One of many tourist’s must try dishes might be Tempura. Tempura is a traditional Japanese dish in which seafood and vegetables are dipped into batter and then deep fried. If you would care for crispy and savory tempura, why don’t you visit one of our recommended 9 restaurants? The article also introduces the history and culture of Tempura.

A Brief History of Tempura

Surprisingly, Tempura is not the original japanese food. When and from where was Tempura introduced into Japan?

In the mid 16th century Tempura was introduced from Portugal as a western food, along with the gun into Japan. It is said to be named after portuguese “ quatuor temporas” or ember days. Ember days are quarterly periods of prayer and fasting in the liturgical calendar of Western Christian churches when people refrain from eating meat, instead eat fried fish, seafood and vegetables.

Then in the late 16th century in Nagasaki of southernmost Kyushu island “Nagasaki tempura”　was made as the origin of Japanese Tempura. It was made with batter of flour, egg, sake, sugar, and salt, and the thick fritter was already flavored. So the ingredients and fritter was tasted without dipping into sauce.　The Nagasaki tempura has developed into different current Tempura, but you can still enjoy such tempura in Nagasaki area.

Those days oil was very expensive and Tempura was not the meal  ordinary citizens could afford to eat. Then the pacific war caused a short supply and Tempura became more pricy. But after the war oil was more produced and Tempura has become one of our typical Japanese foods eaten among family.

Tempura Restaurants in Chu-o-ku, Tokyo

Tempura can be home made if you carefully control the oil temperature and batter condition. But we have to say tempuras served in our recommended tempura restaurants are absolutely crispy and savory. Why don’t you try ?

 

Kuzushi Kappo Tempura Take No An – Higashi Ginza

Selected fresh seasonal ingredients are carefully prepared with original ratio of sesami oil and vegetable oil. Not only tempura but also other traditional and original Japanese dishes have good reputations, and go well with Japanese sake or rice wine, shochu spirits, and prum wine served together. The most popular course is tempura with all-you-can-drink style drink at 10,000 yen.

URL: https://kuzusikappou-takenoan-higasiginza.com/

2 min walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya line Higashi Ginza station Exit 5.

Price range: 1000 yen to 15000 yen

Opens: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm/ 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm on Mondays through Fridays

11:30 am to 3:00 pm/ 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Saturdays

Regular closing day : Sundays and public holidays

 

Tempura Yamanoue Ginza – Ginza

The tempura restaurnat of Hotel Yamanoue or Hilltop Hotel having 60-year history has good established reputation. This is its Ginza branch where you can taste the best tempura of Yamanoue’quality. They serve extraordinarily tasty vegetables as well as fresh seafood tempura. Served are the masterpieces by the amazing shef, for example, thick and tasty uni, sea uchin wrapped in a sheet of macropyll. Seasonal vegetables are careflully kept with scent and testure as they are. If you cannot get counter seats, do not warry, each tempura is served one by one at a table.

URL: https://www.yamanoue-hotel.co.jp/tempurayamanoue/ginza/en/

3 min walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza station Exit A3.

Price range: 4000 yen to 15000 yen (excluding service charge and tax)

Opens: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

5:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Closing day: same as GINZA SIX

 

Tempura Abe Ginza Honten – GInza

Michelin starred restaurant in 2020 Bib Gourmand Tokyo award where freshly shrimp from fish tank is cooked on the spot.

Seafood tempura course is served at reasonable price.

Price range : Set menu of 6 dishes is 3500yen.

Matsu course of 9 dishes is 5000yen.

Take course of 10 dishes is 8000yen.

Voluminous but not oily,so good for lady.

Course meals include selection of Ten don (rice bowl topped withtempura) or ten chazuke (boiled rice with tea).

For lunch menu Tempura bowl is served at 1000 yen.

URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13092132/

One min walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza line Ginza station Exit A10.

Opens: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on week days

11:30 am to 3:00 pm

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on weekends and holidays

Price range: 1000 yen to 15000 yen

Regular closing day: December 31 and January 1st

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Tempura Kurokawa – Tsukiji

Tsukiji outer market is not only for eating sushi! Tempura Kurokawa is a very good tempura restaurant located in Tsukiji outer market. Needless to say,they only use very fresh seafood from the Toyosu fish market, organic fresh vegetables brought from Chiba Kamogawa, a neighbor city of Tokyo 3 times a week.

Our recommendations are lunch menu ; “Tsuki””Special Tendon””Kakiage Tendon” served at 1500 to 2000yen.

For dinner reservation needed.

URL: http://osietesite.com/gourmet/tokyo/wasyoku/tesyoku/kurokawa

7 min walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya line Tsukiji station Exit 1 or 2.

Price range: 1500 yen to 6000 yen.

Opens: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Reguralr closing day: Sundays and public holidays

Price range: 1500 yen to 6000 yen.

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Tempura Kondo – Ginza

Fumio Kondo, the most famous tempura chef who had been the chief chef in the Hilltop hotel for 21 years and opened his restaurant in Ginza in 1991. Regularly Michelin starred and lots of customers visit from all over the world. His tempura is famous for its lightness. Since his flour made tempura doesn’t absorb much oil the butter can be thinned to the utmost limit. As a result ingredients, color and scent are all flavored.

His specialty is tempura of sweet potato, cut in more than 10 centimeter long like a tree stump.  Deep fried for around half an hour sweet potato’s tempura contains water and sweetness inside. Incredibly sweet and juicy.

URL: https://tempura-kondo.com/

Price range: 8000 yen to 30000 yen

3 min walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza station

Opens: 12:00 pm start/ 1:30 pm start

5:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Regular closing day: Sundays (if Monday falls on public holiday, Monday will be day off, too)

 

Tempura Restaurants in Shibuya-ku Area, Tokyo

The article introduces Tempura restaurants located in Shibuya area well known for the worldly most crowded scramble crossing and  full of stylish buildings.

Ebisu Tempura-Kushi Yamamoto Ya – Ebisu

Casual izakaya type tempura restaurant where you can drink natural wine, craft shochu spirit, and Sake with concept “Enjoy alcoholic in Tempura restaurant”. Izakaya is a Japanese-style pub where variety of alcoholics are served along with small dishes.  They use seafood, meat, and vegetables made in Shikoku, owner’s homeland. Attractive are casusl atmosphere and oshibori towel offerd from selection of hot, normal, cold or frozen towel.

URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13228465/

4 min walk from the traffic circle on the west side of JR Ebisu station West Exit.

Price range: 1000 yen to 6000 yen

Opens: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm

5:00 pm to 0:00 am on week days

11:30 am to 2:30 pm

4:00 pm to 11:00 pm  on Saturdays

Regular closing day: Sundays and public holidays

 

Tem-tempura Uchitsu – Hiro

Michelin starred restaurant with a beautiful garden view. Entering the restaurant, you will get captivated by an amazing view of trees spreading branches, seasonally changing colors thru a 6m wide glass. At counter only chef’s special course is served such as seasonal tempura, small dishes, sashimi, and fresh vegetables. To finish selection is offered from Kakiage-don (deep-fried vegetable, strips, shrimp on rice), ten-cha (steamed rice topped with kakiage and hot green tea)) and nyu-men noodle (noodle in hot soup).

The menu changes according to customer’s favorite and daily recommendations. You can enjoy the best hospitality using plenty of seasonal fresh ingredients in accordance to your budget.

URL: http://tempura-uchitsu.com/

5 min walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya line Hiroo station.

Opens: 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Irregularly closed

 

Tempura Restaurants in Minato-ku, Tokyo

The article introduces Tempura restaurants in Minato-ku, Tokyo.

Kikuya – Azabu Juban

Casual standing-counter style tempura restaurant where you can enjoy good tempura at a reasonable price. Fresh and nation widely brought ingredients are deep-fried by a special fryer to have the healthy and light texture. You can enjoy wide variety from traditional to new type tempura such as daikon radish and fresh oyster.

Closed in Nov. 2021.

4 min walk from Tokyo Metro/ Toei Metro Azabu Juban station Exit 4.

Opens: 11:00 am to 11:30 pm everyday

Price range: 2000 yen to 4000 yen

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Tenshige – Akasaka

The established tempura restaurant opened in 1964. The 2nd owner, Ms. Syuri Takabatake has succeeded the traditional taste and skill from her mother, and served  the same taste tempura to the local regular customers.  The special tempura sauce has been made by adding to the original one which has been stored for over 50 years since Tenshige was opened. Their tempura is made from seasonal vegetables and typical Edo (Tokyo)-style seafood. Their specialty are kakiage don () and ten-don ()

For dinner, tempura course is served.

URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13002795/

3 min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line Akasaka station.

Opens: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm

6:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Regular closing day: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

Price range: 1500 yen to 8000 yen

Cash only during lunch time

By Ricky

 

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