The 10 Best Tempura Restaurants You Must Eat in Kyoto, Japan

Fresh fried tempura is delicious with salt, sauce, a bed of rice or anything else. To get the perfect flavor and texture takes skill and it may be a daunting task to prepare it a home. However, the restaurants following all offer the best tempura in Kyoto. Which style of tempura suites you?

1. Tenyu

This is a representative of the tempura shops in Kyoto and is known for welcoming world-class VIPs. Recently the shop has moved locations and offers a wider variety of dishes including traditional dishes in earthen-ware pots and course cuisine.

Each of the dishes uses the best of the seafood and vegetables of the Kansai area. The oil used in made of cottonseed and offers a uniquely delicious aroma and taste that is of a very refined quality.

The dinner course will cost more than 10,000 yen. However, you can enjoy the Tendon (tempura on bowl of rice) at lunch for only 3800 yen. Here you can enjoy tempura served with the best of Kyoto omotenashi (service)!

2. Tempura no Tenki

Tenki is a shop located in the textiles area of town. It was opened in 1933 when the textiles where still very big business.

There may not be as much textile industry in the area now but the delicious tempura found here has not changed. The shop takes on the appearance of a traditional house and inside you can enjoy tempura at the counter seats or in private dining areas.

The oil used is of white sesame and has a high-quality aroma. The seafood and vegetables used are the best of Kyoto and the nearest oceans that can be enjoyed in the Kaiseki style of Kyoto. A course meal is 1800 yen. However, the experience provided by it is a pleasure that can truly only be found and enjoyed here!

3. Tempura Matsu

This is a shop near Matsuo-taisha and Katsura River. Many famous chefs visit here from all over Japan.

This is a shop that made a name for itself with tempura. However, it creates some wonderful course menus as well. The food and the plates it is served on are prepared with absolute perfection.

The ingredients used are of the high-quality of the season. Of course the tempura here is amazing as well. Enjoy a view of Katsura River while you enjoy the delicious cuisine served. This is a great place to celebrate special days!

4. Kyo no Kushiten Gochisoya Kin no Hashi

Here tempura can be enjoyed in a kushikatsu fashion. What this means is that you tempura is fried on a stick making it a bit more casual yet very easy to eat. This shop is found along a brick road.

There are approximately 36 types of tempura to be enjoyed here. Some are made with the specialty vegetables of Kyoto while others served are made with “Fu”, a type of wheat gluten for which Kyoto is well known. There are also other sides that are particular to Kyoto cuisine. The drinks here are all 500 yen to make bill calculation simple.

This is a great shop to come enjoy with friends. Come enjoy tempura on kushi!

5. Tempura Kaisen Komefuku

Here you can enjoy delicious tempura with delicious sake. The oil used for frying is 100% made of rice and it not extremely heavy.

You can enjoy any of the over 40 tempura items for as low as 90 yen each. You will enjoy these items with the light sauce offered and shredded white radish. Tempura is not the only menu item available. You can also enjoy different types of sashimi and other types of seafood.

This is a great place to eat and drink and enjoy the culture of Kyoto!

 
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6. Genki

There are many students in Kyoto, which means many young and hungry people. “Genki” is where youth gather to enjoy their fill.

The oil and light sauce used in this Kanto-style tempura is the secret to the great flavor. The oil mixture including sesame oil and the light sauce is a bit thicker than the regular sauce used for tempura.

The most popular items on the menu is the Tendon (tempura on a bed of rice) with different toppings including garden eel, shrimp, chicken tender, pumpkin, eggplant, onion, and green bean.

It is a reasonable 980 yen. There are many variations of tendon available here for between 650 and 1200 yen. The sizes here are quite large to come prepared to enjoy!

7. Tempura Suzu

This shop is located near the subway station of Kuramaguchi. It is a recently open yet already popular shop. The owner has previous experience at a famous tempura shop. Here he provides a great taste for a reasonable price.

The most popular item on the lunch menu is the Suzu set lunch. It contains 2 shrimp, 1 fish and 3 vegetable tempura. The set also comes with rice and soup for 970 yen. Each item is individually fried at the counter so you can be sure to enjoy a fresh flavor and texture.

Though this shop is slightly removed from the most populated area of Kyoto City, it is a very reasonable subway ride. Come enjoy the delicious food offered here!

8. Gion Tempura Tensyu

If you are looking to enjoy Tendon (tempura on bed of rice) in Gion, this is the shop that anyone will recommend to you. It is a very famous shop and people line up for the tendon lunch daily.

The size of the tempura is what so appeals to people. The mixed tendon is 1600 yen and the tendon with 3 garden eel on it is 1100 yen. The food is so voluminous that you will think you mistook the price.

The course menu here is 5000 yen which is quite reasonable for the Gion district. Please come and enjoy the quality and culture of Gion for a reasonable price!

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9. Tendon Makino

This is a shop owned by the popular Marugame Noodle Company. It is located in the center of Kyoto and is very accessible.

At the counter on the 1st floor, you can watch your tempera being fried. The main menu is shrimp tendon and 3 other types on tendon. The least expensive of the 3 types is 990 yen but includes shrimp, squid, egg, green pepper and fish.

The famous menu item here is the egg tempura. The inside of the egg is still runny and the spicy flavor it is matched with is wonderful. Please do try what is offered here!

10. Tempura Nomiya

This tempura shop is found in a renovated Meiji-era building. Here they will serve the produce of the season as tempura. This is a perfect shop to enjoy tempera and your favorite beverage.

The tempura is friend in the large pot at the counter. Here the eggplant tempura is only 30 yen! There are also 40 different types of vegetables and fish to enjoy. Please also enjoy the salt and the herbs that go with the tempera as well.

The inside of the shop has a retro atmosphere and it a great place to bring a date!

Enjoy the Best Tempura in the Traditional Capital of Kyoto!

What do you think of the variety of choices when it comes to enjoying tempura in Kyoto? Tempura is something that can be enjoyed here. With so many choices, do you find it difficult to decide on one shop? Whichever shop you decide on, tempura is a great treat to enjoy while visiting the sights of Kyoto!