Kai Japanese (Bull Creek)
A hole in the wall Japanese restaurant that arguably serves up one of Perth's best priced bento and our favourite Japanese curry.
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Before reading ❗️
Who is this suited for?
Guests after a number of classic Japanese favourites.
What type of food is available?
A range of Japanese food including:
- Tonkotsu (pork broth) and soy ramen
- Bento boxes (teriyaki chicken / beef / fish / salmon, yakiniku, unagi, karaage, etc.)
- Sushi
- Japanese curry (made in house!)
What should I order?
Some of our favourites include:
- Kai bento
- Beef steak set
- Japanese beef curry and rice (with karaage)
How much will it cost?
Most dishes are under $20.
Where is it?
In Bull Creek, near Stockland Bull Creek.
What're their socials?
Kai can be found on Instagram here.
The details 📝
Kai Japanese has been on our regular rotation of Japanese places for over the past decade. The owners of Kai have understandably changed a number of times since, but the food has remained consistent and delicious.
This small, hole in a wall Japanese restaurant serves up your typical range of Japanese dishes - more aligned with what you'd traditionally find in Japan (no super "fancy" sushi rolls here). Kai seats just over a dozen or so and has a fairly utilitarian decor.
The best way to enjoy a bunch of Japanese favourites, is to get their Kai bento. Priced at around $23, it provides tremendous value given the spread of food. The only thing we think is missing in the bento is the addition of a sauce like kewpie mayo (approximately 3-4 years ago, Kai would serve their karaage with a delicious spicy mayo).
Regardless, the Kai bento is the dish to order, if you're feeling a bit on the peckish side (serving size and spread of food is generous, so we prefer to get it for dinner, rather than lunch, where our appetite isn't as big).
If we're not in the mood for Kai's bento, our second pick is their Japanese beef curry. Kai is one of the few restaurants that make their curry in house, and if we had to decide between Nao's curry or Kai's curry, we'd pick Kai's. The curry comes with either a side of chicken katsu or karaage, with our pick being the karaage.
If neither the Kai bento or curry is what we're hungry for, a staple order of ours is their beef steak set, cooked medium rare. A simple yet delicious dish, paired with a bowl of fluffy Japanese rice and miso soup.
Despite Kai having a relatively small footprint (it wouldn't be a lie to say your home bathroom is bigger than Kai's dining area), their menu also offers other classic Japanese dishes like takoyaki, udon, a range of well priced bento and ramen.
Though we don't have any photos of the ramen, Kai are one of the OG in the Perth ramen scene, specifically with their tonkotsu ramen which was as little harder to come by in the early to late 2000s.
Before visiting 🚙
Anything else I should know before visiting?
- Kai is a very small restaurant that seats around a dozen, so it is best to dine in early or later in the evening to avoid waiting for a table (or alternatively order take-away)
- Kai does not take bookings and operates on a walk-in basis for dine-in guests.
What's the address?
Where do I park?
There is plenty of free parking outside of the restaurant.
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