3298S
A Michelin two-star tempura specialty restaurant in Shirokanedai. While it has a mediocre rating of 3.38 on Tabelog (as of January 10, 2022), it is a restaurant with a good reputation. The owner, Mr. Gin'ya, is from Tenichi. The course menu is a 20,000 yen omakase course. It was not particularly difficult to make a reservation, even at the last minute. The omakase course starts with grated yam and lily root. The tempura includes ginkgo nuts, two prawns, Japanese flying squid, shiitake mushroom with prawn, scallop, lily root, lotus root, sea urchin, sea bream, oyster, shiitake mushroom, conger eel, and ends with a tempura rice bowl. In between, we were served tuna (from Oma) sashimi. The prawn heads had a subtle fragrance, possibly due to the use of white sesame oil. The prawn bodies were slightly undercooked in the center for both prawns. The squid, despite some intricate preparation, lacked a crispy texture. The lily root also seemed undercooked. The sea bream had crispy scales but the center was slightly rare. The flavor of the sea bream was a bit weak. On the other hand, the scallops were slightly overcooked. The oil was changed promptly after frying the oysters. The conger eel lacked a bit of crispiness according to my preference, but it showed the careful preparation. The tempura rice bowl was well done. Compared to other restaurants, it seemed to be fried at high temperature for a short time. The shop owner, who is very particular, showed meticulous preparation. Unfortunately, the inconsistency in cooking and the subtle aroma of the ingredients are a bit disappointing. Also, due to strict sourcing standards (or rather, unique standards), they may not always offer the standard tempura items. The taciturn shop owner, like a true tempura craftsman, will passionately talk about his dedication if you engage him when he's not busy. The service and atmosphere are good. It was mentioned in the restroom that they will be increasing prices from this year. The extent of the price increase is unclear, but if it means more stable sourcing, many regulars may be willing to accept it. Considering the location, the course menu prices may be slightly on the high side, but they had reasonably priced G Champagnes available for around 1,700 yen. I would like to try their signature tempura items, so I plan to visit again.