Papi Katsu: Perth CBD’s Brand-New Japanese Joint Is Here (2024)

• Alexandra Casey

• Alexandra Casey

Brought to you by the team behind Subiaco’s Shui, let us acquaint you with Perth CBD’s newest restaurant, Papi Katsu. After four years in the making, this fine-tuned, rule-breaking, subterranean Japanese joint from the fastidious Sesh Mafia hospitality group, is just days away from its official opening on May 30th.

Papi Katsu

Bringing the charged atmosphere and energy of Japanese cyberpunk to Brookfield Place, Culinary Director Chase Weber is upending traditional Japanese cuisine with his own interpretations of the sometimes ostentatious fare. Supported by Sesh Mafia’s longstanding Chef, Leigh Power, the share-style menu champions local, seasonal ingredients with a focus on fresh Australian seafood sourced from local fishmongers each morning.

“Papi Katsu is different from anything we’ve done before. We’ve all been working together in the industry for decades. We are at the point where we just want to have fun with it,” says owner Ben Tua.

“The tongue-in-cheek name, phenomenal menu, cyberpunk-inspired interiors, and world-class service. We’re trying to create a space where it’s all about having a good time, no matter the occasion.”

Sashimi plates, tamaki, and $750.00 steak

The snacks and raw menu includes daily sashimi plates, prawn katsu open sandwiches, and a range of temaki. Plus, local yabbies, poached and served with milk bread in Weber’s own take on the classic yabby and pikelets.

On the subject of large plates, you can expect everything from saikyo miso glazed toothfish served with Shark Bay clam to ikura and roasted fish bone beurre monte. Not to mention roasted duck breast and maitake mushrooms finished with mandarin oil. Plus, a $750.00 one-kilogram steak of the highest grade A5 Japanese wagyu beef cooked over the charcoal yakitori. And if you’re looking to elevate your experience, you can pre-order colossal quantities of caviar, whole-roasted duck, and super-sized lobster.

Sake, martini, lager, and local wines

Behind the Papi Katsu bar, expect a liberal drinks menu inspired by the clean, precise nature of Japanese service and culture. And anything developed by Sesh Mafia’s master mixologist, Head of Operations, and Beverage Coordinator, Eoin Kenny, is sure to impress. Think dedicated Highball and Martini menus elevated with clear block ice and ice carving, complemented by a tighter range of Japanese lagers on tap, local wines, and a 25-strong sake list.

Japanese cyberpunk design

In terms of the fit-out, esteemed hospitality design firm SOMA is behind it. They’ve transformed the prodigious, windowless space into an enigmatic 120-person dining room, with flashes of neon pink and blue imitating the bright lights of downtown Tokyo. From the timber tables and seats to the bespoke lighting, fixtures, and murals in the three 20-person clandestine private dining rooms, everything has been created and curated for Papi Katsu.

Did we mention the striking 4.5-metre timber omakase table? This will provide an intimate view of the expert chefs preparing the elevated, hybrid omakase menu.

A long-term labour of blood, sweat, and panko bread crumbs, Papi Katsu is touted to be Brookfield Place’s missing piece. A high-end Japanese dining destination that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Where the service is world-class, the sake is free-flowing, and the seafood is as fresh as it gets.

Papi Katsu is taking bookings for lunch and dinner via the website from Tuesday, May 21st.