Chopsticks Poised: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Perth

You don't need to travel far in Perth for a cultural fix or to indulge in Japan's refined flavours. Nor do you need to splurge at Nobu for some of the best Japanese food in Perth. From the freshest sushi to the best bowl of ramen, Perth has an array of excellent Japanese restaurants that offer an authentic and immersive Japanese dining experience. Irasshaimase!

Marumo 

The epitome of exclusive dining in Perth, a table at Marumo is a hot commodity.  Bookings open for this restaurant for one day every few months and sell out fast. If you’re lucky enough to score a table, you’re in for an unbelievably delicious, seasonal seven-course Omakase (Chef’s Selection) menu Japanese feast. 

22/145 Stirling Highway, Nedlands

Super Tetsudo

There’s usually a line out the front of a Super Tetsudo, and for good reason. This restaurant chain is dishing up some of the best and most affordable Japanese food in Perth, from its bountiful sushi train to the fresh and delicious made-to-order options, like Japanese tacos, gyoza and nigiri. And these guys have just opened a new ramen spot in Karrinyup, called Super Souper Ramen. Keep your eye out for the robot waitstaff! 

Carousel, Claremont and Karrinyup

Yuuma

Experience some of the finest Modern Japanese in Perth at Yuuma. Located along Victoria Park's bustling strip of the Albany Highway, it has fast become a go-to for next-level contemporary dining. Every dish here has been thoughtfully created and beautifully designed using premium produce, from grilled Futari wagyu steak to the miso glazed Alaskan black cod fillet. For something super fresh, we're partial to their octopus and cucumber salad, or a Chirashi bowl (the best and most fresh sashimi varieties of the day in a bowl of sushi rice). Go on, add the sea urchin. Sushi, deluxe sashimi plates, prawn tempura udon, tuna tataki, fried chicken karaage, braised wagyu curries and bento boxes are all on the menu here, but they also make these seriously beautiful layered sushi cakes - a must-try dish in Perth in our opinion! 

861 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park

Nine Japanese Bistro

By blending Japanese tradition with Australian flair, Nine Japanese Bistro challenges expectations while earning its reputation as one of Perth's most understated fine-dining experiences. With a menu evolving with the seasons, the seafood is as fresh as the menu is eclectic, namely the angel hair pasta with mixed mushroom, spiced seaweed and shiso soy, which has remained a steadfast crowd-pleaser since its opening in 2003, under the Nine Fine Food name.

Special occasions demand the six-course Omakase degustation with paired wines. The Tokutoku or Osusume degustations will certainly solve any decision-making dilemmas leaving you and your honey to swoon over the pretty dishes and each other in this intimate bistro.

227 Bulwer Street, Highgate

Ha-Lu Japanese Tapas

Since sharing is caring at Ha-Lu, begin your culinary journey by awakening your taste buds with lotus root chips, edamame with a hint of yuzu citrus and a specialty Aragoshi Momo Shu sake. Then delve into the tempting tapas with unbridled abandon, such as Ha-Lu's legendary Wagyu beef tataki, gyozas, sashimi, grilled duck with Madeira sauce and slow-cooked pork belly.

It's as though you've been given permission to indulge with minimal guilt since everything is so fresh and well-priced at this Mt Hawthorn favourite.

Shop 4, 401 Oxford Street, Mt Hawthorn

Furaibo Perth

Famed for their izakaya, the Japanese version of tapas, Furaibo serves over 100 dishes designed for sharing. While you can't go wrong with a sashimi platter, our picks include the signature tebasaki fried chicken cooked in a secret recipe. Their yakitori sticks include the finest Wagyu, pork belly, prawns or scallops cooked on temperatures reaching 1000° over Binchotan Charcoal imported from Japan's Wakayama prefecture.

Located in the same grand building as the refurbished Royal Hotel built in 1882 on the corner of William and Wellington streets, we suggest heading to the balcony with a cocktail in one hand and chopsticks in the other to spy on the fray below.

Raine Square, 300 Murray Street, Perth

Tosaka

If you've been wondering where to get your fix of authentic ramen in Perth, fear not. Nestled on Northbridge's bustling William Street, Tosaka will directly transport to the streets of Kyoto, with their exceptional tori paiten ramen and bowls of heaving donburi. 

You and everyone else in the know are really here for the tori paiten though. This deep, rich chicken broth is simmered for 10 hours and whipped into a foamy, creamy white cloud. It's light, but packing some serious punch. Perfectly chewy noodles, greens and silky chicken chashu complete this steaming, beautiful bowl of goodness. Add extra toppings if you like, with slow-roasted black garlic, spicy chilli shrimp sauce, corn, butter and soy-seasoned eggs on offer. 

The space itself is casual, brick-lined and permanently buzzy, with cheerful service. If you're lucky enough you'll be able to nab one of the cosy wooden booths for your next easy weeknight date night. Peruse over the sake list together, order up a side of chicken gyozas and then its all happy slurping. 

305 William Street, Northbridge 

Kou Sushi

Kou Sushi is a Japanese restaurant in Perth that's serving up fresh sashimi, sushi rolls and seafood at very decent prices. Settle in for a snazzy lunch in calming surrounds of green and timber. There's always a fish special, from Fremantle Big Eye tuna to the freshest of salmon nigiri, and for heartier vibes, you can't go past their tasty pork katsu. Their plain udon noodle soup is also as comforting and nourishing as it gets. No matter your order, satisfaction is guaranteed at Kou Sushi. 

shop 6b/49 Great Eastern Highway, Rivervale 

Suisen

You know a suburban favourite is good when it's been open for longer than anyone can remember in an inconspicuous location that mostly only the locals know about. It's time this tiny family-run restaurant was celebrated for its ramen, Japanese curry, donburi and sashimi.

Apart from a few offerings, everything else at Suisen is made fresh to order and the generous servings are excellent value with most dishes under $20. As the weather cools, this cosy spot is guaranteed to warm the soul whether you dine in or take away on handcrafted ramen to slurp on in the privacy of your own home.

8/57 Old Perth Road, Bassendean

Main Street Ryu Japanese Food X Liquor

You could certainly opt for the izakaya at this busy inner-city restaurant, or you could channel your inner warrior with the extra spicy Volcano Ramen with seafood or the sweat-inducing Tempura Black Crab. Less adventurous diners might prefer the subtle salmon belly tartare served in a nori taco, kingfish carpaccio and the decadent miso toothfish. This lively venue beckons a group of pals to indulge in the Feed Me menu over Spiced Ninja cocktails or cooling Asahi beers.

83 Barrack Street, Perth

Ekiben

Make your way to Ekiben for a seriously authentic Japanese dining experience. The casual vibes will certainly draw you in further, as will weekend only specials that include some of the freshest plates of sashimi around. It's also a cracking spot for a low-key bento box lunch, and we love their tempura vegetables (the pumpkin is a must), unagi toast and katsu sandwiches. It's one of our favourite casual Japanese restaurants in Perth. 

58 Angove Street, North Perth 

Hakata Gensuke

With outlets all over the globe, including two of Perth's inner-city enclaves in Northbridge and Vic Park, we had to put their declaration of serving the best ramen of all time to the test. Their handmade noodles, crafted in a temperature-controlled environment and served in a delicate broth extracted from fresh pork bones, passed our discerning palates.

Not that we had any doubt since Master Chef Kousuke Yoshimura is the mastermind behind this ramen enterprise that evolved from Hakata, a district in Fukuoka city where pork-bone-based ramen was invented.

850 Albany Highway, East Vic Park; Shop 7, 62 Roe Street, Northbridge

Hiss & Smoke

Follow the smoke to Yagan Square and discover a delectable world of teppanyaki and yakitori style Japanese dining at Hiss & Smoke. It's a go-to Japanese restaurant in Perth for many, with locals flocking in for fiery baby squid and kimchi okonomiyaki, deep-fried Coral prawns with smoked paprika, Agedashi tofu and luxurious wagyu tataki with truffle butter cream, plus regular weekend specials like King George whiting sashimi. We also recommend going for the Chef's Selection of 10 skewers from the yakitori menu; trust us, you'll want to try them all. 

Yagan Square, Perth

Kumo

Who said dessert doesn't have a place on the best Japanese restaurants in Perth list?! Say hello to Kumo. Fresh to the city, Kumo means cloud in Japanese, which is exactly what you’ll experience when you bite into these fluffy cloud-like soufflé pancakes. They're magically delicious and oh-so light and fluffy, with an array of tantalising flavours including Boba Brulee Bomb, Biscoffee, Baconana and Puffy Pandan. In a word: yum! 

188 Apartments,  39 Washing Lane, Perth

Still hungry? Perth's foodie scene has so much to offer! Check out our edit of the best sandwiches in Perth to take your next bite out of. Then have a squiz at our deep dive into Perth's best seafood restaurants.