Selected as one of the top 100 tempura restaurants in 2022, this famous restaurant is known for its Kuro Tendon (black tempura rice bowl). It has even been featured in the TV show "The Lonely Gourmet" (I was told by my family later). I visited on a Monday around 18:40. Last time I came at the same time on a Monday, there was a sign on the door saying "Tendon sold out." I remember feeling disappointed that I couldn't have tendon at night. I checked the reviews on Tabelog again and confirmed that someone had eaten tendon at night before. I finished work early and hurried over. There were menus for tempura set meals and tempura rice bowls in front of the store this time! This is promising! I entered the store immediately. There were only two other people inside. They kindly showed me to an available seat. I struggled to choose which tendon to order, but I decided to go with the classic tendon. First, I was served pickles and tea. Then, miso soup arrived, followed quickly by the tendon. - Tendon: 1,350 yen (including tax 1,485 yen) (2 prawns, 2 types of white fish, 2 types of vegetables) The tendon was a beautiful black color. The batter was fluffy and paired well with the sweet sauce. The prawns were plump. The white fish was smelt and conger eel. The conger eel was particularly fluffy and delicious with its fatty texture. The vegetables were carrot tempura and shishito pepper. They were also delicious with the sweet sauce-coated batter. The bill was supposed to be 1,485 yen, but with a 5 yen discount, it was 1,480 yen. This quality at this price is a steal! The atmosphere of the restaurant was calm and reminiscent of Showa era. I enjoyed listening to the sound of tempura being fried while waiting. I left the restaurant completely satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

I was invited to dinner here. The exterior and interior have a nostalgic and down-to-earth atmosphere. We started with beer and some sashimi. The ingredients weren't particularly high-end, but the octopus and others had a strong flavor and were delicious. Next, we had several types of tempura. Vegetables were fried right in front of us, so we got to enjoy them freshly fried, and the prices were very reasonable. After trying a bit of everything, we finished with a large serving of tempura rice bowl. It had a traditional black tempura look, typical of the old town atmosphere around Asakusa. The flavors were relatively light. Considering that tempura used to be fast food for commoners in Edo period, I think this kind of food is the main focus here. (Personal opinion)

Due to the typhoon, my colleague and I thought there wouldn't be a line, so we finally made it to Nakayama around 11:30. There were a few people waiting outside, but we were lucky to get in quickly. We ordered the Tendon (tempura rice bowl) in large size for 1480 yen, with an extra serving for 110 yen, totaling 1590 yen (cash only). The sauce was sweet and savory, and the tempura was not crispy but rather fluffy. It included 2 shrimps, 2 types of fish (one was kiss fish), green peppers, and vegetable tempura. It was my first time experiencing this type of sauce, and I was very satisfied (although I wished there was more sauce). You can also add extra toppings, so I look forward to customizing my order next time.

The tempura restaurant is open until late at night. They are closed on weekends, so you need to go on weekdays. I was torn between the tempura bowl and the shrimp tempura bowl, but I kept it simple. There are many types of tempura set meals, so you can enjoy a variety of options. The staff are kind and attentive, making it a place I would like to visit again in the future.

◼️Visit date and time: 23/9/4 (Saturday/Sunday/Holiday) 11:36 ◼️Number of people waiting: None ◼️Wait time: None ◼️Time of entry: 11:36 ◼️Number of seats: Two 4-person tatami mat seats, 6 counter seats ◼️Crowdedness: Almost full ◼️Time of seating: 11:36 ◼️Time of ordering: 11:36 ◼️Ordering method: Verbal order at the table ◼️Ordered dish: Tempura bowl ¥1480 ◼️Number of staff: 3 in the kitchen ◼️Atmosphere of the restaurant: Calm atmosphere ◼️Time dish arrived: 11:40 ◼️Time from ordering to dish arrival: 4 minutes ◼️Contents of ordered dish: Tempura bowl, pickles, miso soup, (hot tea, wet towel) ◼️Taste of the dish: Surprised by the color of the tempura bowl. The difference in appearance compared to the menu photo was noticeable. The sauce on the tempura over the rice was the same, though. Disappointing ⤵ ◼️Service: Average ◼️Payment method: Cash only ◼️Time of departure: 11:50 ◼️Duration of stay: 14 minutes ◼️Overall impressions (feedback: good points, bad points, topics, etc.): ①Previously saw a long line outside the restaurant around noon, but there was no wait this time. ②The restaurant was almost full, with only one empty seat at the counter when we entered, so we were lucky. ③After finishing our meal, there were 13 people waiting in line outside. ④The time from ordering to receiving the dish was the shortest I've experienced at a tempura restaurant, but the color of the dish didn't stimulate my appetite. ⑤I'm puzzled by why there was such a long line for this taste. (There were quite a few regular customers from the nearby area, but still?)

A popular restaurant always with long lines. Today, I had some extra time during the day, so I decided to visit without worrying about the line, and to my surprise, there was no wait at all. I chose the most popular dish, the tempura bowl. Since the portion looked quite large in the photos, I ordered a smaller portion of rice. The tempura bowl arrived in about 5 minutes, and it was even more shiny than I had expected. The sauce was sweeter than spicy, making it very easy to eat with the rice. I regretted ordering less rice as I finished every last bite. When I asked for the bill, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I received a discount of ¥55, making the total ¥1,430! Not only was the food delicious, but I was also impressed to find such a fair and honest restaurant in Tokyo. I left the restaurant feeling very satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

I think it was probably just a coincidence. I was planning to eat at a different restaurant since there was a line, but when I passed by, there was unexpectedly no line and only three people inside! I changed my plans and had a tempura bowl. It included green peppers, carrots, two shrimp, conger eel, and sillago fish. For first-timers, the tempura may look very dark, but it's the default flavor of the downtown area, a taste of the common people. The miso soup with clams is also consistently delicious. I was able to get in quickly this time, but be aware that there is usually a line, so please keep that in mind.

Tempura Set Meal for 1,590 yen. It was served in just 4 minutes. The seafood included shrimp, whiting, and conger eel, which are classic Edo-style tempura choices. There were also vegetable tempura. The oil was light, but the tempura was not crispy, so it felt heavy as I ate more. Thank you for the meal!

First, I had shrimp tempura, eggplant tempura, and sweet potato tempura, along with a small bottle of beer. Later, I had a black tempura rice bowl. The tempura pieces were juicy on the inside but had a crispy, crunchy coating similar to potato chips. I prefer tempura that is more crispy, so this wasn't exactly to my liking. The tempura rice bowl was delicious with its slightly sweet and savory sauce that softened the tempura slightly. If I were to recommend something, it would definitely be the tempura rice bowl.

I visited a restaurant that Goro-san from "The Solitary Gourmet" also visited. I arrived 20 minutes before opening time, but there was already a line. I ordered the tempura bowl and when I opened the lid, I saw a completely black tempura bowl! It had 2 shrimp tempura, 2 smelt fish, 1 carrot, and 1 green pepper. The rice was well soaked in sauce and tasted delicious. I regret not ordering a smaller portion of rice. The miso soup with clams and pickles were also delicious.

The appearance of the black tempura bowl made an impact, so I decided to visit the restaurant featured in "The Lonely Gourmet". The restaurant seemed smaller in person than on TV, but the friendly service was just as good as in the drama. Although the eel tempura and tempura rice bowl also caught my eye, I ordered the tempura bowl. It came with pickles and miso soup, making it a reasonable price. As for the taste of the black tempura bowl, I expected a burnt or bitter flavor, but it was actually delicious with a normal tasting sauce. I could see the kitchen staff frying the tempura right in front of me, and the interactions between the staff were natural and pleasant.

I visited this restaurant during lunchtime, attracted by its calm atmosphere typical of Ningyocho. The tempura looked dark with the sauce soaked in, giving the impression of being salty, but when I tasted it, the soy sauce flavor was elegant and just right. The oil was not heavy either. Recently, there has been an increase in the trend of lightly fried tempura with a gentle sauce drizzled over it, but the traditional moist tempura bowl has a deep flavor and is very delicious. The staff at the restaurant were also polite, making the dining experience pleasant. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at 11:00 am on a regular day, but there was already a line of people waiting for the restaurant to open. I was the 10th in line. The restaurant opened after about 10 minutes. I just made it in on the first round of seating. I ordered a tempura bowl with 2 shrimp, 2 white fish, 1 carrot, and 1 shishito pepper. The turnover seemed good, but by around 12:00 pm, there were about 5 groups waiting outside.

Due to various circumstances, it seems that there has been a long absence since February '21. First of all, the father is not there. The last time I visited, it was for takeout, and I distinctly remember the father doing the frying. Looking through the window of the shop, I saw the mother who used to serve rice now standing in front of the stove, and honestly, I was puzzled by what was happening. I felt hesitant to ask about it, as my respect for this shop is immense, but it has been about 2 years and 4 months since my last visit. In short, I am not a regular customer, and this bustling shop with a long line might not appreciate my belated concern. Reading reviews from other customers, I learned that the mother was frying in the summer of '21, so I pray for the father's well-being. Today, I couldn't confirm it clearly, but the usual older brother was still not the one taking orders, playing the role of the commander. There was also a young man inside the counter, which was new to me. The communication in the kitchen seemed quite casual, not like a relationship formed overnight. Of course, I have not been a regular customer for a long time. When the older brother came to take our order while we were waiting, it didn't take long from seating to serving the food, maybe less than 10 minutes. First, we were served hot tea, pickles, and a warm towel by the older brother. I was quite surprised to see on the menu that they also sell shrimp-less tempura donburi! I read an article online once that not eating shrimp in a tempura shop is like not eating tuna in a sushi shop, but isn't tempura donburi supposed to have shrimp in it? Because when you order tempura donburi at a soba shop, it's just shrimp tempura, right? Now it seems that's not the case. It was quite a cultural shock for me. But of course, they offer such items because there is a demand for them, and well, it's surprising that people who don't like shrimp still want to eat tempura donburi. There may be allergy issues involved. It felt like a different world in a strange way. Furthermore, I discovered that the shrimp tempura here is priced at 440 yen per piece. The tempura donburi I usually have comes with two shrimp tempura and costs 1400 yen, so if you remove two shrimp from this tempura donburi, the price won't match. Well, it's just a trivial matter, so please don't mind it. The main tempura donburi was brought by the young man I mentioned earlier. The mother was in charge of frying, and just like 2 years and some months ago, the tempura donburi here is delicious. When you lift the lid, a strong aroma fills the air, making it even more appetizing. Tempura and tempura donburi are different foods in my opinion, even though I eat them at the same shop and judge them by the same standard. Tempura donburi has a lid, so it's natural for the tempura to become soft, and I'm sorry, but I'm not a big fan of tempura. I like tempura donburi, and the tempura donburi at this shop, with its traditional sauce and sesame oil-scented tempura, is not crispy, as some people might expect. Some people complain about the slightly soft, dark tempura donburi, but for those customers, there is also a "tempura set" available, so don't worry. Tempura and tempura donburi are different foods. I'm sorry, I said too much. (Sweating) In the end, only those who can enjoy this shop should visit. Nowadays, the term "Solitary Gourmet" has become synonymous with enjoying meals alone, but even before that, the bustling ==========

Located at Ningyocho Station (Suitengu-mae Station), this tempura specialty shop is famous for serving delicious and affordable tempura. It was even featured in "The Lonely Gourmet," attracting a diverse clientele from solo diners to local residents, travelers, and drinkers. Tempura Set Meal: 1,450 yen Includes 2 shrimp, 2 types of fish, and 3 types of vegetables. The price is surprisingly cheap! They serve freshly fried tempura right in front of you at the counter. The seafood is sourced fresh from Tsukiji Market. They use two types of oil, one for seafood and one for vegetables, adjusting the temperature accordingly. The dipping sauce is made from kombu and bonito dashi, with a strong flavor enhanced by ginger. They are also famous for their Kuroten-don, a tempura rice bowl with black sauce. The tempura batter is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the white fish having a fluffy texture. The shrimp has a delightful crispy exterior and a flavorful shrimp taste. With the dipping sauce, the rice becomes even more delicious! The vegetable tempura, made with onions and carrots, highlights their natural sweetness, making it a top-notch side dish. The rice is tasty, and the miso soup with clams complements the set meal perfectly. It was a truly delicious tempura meal. Thank you for the feast!

After finishing work at Suitengu Shrine, I went for a walk and was recommended to try the tempura at Nakanishi. It's a lovely restaurant that exudes the atmosphere of the downtown area. I was looking for a place in Tokyo where I could easily enjoy tempura, and this is it! The vegetable tempura, shrimp tempura, and simmered kinki fish were all delicious dishes. The drinks also went well with the meal, and I left feeling very satisfied. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I visited the tempura restaurant Nakayama in Ningyocho, which I wanted to go to after watching "The Lonely Gourmet." When I arrived around 11:00, there were already about 6 people waiting. Around 11:10, the restaurant opened and we were seated inside. I ordered the tempura bowl for 1480 yen. About 10 minutes later, the tempura bowl was served. Oh, it's black just like the rumors say. I started eating right away. The sauce is not too strong as it looks, which is good, but the tempura batter lacked its crispy texture, perhaps because it had been left in the sauce for a while. As someone who loves the crispy texture of tempura, I was very disappointed with this dish. I wonder if the tempura set meal is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I went to "Tempura Nakayama," located about a 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ningyocho Station and Suitengu-mae Station, alone around 11:00 on a weekday. The restaurant was featured on the TV show "The Lonely Gourmet," and a friend living in Ningyocho recommended their Kuroten-don, so I decided to give it a try. The lunch hours are from 11:15 to 13:00, but there were already two male office workers and another customer waiting in line when I arrived, so I joined the queue. The shop offers takeout with a limit of 10 orders. The curtain was put up around 11:10, and I was guided inside. I sat in the middle of the 6-seat counter, with two Asian foreigners on the right side who were ordering in English. There were also table seats at the back. The walls were decorated with various magazines and articles, including ones from "The Lonely Gourmet." In front of me, there was a glass case with fresh conger eel and shrimp. The staff consisted of the likely third-generation male owner, his mother, and a young male part-timer. I ordered the Tendon, which includes shrimp, fish, and vegetables, for 1,485 yen tax included. The dish includes two shrimp, two types of fish, and two types of vegetables in a black sauce. Other menu items included Ebi Tendon (1,595 yen), Anago Tendon (1,760 yen), Tempura Teishoku (1,595 yen), Shojin Teishoku (1,265 yen), Kosho Teishoku (1,265 yen), Ebi-nuki Tendon (1,375 yen), Ebi-nuki Teishoku (1,540 yen), with additional vegetables for 150 yen each, and additional seafood for 300-400 yen each. I was served with chopsticks, a hot towel, hot green tea, and pickled radish and cabbage. The hot miso soup with clams was also brought to me. The Tendon was served with a generous amount of black sauce, containing shrimp, kiss fish, conger eel, shredded carrots, and shishito peppers. The shrimp was tender and delicious, and the fish and conger eel were of high quality. The shredded carrots paired well with the sauce. The rice soaked in the sauce was also delicious. I paid 1,500 yen in cash, and received 20 yen in change. Children under elementary school age are not allowed. "Tempura Nakayama" offers a delicious Tendon with high-quality fish and a sweet and savory black sauce, making it highly recommended! For more details, please check out the blog post.

Yesterday, I arrived around 11:45 and it was a swing and a miss, so today I left home early. I arrived around 10:25 and got my order confirmed at 11:00. By then, the line had extended to about 20 people. The limited 10 servings of tempura bowl bento were not available that day. The store opened around 11:15, which was great. I ordered the tempura bowl and waited while sipping on hot green tea. The restaurant had 6 counter seats and 2 tables for 4 people each, totaling a maximum capacity of 14 people. Sometimes you may have to share a table with others. First, a radish and cabbage side dish arrived, followed by miso soup with clams, and soon after, the tempura bowl was served. I dug in! It had 2 shrimp and 2 pieces of eel. The vegetables included carrot sticks and shishito peppers. The shrimp was average, but the eel was fluffy and delicious. The sauce started off sweet but balanced out nicely. The tempura was quite oily and had a punch to it. The miso soup was light in flavor but had a nice clam taste. I enjoyed some pickles in between bites to refresh my palate. It was tasty overall, but I'm not sure if it's worth waiting in such a long line. If there was no line, I might consider going back. Bon appétit! P.S. The owner apologized profusely for making us wait so long at the checkout, but we were aware of the wait and it was fine. ===========

Tempura Nakayama @ Ningyocho Tempura Nakayama is a popular tempura restaurant located in Ningyocho, open only on weekdays. A line starts forming 30 minutes before opening, and if you miss the timing, you might end up waiting with around 40 people, so it's recommended to line up early. It has been selected as one of the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog (Japanese restaurant review site). Ebi-nuki tempura set meal for 1,540 yen includes tempura items such as carrots, green peppers, spring onions, squid, and two types of fish, possibly kisu and anago, although it wasn't clearly explained. Eating freshly fried tempura dipped in tempura sauce is a must and delicious. The miso soup and pickles are also well-prepared, and being able to enjoy such high-quality tempura lunch for around 1,000 yen is quite rare. It's a comforting and delicious meal that fits into your daily life. Thank you for the meal! #TempuraNakayama #Ningyocho #Lunch #TabelogTop100 #Tempura

In the town of Ningyocho, there is a tempura restaurant called "Tempura Nakayama." When I arrived 10 minutes before opening on a weekday, there were already 9 people in line. The seating capacity is 16, so I decided to wait in line. Shortly before opening, the curtain was raised, and the restaurant started serving customers. The counter was filled up, so I was seated in a tatami room. I ordered the tempura bowl for 1485 yen, which included two shrimp, two types of fish, and two types of vegetables. It was a well-balanced tempura bowl that was easy to understand. First, I was served pickled Chinese cabbage and radish, followed by miso soup with clams. I enjoyed these while waiting for my tempura bowl. When the first customer left, my tempura bowl arrived. The rich and flavorful sauce seemed like it had been aged for years, yet it was light and easy to eat. Just like wine or whiskey that needs to be aged for over 10 years to develop a deep flavor, the sauce seemed to have a similar complexity. It was a dish that made me think that even with skill, it would be difficult to make it quickly. I believe the tempura was carefully prepared and fried.