Where to find Perth’s best chicken parmis
We’re not here to debate semantics – whether you’re looking for a parmi, a parma, or a parmy…
Here are some must-visits to add to your Perth chicken parmigiana list, including a few new additions that knocked our socks off recently:
The Vines Cafe & Bar
We know what you’re thinking, why is this list of parmis starting with the 19th hole at one of Perth’s best public golf courses? The answer is simple – we were recently in the area and decided to have a go at their Aussie version of the chicken parmigiana, which turns out equates to heavenly topping of mashed potato, cheese and bacon, with gravy to pour at your leisure. One of the best we’ve had in a long, long time, and it’ll take the edge off whatever terrible score you shot at golf earlier in the day.
Verdelho Drive, The Vines
The Rowing Pavilion
And from somewhere that’s been around for a while to somewhere relatively new, Mount Pleasant’s latest hotspot puts their own spin on the chicken parmigiana with epic results. Served with heirloom sugo, buffalo mozzarella, reggiano, basil and fries, there’s just some kinda magic in the kitchen when it comes to the crumb situation. Bonus points for having a GF/DF option!
4 The Esplanade, Mount Pleasant
Back Bar at Hylin
We’d like to say some of the specials at Hylin’s Back Bar are hidden gems, but the pumping crowds there just about every night of the week betray that the cat really is out of the bag. Thanks, in no small part, to the heart-stoppingly low prices, including Wednesday night parmi night – only $12 with a drink order.
178 Railway Parade (enter via rear of Hylin), West Leederville
Spritz Spizzicheria
Any excuse to order a spritz is fine by us, but the amber cocktail isn’t the only thing Spritz Spizzicheria has to offer. Their menu takes you from a long afternoon of cocktails and nibbles to more substantial pasta, pizza and mains – including a chicken parmigiana that will make you say “Mamma mia!”. Served atop a bowl of spaghetti napoletana, you should definitely arrive hungry.
148 Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn
Hyde Park Hotel
The Hydey is a textbook pub, and it stands to reason that their parmi wouldn’t stray too far from traditional, either – you’ll find it topped with ham, Napoli sauce and cheese, and served alongside Italian slaw and chips (of course). Plus, this bad boy is only $20 Monday nights!
331 Bulwer Street, North Perth
The Oxford Hotel
Open since 1906, the Oxford Hotel has had plenty of time to perfect its parmi. In many ways, this classic pub is serving up the platonic ideal of a parmi: chicken schnitzel, gammon ham, napoletana sauce, and mozzarella, all served up with a side of chips and salad. Can you believe it’s only 15 bucks on a Sunday? What a way to round out the weekend.
368 Oxford Street, Leederville
The Duke Bar and Bistro
Northsiders, never fear. Your local is slinging some ace parmies – and for only 18 dollarydoos on parmi night (Tuesdays) at that. These big boys are topped with tomato and basil sauce and mozzarella: a classic beast that will fill the parmi-shaped hole in your heart.
2 Innesvale Way, Carramar
Rosemount Hotel
This writer used to live on Angove Street, and the fact that they’re no longer within two blocks of Thursday night parmies is a source of constant grief. Their always-pumping beer garden is the perfect backdrop to their crowd-pleasing parmi. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel – crispy panko- crumbed chicken, napoletana sauce, ham and mozz. Perfecto!|
459 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
The Parkerville Tavern
This picturesque pub is nestled in the Hills, and makes the perfect destination for a lazy weekend drive. Sit inside by the cosy open fireplaces or soak up the sunshine in the beer garden – all with one of their succulent parmies. Freshly crumbed chicken, home made Napoli sauce topped with cheddar, with your own choice of optional toppings (including ham, don’t panic) take it to the next level.
6-18 Owen Road, Parkerville
Benny’s
South Terrace stalwart, Benny’s blends old-school Italianicity with a rollicking good time. And what’s a better time than a parmi? This one’s another classic – crumbed chicken breast, napoletana sauce, mozzarella cheese. This is something we could eat forever.
10-12 South Terrace, Fremantle
The Guildford Hotel
After successfully re-opening in 2016 the Guildford Hotel has become a hotspot for anything from a quick weekday bevvie to all-out Sunday sessions, and their cheeseburger spring rolls are basically world famous at this point. But that’s not stopping us from ordering their parmi: a monster 300g schnitty, topped with Napoli sauce and cheese, plus some pulled pork from their smoker (Thomas) – and some chips, of course.
159 James Street, Guildford
The Kwinana Local
The Kwinana Local isn’t content with only the classics. While you can enjoy the standard (excellent, huge) parmi for only $15 on Tuesdays, you’ve also got an array of flavours to choose from, including spicy, Mexican, Hawaiian, garlic prawn and more.
1 Chisham Avenue, Kwinana
The Stirling Arms
The Stirling Arms implores you to “Get Schnitfaced”, and with the calibre of these parmies, and the price of these pints… We’d have to agree with them. Setting you back only $20, the classic parmi is served with chips and salad – but you can also upgrade to include a topper for only $5, if you are so inclined. Choose from the Giuseppe, Americana, Curry Hunter or Frenchie to take yours to the next level, or hope that they’re offering “The Mother Clucker” – a monster 1kg parmi for $29.
117 James Street, Guildford
The Woodbridge Hotel
Another Guildford gem, The Woody is itself home to a parmi gem. Get yourself a cheeky Wednesday night parmi and a pint for only $25 – and while they’ll sort you out with a classic, you can also get eggplant, seafood-topped or even Hellfire versions if you want to push the boundaries.
50 East Street, Guildford
Johnny Fox’s
While we shed a little tear when Rosie O’Grady’s closed, we weren’t sad for too long with the addition of Johnny Fox’s. All day, every Tuesday, you can get your hands on their epic Parmageddon – and it’ll only set you back $20! With your choice of schnitty, caesar, Irish, Hawaiian, meat lovers or classic parmi, you can travel the world via parmi toppings, accompanied by hot chips and slaw. Don’t mind that at all!
205 James Street, Northbridge
Victoria Park Hotel
Another great parmi option for those that like to experiment, Victoria Park Hotel has expanded their parmi offering to include not just one, not two, but six parmi options on their already well-stacked menu of modern Aussie pub fare. As well as a classic option with smoked leg ham, mixed cheese and Napoletana sauce for the traditionalists (and yes, traditional means ham), you can also mix things up with a trip around the globe. If you can hold out until Thursday they’ve got a handy parmi special: $20 from 5pm (with chips and salad of course).
605 Albany Highway, Victoria Park
The Waverley
Why not top off a day of shopping by finishing it strong at the Waverley? The nanobrewery’s menu is chock-a-block with pub favourites, which of course includes a parmi – done right. Crumbed chicken breast, napolitana sauce, mozz, basil, fries, salad. What more could you want? Oh, an eggplant version? Lucky you, they do that, too!
Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Highway, Cannington
Civic Hotel
$15 parmi night sounds pretty good to us, but when they look this good? We can’t pass up the Civic‘s massive, bargain bad boy – served with smoked ham, Napoli sauce, mozz and the ubiquitous chips and side salad, it’s even better followed up with some local, live music at Milk Bar.
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981 Beaufort Street, Inglewood
Karalee On Preston
The Karalee knows how to do a pub classic right, with their steak sandwich winning the coveted top spot in WA in 2014, 2017 and 2019. This Como tavern has been feeding locals since 1975, and their parmi lives up to the standard set by that award-winning steak sanga. Slow cooked Napoletana sauce takes it to the next level – plus some ooey, gooey, melty mozz, of course.
25 Preston Street, Como
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Header image: The Rowing Pavilion