A regional Western Australian pub has been crowned the best in the state’s country division of a popular hospitality competition, with the Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra winning the Country WA title for its steak sandwich.
The award is part of the annual AHA & Little Creatures WA’s Best Steak Sandwich Competition, which pits pubs and hotels across both regional and metropolitan WA against each other in a showcase of Australia’s classic pub meal.
The Exchange Hotel’s entry impressed judges with its combination of quality ingredients, presentation and flavour balance. The venue has become a regular contender in the competition, previously reaching finalist status and building a strong reputation for its signature steak sandwich among locals and visitors.
The Country WA category includes regional venues from across the state, with finalists selected through a mix of public voting, judging assessments and cook-off performance. In 2026, the competition once again featured strong representation from popular country pubs known for elevating traditional pub food into more refined offerings.
The winning steak sandwich is part of a broader trend in WA’s hospitality scene where pubs are reinventing the classic “steak sanga” with premium cuts, house-made sauces, specialty breads and creative toppings while still keeping the dish recognisable and accessible.
The Exchange Hotel’s success reflects the importance of consistency and local support in the competition, with many finalists relying on strong community voting during early stages before advancing to live cook-offs held in Perth. The final judging typically considers factors such as meat tenderness, balance of ingredients, presentation, originality, and overall value.
Organisers of the competition say it remains one of the most popular events on the WA hospitality calendar, drawing strong participation from pubs across the state and helping promote regional venues that might otherwise be less well known to metropolitan diners.
For the Exchange Hotel, the win is both a culinary achievement and a tourism boost. Past winners and finalists of the competition have often reported increased customer traffic after being recognised, as visitors travel specifically to try award-nominated dishes.
The 2026 competition continues the long-running tradition of celebrating Australia’s pub culture, with the steak sandwich remaining a symbol of casual dining done well. The Country WA and Metro WA winners are typically crowned after live cook-off events judged by hospitality industry experts.
For Pinjarra, the result places the town on the culinary map once again, reinforcing its reputation as a regional food destination in Western Australia.
