Local tells Top 5 best Tempura restaurants in Kyoto!Enjoy Kyoto style Tempura

Hi, I’m Keiko from Osaka!

Tempura is a typical Japanese dish and now it is well known around the world.

The high-end tempura restaurants cook the ingredients individually and serve them one by one while it’s still hot.

It would be a great experience for you to have delicious tempura course in a traditional kyoto atmosphere.

I woud like to introduce Top 5 best Tempura restaurants in Kyoto!

Local tells Top 5 best Tempura restaurants in Kyoto!Enjoy Kyoto style Tempura!

1.Kyoboshi Tempura/天ぷら　京星

Kyoboshi is located on the small alley called Hanamikoji-dori Street in Gion area.

Kyoboshi was the only tempura restaurant which was awarded three Michelin stars in Kyoto.

They serve only one course menu consisting of 17-18 tempura dishes at 12,000 yen.

The ingredients of tempura are carefully selected by the chef which are very fresh and seasonal.

They use traditional techniques to fry tempura using thin batter without egg which make the tempura delicate and light.

They are particular about the original taste and flavor of the ingredient,so it is served with just lemon juice,salt and grated radish without dipping sauce.

The tempura dishes are all like pieces of art, the smelt fish is recognizable as the layer of tempura gives it a fossilized appearance.

Each item is cooked individually,and every dish is beautifully presented by the chef.

You will be amazed by light tempura with rich flavor.

If you want to have a great tempura dining experience,you should visit Kyoboshi!

Address: 1F Futaba Building, Hanamikoji Sueyoshi-cho Higashiiru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location: 5 minutes walk from Keihan-line Gionshijo station
Phone: 075-551-2303
Open: 18:00~22:00
Closed: Sunday
Price:12,000yen
Others:Reservation is required
Map

2. Tempura Kappo Nakajin/天ぷら割烹なかじん

Tempura Nakajin is one of the most famous tempura restaurants among locals in Kyoto.

The chef,Mr.Nakamura use to be highly regarded as master of soba in Kyoto, but he had to stop making soba due to a soba allergy.

Instead,he started tempura kappo style restaurant which serves not only tempura, but other authentic seasonable Japanese dishes.

Every dish is very special,creative and amazing especially tofu with olive oil,chicken tempura and monaka(a wafer cake filled with red bean jam and ice cream)

He even serve soba noodles without using buckwheat.

Each items are cooked individually,you can enjoy crispy and delicious tempura at your own pace.

The salt is chef’s homemade with uni flavoring. It perfectly goes with tempura.

They also have a variety of alcohol drinks including Japanese sake which goes well with every dish.

You can enjoy high quality tempura dishes at reasonable price between 3,000 and 5,000 yen during the lunch time.

I highly recommend this restaurant for those who want to enjoy original, creative dishes in Kyoto.

Address: 175 Takakuradori Rokkaku Agaru Chigiriyacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Location: 7 minutes walk from Kyoto city subway Karasuma-oike station
Phone: 075-257-2288
Open: Lunch 12:00~14:30 Dinner 18:00~21:30
Closed: Wednesday
Price: Lunch :4,000〜5,000yen Dinner:10,000〜15,000yen
Others:Reservation is required
Map

3. Tempura Endo Yasaka/天ぷら八坂圓堂

Tempura Endo Yasaka is located near Kenninji Temple in Gion area.

The building of Yasaka Endo is a renovated old Ochaya,where maiko(the apprentice of a geisha)used to entertain customers.

This is the only restaurant where you can enjoy tempura in a traditional Kyoto atmosphere.

Their tempura is made from seasonal ingredients using Kyoto vegetables.

There are several tempura courses, and they prepare each Tempura item individually with care starting from vegetable to shrimp tempura.

Each item is lightly battered, very crispy and tasty.

The chef will explain what each item is, what sauces(salt or tempura sauce) you should use to eat tempura.

The price of the dinner courses changes depending on the number of dishes from 10,000 yen to 15,000 yen(tax excluded).

It’s a bit expensive,but it worth the experience.

Address:566 Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location: 8 minutes walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi station,10 minutes walk from Keihan-line Gionshijo station
Phone: 075-551-1488
Open: Lunch 11:30～14:45 Dinner 17:00～21:15
Closed: –
Price: Lunch 5000〜6,000 yen Dinner 10,000~15,000yen
Map

4.Tensou/天宗

Tensou is located on Hanamikoji Street in Gion area.

This place is known to those in the know.You can enjoy very tasty tempura in a chic, Japanese-modern atmosphere.

The recommended dinner course is “Yuri” which consists of 9 dishes (including 12 kinds of tempura dishes)using fresh kyoto vegetables.(16,200 yen). You need to reserve this course in advance.

The ingredients are carefully selected by the chef,and he brings out the real flavor of the seasonable ingredients.

The tempura is crispy, light and delicate.You will be impressed by the chef’s technique of frying the ingredients when they are the best.

Each tempura is served one by one. You can enjoy fresh hot tempura at your own pace.

They also have various Japanese sake and alcohol drinks which goes well with the dishes.

The chef is very friendly,and do his best to improve his service.

Thensou is the perfect place for those who want to have a delightful time with your family friends and friendly staff in a relaxed atmosphere.

Address: 570-119, Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location: 7 minutes walk from Keihan line Gionshijo station, 8 minutes walk from Hankyu line Kawaramachi station
Phone:075-561-0555
Open: Lunch 11:30~14:00 Dinner 17:30~20:30
Closed: Sunday
Price: Lunch 3000yen~ Dinner 10000~
Map

5.Gion Tenshu/祇園　天周

Gion Tenshu is located on the main street of Gion area in Kyoto.

It is famous for good and reasonable tendon(a bowl of rice topped with deep‐fried fish or vegetables) during lunch time.

Their tendon was introduced on TV many times.

There are two most popular items here: Big prawn tendon(1,900yen) and sea eel tendon(1,100 yen).

Big prawn tendon has two big tempura prawns on the top of rice,and sea eel tendon has three big tempura eel on the top of rice.

The portion of the tendon is quite big.I wonder if I can finish this big meal by myself:)

The chef cook tempura right in front of your eyes, so you can enjoy how they cook your meal.

This restaurant only prepares one course dinner at a reasonable price.(5,000yen per person)

It consists of appetizer,sushi, seasonable tempura etc.

There is always a long line during the lunch time, so it’s better go 10 minutes before the opening time to avoid queuing.

Address: 244 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location: 2 minutes walk from Keihan line Gion-shijo station
Phone: 075-541-5277
Open: Lunch 11:00~14:00 Dinner 17:30~21:00
Closed: Wednesday
Price:　Lunch 1,000~2,000 yen Dinner 5,000〜6,000yen
Map

I hope you’ll enjoy the best tempura in Kyoto!

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