Tempura Tentoku｜Kobe Sannomiya

I visited Tempura Tentoku, located about a 5-minute walk from Kobe Sannomiya Station.

The restaurant is located just before the pedestrian bridge at the Kanōcho intersection after exiting Sannomiya Station. There’s a signboard out front, so it should be easy to find.

This restaurant is run by a chef who has earned a Michelin one-star rating and once had the honor of preparing tempura for the Emperor and Empress in 2001.

Since it’s a popular restaurant, I was prepared for the possibility that I wouldn’t get in without a reservation—but luckily, the timing worked out and I was able to get a seat.

First, I was served a small appetizer consisting of sesame tofu topped with a tiny shrimp, along with a salad.

The salad came with a plum-flavored dressing, which helped refresh the palate while waiting for the tempura to be prepared.

For the tempura, you’re provided with lemon, matcha salt, and a dipping sauce with grated daikon, allowing you to choose and enjoy according to your preference.

First up was tempura made from shrimp shells. It’s perfectly crispy, and since the excess oil is carefully blotted off, there’s no greasiness at all—it pairs wonderfully with the matcha salt.

Next came two pieces of shrimp. Since there were two, I enjoyed one with salt and the other with dipping sauce.

Next was hamo (pike conger).

Corn

Lotus root

Peanut sprouts

Flounder wrapped in shiso leaf

I don’t remember the details, but it was some kind of white fish.

Green beans

Sweet potato

For the final dish, you can choose between a kakiage tendon (tempura rice bowl) or tencha (tempura rice with tea poured over it). This time, I went with the tendon.

It was served with pickles and red miso soup, making for the perfect finishing touch to the meal.

※Please note that the tempura selection may vary depending on the day.

With its calm and relaxed atmosphere, it’s a great place to enjoy delicious tempura at a leisurely pace—perfect for a date or a business dinner.