The best sushi in Perth

Our amazing local produce deserves food that’s going to showcase its quality, and sushi is the perfect canvas.

From a quick roll on the go to a more decadent omakase experience, here are our favourite sushi spots.

James Parker

You might want your sushi fresh and bright, but your setting a little more dark and moody… enter, James Parker. Entering through the dramatic archway, you know you’re going to be in for a treat. You can expect to find a robust selection of nigiri and sashimi, as well as a concise collection of rolls. Fermented soybean dish natto has become a TikTok favourite of late, but here it’s been a longtime menu stalwart, whether wrapped up in a roll or served alongside diced sashimi – all with a glass of sake, of course.

Shop 2, 182 James Street, Northbridge

Papi Katsu

Although the name may have you thinking otherwise, katsu isn’t all this underground izakaya has to offer! With the signature Sesh Mafia mix of neon-lit, late-night energy and a love of the finer things in life (and even finer food), Papi Katsu can take you from corporate lunches to lavish dinners to late-night snacks – whether you’re diving into the daily rotating sashimi selection, the high-roller caviar service, or settling in for 2.5 hours of their bold, brand new omakase offering.

Brookfield Place, Lower Level, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Ichirin

If you’d stumbled upon Leeming’s family-run Ichirin for a quick lunch on the go, it would be easy to file it away as a particularly good, neighbourhood shopping strip takeaway joint. And while the casual lunch fare is, to give credit where credit’s due, extremely well executed, there’s more to Ichirin than meets the eye. Chef Shiro Okuchi’s masterful knowledge of seafood – particularly West Australian – is highly impressive, and a glance at their socials will certainly have sashimi lovers’ mouths watering. Book in for their omakase (at least two days in advance!) if you really want to take it up a notch.

Shop 2, Corner Beasley Road and Dundee Street, Leeming

Marumo

Marumo’s omakase menu has become the stuff of legends – and while the sought-after seven course experience spans far more than just sushi… the sushi’s still gotta get an honourable mention. This is no casual takeaway, but rather, one of the hardest reservations in Perth to wrangle. Prepare for a three-hour degustation in the itty-bitty, minimalist dining room, which itself is tucked away in an otherwise unremarkable Nedlands shopping village.

22/145 Stirling Highway, Nedlands

Sanco Japanese Cuisine

This low-key South Freo eatery has flown a little too under the radar for our liking – especially with how darn good it is. Sanco’s set menus are quickly becoming a thing of legend, finding the satisfying balance between meticulous and unpretentious. If you’re ordering à la carte, make sure you don’t miss the sashimi selection of the day.

2/19 Douro Road, South Fremantle

Nippon Bar + Kitchen

Looks aren’t everything, but you certainly won’t be forgetting Nippon Bar + Kitchen‘s fluffy, flowering bar anytime soon. Holding its own against some of the city’s Japanese heavyweights – they’re serving up a selection that pays tribute to prefectures across the country. Their robatayaki is particularly worthy of note; grilled over charcoal, skewers of tiger prawns, chicken and M9+ wagyu are tender and flavourful, perfect for a quick bite with a drink. That’s the name of the game at Nippon: often izakaya becomes lost in translation, but the concept of grabbing a drink and a few bites to eat after work seems to be flourishing here.

QV1 Plaza, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth

OEC SUSHI

We’re going to have to preemptively apologise to Joondalup locals: the secret is out. OEC is the cafe you wish you had at the end of your street – although you might have to buy a bigger pair of pants. This Japanese-Korean cafe might not be for authentic, sushi purists, or the most sushi-centric of everywhere on the list, but boy oh boy does it make up for it in both cuteness and flavour. If you can make it past the katsu sandwich, or the souffle pancakes, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the sushi burgers. Once you see it, you’ll understand why sometimes, authenticity is overrated.

75 Regents Park Road, Joondalup

Tsukaya

For one of the finest Japanese dining experiences in Perth, it’s hard to go past Tsukaya. While purists may balk at menu inclusions like tacos and umami fries, we could not be more on board – it really, beautifully, deliciously works. Along with their Peruvian-inspired share plates, you’ll find a classic selection of sushi to get things, ahem, rolling.

167 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn

Izakaya Sumi

Claremont’s Izakaya Sumi has quickly earned plenty of fans with their all-encompassing take on Japanese fare. Bridging the gap between cheap and cheerful neighbourhood spot and chic restaurant, you’ll find a menu chock-a-block with delicious izakaya-inspired bites, sizzling wagyu skewers and, of course, a sizeable selection of sushi, sashimi and nigiri.

53 Bay View Terrace, Claremont

Nobu

If you’ve had a special occasion in the last ten years – anniversary, birthday, folks are paying… chances are, you’ve hit up Nobu. This global, Robert De Niro-owned brand has made a name for itself in excellence, and its Perth outpost is no different. The opulent dining room and its Crown setting naturally lends itself to celebrations, while complementing its modern Japanese-South American fare. The omakase menus are always a safe bet if you want to sit back and enjoy their signature dishes, but as any seafood-lovers will know, it’s well worth scoping out any local and seasonal highlights.

Crown Perth, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood

Egawa an

Tucked away down an East Perth side street, this Japanese eatery was one of 2021’s surprise hits, earning legions of fans with their traditional edomae-style sushi and 16-course omakase. As well as premium A5 wagyu and bluefin tuna, Egawa An is the only place in Perth where you can test your bravery and eat fugu.

1B/197 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth

Tora Sushi

Another spot that’s tucked away, this time down a Leederville laneway, Tora Sushi arrived in Perth last year surrounded by plenty of mystery and intrigue. Seating just 10 diners, Tora embodies the philosophy of “shun” – or enjoying food at the absolute peak of its flavour.

8 Electric Lane, Leederville

Header image credit: Nobu