Rare Tendon Ginza Mitsuyoshi — Restaurant in Tokyo

My hubs found this tempura restaurant that offers seafood and Wagyu beef. 'Rare Tendon Ginza Mitsuyoshi' in Ginza was a good find and only issue is there is only nine seats available at a time to eat! We came when they about opened at 11am on a Wednesday. Six seats were already taken so we were in luck, they had three seats for us left. I can't imagine how the wait would be later on. I am sure it would be a slow line for people to want to eat here.

I ordered the Normal Seafood Grade meal and added additional Wagyu beef. Everything was deep fried with light tempura coating except for the rice. The Wagyu is like rolled up beef and the tuna tempura was delicious. The rice is lightly coated with tempura's sauce which was good. They also provide wasabi and coarse salt on a tray. You would just need to add soy sauce. They also provide fresh ginger. They also provide a light broth to add left over rice, etc. I didn't care for it much as it was good by itself. My hubs ordered the same but added additional egg and scallops. It was very good. They do have a few options for drinks like hot sake, tea, beer and coke. No dessert.

All utensils were in the drawer in front of your seat. The bar like setting gives you little room for your meal, drinks and condiments but what is good you can see them cook in action. Staff are very friendly, somewhat know English but they try. I would come back here again if we are in the area and...

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Culinary Encounter

In the heart of Ginza, hidden in plain sight, Rare Tendon Ginza Mitsuyoshi is more than a restaurant—it is a revelation. A place where tempura is elevated beyond technique, beyond expectation, into something almost ethereal.

With only nine seats at the counter, the experience is deeply personal. There are no reservations, no shortcuts—just the quiet anticipation of those willing to wait. And waiting is part of the ritual. From the moment you step inside, you become part of a performance where the chef, with unwavering precision, transforms the simplest ingredients into something extraordinary.

The tempura here is unlike any other. Wagyu and tuna, barely kissed by the fryer, retain an almost sashimi-like tenderness beneath their delicate, crisp shell. Seasonal vegetables—perhaps an eggplant, an asparagus—offer contrast, adding layers of texture and flavor. And just when you think the journey is over, the final act arrives: a bowl of bonito broth poured over the remaining rice, transforming it into a soul-warming ochazuke, the perfect closing note.

This is not a meal you stumble upon. It is an experience that demands to be sought out. A place where craftsmanship and devotion converge, where every bite reminds you why food is more than sustenance—it is memory, it is art, it is magic.

If you are in Tokyo, there is no question. Go. Wait. Savor. And if you...

Read this if tiktok or Instagram brought you to this restaurant -- No idea about their food, but their line management is appalling. We arrived 5 minutes after opening at 5:30pm, and were told to wait outside as they had reservations. The waitress said around 30-40 mins. The restaurant remained mostly empty for the next 45 mins, with us first in line. No reservations showed up until nearly an hour later at 6:30pm.

At no point did the staff start a waitlist, or even come outside to check on the line, which grew to be 15 people or so. When I went inside to follow up after 45 mins of waiting, they finally came out and told the entire waitlist to "wait a moment".

We ended up making conversation with other eager diners who also gave up on the wait, equally frustrated with the restaurant. Had they seated us right away, we would have been done eating by the time the reservations arrived. If they had told us immediately that they were full for the night, we would have gone elsewhere.

In case you're wondering now "how do I make a reservation?" -- I have no clue, they don't take online reservations through tablelog, nor have a website. Maybe call, or get your hotel to call them to try your luck 🤷‍♀️

Consider eating elsewhere to save your time and spare yourself from...