The Best Toasties in Sydney

Anyone can make a toasted sandwich or jaffle. Slap together some bread, cheese and whatever else you like, and it's ready to go. But as good as the average home-made toastie is, it's got nothing on the sangas at these spots. Leave the house and you'll be rewarded with fancy cheeses and next-level fillings such as Indonesian mie goreng and tofu schnitzel. These spots prove there are no rules between toasted slices of bread.

Words by Broadsheet Editors
Updated on 22 June 2024

Cafe

Soul Deli

Soul Dining’s cafe spinoff does a toastie worthy of the restaurant’s rep, packing in mozzarella, Mexican cheeses, fried kimchi and pulled pork. It also comes with little ramiken of house-made pickles on the side.

Cafe

Dutch Smuggler

A classic, Indo-style mie goreng with a fried egg – but inside a toastie. They call it magic, but we say it’s just downright inspired. This place also does the same trick with beef rendang curry.

Restaurant

Flyover Fritterie

This two-level diner is influenced by the nameless street food stalls that sit under overpasses in India. Its main game is pakoras and chai, but it also does another, lesser-known Indian favourite: jaffles stuffed with fillings such as potato and peanut chutney.

Cafe

Lowkey

Native ingredients rule the menu at this cool cafe-bakery. You can always count on a classic three cheese option, but we say keep an eye out for the killer specials. Think pepperberry beef cheek; cheesy tuna with warrigal greens; and confit duck with wattleseed bechamel and Davidson’s plum chutney.

Cafe

Barrel One Coffee Roasters Lane Cove

Melbourne cheese don Anthony Femia of Maker & Monger helped develop Barrel One’s toastie duo. So what’ll it be – pimento, jalapeno cheddar and cornichon; or Swiss gruyere, double-smoked ham and mustard?

Cafe

Two Good Co Cafe

Set within a historic former church, this social impact cafe collaborates with top Australian chefs on a monthly menu, which always includes a winning toastie. Right now, you can get a cheesy mushroom bolognaise toastie by Bloodwood’s Claire Van Vuuren.

Cafe

Kosta’s Takeaway Rosebery

“Classic, not basic” is this slick sandwich deli’s credo. The hulking sourdough tuna melt is one of the OG menu items, crammed with cheesy tuna, capers, dill and pickles.

Cafe

Lucien Baked Goods

We love Lucien’s signature toasties, plated up with a vibrant side of house pickles. Lunch might look like golden za’atar cheese or a hefty beef brisket number.

Shop

Penny’s Cheese Shop

Penny’s famous toastie is filled with a rotating cast of cheeses, though there’s always a cheddar (for sharpness) and a raclette (for meltiness). More cheese goes on the outside of the sandwich for a crisp crunch.

Cafe

Mayflower

Mayflower wasn’t content with simply putting truffles inside its cheesy, gooey croque monsieur. This decadent number also comes with a generous serve of shaved truffles on top. It’s the most over-the-top toastie on this list – and worth stopping in for.

Cafe

Brickfields

The trifecta of mushrooms, melty gruyere and truffle mayo is an easy one to pick. But it’s the heat from the pickled jalapenos that really takes this staple to a whole other level. It’s unlikely you’ll see this one leave the menu any time soon.

Cafe

Loaf Cronulla

They might look like ordinary jaffles on the outside. On the inside? You might be dealing with anything from cheese and Vegemite to tofu schnitzel. For the signature, order the Mushie Trip with ’shrooms, spinach, sweet onion and two kinds of cheese.

Cafe

Bourke Street Bakery

Bourke Street’s toastie rotation changes often, but there’s always at least one on the menu no matter which location you visit. Don’t hesitate if you see the smoked Wagyu number with pickles and Russian dressing under a blanket of melted cheddar.

Cafe

Humble Bakery

Porteno’s humble little bakery has a strong toastie game. Past highlights include mushrooms, kale pesto and provolone; and a Reuben-inspired number stuffed with pastrami, cabbage, dijon and mustard.

Cafe

Self Raised Bread Shoppe

Gooey four-cheese or whopping smoked beef? The toastie decisions are tough at South Sydney’s favourite bakery. It’s the same story at the team’s Snack Shoppe in Bexley.

Restaurant

Toastiesmith

Fluffy scrambled eggs, Wagyu beef, grilled prawns and taro wedged between butter-infused bread. These are toasties like you’ve never seen before.

More Options

One Shot Specialty, St Peters
From a lofty industrial space in St Peters, this specialty coffee shop is quietly serving some serious sandwich options. Go for the sourdough pastrami melt, loaded with ’stram, gochujang sauerkraut, slaw, American cheese and honey-mango dressing.

Porch and Parlour, Bondi
Herby garlic mushrooms, Swiss cheese, mozzarella and sauteed greens between toasted sourdough slices is a vibe at this breezy beachside fave. Our pick comes with just the right amount of ooze and kick to make for an extremely satisfying two-hander for breakfast or lunch.

Toastettes Cafe, Stanmore
Like a beacon of hope to hungover people everywhere, Toastettes turns out the kind of jaffles that could cure even the most wretched morning after. Snow-white bread is baked in-house daily, and teamed with savoury fillings like barbeque chicken and bacon; and sweet stuff like chocolate and banana.

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