Sydney’s best vanilla slice has been revealed in the delicious 100

The delicious. 100 has uncovered Sydney’s best vanilla slice, but to get one of these mouth-watering treats, you’ll need to be quick.

A humble slab of real-vanilla custard between two puff pastry sheets, topped with a zingy passionfruit glaze, has been lauded as the best vanilla slice in Sydney in this year’s delicious. 100.

Sydneysiders will need to be quick if they want to get their hands one. Good Ways Deli only make 18 vanilla slices every weekend and they never last long.

Tom Pye, co-owner of the popular deli, says a vanilla slice should be simple. “It’s good the way it’s always been made and we haven’t tried to change it. But the components are better.”

Here the vanilla slice sits around two inches thick, pastry cream holding up the flaky pastry top, and each large rectangle slice is glazed with a shimmering passionfruit icing, tart and sweet at once.

Good Ways Deli’s vanilla slice. Picture: Nikki To

Good Ways Deli vanilla slice has been named the best in the delicious. 100 Picture: Nikki To

Pye says the custard for their winning vanilla slice is made a day in advance, left to set in the fridge atop the buttery puff pastry. They make their vanilla slice on a flat tray, so it needs to stand up on its own, the custard thick with egg yolks to hold, and with no cornflour. The custard is not too sweet, and vanilla adds a depth of flavour and richness in place of excess sugar.

Staff at the Good Ways Deli, which has been named delicious 100’s best vanilla slice in Sydney.

“There’s a balance needed in a vanilla slice,” says Pye. “The custard should be firmer to create volume and so the slice holds together when you eat it. The pastry should be golden and biscuity, and then there’s that quite sweet and tart, almost zingy passionfruit icing on top.”

Admirers of this classic Australian pastry have to wait for weekends to pick up a vanilla slice from Good Ways Deli, which has a shop in Redfern as well as Alexandria. “We sell one slab, or about 18 slices, in each shop per day over the weekend. But it’s first in, best served. And sometimes someone will come in and get four slices in one go. Vanilla slices are a bit like that, they have their fans,” he laughs.

Good Ways Deli is one of five vanilla slices named as the best in NSW in this year’s delicious. 100. The annual review guide has had a fresh update this year, ditching the fine dining restaurant reviews for a showcase of the top 100 best eats and treats in the state.

View the full list and vote for your favourite now at delicious100.com.au.