwich! It might be lonesome to think of a pub with no beer, but a pub with no steak sandwich would come a close second – these are just a few of our favourites from all over Perth.
Palette
We’re no stranger to courting controversy – so we’re more than happy to start off our favourite steak sangas with one of the least traditional of the bunch! North Freo’s Palette are serving up a true stunner with their steak frites sandwich, which features succulent sliced steak topped with gloriously golden chippies, zesty salsa verde and mountains of pecorino. It’s barely left our brains since tasting it…
1 Freeman Loop, North Fremantle
The Wray Hotel
The Freo massive are in luck, with a stellar offering of steak sangas in easy reach. Another more recent addition (and hot topic in the Perth is OK! office) has been the Wray Hotel – following the pub’s revamp, they’ve added an impressive steak sandwich to the menu created in collaboration with celeb chef and Masterchef judge Andy Allen and travla beer, which Allen co-founded with actor Travis Fimmel. Garlic butter sourdough, travla beer onions, bacon jam, tommy relish… It’s a no-brainer, made even more delicious with a pint of travla for just $7.90! Prices like that take us back to the old days!
73 Wray Avenue, Fremantle
Picabar
The Picabar steak sandwich and pint lunch special is an enduring favourite that pairs well with the quality people watching its courtyard provides. When it comes to steak sandwiches, sometimes you just want something straightforward, reliable and oh so tasty: scotch fillet, aioli, bacon, onion jam, cheddar, with a side of fries. $28 with a pint? That’s hard to pass up.
51 James Street, Northbridge
U N ME Coogee
This southern suburbs fave has been getting tongues wagging with their superb sanga – which looks just as good as it tastes! U N ME’s no-nonsense take on the steak sanga features deliciously thick cut bread, and a truly succulent Black Angus scotchy, cooked perfectly to medium.
2/180 Hamilton Road, Spearwood
Carringtons Bar & Grill
This Hammy Hill tav took out the gong for the 2024 AHA WA Steak Sandwich awards – and we can see why. Carrington’s doesn’t beat around the bush, batting it straight down the (delicious) line with the classic rocket, tomato, bacon, cheese and aioli, with a tender scotchy and house-made romesco, plus bourbon and toffee-infused onions.
330 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill
Percy Flint
Super chill neighbourhood spot Percy Flint (and Picabar sibling) is one of our favourite spot to soak up the sun with a pint or two, and they’ve certainly managed to get tongues wagging about their steak sandwich. A classic with a twist, this sandwich is on a super duper toasty Turkish roll, generously filled with scotch fillet steak, rocket, cheddar and caramelised onions, and finished off with some stellar chips. Simple but done right!
211 South Terrace, South Fremantle
Nic & Kolo
We’ve been guilty of relegating Nic & Kolo to the pancakes and bennies brunch vibes – but the Applecross café has entered the chat with a game changer of a steak sanga. At first glance, the elements may seem straightforward – your classic Swiss cheese, caramelised onion, aioli, rocket, chimmichurri and all the rest atop a medium rare Margaret River scotch fillet – but it’s all done to perfection, nestled into that oh-so-perfectly toasted pane di casa roll.
45 Ardross Street, Applecross
The Local Hotel
South Freo spot (and across the road neighbour of Percy Flint) is the Local Hotel. This also very chill, very Freo hotel is offering up some of the best pub grub around, and you can’t go past their steak sandwich. Think bacon chutney, apple slaw, fried onions and a chipotle aioli. And if you’re lunching with your plant-based pals, the Local has plenty of tempting veg-friendly options.
282 South Terrace, South Fremantle
Samuel’s On Mill
Samuel’s dimly-lit dining room might not seem like the obvious choice to pick up a great steak sandwich – but the hidden CBD gem is actually home to one of the greats. The vibe is more date night or client schmoozing than pub fare, but it’s well worth a bit of lunch break exploration to devour this classic with sirloin on toasted Turkish panini served with pickles, smokey BBQ and bacon – not to mention those hand cut chips!
14 Mill Street, Perth
The Iluka
The Iluka took out the top prize in the highly-anticipated AHA WA’s Best Steak Sandwich Competition for 2023, with an absolutely classic take on the sandwich. The northern suburb’s pub’s steak sandwich features a black Angus fillet with a cognac peppercorn sauce, alongside grilled onions, rocket and Roma tomato, all within a locally-baked Turkish roll – and served with hand-cut chips, of course.
98 O’Mara Boulevard, Iluka
The Last Local
This Canning Vale pub was also a finalist in the 2023 Steak Sandwich showdown after taking home the big prize in 2022, and they offer not just one, not two, but three options for steak sanga lovers! The Last Local’s 2022 winner is a truly decadent French Dip Steak Sandwich, with either grilled scotch fillet or braised short rib served with gooey melted cheese, caramelised onions, house-made slaw, horseradish sour cream and a French onion dipping broth. Feeling a bit more restrained? Try their 2023 finalist, the South African-inspired braai steak sandwich with a braai BBQ glaze sauce and braai spiced chips. For 2024, they’ve got a classic take on the steak sanga, made with grilled scotch fillet topped with homemade bacon jam, gremolata and barbi-aioli.
507 Nicholson Road, Canning Vale
Hillarys Beach Club
Another contentious contender: Hillarys Beach Club! This coastal destination only opened at the tail end of 2023, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves with not just stunning views, but an impressive menu. As well as some epic seafood towers, their steak sandwich is one to head north for – featuring seared wagyu tri-tip, Fireball whiskey button mushroom sauce and piles of parmesan. It won’t be for purists, but for those looking to level up the classic steak sanga experience? You’ll be in heaven.
20 John Wilkie Tarn, Hillarys
Seven Sins
In the short time since opening at the end of 2020, Seven Sins has been making big waves. As one of the finalists of AHA WA’s annual steak sandwich competition, the newbie was pitted against some of Perth’s most established steak sandwich spots, and more than held its own. Served with tomato chutney, aioli and onion jam, it’s a classic worth heading to the Hills for.
1 Soldiers Road, Roleystone
Karalee on Preston
This Como tavern has been feeding locals since 1975, but the Karalee’s steak sandwich is thoroughly keeping up with the times. An AHA WA Steak Sandwich Hall of Famer (2014, 2017, and 2019, thank you very much) features a char grilled steak, crispy maple bacon, pepper jack cheese, caramelised onions and their home made barbecue sauce. One of the juiciest sangas in town!
25 Preston Street, Como
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Mary Street Bakery
We’ve already talked about the under appreciated goodness of the Mary Street steak sanga. The bakery’s signature bread, toasted to crispy perfection filled with slices of succulent steak – and while their ever-expanding empire has meant that they’ve switched up the ingredients, we can still eat this any time of the day.
Various locations
CY O’Connor Village Pub
Before its tragic destruction from fire in 2021, the C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub was the reigning champ in the steak sanga game – and now that they’ve risen from the ashes (both figuratively and literally!) with their schmick new five-venue precinct, it looks like they’ve got their eyes set on reclaiming the crown. The new-look steak sanga makes the most of the pub’s own beef, raised on their own family-run Melaleuka Farm, as well as special beefy touches like bone marrow aioli!
11 Erade Drive, Piara Waters
Cover image credit: The Last Local