On a holiday in autumn with good weather, I decided to go sightseeing in Kyoto. For lunch, I wanted something Kyoto-like, so I visited a restaurant recommended by my colleague from the Kyoto branch. 1. Exterior, atmosphere, interior of the restaurant Located a short 10-minute walk from Gion Shijo Station, right near Hanamikoji. The front of the restaurant is adorned with a crisp white curtain, giving it a dignified appearance. Inside, there is only a counter seat facing the frying area. There also seems to be private rooms on the second floor, but I didn't confirm. You can also enjoy a beautiful courtyard view from your seat, which is lovely. The restaurant is clean and odor-free, making it a safe and comfortable place to dine with anyone. 2. About the food I ordered the lightest lunch course, which turned out to be sufficient in quality and quantity. First, I quenched my thirst with a draft Asahi beer. Soon after, freshly fried tempura was served: - Two prawns in a perfect size, with sweet and savory meat and a light crispy batter. - Eggplant with a thin coating, showcasing the deliciousness of the skin part. Juicy and tender texture. - Shiitake mushrooms from Tokushima, thick and packed with umami flavor, fragrant and satisfying. - Flounder with Tosa soy sauce and real wasabi, a unique combination. The flounder's tender meat gains richness from frying, complemented by the slightly sweet Tosa soy sauce and mild spiciness of the wasabi. - New onion salad with yuzu jelly for a refreshing palate cleanser. - Sesame tofu, a Kyoto-style tempura, where the nutty sesame flavor shines through the frying process. The crispy yet chewy texture of the tofu is delightful. - Fushimi red pepper, a Kyoto vegetable with a pleasant bitterness and spiciness. - Sando beans, known as "ingendou" in Kanto, have a distinctive green aroma. - Naruto sweet potatoes with surprisingly high sweetness, almost like a dessert. The fluffy and sticky texture is excellent. For the finale, you can choose from tempura tea, tempura rice bowl, or tempura musubi. The tempura musubi was a unique item I hadn't seen as a tempura restaurant's finale before. The lightly fried tempura with white shrimp and trefoil was surprisingly oil-free, light, and enjoyable. Both the refreshing tempura tea and the aromatic tempura musubi were delightful. (I even cheekily took a bite of my companion's tempura musubi!) The staff were polite, calm, and attentive. The head chef was in charge of frying, with two male apprentices assisting. They provided quick drink service, warm welcomes, and farewells. The cost-performance ratio is good, with a tempura course of 9 items, a meal, red miso soup, salad, and pickles for 4,200 yen. The location is convenient, the atmosphere is lovely, and the staff's service is excellent, making it worth the price. Other observations: The tempura is vegetable-centered, fried in a thin batter with cottonseed oil, leaving a refreshing feeling after the meal. No feeling of heaviness or indigestion at all.

Located in Gion, Hanamikoji, the Tempura Tensui is a restaurant known for its luxurious yet reasonably priced tempura courses. The atmosphere is calm and embodies the essence of Kyoto. Inside, there is a counter where you can watch the chefs at work. There are three course options available: - Shakyaku (Peony) Course: ¥12,100 - Botan (Peony) Course: ¥14,300 - Yuri (Lily) Course (requires reservation): ¥19,800 Each course includes a variety of dishes such as appetizers, sashimi, tempura, salad, rice, soup, pickles, and dessert. The dishes range from eel jelly to white asparagus wrapped in ham, showcasing the best of Kyoto vegetables. The restaurant also offers private rooms on the second floor for a more intimate dining experience. Overall, the ambiance is delightful and perfect for enjoying a taste of Kyoto.

Visited this tempura restaurant in Gion for lunch on my last day in Kyoto. I had the Suisen course for 3,500 yen, which included salad, tempura, and rice. The tempura had a light, crispy batter and the pieces were just the right size. The shiitake mushrooms were particularly delicious, with a meaty texture and amazing flavor. The meal ended with a tasty kakiage rice dish. Overall, the food was delicious and the price was reasonable. The service was also good, with just the right amount of attention. Definitely a great spot for lunch in Gion.

I wonder if this is the road one block west of Hanami Koji, where there are uniform-looking shops like newly built houses when you go up from Dankuri Street. I've been here a few times, and it seems like it's a condominium. The interior seems to be where they put their uniqueness. I had reserved a 3500 yen course, which included salt, lemon, grated daikon, and tempura dipping sauce. The meal was perfect. They have an open kitchen and a counter facing the street. There were two shrimp, followed by eggplant cut like a tea whisk. Then came thick shiitake mushrooms and small sweetfish. Finally, there was a salad with new onions and sudachi jelly. The meal continued with the items described in the photos. For the final course, you can choose from tempura, tempura with tea, or tempura with rice bowl. The tempura had a refined taste with the aroma of shrimp and a crispy texture. It was like a tempura dish. Overall, the portion size was a bit small. I wished there was more variety in the fish, like a firmer fish like sea bream. It was a weekday lunch, and I was the only customer.

We visited a tempura restaurant for lunch on the first day in Kyoto with my husband. Located near the Gion district, just off Hanamikoji Street, close to the Kaburenjo theater. We reserved the 3500 yen (excluding tax) lunch course with water lily. The staff asked about our preferences, so I mentioned my husband's dislikes (such as onions, shishito peppers, and sansho pepper). The entrance to the restaurant is small, but the first floor has a long and spacious counter seating area. The tempura chef and two staff members, one male and one female, were all very friendly. We started with a toast of draft beer and ginger ale, where they asked our preferences for sweetness or spiciness in the ginger ale. The tempura was served in the following order: shrimp (2 pieces each), fresh lotus root, lightly fried shiitake mushrooms, young sweetfish (which I love), and a refreshing salad as a palate cleanser. The tempura was light and crispy, and the oil was well-drained, so it didn't feel heavy. The main course was a choice of tempura bowl, tempura tea, or tempura rice ball, which was served with red miso soup and pickles. The tempura was delicious, and the price of 3500 yen was very reasonable. My husband enjoyed three glasses of draft beer and a sake. We had a wonderful experience at this lovely restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Today, Hanami Koji Street is filled with foreign tourists once again. It's great to see visitors coming to Japan, but I hope they will follow proper etiquette. Particularly, the lack of manners from Chinese tourists is quite noticeable. As you enter the restaurant, the hustle and bustle of Hanami Koji Street fades away, replaced by a quiet and calming atmosphere with a beautiful red-painted counter. We start with a toast with "draft beer" and then enjoy a glass of "Champagne Pertois - Moriset PM A Le Mesnil Sur Oger Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru." The appetizer is "Conger eel and grilled shimeji mushroom in broth," a dish that is typical of Kyoto. Now, it's time for tempura: "Giant shrimp ①," "Giant shrimp ②"... The tempura is piping hot, as the owner recommends enjoying it right away. "Eggplant" is next, also piping hot (laughs). "Shiitake mushroom," "Awaji conger eel with soy-marinated salmon roe"... These are Kyoto-style tempura dishes that are a must-try when in Kyoto. "Fresh wheat gluten" is another Kyoto specialty. "Apple salad with vinegar citrus jelly," "Fushimi red pepper," "Sailfin sandfish"... The sailfin sandfish tempura is made by frying the fish with its bones, resulting in a crispy bone and tender flesh, a unique texture combination that was delicious. "Naruto sweet potato" is next, a sweet and creamy delight. "Gold rush (corn)," "Muscat cream cheese topping"... The idea of adding cream cheese is brilliant. "Tempura tea" is for my wife, while I have the "tempura rice bowl." The meal ends with "pickles and dried baby sardines with sansho pepper" and "red miso soup." The tempura, both traditional and creatively unique, was enjoyable. Made with cottonseed oil, it was light and delicious, never leaving a heavy feeling.

When I visited Kyoto before, I was attracted by the nice exterior and the sign saying "full house today", so I made a reservation one month in advance and went there. It was still full on the day of my visit. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was also great. Overall, the vegetable dishes were delicious. However, it seemed like they were short-staffed in terms of service.

The portions are so generous that you can't finish them all and feel full. Each dish is really wonderful. You can choose your last dish, and for those who can't finish it, they will wrap it up as a souvenir in the form of tempura.

I visited Tenso in the vicinity of Hanamikoji Street. I made a reservation for the 3,500 yen lunch course. The restaurant had a luxurious atmosphere typical of Gion, with a counter seat where you can watch the tempura being fried right in front of you. You can enjoy seasonal tempura dishes served hot. For the finishing touch, you can choose from tempura rice bowl, tempura tea, or tempura rice ball. The calm atmosphere and delicious food were satisfying, and the fact that there is no service charge is also a plus. I have been to Ento in the same area before and was very satisfied, but Tenso offers great value for money!

I had the course meal. There were many types of dishes, and I was full and satisfied with the taste.

Strawberry tempura is interesting. The potato butter tempura is exquisite.

The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Heading down the third street of Hanami Koji. There are various shops around here, making it difficult to decide where to go. Hanami Koji has a mix of new and old shops, with a slightly different vibe. There are many foreigners around. After my friend visited an exhibition, we left the venue to have lunch together. That's when we found Tempura Tenzan. We chose the Suiren course for 3240 yen. The stylish interior and attentive service were impressive. You can enjoy freshly fried tempura right in front of the kitchen. The tempura was meticulously prepared, including a cute swimming ayu fish. The tender bitterness of the small sweetfish was delightful. The tempura with raw wheat gluten is something we also make at home, and it's delicious. I forgot to take a picture of the Halloween sweet, a sweet potato tempura, which was also very tasty. The tempura dipping sauce was gentle in flavor. The salad included peeled fruit tomatoes, which were sweet, and a citrus jelly for a refreshing taste. Combining this light salad with the tempura was a lovely touch. You can choose between kakiage tempura or tempura rice bowl. It seems like many people prefer the kakiage tempura. On this day, my friend chose the tempura rice bowl, so I just took a photo. Although there was a 5000 yen course, the Suiren course was sufficient in terms of portion size. The quality for the price in Kyoto is quite reasonable. Being able to try various types of tempura little by little was great. The meticulous cooking was a service that is rare in recent shops. The refreshing customer service from the staff was also lovely. If I go to Kyoto again, I would like to visit this place at night.

I finally managed to make a reservation at Tenso, and I visited for the first time. It's located just a little down Hanami Koji, then turn right to find a Kyoto townhouse-style entrance. Inside, there's a modern counter and a bamboo forest. It's stylish and I felt a bit nervous. The vegetables were so delicious that I definitely want to bring my wife here. There's a private room on the second floor where they fry food right in front of you. It's a place where three generations, including grandchildren, can go together. Highly recommended. However, as a meat lover, I might end up wanting to go for yakiniku afterwards. Tenmusu is the best. I resisted the urge for yakiniku.

I finally got to visit Tenso on Hanami Koji Stone Paved Street that I've always wanted to go to. The atmosphere was great and the tempura I was looking forward to was delicious. As someone who enjoys drinking, the portion size was quite generous! I couldn't eat carrots, so they kindly replaced them with white asparagus, which made me very happy. I heard they have private rooms, but I personally recommend sitting at the counter. I will definitely go back!