Tenpu Tempura and Wine Shijo Karasuma

Restaurant Details

Is it a wine bar? A tempura shop? A Japanese washoku restaurant? Tenpu Tempura and Wine is all of this and more.

Billing itself as a contemporary tempura eatery, Tenpu Tempura is led by Hyogo-native Kosumi Yusuke, who built the venue in a leafy corner near Karasuma Station. The restaurant occupies the first floor of a traditional-looking building and retains its classic charm, featuring a blue noren partially concealing the latticed door entrance and a large lantern, both engraved with the restaurant's logo: the Japanese character for “Pu.”

On the menu, diners will discover creative takes on tempura with playful flourishes, subverting expectations of traditional dining one would expect to be prevalent in Kyoto. Standouts include the "tempu maki," a colorful sushi roll filled with three types of fish, wrapped in seaweed and lightly fried for a delightful mix of textures, and the "nikuten," a lean meat tempura paired with a rich egg sauce. For chillier days, the oden daikon tempura — tempura of oden daikon radish — is a comforting choice.

The 30-item tempura selection features a fresh mix of classic favorites like ebi (shrimp) and kabocha (pumpkin), alongside inventive creations, all fried in low-cholesterol rice bran oil for a healthier option and prepared by washoku chefs.

Vividly colored fruit sours, brimming with fresh fruits, are perfectly crafted to sip between bites of crisp, golden morsels. With its bright and lively main dining space, Tenpu Tempura and Wine provides an ideal and inviting atmosphere for any occasion.