The Bonsai — Restaurant in Northbridge

Perth's North Bridge neighbourhood is a treasure trove of culinary delights, and nestled within its vibrant streets is a true gem: Bonsai Japanese Restaurant 30 Roe St, Northbridge-Perth. As a self-proclaimed food enthusiast and lover of Japanese cuisine, I must say that my recent dining experience at Bonsai left an indelible impression on my taste buds and my heart. The restaurant's simple yet cozy ambience and soft lighting created the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening. The menu at Bonsai is a symphony of authentic Japanese flavours, artfully crafted and meticulously presented. Each dish showcases the culinary mastery of the chefs, who deeply understand Japanese cuisine's nuances. The freshness of every plate created a mouthwatering masterpiece that practically melted in my mouth. The explosion of flavours and textures left me in awe and craving more. The attentive and knowledgeable staff at Bonsai deserve a special mention. Their genuine passion for their craft and commitment to exceptional service elevated my dining experience. They happily guided us through the menu, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring our needs were met with a smile. Beyond the outstanding cuisine and impeccable service, Bonsai boasts an inviting and intimate atmosphere. Whether planning a romantic dinner for two or a gathering with friends and family, the restaurant offers a warm, welcoming space that exudes tranquillity and sophistication. To sum it up, Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in Perth's North Bridge is a culinary haven for Japanese food aficionados. With its authentic flavours, impeccable presentation, attentive staff, and inviting ambience, it is a destination that stands out among the countless dining options in the city. Whether you're a seasoned Japanese cuisine enthusiast or looking to embark on a memorable culinary adventure, Bonsai is an absolute must-visit. Prepare to be transported to the heart of Japan, where every dish tells a story, and every bite is...

Dinner for 2 on a Sunday night with my son. We arrived upon their opening time of 6pm without a reservation.

The host was friendly & immediately shown us a table of 2 near the front window. The restaurant itself looks lovely, however both my son & I find it to be a tad dark than our liking as we do prefer bright & well lit atmospheres.

The menu has a great selection & we eventually decided to have the following :

SHARED : SALMON SASHIMI SLICES(6 pcs) served traditional style with our own wasabi and soy combination $16.50

PER PERSON : TERIYAKI ANGUS STEAK (SUNDAY SPECIAL MENU) Premium Angus beef steak pan fried, cubed & dressed signature garlic butter teriyaki sauce and garnished with sliced fresh onions - with a small serve of steamed rice $25

PER PERSON : Miso Soup Miso stock from combination of Japanese mushrooms $6

We did enjoyed everything we ordered - salmon was fresh & the steak special were cooked to perfection (medium). Sauce was divine especially enjoyable to scoop onto the rice. As they were on the special menu & priced at $25, we thought it was a quite a great serving (smaller portions) so I think my son could have easily have 2 servings to make him full! 🤣 However, it was the perfect portion controlled amount for me 😍👍🏻 Miso soup was light & refreshing, I loved the addition of sliced mushrooms in it.

Overall our bill came to just under $80 & we came out satisfied.

The only concern was having only 1 host/waitperson looking after the whole restaurant. By the time we were about to leave the restaurant around 7pm, there were about 7-8 tables occupied (2 were of bigger tables of 6 people or more) so we found that it was hard to get any attention for anything. Even when I went to the counter to make payment, I was made to wait about 10 minutes before the host was able to serve me to settle the bill.

All in all enjoyable experience especially since they had the Steak...

Delicious food and great service. Was invited to dine at Bonsai by a friend who swears by their food and service! I was not disappointed overall.

Ordered a handful of entrees/appetisers including mushrooms, beef tataki, pork broccolini, creamy prawn spring rolls and sashimi spoons. The majority of the dishes were well cooked and tasted amazing. Wagyu beef tataki was average and I felt that the dish was lacking in acidity and there was little to no dressing.

The fresh sashimi spoons are a MUST try. Fresh salmon and scallop sashimi with that amazing onion soy dressing... THE BEST. Hot tip: Get the off-menu shot of wasabi sauce to add on to the spoons that gives that added kick to the dish.

Tasted a couple of the mains as well — Teriyaki Chicken and Wagyu. Both dishes had the same amazing teriyaki sauce... not the kind of cheap, thick, commercialised teriyaki sauce. The Wagyu was beautifully cooked medium rare and the teriyaki sauce accompanied the meat perfectly. The chicken was well cooked with the layer of skin nicely pan fried. The homemade guacamole atop the chicken was a nice addition, albeit not necessary with that flavourful teriyaki sauce.

The dishes are well priced for this segment of restaurant. The food bill for this round topped out at just under $65 per person — six shared entrees and a main each... not bad at all. No drinks nor desserts were ordered.

Ambience is nice and fairly casual. Service staff could be a little more attentive, but overall experience was good. Wait times were fairly short. Booking is recommended but on the off chance in the evenings, walk ins are welcomed.

With the current roadworks situation (Mid August 2019), street parking is scarce and so your best bet is Roe Street CPP.

Would gladly suggest/recommend and return to Bonsai for another...