In Perth…

Seizan Japanese Restaurant & Karaoke Bar – 566 Hay St, Perth, (08) 9325 5980
Mon-Fri lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, 7 nights for dinner 5:30pm-10pm. Simple lovely Japanese food, airconditionned, comfy ambience, staff dressed in kimono & geta. Beer, wine & sake available. Food favourites:

• Gyu teriyaki set lunch – beef scotch fillet shavings in teriyaki sauce + salad, rice & miso ($12.80 lunch)
• Wafu steak set lunch – juicy garlic steak cubes + salad, rice & miso ($14.80 lunch)
• Chirashi sushi – huge bowl of rice with mixed raw tuna & sashimi bits + salad & miso ($14.50 lunch)
• Plum tea – hot or cold ($3.50 per cup)
• Plum wine served with ice ($7.50 per glass, you can get it by the bottle too, but I forget how much)

Edo Shiki – Shop 17, Forrest Chase, Murray St Mall (next to Forrest Chase entrance of Myer), (08) 9225 7022
Mall opening hours. Sushi & dim sum train. Very open plan, seating a bit squishy, recommended for a quick good-value satisfying bite. Particular foods you can find there:

• Standard sushi you can get everywhere, except for the potato salad stuff they have at Jaws
• Char siew bao – bbq pork steamed bun
• Siew mai – pork mince dumpling with the yellow-brown skin and the orange bit on top
• Takoyaki – octopus balls
• Chicken feet – actually, we call them “phoenix claw” ;)
• Deep fried squid – yes!!

NAO Sushi & Izakaya – 117 Murray St, Perth, (08) 9325 2090
Business hours. Especially for ramen – but they serve a heap of other stuff too, BYO alcohol. Tiny shop with table, bar and outdoor seating. Cosy, simple decor. Takeaway outlet. Good for:

• Ramen!

POPPO – 137 Barrack St, Perth (a couple doors river-wards from the Wellington St intersection), (08) 9325 5997
Open from 11am 7 days. Menu is a 60/40 split on Korean/Japanese food. Very tasty, good value. Quite crowded during mealtimes. Recommended for:

• Bulgogi – Korean style sizzling beef
• Dolsot bibimbap – Korean mixed rice in a hot stone bowl
• Dynamite roll – delicious seafood sushi roll
• Gyoza – good for a cheap lunchtime snack

Mr. Samurai – 83 Barrack St, Perth, (08) 9221 3600
Open Tue-Thu 11am-6pm, Fri 11am-8pm. Really tasty freakin cheap student dining. You can get yummy generous-serve lunches for $5-7. My favourites:

• Omuraisu – chicken bits in tomato sauce rice, wrapped in a flappy Japanese omelette.
• Agedashi tofu – really good.
• I don’t know what anything else tastes like, I only ever get the two above cos they’re bloody nice.

Yoshiya Japanese Restaurant – 1-7 Pier St, Perth, (08) 9325 6009 – street view
Open Mon-Fri 11am-2pm & 6pm-10pm, Sat 6pm-10pm, Sun closed. Slightly pricey, but quite fresh. I ordered:

• Chirashi – was very fresh

Around Perth…

Edo – 320 Barker Rd, Subiaco, (08) 9382 1608
Open everyday from 11am til late.
This place is MADE OF WIN. Any donburi dish on their menu can be re-vamped as a bowl of ramen for just $3 more – so clever. Average prices, but great value. Food is presentable and good quality.

Ha-Lu – Shop 4/401 Oxford St, Mt Hawthorn, (08) 9444 0577
Open 7 days from 6pm, bookings recommended.
Really, really lovely clean modern decor, but still keeps a fairly casual feel. Very good food, delightful presentation. Very, very un-cheap, take it as a treat.

Tsunami Japanese Restaurant – 18 Glyde St, Mosman Park, (08) 9284 7788, online booking form
Open Tues-Sun for dinner from 6pm, same day online bookings must be made before 4pm.
Cosy, dim-light decor. Fancy furniture, wooden floor. Outdoor dining & function area available, pretty Japanese garden to look at. Expensive prices, but the food is freakin good. They do beer, wine, cocktails, sake and apertifs.

Wagamama – Cnr Roberts & Rokeby Rd, Subiaco, (08) 9388 6055
Open Mon-Sun 12noon-10pm. Indoor & outdoor seating, modern decor, noisy. Japanese fusion food, great selection & generous serves of ramen and noodles, $15-20 price range. Serves beer, wine, cocktails and sake.

Zen Japanese Restaurant – Shop 2, 1 Seddon St, Subiaco, (08) 9381 4931
Open Tues-Fri for lunch 12noon-2pm, Tues-Sat 6pm-10pm and Sun 6pm-9pm for dinner. Contemporary decor with cute Japanese trinkets. Simple layout & comfy, casual setting, fully lit. Don’t expect a rush. Lots of variety on menu, generous mains portions. Not cheap, $15-40 price range, but delicious. Tataki is lovely, comes with cut chilli. Serves beer, wine, spirits and sake.

• Places to eat in Subiaco – has more Japanese places around Perth
• Where to get ramen in Perth – more Jap places