Crunchy crispy golden goodness – this is how I would describe tempura in Japan. Here are the 5 best tempura restaurants I’ve been to so far:
Easily one of my favorite Japanese foods ever has to be tempura (in all of its forms!). Tempura simply refers to foods that are battered and fried, primarily seafood and vegetables. This practice goes back to the Edo Period as this form of cooking was considered cheap and easy in difficult times.
Tempura can be eaten as part of a rice bowl, a noodle soup, or simply on its own with a little dipping sauce. Having traveled to many prefectures across Japan feasting on the best of Japanese cuisine, here are the 5 best tempura restaurants that left a mark on me for good!
#5 – UDON Arashiyama-tei (Kyoto)
Kicking off the list with a Kyoto classic, Arashiyama-tei is a popular restaurant by the iconic bamboo forest.
They specialize in tempura udon, a dish of hot savory soup and thick noodles topped with crispy battered shrimp and a soft-boiled egg.
This dish hits all the right spots, particularly during winter. However, you can opt for the cold soba noodles version too which I’d recommend on hotter days to refresh yourself.
#4 – Miyako (Kyoto)
Adding one more to the Kyoto club, Miyako is an udon and soba noodle chain found all over the Kansai region.
They use a rather sweet broth which I adore. However, the selling point is their gigantic-sized tempura shrimp!
Combined with a giant aburaage (demoisturized fried tofu), soft-boiled egg, and garnished with spring onions, it’s the ultimate bowl of noodle soup with the works.
They also offer tendon (tempura over rice) for those who prefer rice dishes.
#3 – Tempura Sakae (Kitakyushu)
Unlike the previous item, Tempura Sakae is something of a hidden gem. I found this restaurant in Kitakyushu on Japan’s southern island.
In terms of freshness, this may be one of the best tempura restaurants in all of Japan.
The chef batters and fries the shrimp and vegetables right in front of you and places the completed product on a metal grid tray so the oil can drip out.
Complete with a dipping sauce, a bowl of rice, and some hearty miso soup, it’s the perfect set to re-energize yourself.
In some ways, Tempura Sakae resembles Miyako in that you can order tempura in many of its forms including soba and udon, tendon, or as I’ve done it, a set whereby the tempura dish stands alone.
The best part is that this restaurant is cheap as! I enjoyed this delicious multi-dish meal for less than 1,000 yen (6.50 USD). Talk about money’s worth!
#2 – Gohanya Homare (Osaka)
If you’ve ever wanted the “eating at grandma’s house” vibe in Japan, then you need to hit up Gohanya Homare in Osaka!
This pleasant little secret is located in Osaka’s Nishinari ward which, to be quite honest, is a bit of a slum of an area. But as the stereotype goes, the best feeds are often in the shadiest of places.
The old aunty and her husband running this store were truly accommodating to me as the only foreigner in the restaurant. With stacks of manga comics to read and a TV playing the news, this restaurant is best described as a “vibe.”
Needless to say, their tempura is truly exceptional. Never have I seen such a variety of tempura pieces. In addition to the usual suspects like shrimp and vegetables, they also included tempura boiled egg which was a first for me!
#1 – Tendon Tenya (Tokyo)
Easily the best tempura when it comes to delivering the perfect crunch, Tendon Tenya takes the top spot as my favorite tempura restaurant in Japan!
Located in Asakusa, the cultural town of Tokyo, this restaurant is just a short walk from Asakusa station and the Sumida River.
My attention was caught by the plastic food displays in front of the store featuring huge pieces of ebi tempura (shrimp) at super affordable prices.
I ordered the tendon lunch set which featured three mighty fine crispy ebi tempura on a bed of steamed rice served with side dishes including dipping sauce, miso soup, and pickled vegetables.
Honestly, I don’t know if they just overcooked my tempura, but it was the crunchiest I’d ever had and, for me, that also made it the best. It also had a special marinate infused in the crunchy exterior which gave it a subtle tang that was truly addictive!
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