Tempura Endo Okazaki — Restaurant in Kyoto

Personally, one of the best Tempura specialty dining I’ve been to. Hands down. If you would like to immerse yourself in an original Tempura dining experience, this place is perfect. If i’m not mistaken there are 2 or more other branches around as well. The one we went to: Okazaki-Kita was especially quite and less busy.

Let me start by stating a few things, before heading to Tempura Endo, I had read a few other google reviews especially negative ones to make sure that it is legit. I’ve been to Japan before and I’ve been to Tempura restaurants before, so I wanted the same kind of experience. Part of the experience is the Tempura being cooked one by one for you (or one type by one type: shrimp / fish / a type of veggie). Though sometimes available, hardly that the tempuras will come together in a basket or bowl altogether at once.

Price: If you’re looking for cheap tempuras, this is not the place. I know in Japan perhaps all tempura may taste awesome but at Tempura Endo, they serve only in courses - per person. After choosing your courses, you can ask for a side menu which you are allowed to choose single / ala carte tempuras with a price too. I seriously thought my money was worth-well spent! Do not feel insulted if upon entering they humbly want you to know that they only serve in courses. It’s not about judging that you don’t have money, they too don’t want you to feel cheated or have second thoughts after sitting down and looking at the menu. I am all for transparency. So you are not obliged in anyway either.

The four of us came for lunch and there were 3 type of courses. We took the Medium one with 13 courses -if i’m not mistaken (appetizer - tempuras - rice set - dessert) at about 5-6000 yen each. I forgot what the smallest course had but the most expensive one included Sashimi. Honestly, by the time it got to the rice set we were already full. But satisfactory still eating through dessert. Because I read a lot of people in google review suggested to try the Egg Yolk tempura, i added that to my rice dish. Only me. The three other family members could not do anymore. Haha!

Tempuras: I must say the tempuras are spectacular. I believe the tempuras served in courses change according to the season of food and ingredients. Among the tempuras we were given, there were Hokaido fish, Shrimp, Stuffed Edamame, Stuffed Mushroom, Shrimp toast, Leek and more i cant recall. As the chef serve you one by one (Some were cut in half, some came in 3 pieces, some in 2) he well also explain what it is and with what you’re supposed to eat it with. They give you the tempura sauce of course but also 3 types of salt, white rice salt, green tea salt and soy salt. The combination of different tempuras with these different condiments / sauce were amazing. Amazingly by the end of the course, the wax / paper on my plate which they served all the tempuras were hardly soaked in oil. There was really close to no oil residue from the tempuras. For dessert, we were served Grapefruit sorbet and hot tea. Which was a good cleanse after all the food in course.

Servers: I also like that the chefs and waitresses were very well trained. They understand and spoke english and could converse with us about where were from. This also made it very easy to get further information on each tempura / dish.

I was truly satisfied at this restaurant. Am leaving Kyoto in 2 days. Feel like going...

This is certainly one of the places you should go if you want to have a good Tempura experience, and the menus offer a wide variety of different food - just delicious. The service is very nice and if you want to have additional information about the food you just received they will do their best to give you an answer. Since I had to talk a lot with my friend we had to ask to slow down the speed between the courses which was adhered to. The restaurant is very nice and they serve larger group on tables or individuals on the counter. If you find time check out the Budokan on the other side of the street, and other points of interest e.g....

We came for dinner. They have set menus based on the price. The cheapest one is ¥10,000 and the most expensive set menu was ¥20,000.

The tempura was really nice. Clearly they were using good materials and great techniques.

The chef explained what was the right pairing for each tempura, whether it is the salt, macha salt or the sauce.

The service was excellent. The staff were attentive and friendly.

We came there early so no one there beside us.

It costs us around ¥31,000 for 2 people including a small bottle of sake.

If we knew it was an expensive restaurant before we went, we would dress...