Japanese cuisine is widely known for its subtle yet defining flavours, bold colour and minimalist style. However, Japanese cuisine is broad. As you are probably aware, it covers everything from Miso Soup to Sushi. With so many contrasting dishes and Japanese restaurants offering different aspects of the cuisine, it can be difficult to know where to go.
Well, don’t worry. Luckily, Perth is home to a range of amazing Japanese restaurants. So if you’ve been craving Japanese food lately, you know where to get your fix.
Furthermore, to help you narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the best Japanese restaurants Perth has to offer.
Location: Crown Metropol Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood, WA 6100Ph: 1800 556 688
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ll have heard of Nobu.
This is an internationally recognised Japanese restaurant. Excitingly, they pride themselves on delivering innovative and new style Japanese cuisine. The restaurant strives to create unique dishes, drawn from the fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine and South American flavours. This translates on the plate into innovative such as the Nobu Tacos – we love the Salmon Spicy Miso ones.
On top of this, they aim to create a unique and memorable dining experience. This is a great restaurant to visit to celebrate a special occasion. Each dish boasts unique flavours, colours and designs. In fact, some dishes look almost too good to eat.
Highlights of this restaurant include an intimate sake bar for an authentic Japanese dining experience, as well as two private dining rooms. Not surprisingly, these spaces are perfect for an event or celebration.
Nobu also offers Omakase, which is a Japanese style of dining where the chef chooses the menu for you. This is a great way to really experience the flavours on offer and immerse yourself in the tradition.
Besides the delicious food, Nobu is situated in a stunning area of Perth overlooking the Swan River and the city skyline. This is a restaurant where you can dine in luxury whilst taking in a million dollar view.
As you might aspect from reading this, a meal at Nobu isn’t a cheap feed. However, it will be a truly memorable experience. And we can confirm that the Nobu signature dish – Black Cod Miso – is worth every penny!
Location: Brookfield Place, Lower Level/125 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000 Ph: (08) 6255 9889
From the polished elegance of Nobu, we are veering left into the shmick, neon-lit world of Papi Katsu, a comparatively new Japanese fusion restaurant.
The vibe here is a major drawcard, but don’t let that distract you from the great food.
The Duck & Shiitake Gyoza are a perfect marriage of sweet, rich Duck and fragrant Fungi, whilst the Scallop Tostada with Avocado, Jalapeno & Coriander is a revelation. Pleasingly, the Cauliflower Karaage has both texture and punch and the Roasted Pork Cutlet with Plum, Soy, Ginger & Spring Onion hits all the right notes.
If you want to make perfect, fluffy rice every time, you need to buy a Rice Cooker. After all, no Asian kitchen is complete without one and as experts in all things rice, we reckon that makes a Rice Cooker a must-have appliance. For more information and prices, see here.
And a special mention has to go to Papi Katsu’s cheeky take on one of Eatability’s favourite Italian pasta dishes – their Udon ‘Carbonara’. It’s superb.
Whatever you do, make sure you check out the Drinks Menu. It’s a tight selection, but there are a couple of excellent Cocktails. The Tea House – Tanqueray, Cointreau, Jasmine & WA Yuzu is fab refresher before throwing yourself into a meal.
Main Street Ryu is a Japanese restaurant based around the fictional Capcom’s Street Fighter series from 1987. So as you might expect, this eatery has a fun atmosphere with a unique, quirky twist.
Not only does the restaurant offer an interesting setting, but the food lives up to the dining space.
Traditional Japanese dishes litter the menu. However, each dish is presented in a playful and unusual way. Moreover, many of the dishes on the menu have a playful tweak and are named after characters from the cartoon series.
Also, they have a wide range of Japanese Tapas, Nori Tacos and a raw Sushi bar.
This is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a light, fun dining experience. That said, they take their food seriously. For example, they pride themselves on offering a range of options suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Finally, Main Street Ryu also provides a catering service for anyone looking to host a unique and thrilling event or special occasion.
Location: 191/580 Hay St, Perth, WA 6000 Ph: (08) 9325 2090
If you think that a simple ramen spot doesn’t deserve to make our list of the best Japanese restaurants in Perth, think again.
NAO Japanese Ramen strives to provide a genuine taste of Japanese offering homemade food with authentic, fresh ingredients. Everything from their Broth to their Noodles is homemade using traditional techniques and ingredients.
Their menu offers a unique option of choosing from a range of base Broths and choosing a type of Noodles to immerse in it. Their variety of Noodles include Original Egg Noodles, Spinach infused Noodles, Red Chilli infused Noodles and Squid Ink Noodles. The resulting bowls are both colourful and full of flavour.
Location: Shop RH2/300 Murray Street Mall, Perth WA 6000 Ph: (08) 6102 2061
Funky, contemporary and centrally located, Furiabo Izakaya Bar is generally buzzing with life come the weekend. Just as so many izakaya are all over Japan.
And no wonder. This more casual form of dining is the perfect way to catch up with mates and share a number of plates and drinks. In fact, at Furaibo, the only issue is what to choose from the extensive menu.
You could start at the Sushi Bar with the Bluefin Tuna, or perhaps at the Sushi Rolls section with the fabulously named Venom Roll – Eel, Crab, Avocado & Cucumber. From there, the Nagoya Fried Chicken (especially the Skin Skewer) is superb and the Yakitori Pork Belly is divine.
The kitchen also does a fun range of Japanese Tapaps where you can try dishes such as Creme Corn Croquette and Soft Shell Crab.
Lastly, the bar is well-stocked, including one of the biggest selection of Japanese Whisky in WA.
Location: 393 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park, WA 6100 Ph: (08) 9361 8888
Slick and contemporary, KUZA Urban Japanese Food makes our list of the best Japanese restaurants in Perth partly as it offers something a smidge different – a Japanese fusion menu.
The perfect example of this is their Tori Roll. Featuring Katsu Chicken, Cucumber, Maple Sauce, May, Toasted Walnuts and Coriander, it’s a winning combination of flavours and textures. Another belter of a dish is the Seared Esperance Scallops. Opaque and delicate, they come with Pancetta, Edamame, Shiitake, Feta & Butternut Pumpkin Sauce.
Of course, when the food is this daring, you need complimenting libations. Happily, KUZA has a large Wine, Beer and Spirit list, along with some fun Cocktails. Our pick is the Flirtatious You which matches Shochu with fragrant Rose & Lychee Liqueur and sour Umeshu.
All this plus a sophisticated dining room and extremely helpful staff and they’ve got one very special evening out.
Location: 305 William St, Northbridge, WA 6003 Ph: (08) 6107 6380
It might be dinky, but the food at Tosaka Ramen Bar definitely doesn’t lack flavour. And that’s exactly why you will almost certainly have to queue for a seat – almost as soon as the eatery opens.
Ramen – as the name implies – is the speciality. In fact, many online reviewers confidently declare that it is the best in Perth. A big call, I know but – when a Broth has this much slow-cooked depth of flavour – who am I to argue?
But this popular Japanese Noodle spot isn’t just about the Ramen. All of the Donburri (Rice Bowls) are fab too.
And then there’s a wonderfully friendly service. Honestly, standing outside on the street, waiting for table is so much nicer when charming staff keep you informed of where you are in the line.
This place has a dedicated following. And if you are lucky enough to eat here, you’ll know why.
Location: 4/401 Oxford St, Mount Hawthorn, WA 6016Ph: (08) 9444 0577
Ha-Lu is an award-winning Japanese restaurant that separates itself from the pack by creating Tapas-style Japanese food. Whilst the presentation and concept is innovative, the food maintains the balance and beauty you expect from Japanese fare.
And of course, each plate is perfectly crafted and designed for sharing, making this a great dining option for groups.
Their menu consists of a range of Seafood, Meat and Veggie dishes. One example of this is the fresh Vegetarian Spring Rolls served with Cream Cheese, Shibazuke Pickles and Wholegrain Mustard. Another is the grilled Duck Breast slices with Eggplant and Madeira Sauce and Wholegrain Mustard.
With so much choice on offer, you could easily get carried away here. So why not grab some friends and book a table?
Location: Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy, Cannington, WA 6107 Ph: (08) 9358 3999 See website for further locations
Delicious, authentic food and innovative serving solutions come together perfectly at this smart (in every sense of the word) Japanese restaurant.
At Super Tetsudo, you can select your dishes from a Sushi Train, a meal train or even go a la carte via and iPad.
But don’t worry that this place is all gimmick and no flavour. The dishes are pretty exciting too. From Gyoza and Sushi, to Sashimi and Yakimono, to Noodles and more. Along side the more common dishes they have some interesting Asian fusion offerings, including their popular ‘Sushi Tacos’. Why no one else has done this before, we’ve no idea – they really work.
With a fun dining experience and tasty fare, Super Tetsudo is one of the top Japanese restaurants in Perth.
Marumo delivers Japanese-inspired cuisine with a contemporary twist. Each dish is light and flavoursome and beautifully presented; vibrant colours sing on every plate.
One of the highlights of dining here is a 7-course Omakase menu which is selected by the chef.
At Marumo they pride themselves on delivering delicious cuisine made from the freshest seasonal ingredients across all plates. To showcase this they have an exceptional tasting menu packed full of surprises and delicious flavour.
Each Omakase tasting starts from 7pm and each seating lasts for 3 hours. This is a great way to experience an authentic Japanese dining experience and to really indulge in the flavours and variety of foods on offer.
This is a wonderful place to visit with others to share the experience.
If you think a mere noodle house can’t be good enough to make the best Japanese restaurants in Perth, think again.
Hifumiya Udon Noodle House originated from Kurashiki, Okayama (Japan), the birthplace of Bukkake-style Udon Noodles. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that this establishment highlights the subtlety and balance of Udon-based dishes. Indeed, they use premium Wheat from Perth to make their Noodles as well as a Salt which is rich in minerals. Such is their dedication that they make their Noodles using traditional techniques and machines from Japan.
The result is tasty, chewy Noodles which are a revelation.
Pleasingly, the restaurant provides an intimate and friendly atmosphere for sharing and enjoying great food. They are centred around community-based hospitality and they pride themselves on preparing fresh, healthy food in a casual, warm environment.
Hifumiya Udon Noodle House is tastefully decorated with neutral decor and large tables designed for sharing. This restaurant makes all of its dishes in house using fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
Ichirin is a small and intimate family run restaurant. They provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for anyone looking for a relaxed dining experience.
Located in the suburbs of Perth, this restaurant is a hidden treasure. Ichirin delivers carefully crafted authentic Japanese cuisine, passionately made and packed with character, flavour and colour.
The kitchen prides itself on creating dishes made from the freshest ingredients. Their menu includes a range of flavoursome courses pulling from both traditional Japanese recipes and Australian influences.
Ichirin also offers an Omakase menu which is a popular option. Committed to sustainability and sourcing the finest produce, their Omakase menu is seasonal and is subject to change.
This is a great place to visit for anyone looking for a hassle free dining experience where you can just sit back, relax and enjoy great food.
Location: On the Park, 2/182 James St, Northbridge, WA 6003 Ph: (08) 9328 2525
From the moment you enter the James Parker, you know you are somewhere a bit special. The interior design of this most modern of Japanese restaurants is uber cool, to say the least. All curved wood and clever lighting, it’s moody and chic simultaneously. But it’s all very well and good looking like a classy joint and not being able to deliver on the food-front. Fortunately, the fare at James Parker Sushl & Sake more than compares with the sleek surroundings.
The Sashimi is of the highest quality, with the Otoro of JP – Premium Bluefin Tuna Belly – a stand-out. Another wonderful dish is the Blue Swimmer Crab Chawanmushi. It features one of the most delicate steamed Egg Custards that we’ve enjoyed in a long while. And if you’re a fan of Sushi and Nigiri, you’ll be spoilt for choice given the extensive range, all freshly made.
From the sophistication of James Parker (above) we’re finishing with the humble, no fuss, but excellent food of Taka.
This is simple, counter service fare, served with a smile. If you find yourself in the Perth CBD and feel like fresh Sushi or Agedashi Tofu, make your way to Taka. The Teriyaki Chicken Udon is both delicious and filling, whilst the kitchen does one of the finest Katsu Don in town.
Another reason why this place is always busy come lunchtime is that it’s incredibly cheap for the quality of the food.
Yes. We love a posh dinner our every once in a while. But places like the amazing Taka should be protected at all costs!
So now you have a rich list full of gems right at your disposal. Perth stands to be the place to be for finding fresh, authentic and delicious Japanese food.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
