From authentic handmade pasta to jaw-dropping Asian fusion, the sunny city of Perth is home to a bounty of extraordinary places to eat and drink. These days, the Perth food game is a force to be reckoned with and it’s not an overstatement to say that the quality of restaurants in Perth is that of an international standard.
More and more conversations have been sparked debating the best restaurants in Perth. So to get a more balanced take, we asked some of our favourite Perth chefs where they eat when they’re off the clock. Here’s what they said:
Guy Grossi — Garum
There are so many great Perth restaurants that I go to but I do love Lula La Delizia — he does a really great job there. Petition Kitchen is another great place to drop into for a cheeky glass of wine and a plate of something.
Oskar Pinter — La Lune
When I’m off the clock, my go-to is Vin Populi in Fremantle’s West End for food and drinks. Why? The atmosphere is fantastic and the staff are so welcoming and you can see that they love their job. I recommend ordering the antipasti, agnolotti, and tiramisu. I also love Kerfuffle café on South Terrace for my morning coffee after a swim.
James Cole Bowen — Gibney
I love Wines of While in Northbridge. It’s a great local bar just a short walk from my house. Tom and the team are always welcoming, very knowledgeable, and provide an amazing hospitality experience every time. They always have a great selection of natural wine to drink or take away, the chef in the kitchen is always rotating so there’s always something new and exciting to eat.
Since the food is always changing, it’s hard to pin down a specific dish. But the house sourdough is always a must order, and anything with anchovies is usually a great sidekick for the bread.
Jake Lynch — Santini
If it’s a sunny Sunday afternoon, I always head to Madalenas in South Fremantle. The best spot for a Sunday long lunch is outside in the sun, enjoying chilled red wine, and the finest seafood Perth has to offer. It’s the perfect spot in town, all while watching classic cars drive by. I always choose the chef’s menu — it’s great value for money. I usually add extra courses of whatever looks good on the menu, and most of the time, everything looks tempting.
Leo Crescenzi — Vin Populi
I have a good list of favourite restaurants and bars where I like to go on my days off, but probably my favourite go-to place would be Testùn bar in Mount Lawley. It’s surely the one I’ve visited the most over the last couple of years.
What’s not to love? I’ve known the guys at Testùn for a few years now and it really feels like going to Nonna’s house for lunch, but with a twist! Warm service, tasty food, niche Italian wines — I love the orange wine selection — and great tunes.
I just like how they are playing with Italian food and mixing it up with other cultures and cuisines. It’s just fun and it shows in the smiling faces of the staff.
The menu is always changing, but my favourites are the charred mortadella spiedino and the rump tartare, washed down obviously with one — or more — of their signature Cacao Negronis. But I would take anything they’d give me!
Enrico Cancedda — Balthazar
My absolute favourite hidden gem restaurant in Perth is Uncle Lam Vietnamese Noodle House, located inside Morley’s Coventry Village Market. I strongly recommend ordering the Special Beef Noodle Soup, which includes a flavoursome bowl of rich beef broth with thin slices of beef, beef tendons, beef meatballs, and a generous portion of rice noodles. You also can add soybean sprouts, fresh mint leaves, slices of chilli, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s great value for $17.00, always consistent, and surprisingly delicious!
Elliot Sawiris — Nextdoor
I simply cannot pick one but I’ll have to go with Testùn bar. Other notable mentions are Niew Ruin in Fremantle and Sonny’s bar in Mount Hawthorn. Stephen Chen at Niew Ruin and Sofiki Boulton at Sonnys are both killing it and put up some seriously good food.
Their unorthodox take on Italian food would probably make your Nonna cry but it’s the reason why I’m there every few weeks. Their modern take on Italian food is loud and arrogant in the best way possible.
You’re probably better off asking what not to order. The menu is always changing, and I generally let the front of house team decide. Last time, I had a decadent truffle and vegemite pasta and whipped tooth fish with sweet chilli atop a hashbrown.
James Higgs — Lulu La Delizia
When I’m not at work, my go-to is generally Two Hands Noodle Shop. With my wife hailing from Malaysia and my love of handmade noodles, it’s a source of authentic plates executed at a high quality and consistency. The Char Kway Teow and Roast Pork Laksa are both favourites of mine. However, the Lobak or the handmade Shanghai dumplings are always a solid addition to an order.
Andrew McGie — Ascua
Having a young family with both parents in demanding jobs, our lives are very hectic to say the least. So, when we go out, we desire something that’s quick, easy, and pleases the entire family. At least once a week, we either dine in or pick up take away from China Tang at Broadway in Nedlands. All of their dumplings and noodles are made fresh daily and they can be viewed through the glass windows of the kitchen. They also offer BYO with no corkage and the food is very authentic, which is proven by the demographic that dine there. Our favourites are the Shanghai soup dumplings, fried chicken, and the spicy beef brisket and noodle soup.
Henry Huang and Rob Pastrana — Bar Vino
Rob and I always go to Kin Kee in Chinatown — a hidden gem. Most people go to Uncle Billy’s or Billy Lees, but for us, Kin Kee always has the most consistent food and we know the owner and the food never disappoints. We always get salt and pepper spare ribs, salt and pepper intestine, ma po tofu, spicy chicken, cucumber and century egg in vinegar, garlic water spinach, and three buckets of rice.
