Tokyo's 10 Best Tempura Restaurants Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 24 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Tempura is a dish made from a fresh piece of seafood or a vegetable deep fried in an crunchy batter. This is one of the most popular dishes in Japanese cuisine. In this article, we'll introduce ten Tokyo restaurants serving delicious tempura made from high-quality ingredients.

See full listings of Tempura restaurants found in and around Tokyo.

1. Tempura Kurokawa (Tsukiji)

Tempura Kurokawa is a cozy little restaurant tucked away in a back alley just outside of Tsukiji Market. Their delectable tempura is the product of the long years the chef has devoted to perfecting tempura. This restaurant remains faithful to tempura classics such as shrimp, squid, and anago (conger eel), while also offering some original twists such as tempura egg, tomato, and other ingredients that expand the possibilities of this traditional dish. For lunch, we recommend the [Kakiage Tempura Bowl] (1,500 JPY). This dish comes with a generous serve of seafood tempura, including shrimp and scallop, served atop a bowl of rice.

Tempura Kurokawa

Open: [Weekday, Saturday, Day before National holidays] Lunch 09:00 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:45 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm -9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 7 minutes by foot from Tsukiji station
Address: 6-21-8 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Map
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2. XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An

1. XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An

Located very close to Tokyo Tower in MORI Tower, "XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS/Tempura & Sushi An" offers seasonal Kaiseki cuisine and fresh Edo-style sushi. They have just created a tempura counter in the Japanese cuisine section, where trained craftsmen offer freshly produced tempura with a crispy and juicy texture made with seasonal ingredients. You may also relish beloved delicacies from throughout the world, such as sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, while admiring Tokyo's spectacular night scenery, making for a really unforgettable dining experience.

XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) Lunch time (Monday-Friday): junior high school students and above, (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays): Elementary school students and above / Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) Dinner time (Monday-Friday): Junior high school students and above, (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays): Elementary school students and above
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Exit A5 of Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line, 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Address: 42F, MORI Tower, 2-5-1, Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
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3. Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan

Located on the second floor of the Roppongi Grand Plaza, Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan is a sophisticated establishment where guests can indulge in a fusion of Western and Japanese cuisine. The restaurant offers a refined dining experience with a focus on seasonal dishes, expertly prepared by a team of skilled chefs. Guests can choose to sit at the counter and witness the artistry of dishes such as Tempura, delicately fried in refreshing rice oil, or enjoy the captivating sights, sounds, and aromas of Teppanyaki creations, skillfully cooked on an iron griddle by two talented chefs. The restaurant takes pride in sourcing the highest-grade ingredients from various regions of Japan, including fresh seafood, exquisite Aka Beef from Kumamoto, and a selection of seasonal vegetables. At Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, patrons are invited to embark on a culinary journey that showcases sophistication and culinary excellence.

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) [Weekdays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Food L.O. 10:00 pm / Drink L.O. 10:30 pm) [Saturday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (Food L.O. 9:00 pm / Drink L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 9 minutes walk from [Roppongi Station] on Toei Oedo Line
Address: 2F, Roppongi Grand Plaza, 3-1-25 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
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4. Tempura Miyashiro

Tempura Miyashiro is renowned for its delectable tempura dishes featuring expertly fried seasonal ingredients and a delightful blend of flavors captured within the batter. This esteemed restaurant has earned the prestigious recognition of a Michelin star in 2020, a testament to its culinary excellence. Guests can savor an array of exquisite delicacies, including the meticulously prepared "Wagyu Beef Chateaubriand wrapped in Bean Curd Skin," which offers a tantalizing taste of A5-ranked Japanese beef, and the flavorful "Shrimp Tempura with Nori/seaweed," showcasing a large tiger prawn. The restaurant presents a lunch and dinner menu comprising two courses that showcase a diverse selection of seasonal ingredients. To enhance the dining experience, carefully curated sake and wine pairings are thoughtfully chosen to complement the flavors of each ingredient and dish, ensuring a truly memorable and delightful culinary journey.

Tempura Miyashiro

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm / Dinner Part 1 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm / Dinner Part 2 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 18,000 JPY / [Lunch] 18,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Nakameguro Station on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tokyu Toyoko Line
Address: 1F, 2-18-11, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Map
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5. Kichiji Kanizo

Kichiji Kanizo is a hidden gem for discerning adults located in Nakameguro. This restaurant offers a special culinary experience curated by Mr. Okano, the second chef of their renowned establishment, Tempura Miyashiro, which has been honored with a Michelin star for two consecutive years. Among their enticing menu selections is a truly indulgent hot pot featuring "live horse crabs directly sourced from Hokkaido." As you savor this remarkable dish, you will delight in the ever-changing interplay of flavors that permeate the daikon, creating a truly sensational dining experience.

Kichiji Kanizo

Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm / Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Irregular
Average price: -
Access: 116m from Nakameguro Station
Address: 3F-B, Plage Meguro, 3-9-5, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Map
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6. Ajiyushin Nakaya (Yotsuya-sanchome)

This long-standing soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant was founded back in 1890, and their tempura is the perfect match for soba. This restaurant serves soba noodles faithfully prepared from the traditional methods used since the restaurant opened, as well as dishes such as the [Vegetable Kakiage] (790 JPY), [Kaibashira Kakiage] (1,260 JPY) ("kaibashira" refers to the valve muscles of shellfish), and [Assorted Tempura] (2,250 JPY). Their anago tempura is an especially popular dish, and the restaurant changes their supply each season to source eel with an ideal rich texture. Between the Oya stone floors, large tables made of ancient 200-year-old trees, and antique brick walls, the interior of the restaurant also offers plenty to catch the eye!

Ajiyushin Nakaya

Open: [Weekdays, Saturdays, Day Before Holidays] Lunch 11:30 - 14:00. Limited to lunch menu. No credit cards. / Dinner 17:00 - 22:00 (Saturday until 21:00)
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY / [Lunch] 840 JPY
Access: A 5-minute walk towards Shinjuku from exit 2 of Marunouchi Line, Yotsuya Sanchome station. A 7-minute walk from Toei Shinjuku line Akebonobashi station.
Address: 4-13　Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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7. Tenshige

Among all seafood, shrimp requires the shortest frying time to achieve the perfect tempura texture. The skilled chef delicately immerses slender shrimp, akin to matchsticks, into hot oil and carefully removes them in stages. At Tenshige, guests are served shrimp tempura that is impeccably cooked, following the traditional techniques passed down from the chef's father. These ingredients are sourced from long-standing suppliers who have maintained a strong relationship with the chef's predecessor, guaranteeing a consistent supply of top-notch ingredients. Assisting in the smooth operation of the restaurant, the chef's mother, with her extensive experience in service, continues the legacy established by her predecessor.

Tenshige

Open: [Weekday / Pre-holiday] Lunch 11:30-14:00 (last order 14:00) / Dinner 18:30-22:00 (last order 20:30)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,400 JPY
Access: A two-minute walk from Akasaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line/a five-minute walk from Tameike-Sanno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line & Namboku Line
Address: No.3 Seiko Bldg. 2F, 3-6-10 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
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8. Kisetsu Ryouri Nemoto (Kojimachi)

This restaurant is a place to enjoy Japanese dishes made from seasonal ingredients in a casual atmosphere. One of the restaurant's specialties is tempura made from the day's fresh seafood and vegetables. The [Tempura Assortment] (1,500 JPY plus tax) features both fried skewers made from seafood like shrimp and whiting as well as seasonal vegetable tempura. The crisp texture of this tempura is complemented by a bonito-flavored tentsuyu dipping sauce that draws out the umami (Japanese savory taste) of the ingredients. À la carte dishes including the [Miso-Stewed Mackerel] (900 JPY plus tax) round out this restaurant's wide selection of enticing options!

Kisetsu Ryouri Nemoto

Open: [Monday - Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30pm)

[Weekday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)

[Saturday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,500 JPY / [Lunch] 950 JPY
Access: From either Kojimachi station/Ichigaya staion, go towards "Nihon TV." It is near the beginning of Nihon TV street.
Address: 2F Mitsui Building, 1-2 Rokuban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
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9. Nagomiya Kogetsu (Shimokitazawa)

The tranquil light of Nagomiya Kogetsu glows amidst the bustling Shimokitazawa night scene. Here guests can enjoy a wide range of Japanese cuisine made with fresh seafood from the Toyosu Fish Market and fresh vegetables handpicked by the chef, all served in a tranquil Japanese-style atmosphere. The rich lineup here includes dishes like the [Vegetable Tempura with Tentsuyu] (980 JPY)—served with an assortment of tempura, eggplant, lotus root, and pumpkin—and the [Seafood Tempura with Tentsuyu] (1,680 JPY) that comes with shrimp, Japanese whiting, scallops, and oysters. Of course, this restaurant sources its seafood each morning, so freshness is never in question!

Nagomiya Kogetsu

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Saturday] 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (Food L.O. 11:30 pm, Drink L.O. 12:30 am)

[Sunday, National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm. Drink L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the east exit of [Shimokitazawa Station]
Address: B1F, Tsuji Bldg., 2-9-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

10. Suiren (Tameike-sanno)

Located in The Capitol Hotel Tokyo, Suiren offers impeccable service and cuisine that blends long-standing traditions with fresh innovations. The [Tempura Course Fukuju] (13,300 JPY) is exclusive for guests who opt for counter seating. This luxurious course comes with kakiage and nine tempura dishes made from an assortment of seasonal ingredients. For a slightly more casual option, try the lunchtime [Wayuzen] (5,500 JPY) that comes with a main dish of tempura, plus with sashimi and nimono (stewed dishes).

Japanese Cuisine Suiren

Open: Dinner 17:30 - 22:00 (last order 21:30) / Lunch 11:30 - 15:00 (last order 14:30)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: Direct access from Exit 6 of Kokkai-gijidomae Station

Direct access from Exit 6 of Tameike-sanno Station

Address: 3F, 2-10-3, Tagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
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Tokyo has a wealth of tempura restaurants, all with their own individual flair. If this article has whet your appetite for this Japanese classic, we hope you'll consider trying out one of these great restaurants in Tokyo!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.