Japanese @ Matsuri, Perth

One of the last things we ate in Perth was Japanese food. For some reason, it's easier to get good sushi and fresh sashimi in Australia than in Hong Kong. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the sheer number of Japanese restaurants in HK leaves so much room for poor quality ones. Or perhaps food quality standards in Australia is better. Whatever the reason, I knew that sushi would be on our food itinerary when we went back to Perth recently for a short trip. (Of course, it goes without saying that nothing can ever compare to the excellent fish and seafood in Japan itself, and that is one of the things I miss most about our 4 years living in Japan.) Matsuri is one of my sister's favourite 'nice Japanese' in Perth CBD, and we had a few meals here back in the days when hubby and I were still living in Perth. It's kinda nice to see that it's still going after so many years. It's a popular lunch spot with the white-collared professionals who work in the area, and Matsuri was full of them on the day we lunched with my friends from university. The entrance is prettily decorated with a water feature and riverstones, and the interior has a clean and contemporary design. Matsuri employs Japanese waitstaff (with good English), so the service was polite and efficient. One of our waitress was delighted when hubby responded in Japanese to her, and I found it easier to explain my son's allergies in Japanese. The menu contains the standard sushi and sashimi fare that is found in most standard Japanese restaurants outside of Japan, as well as the ubiquitous teriyaki, tempura and katsu options. On weekdays, you can also oder the daily special lunch box.

The 6-piece California Roll, for the 3.5-year-old. In the past you would never see me going for the California roll, but it's a great all-in-one combination of carbs, protein and vegs for the little ones (getting the little ones to eat the roll without mess is another matter):

Hubby's Una Don Set (grilled freshwater eel) which came with salad, rice and miso soup. It was pretty good unagi, but I thought there was too much teriyaki sauce (which is not the right sauce for it, but let's not get technical here):

I ordered the small Assorted Sushi Set, served with salad and soup. If I'd known the California roll was included in this set, I would probably have not ordered the separate 6-piece plate (pictured above). The seafood were fresh, and I enjoyed the salad doused in Japanese dressing:

We enjoyed lunch at Matsuri, but the menu offers only a very limited taste into the vast offerings of Japanese cuisine. Nonetheless, it's still a solid choice for Japanese in Perth.

Matsuri
Lower level, QVI Building
250 St Georges Terrace
Perth, WA 6000
Australia
Tel. +61 8 9322 7737