Cuisine: Japanese – BBQ – Halal-certified

Now imagine this: you’re deep in a doom scroll spiral when suddenly-BAM-you spot the first halal Japanese BBQ in Perth. Can you imagine our excitement?! We LOVE LOVE anything to do with meat and steak, so you know we had to check it out immediately.

Spoiler alert: we loved it so much, we came back the following week just to try more from their menu! In this review, we’re dishing out the scoop on ambience, location, a full menu breakdown, what we ordered, and some handy tips+tricks if you’re planning your own visit.

Pic: Brown Spoon entrance

Location & Ambience

Nikuru BBQ is tucked away at 61 Apsley Road, Wiletton, with plenty of parking available in the complex. Once you arrive, look out for Brown Spoon Willetton and Kaesung Korean Mart – they’re your landmarks.

• If you spot Brown Spoon, walk towards it, keep going straight until you reach the end of the store, then make a right turn- you’ll find Nikuru BBQ right there.
• If you spot Boba Boba where you parked, just walk straight past it – Nikuru is located inside and will be along that stretch!

Now, let’s talk vibes; the space is cozy yet buzzing – it’s got that casual, laid-back energy perfect for small groups or date nights. Just heads up: we definitely recommend wearing clothes you’re okay to wash afterwards, because that delicious BBQ aroma will cling (worth it though…heheh)

Also, the space is smaller than we expected, so we highly recommend calling ahead to book a table. Both times we visited during dinner service, every table was already reserved. PSA: We’re not too sure about the lunch crowd though-better to call and check!

Number to call for reservation: (08) 9279 7310

Opening hours:

Thursday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
Friday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
Saturday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
Sunday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
Monday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	12–3 pm, 5–9 pm

Pic: Nikuru BBQ

Menu and Price Range

Nikuru BBQ’s menu is compact but well-curated, offering a good mix of premium meats and classic Japanese sides. You’ll find these categories in the menu:

• Set menus (a set menu includes rice, soup, salad and choice of meat and you can opt for a la carte options too)
• Gyukatsu
• Sukiyaki
• Donburi
• Nikuru Sets for Two or Four
• Extras & Side dishes
• Drinks (unique Japanese sodas and tea!)

Full menu is shown below for reference!

Across our 2 visits, we managed to try a solid range of dishes including:

• Set menu for four
• Crab mentaiko
• Prawn Gyoza
• Chuck roll (non-wagyu)
• Wagyu cuts (wagyu 8/9): Karubi, Harami, Chuck Eye Roll

We’ll break each of these down with our thoughts in the next section. Pricing wise, this is definitely on the premium side, with our visits averaging $115 to $190 for 2-4 people. It’s not an everyday meal, but if you’re a fan of high-quality wagyu or fresh seafood, it’s well worth the splurge.

Pic: Set menu, Gyukatsu, Sukiyaki, Donburi, Extras

Pic: Nikuru Set, Side Dish, Drinks

What we ordered and Thoughts

We went all out across two visits and tried a generous variety of dishes from the menu. Here’s a full breakdown of what we ordered, what we loved and what we’d skip next time.

Set Menu for Four $135

This included:

• 120g Harami
• 120g Chuck eye roll
• Chicken
• Slipper Lobster
• Salmon
• Assorted Vegetables (squash, cucumber, corn, tofu, asparagus and enoki mushrooms)
• Rice, salad and soup for 4

Presentation was on point, everything came out fast and looking premium and well-arranged. However, portions were smaller than expected. We ended up ordering extra a la carte meats to feel full. That being said, wagyu cuts (chuck eye roll and harami) was juicy, tender and packed with flavour. (see our full wagyu breakdown below!) Chicken was pretty standard and was marinated lightly. The slipper lobster and salmon were excellent, no fishy or salty ocean taste, and if cooked right, they melted like butter. It’s definitely worth getting this set if you are unfamiliar with the menu and would like to try their different options.

As meat lovers that we are, we would rate this set a solid 7 out of 10 due to the portion of the meat but once taking everything into consideration, it does fill you up just nice.

Pic: Nikuru Set for Four $135

Crab mentaiko (Side dish) $11.50

This was sadly the most disappointing dish of the night. We definitely expected more mentaiko (cod roe flavour), but the dominant taste was mainly butter. The crab however, was undeniably fresh, but the portion felt small for the price.

We rate this on the lower scale of 3.5/10.

Pic: Crab Mentaiko $11.50

Crispy Prawn Gyoza (Side dish) $11 – Our Favourite!

Oh. My. Gyoza. These were delicious! They were packed with prawn bits and fried to crispy perfection. Tip: We placed them on the grill for a slight char and it took them to the next level. These comes in pieces of 5 for $11, which is on the pricier side but worth it. We loved them so much, we ordered them again on our second visit. We’d give this a solid 8.5/10.

Pic: Crispy Prawn Gyoza

Wagyu and Non-Wagyu cuts

Chuck Roll (Non-wagyu) Set – $19, a la carte, $16

Now, this non-wagyu cut is from the front shoulder of the cow and tends to be lean. This cut of meat is tender and has a strong beefy flavour. Grilling tips: Grill on medium heat quickly to avoid overcooking. Even when slightly overdone, it was still tasty – our well-done-loving friend approved!

Pic: Chuck Roll Set Menu

Karubi (Wagyu 8/9) Set – $29.50, a la carte, $22

This wagyu cut is from the rib areas of the cow and was rich in fat and has good marbling. This cut of meat is smoky and juicy. Grilling tips: Be careful, this cut flares up fast on the grill due to its fat content, we highly recommend grilling it quickly to avoid creating too much smoke!

Pic: Karubi Set

Harami (Wagyu 8/9) Set – $28, a la carte, $23.50

This wagyu cut located between the ribs and the stomach of the cow. The flavour profile of this cut was rich, beefy and deeply flavourful. It has a unique umami taste with salty and buttery notes. Grilling tips: Best grilled quickly but even well-done was delicious!

Pic: Harami a la carte

Chuck Eye Roll (Wagyu 8/9) Set – $30, a la carte, $25

This wagyu cut sits between the chuck and ribeye of the cow. Just look how amazing that marbling is. This cut was beefy, juicy and consistently flavourful no matter the doneness. This is the must-try wagyu cut if you’re unsure where to start

Pic: Chuck eye roll a la carte

Final thoughts

If you are visiting Nikuru BBQ in Wiletton or have already tried, here’s what we highly recommend (based on what we’ve ordered thus far):

• Chuck eye roll
• Prawn gyoza with kewpie mayo sauce
• Yuzu spakling for a refreshing palate cleanser

They also provided three sauces available at every table to enhance your meal such as; Katsu sauce, Yakiniku sauce and Salad dressing

Tips and Tricks!

• Book ahead! – Nikuru’s space is cosy and fills up fast, especially during service. We definitely recommend calling ahead for a reservation.
• Come in comfy clothes – You will leave with the signature BBQ aroma, so wear something you are happy to throw in the wash after!
• Go with a group – This way you can sample more cuts without burning your wallet.
• Don’t skip the prawn gyoza – If you love prawns as much as we do, just get it. seriously..heheh
• Watch the grill – Wagyu cooks fast due to its fat content, so keep your eyes on it to avoid flare-ups or overcooking!

Nikuru BBQ brings a halal-certified Japanese BBQ experience to Perth, something we didn’t know we needed until now. From buttery fresh seafood to juicy wagyu beef cuts, it’s a flavour packed treat worth experiencing, especially for meat lovers.

Yes, it’s on the pricier side, but you’re paying for quality cuts and fresh ingredients. If you’re after a casual yet elevated dinner spot, especially for a special occasion or gathering, this is one to bookmark. We’re already planning our third visit. If you do check it out, tag us on Instagram or Tiktok or Facebook @the.kollektif, we’d love to see what you ordered and your thoughts on them!

Comment your thoughts down below!