The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover is back — bigger, bolder and cheesier than ever. For the next six weeks, 200 cafés, bars, restaurants and food trucks from Paihia to Dunedin will be serving up their ultimate toastie creations.

FIRST TIME ENTRANT TOAST ON THE GREEN SECURES AUCKLAND’S FIRST EVER SUPREME WIN 

Massive congratulations to Chef Mike Schank and the team at Toast on the Green — first-time entrant from Newmarket, Auckland!

Start a day ahead with this fried-chicken toastie to ensure a great brine on the chicken. When it comes to frying it, either use a small deep-fat fryer or an air fryer set to 180°C. Assemble all of the other delicious ingredients while the chicken is nice and hot. 

Surf Shack Eatery, Waihi Beach has officially taken out the 2025 Toastie Takeover People’s Choice Award with their flavour-packed Taniwha Toastie that’s as bold as it is uniquely Aotearoa.⁠

Finalists Announced in The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover

The 2025 finalists in the hunt to find the best toasted sandwich in Aotearoa have been chosen. 

For the past 43 days, judges of The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover have travelled the country, tasting and testing cheesy, melty, outrageously delicious and sometimes unexpectedly original toasted sandwiches. Eateries as far north as Whangārei and as far south as Te Anau created special sandos in their quest to be crowned supreme winner.

208 Eateries Compete in The Great 

New Zealand Toastie Takeover

More than 200 eateries from all over Aotearoa New Zealand will compete in The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover this year.The nationwide celebration of the tastiest, cheesiest, most inventive and outrageous toasted sandwiches in the nation, which kicks off 25 June, has attracted 208 participants this year, the largest number ever. 

In a competition first, Rotorua chef Rich Johns from Okere Falls Store, Cafe & Craft Beer Garden has taken out the Great NZ Toastie Takeover Award for the second time!