Perth Winters Deserve Better

Perth's winters are mild by global standards, but those chilly mornings and grey afternoons still call for something warming. A cold sandwich won't cut it. A sad salad is out of the question. What you need is Japanese comfort food — dishes designed to warm you from the inside out.

Here are five dishes from our Raine Square menu that are perfect for a Perth winter day.

1. Chicken Katsu Curry

The ultimate winter warmer. A crispy panko chicken cutlet sitting on a bed of thick, mild Japanese curry sauce, perched atop fluffy white rice. The curry is velvety and warming without being spicy, and the crispy katsu adds textural contrast. Finish it with the Japanese pickles for a tangy hit that cuts through the richness.

2. Oyakodon

This silky chicken-and-egg rice bowl is the Japanese equivalent of chicken soup. Grilled chicken simmered in a savoury broth, finished with just-set egg and bok choi, all ladled over steaming rice. It's gentle, nourishing, and deeply satisfying — the dish you want when you're cold, tired, or both.

3. Teriyaki Chicken Udon

Thick, chewy udon noodles tossed with grilled teriyaki chicken. The noodles are substantial and warming, the teriyaki sauce is sweet and savoury, and the grilled chicken adds smoky char. On a cold day, this bowl hits every comfort note.

4. Beef Curry

Slow-cooked beef slices simmered in mild Japanese curry with pickles. The beef is tender, the curry is thick and warming, and the whole thing feels like a hug in a bowl. Simpler than the katsu curry, but no less satisfying.

5. Karaage Chicken Udon

Marinated fried chicken pieces tossed with chewy udon noodles. The karaage is crispy and flavourful, the noodles are warming and filling, and the combination is exactly what you want when the wind is howling down Murray Street.