10 Superb Tempura Selections You Must Visit in Kyoto

1. Kyouboshi

A shop specializing in tempura in Gion, Kyoto, it has one star on the Michelin Guide. From simple tempura made from scratch to artistic creations, chef-selected courses are served one by one. They serve a highly recommended item called "minced prawn bread". Sweet-smelling and fried to a golden color, it's a unique, crispy bread that you will definitely want to try. By reservation only.

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26006057/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26006057/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 1F Futaba Building, Hanamikoji-dori Higashi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

2. Kyoto Gion Tempura Yasakaendou

Speaking of tempura in the Gion neighborhood, at this shop you can eat tea-ceremony tempura dishes at a masonry counter in a calm atmosphere. There is also staff that can interact in English and a lot of sightseers visit from overseas. The three lunch courses are 4000 yen, 5500 yen, 8000 yen. Bringing children to the restaurant is prohibited.

HP: gion-endo.com/english/index.html

HP: gion-endo.com (Japanese Only)

Address: 566 Komatsucho, Higashioji Nishiiru, Yasaka-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto  (Google Map)

3. Big River (Taiga)

An udon shop in Fushimi, Kyoto that we recommend because it's special and has an ample variety of tempura on top of udon. Just udon is approximately 580 yen, and the daily set is 1200 yen, which includes udon, several varieties of tempura, and rice--very filling. The tempura is crispy and juicy with a coating of wheat flour and is even more delicious when eaten over udon!

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260601/26020260/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260601/26020260/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 7-45-1 Fukakusa Nishiracho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto(Google Map)

4. Gion Tenshuu

HP: tensyu.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 244 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

5. Japanese Inn Cuisine ・Tempura Yoshikawa

Kyoto's Japanese inn cuisine is in an area lined with well-established Japanese inns. They have a tempura counter with only 11 seats and you can eat the Kyoto tempura that's fried right in front of you. There are two lunch courses, one for 3000 yen and one for 4000 yen, and evening meals have an 8000 yen course and a 10000 yen course, so you can eat the best tempura for a reasonable price. A banquet in the tatami room is 10000-25000 yen for lunch and 12000-25000 yen for dinner. This is a recommended spot when you want to treat important guests.

HP: www.kyoto-yoshikawa.co.jp/en/

HP: www.kyoto-yoshikawa.co.jp (Japanese Only)

Address:Japanese Inn Cuisine・Tempura Yoshikawa, 135 Matsushitacho, Tominokoji-dori Miike Sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

6. Seafood Tempura　Komefuku （Shijoukarasuma Store）

The features of this store's tempura is that it's fried in 100% rice-bran oil and has an addictive crispy and light taste. Offering cuisine using fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, not only is the tempura delicious, but the sashimi and sushi are as well. This store's famous dishes are the Komefuku tempura rice bowl (890 yen), a very filling lobster tempura rice bowl (1180 yen), and so forth--we're glad the prices are reasonable as well.

HP: www.fun-no1.com/komefuku/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 657-5 Bantoyacho, Higashinotouin-dori Shijou Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

7. Tempura Matsu

A famous Japanese restaurant in Hankyu Arashiyama Line Matsuo Station that's loved even by celebrities. Not only can you eat seasonal Kyoto cuisine, you can also eat the shopkeeper's particular creative dishes, so if you like tempura, it's a well-known store you want to visit once. With numerous stylish containers and preferred colorful ingredients, you can enjoy with your eyes while eating a variety of a la carte items. Lunch is from 6000 yen, dinner is 10000 yen, and the chef's course is 13000 yen. Tempura using seasonal ingredients is served last in the course.

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260403/26001461/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260403/26001461/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 21-26 Umezu Onawabacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

8. Tempura BAR Kiki

This tempura restaurant is a small BAR with only 7 seats in a narrow space where you can drink sake while eating freshly-fried tempura. Although it's a BAR, the level of tempura offered is high, and there are 4 kinds of seasoning that you can choose, including sake seasoning, plum salt, black seven spice, and basil garlic. 

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260201/26005212/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260201/26005212/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Shitomikaikan 1F, 615 Nishidaimonjicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

9. Ten'yuu

A famous Japanese inn tempura shop in Kyoto called  "Tawaraya" with beautiful Kyoto-esque construction. It's near the station in front of Kyoto city hall in the Nijo Castle area. The lunch course is 6000 yen, 10000 yen, and so forth, differing slightly in use of extensive ingredients and menu. The dinner course has a tempura main course and an a la carte combination course. The wheat starch is recommended for the tempura.

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260203/26026440/dtlrvwlst/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260203/26026440/dtlrvwlst/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 299 Shimohakusancho,  Fuyachou-dori Sanjou Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)

10. Vegetable Tempura Yaoki

A restaurant with red paper lanterns at the entrance, which landmarks tempura and creative cuisine. The shopkeeper proudly uses organic vegetables stocked from his personal farm as ingredients for tempura!  They have assorted tempura dish sets, but you can also order each kind for 100 yen a piece, so even customers who only want to eat what they like will be happy. Courses come with all you can drink beverages.

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260202/26025364/

HP: tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260202/26025364/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 536 Asakuramachi, Sanjou-dori Tominokouji Sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (Google Map)