The Bonsai Restaurant Cafe & Lounge

i am very surprised to read some of the raving reviews about Bonsai! What is this take on contemporary take on traditional Japanese food? The tempura is not tempura, it’s batter! This is the most expensive restaurant we have been for very ordinary food. The prawn skewers are plastic prawns, dishes are not cheap for an eatery to charge its clientele with low grade prawns:(we have certainly tasted better Agadashi — fried toufu, it was chewy, which is very unusual as its supposed to be crisp and light. The soy caramelised duck is really expensive and it has a certain bad duck smell, and I am a lover of duck dishes. DO NOT order the eggplant mushroom and mochi! It says it’s not covered in batter, they all are covered in batter, and not even good batter! The eggplant is just a big uncut chunk of eggplant. Certainly the presentation of food is not Japanese style. The Japanese are so proud of their food presentation, if there was any chef in that restaurant was Japanese, he would hang his head in shame. It’s a waste of time, money and good night out:(

AVOID! — Very upset with this restaurant. We had requested a reservation for 5 the restaurant was clearly empty when we arrived at 6 and they said they don’t accept same day reservations and wouldn’t be able to serve us. I think there are far better options in Perth don’t let this restaurant ruin that special time. Avoid.

Great Japanese food, the food comes out fast and is quite nice. My favorite dish is the asparagus wrapped in beef (the sauce that accompanies it, along with the pickled tomato really makes this dish lovely).

This place was absolutely gorgeous and it only loses a star from me because it’s quite expensive and a little more than I’m willing to spend on good Japanese food.
We ordered a lot of small shared plates between four of us, each dish was absolutely delicious and fresh, beautifully prepared and presented. The servings can look a little small but the food is filling. We ended up ordering too much as you do in a tapas setting!
It’s BYO wine during the week but they also have a nice albeit fairly expensive wine selection.
The standout dishes were the scallops, the skewered prawns with guacamole and cream sauce, pork belly and fried chicken. I honestly don’t think you could go wrong with any dish.
The service was impeccable also. Our waitress was lovely and so attentive. The food came quick too which was a bonus.
All in all a beautiful night out! Just be prepared to part with your hard earned cash.

My friends and I ate dinner here the other night and were forced into the awkward situation of over ordering, purely because everything we ate was so delicious we just wanted more. The scallops were the highlight, followed closely by the pork belly. Soft shell crab was quite good although I have had better. The sauces are incredible! Each difference sauce matched its dish perfectly and we weren’t afraid to pour the remainder over our rice. A bit pricier than I would like but the service was great and staff very friendly.

A friend took me here on a Sunday night for dinner, and the food in general here was okay.
We had the salmon bites, fried oysters, beef tataki as appetizers, and for mains, unagi on rice, and duck breast.
The salmon bites served on bitter greens was refreshing, as the dressing and and the leaves went well with each other. Beef tataki, good, fried oysters, soso.
Unagi on rice was as good as eel on rice gets, and I didn’t try my friend’s duck breast but he seemed pretty satisfied with it. Come to this place for reliable Japanese food with a small spin on things. The place is dark and has an industrial feel — I imagine it would be good for groups.

Go with a group so that you can try as much as possible– all dishes were so yum! And it is in the Entertainment Book so take that if you have it. BYO weekdays makes it a great mid week dinner spot.

The Bonsai is without a doubt one of the most reliable and consistently good Japanese Restaurants in the Perth CBD area. Service is a bit of a hit and miss however overall its still one I would revisit again.
The food itself is a winner, they have an extensive menu of Japanese tapas style dishes and its perfect for sharing. My food recommendations? Takoyaki, Chicken Salad (with wonton skins) and the teriyaki mains — toothfish and wagyu!
* food came be a bit pricey however if you’ve got an entertainment book — 25% discount is well worth it!

It’s all about the sauces at Bonsai; they’re beyond lickable — I’m even prone to ordering a side of rice so that those pools of flavour don’t go to waste. There’s plenty of space to fit anywhere from a cosy two or a birthday crowd but regardless of company, I recommend ordering tapas style.
The Bonsai have an extensive menu of entrees which have consistently continued to impress, whilst I’ve felt that the mains tend to be overpriced and underwhelming — the exception is the Teriyaki Wagyu. ($ 38.90) The service can get sketchy when they’re busy on Friday and Saturday nights but it’s still a great place to please a crowd.

We only had miso soup and four entrée dishes for dinner and it was all so worth it. We even tried the fruity sake to complete the Japanese experience. Plating of the food is lovely and there is a wide variety on the menu.
The green tea and black sesame ice cream, were divine. It was only weird that it took a long time for them to serve the ice cream.
Totally worth another visit.

Okay… This week I went to an older Japanese restaurant in the Perth CBD.. now whilst is wasn’t bad, I mentioned that is wasn’t inspurational!!!
Little did I know that later in the week I would be dining at Bonsai Café and Restaurant which would fulfill my culinary desires!!!
The Japanese tapas idea was exactly what I wanted, the sharing of little Japanese dishes which were innovative and tasty was exactly what I was seeking… plus the service was friendly and playful and ensured that we experienced the best bonsai had to offer. .
My fiancé and I have become converted, joining the rest of perth devotees who discovered this gem!!!

The menu has evolved and there is more emphasis on share plates. If you like Japanese and want to explore a range of tastes and dishes, this is the place to be. Think Japanese tapas. There’s a larger range of drinks on offer with the wine and beer list having gotten longer. I skip to the sake list myself.
The food has gotten better with refinement on what was already a fantastic offering. The service is still on the mark even when short on wait staff. I’ve no idea how they managed on a busy Saturday night with only two waitresses. I know the maître de pitched in as well but the food still came out without long waits.
The menu can be overwhelming for people expecting the standard Japanese menu selection. There’s a lot of choices. Now there’s the option for set menus for groups, (minimum of 4 people), which offers a range of share plates to try. Gluten intolerance and vegetarians are catered for. Just let the staff know.
This is still firmly on my Perth «must do» list. I know that I’ll get good food and service to match every visit an leave full and happy.

There is some serious competition for my taste buds when it comes to Japanese food. I could eat it every time all the time!
Plenty has been said to me about Bonsai and I always pass it on the busy street or Roe Street in Northbridge.
Upon walking in the welcome you get is super friendly and there’s a nice ambience to the place. It’s surprising how big the place is! I felt like I was in a very modern restaurant and ready to eat!
My sister, friend and I decided it would be best to order a whole bunch of entrees and mains to share. BEST IDEA because everything was delicious! Beef tataki, scallops, mushrooms, ceviché, miso soup, soft shell crab– are just some of what we ordered. For three small girls I’m glad they gave us a big enough table for all the food we ordered!
Food came out fast and presentation was impeccable! Flavours were definitely there and I loved how in some cases, such as the scallop the flavours were cleverly intensified!
It was a busy venue though with a function quite loud in the back room– but this didn’t impact me at all. I still enjoyed it and I think I would enjoy it again!

Live to love this fav haunt of mine!
Would be the most convenient late dinner spot when I arrive back from working away.
First stop for a feed most months…
Always full of patrons but easy enough to get a table without reservation on a weeknight.
Food is just delish (make that extremely delish!!)
A must visit if you’re craving lots of different Asian Flavours but can’t settle for just one whopping dish.
Definitely recommend a minimum of 6 dishes to share between 2 pax.
The owner is always on duty and he goes out of his way to welcome you, making sure you are enjoying your dinner/​snack!

I was absolutely thrilled with the food, service, ambience and location of this gem… and it seems the rest of Perth is feeling the same way, too!
Before going to see a show at the Perth Arena, a friend booked a table for us at Bonsai. The other five people at the table had all been to Bonsai multiple times, and now I appreciate why. We arrived at 6.00pm and let the excellent maitre d’ know that we needed to be out by 7.30pm — the evening ran like a well-​oiled restaurant kitchen machine!
There are main courses available for those who don’t want to share but I highly recommend getting a series of share plates for the whole table to experience the huge range of flavours on offer.
My favourites for the evening — hands down — were the delicate beef asparagus, the melt-​in-​your-​mouth red wine pork belly kakuni, and the pan-​fried mushrooms with karashi-​su-​miso. I will be going back — often — to try the full menu.
Tip: Don’t be freaked out, this very clever establishment is situated in a still run-​down area of Roe Street that is soon to receive a much-​needed upgrade now that the Perth Arena is open.

visited Bonsai for a pre JC S feed. It was a busy night, we were late and concerned we may not make it. We should not have worried. Served with Japanese efficiency we ate a competently served, perfectly fine feed. Was it authentic Jap? Possibly not. Was it the best we have had? Definitely not. We had two raw dishes, two tempura, a pretty good seaweed salad and a decent red. With thenEntertainment card (last night) the price was ok. Without it, probably a bit pricey. Still the new card starts today.
On that basis we will probably be back, but not soon.
It was a bit like the JC S. The reviews were in my view better than the show. If only Tim M had served the sushi…

My favorite restaurant in Perth!
I’ve never had a bad experience here, and I’ve been there soooo many times now they know my name & even my order!
Try the creamy prawn spring rolls, they are a big reason why I keep going back. But there are so many amazing things on the menu you can’t really go wrong.
There’s also a pretty decent section for vegetarians too ;)
Oh & remember to book in advance on Fridays & Saturdays as they get fully booked quickly

Well, this is awkward. In a sea of five star reviews, I’m going to look like the bad guy. Oh well, the cheese stands alone.
With classy and modern décor, lavish menu and captivation of the locals, I assumed Bonsai would hit it out of the park. However, I regret to inform you that that did not happen.
Waygu beef tataki, prawn tempura, unagi roll and marinated mushrooms were our dishes for the evening and everything was just… okay. No fireworks, no explosions, no moaning with a mouth full of food that ‘this is so good!’ I also happen to be extremely partial to the magical workings of crème brûlée, but theirs was less than okay. I ended up giving it to my friend to finish.
The service was so lovely and I really really wanted to enjoy the food, but all is fair in food and war.

We just had to try this place after reading the wonderful reviews I could not help thinking that a Bonsai is a slow growing miniature tree. How ironic to say the least, this Bonsai will be the fastest growing Bonsai ever. Needless to say with such wonderful reviews on this gem of a Japanese styled restaurant.
First visit on 28÷12÷12 what a great choice, the food was Divine, presentation excellent, i love to see people prepare food with TLC somehow it tastes better!
Service was excellent very polite helpful young waitress, dressed nice and smart too.
I do have to mention the Crème Brulee (omg this is perfection) dessert heaven! I will be back to this delightful place and i will bring my friends and family too.
This is one secret i have to share! Well done beautiful Bonsai :-)

A welcome relief after a recent bad spate of accidental gluten poisonings on a couple of nights out elsewhere around Perth. In contrast to these experiences, Bonzai seem to have a good grasp on the importance of avoiding cross contamination and carry their own gluten free soy.
I had quite a lot of freedom of choice for ordering (excluding tempura and udon noodles of course) and a number of dishes were either already gluten free or gluten free adaptable.
The seafood was fresh and beautifully presented. There was a good mix of regular Japanese dishes mixed with a number of interesting ones.

Bonsai– Bonza!
I had the pleasure of dining here last week and I am still digesting the atmosphere and artistic presentation! This contempt Japanese restaurant has blended the art of food with the tranquility of a zen garden (less sand more bonsais) to create a feast for all senses!
More than your traditional sushi bar, these guys provide a creativly cross-​cultural menu represented in dishes like a red wine miso pork chop. They also embrace the meal as an experience to share and cater for that with «shared» options, which are perfect for me and my fellow food enthusiasts! Pan fried scallops all the way to this piggys’ bank!
There is seating available in the main section, which has an earthy industrial feel similar to the power house in Brissy. I personally prefer the intimate surrounding of the bar area with «mood lighting» private tables and bonsais giving a more organic, romantic ambiance.
There isn’t a kids menu but the wait staff are great at advising alternatives and the chefs are flexible with requests, making this place couples and families friendly! The tables book up fast so if you’re keen on reservations get in quick.
Bonsai is the chi!