Food · Perth · Australia
What to eat in Perth
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Perth, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Perth CBD skyline from State War Memorial Lookout, 2023, 04.jpg : Kgbo derivative wor, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Western rock lobster, Chilli mussels and Fish and chips at Fremantle. Work your way through wineries, breweries, chocolate makers and fruit stalls in the Swan Valley, ideally on a tour or a river cruise. Perth dines early; many restaurants take last orders around 9pm, especially on weeknights.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Western rock lobster
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Australia.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Western rock lobster
Caught along the WA coast and often called crayfish locally, the western rock lobster is served grilled with garlic butter, in rolls or on seafood platters.
Where: Seafood restaurants in Fremantle and Hillarys, and seafood markets selling cooked lobster.
Dish
2.Chilli mussels
A Fremantle classic: local mussels cooked in a spicy tomato and chilli sauce and eaten with crusty bread.
Where: Pubs and seafood restaurants around Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour and South Terrace.
Street food
3.Fish and chips at Fremantle
Battered snapper, dhufish or barramundi with chips, eaten on the boardwalk at the Fishing Boat Harbour while seagulls hover.
Where: Fish-and-chip shops on the Fishing Boat Harbour boardwalk in Fremantle.
Dish
4.WA dhufish
A prized local reef fish with firm, sweet white flesh, regarded by Western Australians as their finest table fish.
Where: Seafood restaurants in Perth and Fremantle when in season.
Dish
5.Marron
A large freshwater crayfish native to the southwest of Western Australia, with sweet flesh similar to lobster, served grilled or poached.
Where: Modern Australian restaurants in Perth and wineries in the Swan Valley and Margaret River.
Drink · Vegetarian
6.Margaret River and Swan Valley wine
Margaret River is known for cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, while the warmer Swan Valley, closer to Perth, produces fortified wines, chenin blanc and verdelho.
Where: Cellar doors in the Swan Valley and wine lists across the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Fremantle craft beer
Fremantle helped launch Australia's craft-beer scene, and its brewpubs pour pale ales and lagers beside the harbour.
Where: Brewpubs at Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour and Victoria Quay.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Manjimup black truffles
Black truffles are harvested in Western Australia's southwest during the winter months and shaved over pasta, eggs and risotto on seasonal menus.
Where: Restaurant menus in Perth, usually from about June to August.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Flat white
Perth's cafés pour espresso as carefully as any Australian city; the flat white is the standard order.
Where: Cafés in Leederville, Mount Lawley, Fremantle and the CBD's laneways.
Food experiences
Swan Valley tasting day
Work your way through wineries, breweries, chocolate makers and fruit stalls in the Swan Valley, ideally on a tour or a river cruise.
Fremantle Markets and the Cappuccino Strip
Graze through the market's food stalls, then join locals for coffee along South Terrace.
Sunset drinks at the beach
Cottesloe and Scarborough's beachfront bars fill as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean.
Northbridge Asian eats
Northbridge's streets are packed with inexpensive Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese restaurants.
Quick bites and street food
- Fish and chips at Fremantle — Fish-and-chip shops on the Fishing Boat Harbour boardwalk in Fremantle.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Margaret River and Swan Valley wine, Fremantle craft beer, Manjimup black truffles and Flat white. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Perth dines early; many restaurants take last orders around 9pm, especially on weeknights.
- Public-holiday surcharges of around 10–15% are common and shown on menus.
- Tap water is free in restaurants and safe to drink.
- BYO wine is still allowed at some casual restaurants for a corkage fee.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for good table service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Freo | Fremantle |
| Rotto | Rottnest Island |
| The Fremantle Doctor | The cooling afternoon sea breeze |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Sundowner | Drink at sunset |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Perth famous for?
Western rock lobster, Chilli mussels, Fish and chips at Fremantle and WA dhufish. Caught along the WA coast and often called crayfish locally, the western rock lobster is served grilled with garlic butter, in rolls or on seafood platters.
+Is Perth good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Margaret River and Swan Valley wine, Fremantle craft beer and Manjimup black truffles.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Perth?
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for good table service is appreciated but optional.