Hifumiya Udon Noodle House

Hifumiya opened in April 2018 in McLean Lane, off Murray Street in the city centre, and describes itself as the first udon noodle house in Perth. It features on recent round-ups of the city's best budget eating as well as in the West Australian Good Food Guide's top 100.

The udon is made in the restaurant every day from Japanese wheat, in view of customers, and the result is thick, springy noodles. The menu runs to more than a dozen variations, served either warm in broth or cold, including several bukkake-style bowls. The Hifumiya Original comes with sweet bean curd, nori, spring onion and a softly set egg, while the beef curry udon is a richer, heartier choice. Simpler bowls such as kake udon in hot broth and zaru udon served chilled keep things classic and are among the cheapest items, and options such as kamatama mentai, tororo okra and spicy miso pork add variety. Small rice bowls, including teriyaki beef or chicken, Japanese curry, mentaiko mayo and a TKG donburi, round out the list.

Service is cafeteria style. You order your noodles at the counter, then move along a self-serve station to add sides such as vegetable tempura, karaage chicken and skewers, before paying at the till. Seating is at communal tables in a room decorated with sake bottles and paper lanterns. It is licensed, and the West Australian Good Food Guide lists it as vegetarian friendly.

The format suits solo travellers, families and anyone wanting a quick, inexpensive meal between sightseeing in the city centre. Bookings are not taken, so simply turn up; as the kitchen closes in the mid-afternoon, it is a lunch rather than a dinner option for most of the week.

Hifumiya opens every day except public holidays. Hours on the restaurant's website are 11am to 3pm from Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday, but other listings have shown longer hours, so check before planning a late visit. It is at Shop 2, on the ground level of 100-104 Murray Street, with the entrance on McLean Lane in the heart of the city centre.