The 13 best Japanese restaurants in Perth

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.

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. 

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. 

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 lalapeño. Turn it into an extra special occasion with a floral sake, a Lychee Martini or a world-class glass of wine.

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 one-kilogram A5 Wagyu sirloin. For a refreshing contrast, pair it with the cucumber, wakame and sesame salad, or a round of octopus skewers with pickled daikon. Did we mention there’s matcha tiramisu with sake mascarpone and caramelised white chocolate for dessert? Now you’re sold (if you weren’t already). 

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 try’s include the premium aburi salmon roll, spicy tuna tartar with soy-marinated egg yolk, and Margaret River Wagyu tataki with ponzu jelly.

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, such as salmon maki, and sushi fusions, including a ballerina prawn roll and fiery salmon roll.

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. 

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!

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 Meet Your Matcha with roast sesame blanco tequila, and the Tokyo Mule with rum, miso and coconut-ginger cordial. Goody Two’s is undoubtedly the place where good nights happen.

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.

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. The chicken avocado nigiri here is a classic done right, and chances are it’ll be snatched off the train before it reaches you.

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.