What’s happening in Perth food news this week

Hungry for what’s happening in Perth’s food and hospitality scene?

Here’s a deliciously snackable selection of the latest in Perth food news:

Bid farewell to Bumplings

Brendan Pang has announced that after five years, he’s closing down Bumplings. Situated in that iconic, gleaming Airstream caravan, they’ve served over a whopping one million dumplings in that time – but all good things must come to an end.

“Closing Bumplings has been a really tough call to make. But I realised that I’ve been spreading myself too thin… juggling being a cooking content creator and author. If I’m going commit to something, I want to give it 100%, and, unfortunately, I can’t give Bumplings that right now,” Pang wrote in the Instagram post announcing the closure.

“Right now, I’m living between Perth and Taipei, from where I’m continuing to travel through Asia, documenting and sharing my love of the food here with you all.”

“But it’s not completely the end. I’ll be sharing some of our most popular recipes like Dan Dan Noodles with you across my Brendan Pang socials very soon. Watch this space!”

“If you’re in Perth, I’d love for you to join me for a last bite at Bumplings on May 12th. It’s going to be a great night to bookmark Bumplings for now.”

2Deer opens in Lathlain

Lathlain has gained a new cafe with the arrival of 2Deer – and we’re very excited to dive into their Japanese take on brunch. Think crispy katsu, onsen eggs, creamy udon and perfectly charred mentaiko cheese melt toast – and we haven’t even mentioned their kooky 2D cartoon-like design! If you’re there after dark, you won’t leave hungry… The same space is also home to Woodpeckers Pizza’s Lathlain outpost!

Forecast says: Sunny at Pep’s!

While the forecast remains sunny, chef Sunny Ocampo has launched his new menu for Mosman Park wine bar Pep’s.

Suited to the cooling weather, the new menu is inspired by Harana: “a rural Philippine serenade tradition where young, single men formally meet single ladies.”

While you’ll still see plenty of Sunny’s signature raw seafood, he’ll be bringing in a more deeply layered approach to flavours, drawing inspiration not just from the Philippines but also Japan and Hawaii. Think oysters with calamansi, Tasmanian salmon and wagyu tartare or purple yam cake. (The team are quick to reassure that the seared scallops are staying on the menu!)

On offer every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, you’re welcome to walk in but you’re also encouraged to make a booking and try the “feed me” option to get the full experience.

As well as bringing his raw(ish) bar concept to Pep’s, de Ocampo will be taking the reins as Food Director at the Community Wine Group’s brand new Aggie’s Pizza Bar, set to launch later this year.

“We are very excited to have Sunny join the team at Pep’s,” says Pep’s owner Charlie Galbally.

“Sunny and I have known each other for almost 15 years and it’s been a dream of ours to do something together for the past five years. Sunny’s vast experience in kitchens around Perth has placed him perfectly to know what works for him and we both agree that this intimate style of service is it.”

“We’ve got this great opportunity to build on our existing platform at Pep’s with Sunny’s culinary expertise, abundant energy and beaming smile. We look forward to evolving our menu at Pep’s under Sunny’s guidance and creativity.”

It’s Yo-Chi’s world, we’re just living in it

Yo-Chi’s west coast takeover continues – and we can’t say we’re complaining. The hugely popular fro-yo chain has opened yet another location, this time in Mandurah. Located right on the foreshore, the location officially opened over the weekend so you can be sure to get your Yo-Chi fix, stat.

Burnt Ends is popping up at Indigo Oscar!

We like to make our silly little jokes in these sub-headings… But sometimes the news is just too major to even attempt to be funny. Legendary Michelin-starred bar and grill Burnt Ends is making their way from Singapore all the way to Cottesloe for an exclusive two-day-only pop-up at Indigo Oscar on May 10 and 11.

Originally from Perth, Head Chef and Burnt Ends co-founder Dave Pynt will be at the helm of the beach-front diner, serving up a set 10-course dinner and set 8-course lunch – with just about every plate kissed by Burnt Ends signature use of flame. Think smoked quail egg with caviar, WA marron with tobiko and kombu smoked buerre blanc, or their trademark high-brow spin on “steak frites” and “fish and chips”.

Tickets went on sale on April 18 and as predicted… Sold out pretty darn fast! Condolences to everyone who missed out (including us!).

Gin’s in at Brookfield Place

Gin-lovers will rejoice at the return of Gin Lane to Brookfield Place at the end of April. Running from April 28 to May 31, seven of Brookfield Place’s master mixologists have been shaking and stirring up a stunning limited edition autumnal cocktail menu, available throughout the laneway’s many venues. Sip Petal Sours at Small Print, Watermelon Charlies at Bob’s Bar, a Midsummer Fizz at W Churchill or a Gin Martini Spritz at the Heritage – to name just a few! You might even be able to find a cheeky cannoli or two in there… Find out more about Gin Lane here.

Jump on the rail for this new cocktail trail

Still keen for another cheeky cocktail? Four cocktail-slinging venues have joined forces for the Rail Cocktail Trail – a nifty new cocktail trail that runs along the Freo train line. Start (or finish!) at Republic of Fremantle before hitting up Spirit of Little Things, Besk and Pirate Life Perth – tickets are just $60 and will get you a cocktail at each venue, which you can enjoy at your own pace between noon and 10PM each Friday and Saturday.

A nostalgic new lunchbar is open in the northern suburbs

Almost irresistibly nostalgic with a new-wave appeal, we can’t wait for sandos and sweets from Strollio’s. Check out our full write-up here!

Meet Gibney: a bougie brasserie at the beach

The depths of 2023’s winter saw the announcement from Kailis Hospitality Group’s luxe new dining project, Gibney. Purported to be the first hospitality offering in South Cott since the Dutch Inn tearoom in the ’40s, Gibney will be bringing bougie brasserie fare to the beach: “luxurious Californian country club meets Parisian hotel lobby”, with plenty of nostalgia and table side drama, plus a stunning fit out by local design firm Rezen (La Lune, Vin Populi, Moana Hall).

After months of breathless anticipation, not only have the announced their all-star culinary team (the collective CVs are fairly mind-boggling) – but they’ve set a date for first service! Bookings launch tomorrow (Thursday April 18) for first seatings on Monday, May 6.

Vivendi, vino, Vic Park!

Following the success of pop-up restaurant Super Glou, Modus’ Vic Park outpost is once again making an after-hours transformation: this time, into the vino-slinging, pasta purveying Vivendi. While they’ve kept things rather coy, we know that familiar face Kashifa Moses (Little Valentine, Bagel O’s) will be on the pans, and that they’ll be opening their doors every Friday and Saturday night for the foreseeable.

Alba, the first venue of Yagan Square’s Stories, is now open!

The arrival of mammoth, multi-venue Stories to Yagan Square is one of Perth’s most hotly anticipated openings – and we’re glad to say that as of today, Alba has officially opened its doors! Stories’ take on modern Italian, Alba’s name is derived from the northern Piedmont town famous for both its wine and its white truffles – a hopeful sign of things to come.

Stories’ seven (yes, seven!) other venues are scheduled to open across various stages in the coming weeks – from hole-in-the-wall coffee that arrived on Monday, April 15, to the fiery flavours of Karla, opening on May 6.

Old Bridge Cellars launches a new wine subscription service

The booze bosses at Old Bridge are always finding ways to bring you even more delicious drops – and their latest is the launch of a brand new wine subscription service.

The bespoke service is tailored to all your vino preferences – like are you a slurper or a sipper? Do you prefer the dependable classics or something a bit whacky and new-wave? Once you’ve made your choices, a curated selection is delivered to your door every three months… Easy peasy!

“Our customers often say to us ‘just pick for me, I trust you’ when they’re in the store,” said Old Bridge Cellars Proprietor, Jay Beeson.

“Our regular newsletter features mystery wines, where we encourage people to ‘Thank Me Later’ by purchasing the wine blind, and our popular online live blind tasting sessions are cherished by our customers. All these things solidified this trust and long-term relationships and empowered us to innovate.”

“The Old Bridge Quarterly Drop isn’t just another subscription service, it’s a commitment to expanding your palate, exploring undiscovered gems and embarking on a shared journey. We want to support the little guy, share stories from smaller producers and give the spotlight to those that may not otherwise receive it.”

Fox Friday’s Perth taproom is now open

First announced back in 2023, Tasmania-based craft brewery Fox Friday’s long-awaited Perth taproom has finally opened their doors! Read our full write-up here.

Cafe 20twenty comes to Northbridge

Cute-as-a-button Cafe 20twenty has opened in Northbridge! Located at 70 Aberdeen Street (Lion Walk) and open since late March, 20twenty’s signature is their mille crêpe cakes, made of 20 layers of crêpes and inspired by the flavours of Southeast Asia – think pandan, black sesame, durian, hojicha or matcha!

UMA launches their new autumnal menu

UMA’s new autumnal menu has launched, inspired by Incan cooking traditions and a sustainable, nose-to-tail ethos. Curated by Executive Chef Xerxes Bodhanwala and merging Peruvian culture with West Australian produce, alongside local produce you can expect to find high-altitude grains and herbs that you would also find growing in the Andes.

La Condesa launches bottomless brunch

It’s quite possible we’ve said this before, but it might be the year of the bottomless brunch with just how many offerings are popping up around town! One of the newer amongst them is Subi’s Mexican cantina La Condesa, who invite you to kick-start your weekend with a cheeky margarita and a Tulum-inspired brekkie – whether you’re indulging in a hangover-busting huevos rancheros or breakfast burrito, or keeping things fresh with an açai bowl.

Nobu himself is coming to Nobu!

The legend himself, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is embarking on an Australia-wide tour of his namesake restaurants – and tickets are on offer for two exclusive events with the charismatic Nobu in attendance. On Tuesday, May 7, guests will be treated to a cocktail party featuring some of the restaurant’s most signature snacks, while the following evening will be a luxurious eight-course set menu.

“I can’t wait to return to Australia,” said the chef.

“It is a place very close to my heart and I love visiting my team and local suppliers. The Australian dining scene and hospitality industry is one of the best in the world; brimming with creative culinary talent, incredible produce, and a passionate community of diners.”

Qin’s Lanzhou Beef Noodle is now open in Northbridge

The arrival of Qin’s Lanzhou Beef Noodle to Vic Park last year caused quite the stir, with people lining up around the block for the north-central Chinese specialty – and thankfully, it’s now even easier to get your hands on their signature hand-pulled noodles! A second store has just opened its doors in Northbridge (located at 139 Newcastle Street), alongside a Milk Flower for all your post-noodle bubble tea needs.

Have a pasta party every Tuesday at La Madonna Nera

We’re pretty happy to find any excuse to head to Mount Hawthorn’s dimly-lit den of deliciousness, La Madonna Nera… And their Tuesday pasta and vino special makes it even easier to justify a midweek visit.

Each Tuesday, the team is rustling up a rotating pasta special – ranging from the “familiar to the obscure”, expect everything from classic Italian to inspired by the “Italo-Australian manifesto”. Two different pastas will be on offer each week (including a vegetarian-friendly option and gluten free requests), either of which can be enjoyed with a glass from the curated lineup of matching vino for just $30!

Midweek set menus? Say Less!

Date night just got a whole lot easier with the arrival of Say Less to the Stables’ sultry, subterranean basement dining room every Wednesday night. Starting on April 10, this midweek moment will feature a set four course menu for a fixed price of $60pp – plus extra bevvy options if you don’t have any early meetings on Thursday morning – with the current menu taking inspiration for Italy’s signature dishes.

Goodbye Barchetta, hello Magic Apple

Following the announcement that Kailis Hospitality Group (The Shorehouse, Island Market Trigg among others) had won the tender for the sought-after Barchetta site on Marine Parade, George Kailis has revealed his plans for the beachfront Cottesloe location – and he’ll be bringing back long-lost wholefood brand Magic Apple. Originating in the ’70s, the cafés were known for their mantra of “mindful nourishment” – and its latest iteration will follow in the OG’s footsteps, championing nutritious whole foods. The design for the site was unveiled earlier this week, created with Dubai-based interior design studio Stickman Tribe.

“Imagine a place that looks and feels you’re in a treehouse, with an interior aesthetic to match,” explained Stickman Tribe Founder and Creative Director, Marcos Cain.

“The interior will showcase the sustainable food concept while celebrating the simplicity of untouched wholefoods, working in unison with raw materiality.”

“We are very excited the see the redevelopment of such an landmark site come to life,” added Kailis.

“Part of Magic Apple’s DNA is this 70s and 80s theme resonating back to the early days of the brand and the various cultures that existed around the wholefoods movement of the period. Call it slightly hippie-esq, we were influenced by so much from old record label typography, wellbeing / spiritual graphics and posters, 70s psychedelia to linocut stamps – that the design brief was clear from the outset.”

“We’ve more than doubled our original budget for the project as we’ve unravelled more of what the site was capable of and the opportunity to create something very special here. The result is a speculator restaurant and something that we feel will be a Cottesloe icon for decades to come”.

Header Image Credit: Bumplings

Got some food news we need to know about? We’d love to hear about it – drop us a line at food@perthisok.com!