Tsunahachi - TRADITIONAL TEMPURA ART SINCE 1923
Introduction to the chain
Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (つな八), founded in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district in 1923, is one of Japan’s most iconic tempura restaurants. Renowned for its exceptional quality and light frying, Tsunahachi offers a refined culinary experience, true to the tempura tradition.
Nationwide presence
Although the head office is in Shinjuku, Tsunahachi has several branches all over Japan, notably in department stores and shopping malls. In Kyoto, you can find it in certain high-end establishments or near tourist areas.
What can we eat?
The menu consists mainly of tempura: shrimp, fish, seasonal vegetables, all delicately fried in a thin, crispy batter. Menus are often served with rice, miso soup and tsukemono (pickled vegetables). There are also à la carte dishes and set menus in various ranges.
Ordering at Tsunahachi
Service is at the table, with particular attention paid to presentation and timing. In some branches, the chef prepares the tempura live behind the counter, for piece-meal service, adding a spectacular touch to the experience.
What are tempura?
Tempura are traditional Japanese dishes consisting of seafood (e.g. shrimp) or vegetables (e.g. eggplant, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, etc.), coated in a light batter of flour and water, then fried in hot oil.
They are often served with a special sauce (tentsuyu) or salt, accompanied by rice or noodles (udon or soba). Tempura is appreciated for its light, crispy, low-fat texture when well prepared.
It is one of the most popular Japanese dishes abroad.
Personal experience
We went to the Tempura Tsunahachi restaurant, located on the 7ᵉ floor of the Takashimaya department store near the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossroads, one weekend evening in May, around 8pm. This restaurant is not a cheap fast-food chain, but rather a refined establishment with an elegant, upscale atmosphere. Although it has several branches across Japan, it retains a very calm and sophisticated setting.
As the restaurant is located in a department store, its closing hours fall relatively early. Perhaps for this reason, at the time we visited, it wasn’t crowded and we were able to enter immediately without waiting. We were shown to a table. If you’re seated at the counter, you can watch the chefs frying tempura right in front of you. Once seated at the table, you choose your dishes from a menu illustrated with photos, then place your order with the staff.
Many customers opt for a garnished menu that includes rice and miso soup served at the end of the meal. If that’s not enough, you can also order tempura à la carte, ingredient by ingredient. Of course, you can also choose to compose your entire meal à la carte right from the start. It’s no problem to start by ordering a few dishes that you think you’ll be able to eat, then add others as your appetite dictates.
In a relaxed atmosphere, you can enjoy delicious, freshly fried tempura. Tempura can be eaten as you prefer, either dipped in a special sauce (tsuyu), or simply accompanied by salt. If you run out of tsuyu (tempura sauce), you can request a new bowl free of charge at any time.
Actual cost
-
Konami” set: ¥4,510×2
Draft beer: ¥726 ×2
Japanese sake Hakkaisan Honjōzō 180 ml: ¥1,100
Glass of brown sugar shōchū (kurotō shōchū): ¥770
Total: ¥12,342 ≈ $76.65
(based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 161 yen)
Basic information
📍 Location: Shinjuku (Tokyo), major cities and shopping centers
💰 Average price: ¥2,000 – ¥7,000
⏰ Opening hours: 11:00 – 21:30 (variable according to location)
👪 Recommended for: lovers of traditional Japanese cuisine, couples or family meals
🌐 Official website: https://www.tunahachi.co.jp/
Highlights
– Light, high-quality tempura
– Elegant, traditional atmosphere
Note
– Price a little high compared with larger chains
– Waiting times may vary