The Iconic Dishes in Perth That Every Local Needs to Try

Perth certainly isn’t short on delicious food options. From epic brunches to decadent bites and top-tier desserts, we've decided to compile a list of some of Perth’s most beloved dishes, to help make indecisive menu browsing a thing of the past. 

Perth's best dishes are a testament to the city's diverse culinary influences, and showcase the incredible local ingredients available. The best part? These 13 dishes are just the tip of the iceberg; there are countless other standout dishes just waiting to be discovered in Perth's stellar food scene.

Octopus at Bodega 

You can’t really go wrong with the share plate selection at Scarborough’s laid-back neighbourhood bar, Bodega, but the ‘Polpo Arrosto’ (octopus) is to-die-for. Served with a capsicum relish, Sicilian salad and fried chickpeas, do yourself a favour and order this stunning share plate if you’re a fan of perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth occi. 

16e Calais Road, Scarborough 

Birria tacos at Jalisco

The food at this tiny-but-mighty tequila bar and taqueria is all mouthwateringly excellent, but the birria tacos are total perfection. Made with West Aussie corn tortillas from La Tortilla to give the perfect crunch and rich, nutty flavour, and filled with tender shredded beef and cheese, the best part is definitely dunking them in the delicious dipping sauce. Pair these juicy beauties with a spicy Marg for double the wow factor.  

197B Scarborough Beach Road, Doubleview

Spaghetti neri at Lulu La Delizia

It’s not always on the menu, but the crowd-favourite squid ink spaghettini at Lulu La Delizia is an essential Perth dish to add to your bucket list. It's also served up in a myriad of delicious sauces and pasta shapes, so you might get chilli crab, pepperoncini in aceto (pickled Italian capsicum) and marjoram one week, or a squid-ink bigoli with Shark Bay tiger prawns the next, laced within a simple cherry tomato and basil sauce. It's a showstopper dish every time, and a flavour explosion with every bite. Bravissimi!

5/97 Rockeby Road, Subiaco

Bombe Alaska at Bib & Tucker

Bib & Tucker is a must-dine destination for when you want great food, good times with friends and a showcase of the best produce WA has to offer. But when it comes to showstopping dishes at this all-day dining beauty, you have to give it to their Bombe Alaska. Bound by toasted meringue, honeycomb ice cream and blueberry sorbet are a delightful flavour combination that will have you dessert-ing first, asking questions later. One of the most iconic dishes in Perth, even just for wow-factor alone. 

18 Leighton Beach Boulevard, North Fremantle

The crudo special at Madalena's

When it comes to experiencing authentic Italian cuisine in Perth, Madalena's is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit. Serving up mostly seafood and vegetarian plates designed to share, the menu is fluid and works around the seasons and the daily catch. 

In Italian, crudo means ‘raw’, and at Madalena’s, the continually-changing crudo special is one of the absolute must-try dishes on the menu, and in all of Perth at that. From a lightly cured shark bay goldband snapper, to Shark Bay coral prawns with wasabi and ponzu, or Wadjemup big eye tuna - it’s all melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. 

406 South Terrace, South Fremantle

The chicken schnitty at Peggy's

Not just a Perth classic, but an Aussie staple, the chicken schnitty sando never goes out of style. Peggy's is doing it best, layering the most golden brown, crispy chicken schnitzel with lettuce, dill mayo, onion and cheddar cheese in between a sesame sub. 

This family-run sandwich servery uses the freshest produce to craft unreasonable addicting, things-between-bread combinations...and it's all made-to-order too. Their fish sandwich has equal iconic status, but the prize chicken schnitty runs out the door most days - so get in early to try it. 

35 Market Street, Fremantle 

Bread and butter pudding at Bread in Common 

This Bread in Common dessert is a true indulgence, featuring layers of sweet fruit loaf bread, creamy ice cream, and rich butterscotch sauce. The dish is made with the bakery's signature house-baked bread. The orange-cardamom ice cream is a refreshing contrast to the warm bread pudding, and the butterscotch sauce adds a rich sweetness that brings everything together. The combination of flavours and textures is simply divine and every bite is like a comforting hug. It's the perfect way to end a meal at this popular Fremantle eatery.

43 Pakenham Street, Fremantle

Duck liver parfait at Le Rebelle

If you find yourself at the cosy and intimate French hotspot, Le Rebelle, the duck liver parfait is a menu non-negotiable. As far as indulgent dishes go, this one is hard to beat. The silky smooth duck liver parfait is paired with cumberland and truffle butter and toasted brioche for a delicious balance of flavours and textures. It’s a rich, decadent dish that's perfect for sharing as a starter.

676 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Eggs & Soldiers at Mary Street Bakery

Dip, dip! Buttered soldiers and boiled eggs is a comforting dish, and cult-favourite Mary Street Bakery knows how to elevate it to iconic dish status. Served up with a delicious corn relish and plenty of salt on a wooden board, a duo of eggs sit pretty in a cut-out carton and the toast soldiers are buttered and piled up to naught and crosses effect. We can't go past ordering it when we're in the mood for a dose of childhood nostalgia - and for that alone, it's one of our favourite iconic dishes in Perth. 

Multiple locations around the city

Traditional Pad Thai at Kitsch Bar 

A trendy Asian-inspired restaurant in Leederville, Kitsch Bar serves up some incredible bites of food (even their prawn crackers with yellow rock chilli salt are next-level delicious) but their traditional Pad Thai is undoubtedly one of the best in Perth. 

The noodles are perfectly cooked, creating a soft and chewy texture that blends seamlessly with the other flavours in the dish. The chicken is tender and juicy, the tofu crispy and savoury. Kitsch's attention to detail in the preparation of the ingredients also allows for the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavours, making this beloved dish a winner in every way. 

229 Oxford Street, Leederville

Dinner-style hotcake with fried chicken at Good Things Cafe

If you're a fan of the sweet and savoury combo, you won't want to miss the buttermilk hotcake with fried chicken at Good Things in Mosman Park. This indulgent dish features a fluffy and delicious buttermilk hotcake that's perfectly cooked, topped with a crispy and juicy piece of fried chicken. 

A generous disc of whipped butter melts on top of the chicken and the whole thing is drizzled with maple syrup. A standout Perth dish, this is as heavenly as weekend brunch gets.

128 Wellington Street, Mosman Park

Potato gnocchi at Il Lido

Il Lido's gnocchi is a must-try for all gnocchi-lovers, that are looking for a truly authentic Italian dining experience in Perth. The dish is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to using high-quality ingredients and traditional Italian techniques to create dishes that are both delicious and satisfying. The perfectly cooked gnocchi are light and fluffy, yet still satisfyingly dense, and served with a cherry tomato sauce. 

But what really sets this dish apart is the addition of local stracciatella cheese. With a soft and silky texture that melts in your mouth, the stracciatella is added to the dish at the last moment, allowing it to gently melt and mix with the tomato sauce. It's a satisfyingly indulgent, standout Perth dish.

88 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Chilli mussels at the Margaret River Brewhouse 

There’s something about a big bowl of chilli mussels that just hits the spot. It’s comforting, indulgent, satisfying and strangely addictive. So if you’re a chilli mussel fan and you’re in the Margaret River region, do yourself a favour and order the spectacular bowl of chilli mussels at Margaret River Brewhouse. 

Fresh South Australian mussels are cooked to absolute perfection in a beautiful, rich sauce made with tomatoes, chilli and wine, that’s the perfect amount of spicy. And there’s nothing worse than getting a tiny serve of bread with your mussels - not the case here. You get two generous slices of fresh, toasted bread, so there’s plenty of carbs to soak up all that delicious sauce. 

35 Bussell Highway, Margaret River

Ramen at Hakata Gensuke

Hakata Gensuke in Victoria Park serves up some of the best ramen in Perth, and the almost permanent line out the front more than proves it. The ramen here is made in the Hakata style, which originates from the Fukuoka prefecture in Japan. 

The broth is made by simmering pork bones for hours to extract all the rich flavours, resulting in an almost criminally delicious dish packed with umami. The noodles are perfectly cooked to an al dente texture, and the dish is served with slices of tender, succulent pork, bamboo shoots, black mushrooms, and green onions and can be as spicy as you like. No matter your spice and addition preferences, the ramen at Hakata is a standout, everytime. 

850 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park

Pizza at Si Paradiso 

Si Paradiso is Perth’s home of retro Italian vibes, delicious eats and cracking cocktails. And the pizza here is just as you'd expect - authentic, comforting and bursting with fresh flavours. Think a fresh, chewy dough, a golden crust covered in rich tomato sauce, and impressive toppings adding a burst of flavour to each slice. The Margherita pizza in particular is a standout dish, with its simple yet flavourful combination of San Marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil. Pizza perfection. 

1/446 Beaufort Street, Highgate

These are the standout dishes set to achieve Perth icon status. How many have you tried? For more standout eat and drink moments, check out our go-to brunch spots in Fremantle to visit this weekend, followed by a fun sesh with friends at some of Perth's best bars.