Perth sits on a rich Indian Ocean coast with a long season, which puts Western Australian seafood among the best in the world. Western rock lobster is famous worldwide and the most-exported lobster on earth, yet it costs less here at Fremantle harbour than almost anywhere. Beyond seafood, there's plenty of genuine Australian food culture worth trying too.
#1 Western Rock Lobster
This is lobster from the cold Indian Ocean, and Perth is the closest point of sale to where it's caught anywhere in the world. The meat is sweeter and springier than tropical lobster because the water is cold. The traditional way to eat it is boiled or steamed with lemon and butter. Perth has an official open season (November to June), when prices drop sharply and the lobster is genuinely fresh. Fremantle Fish Market sells whole lobster by the kilo, several times cheaper than a restaurant.
- Buy a freshly boiled lobster from a stall at Fremantle Fish Market for AUD 30-55 per kilo and eat it by the water — several times cheaper than a restaurant.
- If you'd rather sit down, The Lobster Shack at Cervantes, two hours out of town, is the real lobster experience, but you'll need to drive.
- Closed season runs July to October, when lobster is pricier and not as fresh — switch to ordering mud crab instead.
#2 Barramundi
A large freshwater fish prized as one of Australia's premium catches. The flesh is white and soft, low in fat, lightly sweet and barely fishy, which makes it ideal for grilling or frying until the skin is crisp. Barramundi is farmed at several places in Western Australia, so it's easier on the wallet than ocean seafood. Genuine Australian-style restaurants serve it with grilled vegetables, lemon-butter sauce and local sourdough.
- Order the barramundi whole rather than as a fillet so the flesh stays juicier — good places grill the whole fish in front of you.
- Restaurant prices usually run AUD 28-38 a plate; in the main tourist areas they can climb to AUD 45-50.
- Australian barramundi is farmed in clean water, so there's no worry about parasites or heavy metals — you can order it medium.
#3 Fish and chips
The dish that became a symbol of Australian beach life. Beer-battered fish, fried crisp and served with thick chips and tartare sauce, eaten by the beach out of a paper wrap — that's the real Perth experience. Good shops use fresh fish from that day's market, like whiting or snapper, in a light batter fried golden so it doesn't soak up oil. The seagulls will swoop in if you're not careful.
- Kailis Bros in Leederville and The Raw Kitchen in Fremantle are genuine local spots, not fast-food chains.
- Order dim sims (Australian fried dumplings) on the side — a classic Aussie pairing that travelers often don't know about.
- The seagulls at the beach look cute but are expert food thieves — be careful setting a plate or food bag down on the ground.
#4 Meat pie (Australia)
Australia's unofficial national dish, eaten any time of day and on any occasion. A filling of minced beef braised in soft, rich gravy wrapped in crisp pastry, topped with red Heinz tomato sauce before the first bite — a deeply rooted eating culture, especially at sporting events. Top bakeries in Perth elevate the pie with Wagyu beef or lamb, but the plain version at just AUD 4-6 is tasty and filling on its own.
- The Pie Tin and Lawson's Pies in Perth are rated among the best in Western Australia, with plenty of flavours to choose from.
- The truly Australian way is to pour on tomato sauce — ask the shop for it, no need to feel shy.
- Curry lamb and chicken mushroom are the flavours travelers tend to like most.
#5 Pavlova
A dessert that both Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented, named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The meringue shell is crisp and crackly on the outside and soft, chewy and moist within, a little like milk custard, topped with fresh whipped cream and colourful tropical fruit. It's a special-occasion sweet in Australian families, especially around Christmas and the national holiday. Perth has the best fresh tropical fruit in the country, so the pavlova here is genuinely topped with fresh fruit.
- Good Australian-style cafes usually serve pavlova by the slice all day, at AUD 8-14 a piece.
- A whole pavlova can be pre-ordered from top bakeries in Perth — good for a group gift, though it's hard to transport.
- It tastes best eaten fresh on the day it's made; the meringue shell absorbs moisture and loses its texture if left too long.
#6 Seafood
Perth has the freshest and most varied top-tier seafood in Australia — western rock lobster, blue swimmer crab, king prawns, fresh Angasi oysters and many kinds of fish. Fishing Boat Harbour in Fremantle has several seafood restaurants serving catch straight off the boats. Eating fresh oysters here is far cheaper than in Sydney or Melbourne, and much fresher because it's a real working harbour.
- Kailis Fish Market Cafe on Fishing Boat Harbour in Fremantle opens early and often has a queue; fair prices and the freshest seafood in the area.
- Order a mixed seafood platter for two at AUD 65-90 — better value than ordering separately, and you get to try everything.
- July to September, blue swimmer crab is at its freshest and cheapest, right as the catching season opens.
Where to stay in Perth for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Perth — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Parmelia Hilton Perth
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Holiday Inn Perth City Centre
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Pan Pacific Perth
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Citadines St Georges Terrace Perth
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Tours, tickets & activities in Perth
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Perth — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before You Pack
The best food in Perth is usually found in Fremantle, the harbourside markets, and the small shops around Northbridge or Subiaco. The easiest method is to follow the smell of the sea and see where the locals are queuing.