The best Japanese restaurants in Perth

Taka’s Kitchen is a go-to for speedy, wallet-friendly Japanese fare in the heart of the CBD. This no-frills favourite is famed for its fresh donburi bowls, warming miso soup, and crispy tempura, all without the wait or inflated price. Expect generous portions, and dishes that pack solid flavour in a humble setting. The value for money here means it's always buzzing, as it's a favourite lunch spot for locals and students. 

Address: 150-152 Barrack Street, Perth

Price: Expect to pay $20 per head

Easily missed by many, but deeply loved by more, this intimate Leederville restaurant immediately gives you that genuine Japanese dining vibe as soon as you step through the door. We recommend ordering a glass of umeshu, a traditional Japanese plum wine that you can drink straight up or mix with tonic – either way, the lingering sweet flavours could make it one of your new favourites. Pair your tipple with an ume bento box, brimming with deep-fried gyoza, chicken balls, beef and vegetable rolls, and your choice of main – whether that be salmon teriyaki, tempura, sashimi or karaage.

Address: Unit 14/663 Newcastle St, Leederville 

Price: Expect to pay $35 per head 

You’ll find Australia’s first Hokkaido soup curry restaurant down an unassuming laneway in Perth’s CBD just off Hay Street. Rojiura’s take on the soup curry, which originates from Sapporo Hokkaido, packs a day’s worth of vegetables into one bowl, with each dish featuring anywhere from 11 to 17 kinds of veggies. It’s completely up to you as to what else goes in the bowl, with Rojiura boasting one of the most customisable menus in town. Start by picking your curry – anything from the classic veggie to chicken Maryland or zangi (Hokkaido-style deep-fried chicken karaage) – then your soup base (regular, mild, coconut, vegan), your spice level (one is spicy and ten is flaming hot), your rice portion (small to large), and any extra toppings, which are all gluten-free. Wash it all down with a seasonal lassi, Yoichi wine or Japanese lager. 

Address: 4A Shafto Lane, Perth

Price: Expect to pay about $35 per head

Set inside a stylish warehouse on Roe Street, The Bonsai is Northbridge’s artful take on Japanese share plates. Moody lighting, high ceilings and exposed brick create an atmospheric backdrop for feasts of sashimi bites and elevated izakaya-style dishes. It’s the kind of place you gather with friends over glasses of sake and pass around plates of crispy tempura prawns or rich caramel soy duck, all plated with a minimalist flair. 

Address: 30 Roe Street, Northbridge

Price: Expect to pay $60 per person

Ex-Nobu head sushi chef, Pepe Tsukayama, is the mind behind Tsukaya. With its wooden accents and warm ambience, this suburban gem captures the charm of Japan’s most intimate eateries. Drawing inspiration from the flavours of Japan and South America, Tsukaya is all about crafting aesthetic and punchy dishes, allowing you to eat with your mouth and your eyes. A favourite is the delicately crafted sashimi platter, as well as the caramelised nasu dengaku (miso eggplant) and beer-battered umami fries. To sweeten the deal, Tsukaya is BYO. 

Address: 167 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn

Price: Expect to pay $60 per head 

While many may overlook Perth, the world's most recognised Japanese restaurant didn’t. Located in the dazzling Crown Towers Perth precinct, Nobu is the place where Japanese cuisine and Peruvian flavours fuse with effortless luxury, creating a dining experience for the memory books. Famed dishes include the flavour-filled black cod miso and the sweet and spicy yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño. Turn it into an extra special occasion with a floral sake, a Lychee Martini or a world-class glass of wine.

Address: Crown Metropol Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood

Price: Expect to pay $80 per head

The newest addition to Perth's Japanese dining scene is the moody and alluring Papi Katsu. With a daily sashimi selection and a caviar service, this place is pulling out all the stops. Garlic chips, wasabi mustard and nori kuro (a seasoned seaweed paste) bring Japanese flavours to an impressive A5 Wagyu sirloin. For a refreshing contrast, pair it with the salted cucumber salad or a round of octopus skewers with pickled daikon. 

Address: 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Price: Expect to pay $50 per head

James Parker Sushi and Sake is the upscale Japanese restaurant Perth never knew it needed. What better way to dine than with sushi in one hand and sake in the other? That’s exactly what awaits when you step into this elegant venue, which looks almost like an exhibition space in the Museum of Modern Art. As for the menu, must-tries include the spicy tuna tartar with soy-marinated egg yolk and Margaret River Wagyu tataki with ponzu jelly.

Address: 2/182 James St, Northbridge

Price: Expect to pay $40 per head

Picture a super-speed sushi train on overdrive. Super Tetsudo was the first Australian restaurant to combine a traditional kaiten sushi train with an express bullet train. With its vibrant, neon-lit interior, this lively spot feels like a high-spirited market you’d stumble upon in Japan. If you don’t spot your favourite dish cruising down the train, fear not. Super Tetsudo offers an extensive à la carte menu with all the classics and sushi fusions. 

Address: 1382 Albany Hwy, Cannington 

Price: Expect to pay $30 per person

Save this one for your next special occasion. Marumo offers a seasonal seven-course omakase menu, presenting traditional Japanese flavours with a sophisticated, modern twist. Depending on when you score a booking at Marumo, you may be served plates of premium Tasmanian salmon belly sushi, lightly seared Angus beef tataki, or anything else chef Mo, the man behind it all, has up his sleeve. 

Address: 22/145 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands

Price: $100 per person for seven-course omakase menu

Stretching a whopping 114 metres in length and with seats for up to 126 guests, Sushi Jiro at Westfield Carousel claims the title of Perth’s largest sushi train. Their sushi menu reads like a bible with playful adaptations of Japanese classics, like nacho cheese tuna rolls and vegan salmon handrolls. You could just as easily fill up with the hot food options – we’d recommend kicking off your feast with their housemade pork gyoza, crispy mixed tempura udon, or a lightly seared rainbow salmon nigiri plate. Go big or go home!

Address: Shop 1173, 1382 Albany Hwy, Cannington

Price: Expect to pay $30 to $40 per person

Feeling frisky? Goody Two brings Japan’s cheeky yet refined underbelly ‘after-work’ culture to its late-night bar. With a menu that’s small, yet filled with all the important stuff – dumplings, bao buns, edamame – there’s more time to focus on the boozy side of things. With one of Perth's most sizeable Japanese whisky menus and a creative cocktail list serving up the likes of the Meet Your Matcha with roast sesame blanco tequila. Goody Two’s is undoubtedly the place where good nights happen.

Address: 40 Irwin St, Perth

Price: Expect to pay $60 per head, including a couple of cocktails

This izakaya (‘stay-drink-place’) is all about kicking back with a bevvy and enjoying good food in great company. Speaking of great, Tsunmai has previously been awarded Australia’s best sake list, which, as you can imagine, is rather large. Within Tsunami, you'll also discover a teppanyaki bar and a sushi bar, offering everything you could desire for an exceptional Japanese dining experience all under one roof.

Address: 18 Glyde St, Mosman Park

Price: Expect to pay $40 per head

This casual sushi train is all about simplicity and high quality. When you’re craving Japanese food but feeling impatient and borderline ‘hangry’, The Sushi 2016 is your perfect match. You pretty much walk in and start eating within the same minute, and you won’t have to worry about leaving unsatisfied - because you won’t be. They serve up classic dishes done right; the only challenge is getting their most popular bites off the train before they're snatched up by someone else. 

Address: 25 Rowe Ave, Rivervale 

Price: Expect to pay $25 per head

Main Street Ryu is the closest you’ll get to the glowing neon lights of Tokyo in Perth. With a backstory featuring the line “I finally quit drinking for good. Now, I drink for evil!”, this could be part of one of the best villain origin stories we’ve ever heard. Settle in for a feast with a modern Japanese izakaya and sashimi menu, plus a tantalising offering of Japanese liquor cocktails. It’d be rude to leave without trying at least one of their signature salmon belly tartare or soft shell crab nori tacos, the curried popcorn cauliflower, or the zesty Mrs Yuzu cocktail with roku gin, yuzu liquor, fresh yuzu and soda.

Address: 83 Barrack St, Perth 

Price: Expect to pay $50 per person

Authentic and unapologetically ramen-focused, Nao Japanese has been quietly slurping its way into Perth’s culinary heart since 2003. Located along Equus Arcade, its moody, minimalist interior is matched only by its house-made noodles in rich broths, with shoyu, miso, shio and more. Choose your noodle from three options and top it off with silky chashu or crispy veggie tempura. Consistently rated among the city’s best ramen for good reason, Nao delivers serious umami punch and comfort in every bowl. 

Address: Shop 191/580 Hay Street (Equus Arcade), Perth 

Price: Expect to pay $30 per person