Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi — Restaurant in Kyoto

Tendon Makino in Kyoto’s Teramachi Shopping Street isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a front-row seat to a tempura symphony, and I, dear reader, was the solo audience member absolutely losing my mind in the best way.

Let’s set the scene: I rolled up, party of one, and waited just 15 minutes. Meanwhile, groups ahead of me were staring into the abyss of a 1+ hour wait, probably questioning their life choices (and how many friends they really need). Advantage: me.

🙇‍♂️ The Vibe. The seating is bar-style—open kitchen, sizzling oil, tempura chefs moving with the calm precision of sushi ninjas. I’m watching shrimp do backflips into bubbling oil while the staff is all smiles, taking preorders and checking in like you’re a VIP about to enter a fried food heaven.

🍱 The Food. I ordered the Spring Set, a poetic platter of golden, crispy wonders. You’ve got tempura shrimp, fish, vegetables, and seasonal items, plus bonus dessert cuteness: a sakura-themed dango and jelly that said, “You’re in Japan, baby.”

Each piece of tempura was lightly battered, crisp without being greasy, tender without being mushy, and so fresh I half expected it to say “Itadakimasu” back to me. Yes, placing the tempura on the hot rice softens the crunch a little—but does it matter when each bite is a warm, sauce-drizzled hug from the culinary gods? No. No, it does not.

🌶️ Flavor Power-Ups. On the counter sits a flavor-boosting shrine: salt, Japanese 7-spice, pickles, and more sauce—because sometimes “just enough” isn’t enough. I respectfully dumped it all on like a rogue chef.

🍳 Add-ons? Of course I did. I got the tempura tamago (because soft egg + rice = yes), and a beer (because vacation). That brought my total to 2,900 yen—about $19 USD for a show, a feast, and a fleeting moment of total food enlightenment.

⏱️ Final Thoughts. Would I wait an hour for this? If I had to, yes. But as a solo traveler with the speed-run seating, I was in and out with maximum efficiency and zero regrets. I had places to go but more importantly, I had fried shrimp to eat.

🌸 Delicious, fast, friendly, and fun. Worth every crispy yen. Just maybe... leave the group chat behind for...

Tendon Makino is at the top of my foodie wishlist in this trip. Knowing how popular they are, and their location near Nishiki Market where I just barely escaped a zombie apocalypse, I got to the shop 30 minutes before their dinner opening time at 5pm. Yes, some people went to dinner at 4.30 on a weekday and I was already 5th in line. I have strong suspicions that some people just went here straight from lunch.

Around 15 minutes before opening, the staff distributed the menu and took the orders. It was early summer and they had a special menu, the Shoka Tendon (Early Summer Premium Tempura Bowl which features wasabi tartar and desserts). I was eavesdropping people's order the whole time and it seems like everyone orders the Shoka Tendon. However, after doing some analytical gymnastics in my head I got myself the Tendon Set C, which promised a big conger eel and two shrimp tempuras among some other things. I was not a big wasabi or tartar sauce fan anyway. At 5pm on the dot, they opened the door and we were let in based on our queue number. Just like going into a concert, our seats were assigned and I got the prime view: right in front of the deep frying pot.

After watching the opening act of the chefs coating and frying in a speedy silent choreography, the main act emerged and delivered so hard. PSA: they are not kidding when they say "big" conger eel. They should have worded it as "massive". My bowl was overflowing. I didn't even know where to start. Everything was fresh and warm. Not too crispy, but the crunch is there. They also provided some broth to pour over rice to make a chazuke, which is a much appreciated break from all that oil.

I want to say I ate and left no crumbs, but I was defeated by portion size. And an encore stage from a trio (food coma, oil-induced headache, and acid reflux) later in the evening. Truly a once-in-my-lifetime...

Tendon Makino Kyoto: A Must-Visit Tempura Rice Bowl Heaven!

If you're a tendon (tempura rice bowl) lover, you absolutely cannot miss Tendon Makino in Kyoto! This incredible spot serves tempura that's perfectly cooked - crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with zero greasiness. The sweet-savory sauce drizzled over the top strikes an ideal balance of flavors, and if you're a sauce enthusiast, you can always ask for extra!

What makes this place special is that the chef prepares each order fresh on the spot. Even better, the prices offer exceptional value for what you get.

Today I tried both Set A and Set C. The main difference between sets is the variety of meats and vegetables, though the sauce remains consistent across all options. I particularly loved Set C because it includes small scallops which are absolutely delicious!

The highlight comes at the end of your meal - they provide yuzu, wasabi, and coriander. Save a small portion of rice, mix in these ingredients, pour the soup over, and enjoy this final bite. It's an incredible palate cleanser that cuts through any oiliness and provides a refreshing finish to your meal.

The restaurant itself is clean, though the counter seats near the frying station do carry a slight oil smell. It's a small establishment with counter seating for about 10 people, plus tables upstairs accommodating another 14 guests, for a total capacity of approximately 24-28 seats.

The incredibly long queues - but trust me, it's absolutely...