Written on: 12/24/2024
Name: Tenyoshi
Ratings and Comments
Exterior – 3/5
I’m not a huge fan of the exterior. Not only is it located on the ground floor of an “office-like” building, but the restaurant’s facade itself features a lot of plain metal and glass. While this gives it a modern feel, it contrasts with the warm and quaint interior.
Interior – 3.5/5
Ignore the exterior—because I love the interior. It’s quaint and cozy, yet spacious enough that you’re not rubbing elbows with other diners. The use of older, dark-colored woods creates a rustic, down-to-earth aesthetic that feels welcoming.
Menu/Price – 3.5/5
The menu is short but covers all the essentials you’d want in a tempura meal. Plus, the prices are very reasonable—a big plus in my book!
Drinks – N/A
Didn’t have anything other than water, so I can’t comment here—sorry!
Food – 3.5/5
Have I had better and fancier tempura meals in Japan? Sure. But when I’m craving a ten-don bowl (ten = tempura, don = donburi, meaning rice bowl), I’m looking for a comforting and satisfying meal—not necessarily a culinary masterpiece.
The food here is very good. Each set includes your choice of tempura, served over rice, with sides of miso soup and takuan. On my visit, I ordered the Special Tempura Rice Bowl and I added an egg (tempura egg) on top. Here’s a quick breakdown of each element:
- Tempura: Cooked and dressed to order.
- Tempura egg: Amazing, perfectly runny on the inside.
- Rice: Soft and sticky, showing care in preparation (some places cut corners, and you end up with undercooked grains—definitely not the case here).
- Sides: The miso soup was nice and hot, and the takuan (pickled daikon radish) complemented the meal well.
Staff – 5/5
This is what will keep me coming back for the foreseeable future. The front-of-house is run by a very sweet older lady who attentively took my order, kept my water full, and engaged in lighthearted conversation.
Meanwhile, her counterpart—an older man—ran the kitchen.
Since I sat at the counter facing the kitchen, I had the privilege of watching him prepare the food. He worked with such care and precision, all while maintaining a warm, genuine smile. As I was leaving, we even shared a little moment over the Yomiuri Giants, since I happened to be wearing a team ball cap. The food was good, but the service was great—memorable without being overwhelming.
Restroom – Unchecked, sorry.
Conclusion – 3.9/5
I’m going to break my own rating rules a little here and award a 3.9. Like I mentioned, the food was good, but the people were what truly shined. They were kind and genuine, and they deserve to be recognized for it. It can sometimes be hard to find a friendly restaurant in Japan where you don’t feel like an outsider (in Japanese, gaijin) and receive a warm welcome from the staff. That kind of warmth stays with you far longer than most amazing meals ever will.
