I had lunch at Tenmatsu in Nihonbashi Shinkawa. The restaurant is located on the corner of Kajihashi Street, just across the Kamejima River from Exit B4 of Hibiya Line and JR Hatchobori Station. It was my first time visiting. When I arrived around 1:00 p.m., there were two customers already seated. I was shown to a table and provided with a linen hand towel, a pot of tea, and a teacup. The lunch menu offers "Tempura Set Meal," "Tempura Rice Bowl," and "Daily Special Set Meal," all priced at 1000 yen (tax included). The daily special on this day was pork cutlet. I ordered the Tempura Set Meal and was asked if I wanted a small or large portion of rice. I chose a small portion this time. The kitchen is run by the owner and a waitress, who seemed to be the owner's daughter. She was very friendly and provided excellent service. After a 5-minute wait, my meal was served. The tempura included shrimp, smelt fish, squid, pumpkin, eggplant, and mixed vegetable tempura. It was a generous portion for 1000 yen. The tempura had a crispy coating, and dipping it in the tempura sauce was delicious. The rice and miso soup were also tasty. When I asked if this restaurant was related to another Tenmatsu in Nihonbashi, I was told that they are not related. (Visited on 3/23)

Had lunch in Niikawa. It's a tempura restaurant located on Kajihashi Street, across the Kamishima River from Hatchobori. I arrived around 1 pm. The interior of the restaurant was calm, with seating for over 20 people including a raised seating area in the back. There were two groups of customers already there. The owner seemed young, and the service was provided by a young female attendant. The menu offered Tempura Set Meal for 1,000 yen, Tempura Rice Bowl for 1,000 yen, and Daily Special for 1,000 yen with fish options. I ordered the Tempura Set Meal for 1,000 yen (tax included). It was served after a 4-minute wait. The set included tempura, small side dishes, pickles, tsukudani (preserved food), miso soup, rice, and tempura dipping sauce. The tempura consisted of eggplant, sweet potato, shrimp, kisu (sillago fish), squid, and kakiage (mixed tempura). The menu listed pumpkin but it was actually sweet potato. The tempura had a crispy coating, with a texture that was more fried than crunchy. However, the shrimp, squid, and kisu were not overcooked. The kakiage was made with onions, and some parts were burnt, possibly due to high oil temperature. Also, the oil drainage was not great, which was a downside. The small side dish included dried radish, a common and easy dish. The miso soup had tofu, cut into surprisingly small pieces. The pickles and tsukudani were served with cucumber, and I finished my meal with rice.

Because the daily special was Chicken Nanban, I had to order it. The restaurant is located near the intersection of Kaji Hashi Street and River Street (without a traffic light). It has a retro automatic door that opens when pushed. The interior is very retro, giving off a Showa-era vibe. The sound of tempura being fried is delightful. I wanted to try tempura with ingredients like fiddlehead ferns and taro sprouts to feel the spring vibes, but I was locked onto Chicken Nanban. I had it at a restaurant in Akasaka before, so maybe I have a Chicken Nanban radar now, haha. I sat in the relatively narrow seating area at the back. Somehow, I feel calm in tight spaces. Am I a cat? The Chicken Nanban had a slightly hard surface, maybe fried at a higher temperature? The meal came with four side dishes, making it look quite luxurious for the price. Starting with the cold tofu side dish, it was delicious. The meal even included a simmered dish, making it quite a luxurious lunch. Now, onto the main dish, the Chicken Nanban. It may not be as good as a specialty restaurant, but the juiciness of the chicken was still there, providing a satisfying meal. My stomach is definitely full now. Thank you for the meal.

Around 11 am, I saw an employee standing in front of the restaurant, trying to attract customers. I felt sorry for them due to the tough situation with the coronavirus. When I peeked inside, there was only one customer dining alone. The menu outside listed "Tenjo" and "Tendon" for 900 yen each, so I ordered the Tenju for 900 yen. They mentioned that rice refills were allowed. The restaurant was bigger than I expected, with a raised seating area. The tempura included shrimp, squid, sillago, eggplant, pumpkin, and green pepper. I ate quickly, and in the end, no other customers showed up. Thank you for the meal.

I found this near my workplace. Tempura set meal for 900 yen. The tempura set meal comes with miso soup, pickles, and tsukudani. The tempura includes green pepper, eggplant, pumpkin, squid, and shrimp. The sweet and savory sauce with rice is just the right amount, although I wish there was a bit more rice. The tempura quality is decent and the cost performance is good.

I entered the restaurant around 11:35 AM on a regular day and there was one customer already seated. There were no menus on the table. I ordered the tempura set meal, tempura rice bowl, and the daily special set meal (pork sauté). I ordered the tempura rice bowl and it arrived in about 5 minutes. The tempura included pumpkin, eggplant, green pepper, squid, and shrimp. The dipping sauce was neither too sweet nor too spicy, just right. It was a delicious meal.

When I visited this restaurant before, I only remember there being the "Matsuhanado Bento" for lunch. However, when I visited again after a long time, I saw they had "Tenju" on the menu, so I immediately ordered that. The tempura included shrimp, sand borer, pumpkin, eggplant, squid, and green pepper, and the sauce was not too light, with a nice balance of sweetness. The stacked layers were a bit firm, and personally, I thought a bowl might be easier to eat.

Order: Tenjo (tempura, miso soup, simmered kelp, pickles, rice) Bill: 900 yen (Paid with PayPay) The tempura selection includes shrimp, smelt, squid, pumpkin, eggplant, mixed vegetable tempura. The batter is thick and crispy, cooked just right without being overdone, providing a satisfying taste. At 900 yen, it's a great deal (although the kelp and pickles seemed to be more for appearance). The service was smooth, and the food arrived hot at the table. Despite the old-fashioned appearance of the restaurant, it was convenient to be able to pay with PayPay. However, the interaction between the owner and the staff seemed a bit uncomfortable. Overall, it's a common sight in restaurants and may just be a generational gap. For lunch, they also offer Tenju and daily specials in addition to Tenjo.

Ordered: Tempura set meal for 900 yen. Shrimp, whiting, squid, vegetables.

You can enjoy a rare Nanban-style tempura at this restaurant with a strong Portuguese fleet color.

Visited the restaurant alone for dinner. It feels like a small local place where locals go. However, they have tatami seating for welcoming and farewell parties. If you choose the counter, you can chat with the chef and regular customers in a friendly atmosphere. The women working in the hall have a small face and a friendly, beautiful vibe. Tired from work and shy around strangers, I chose a table seat and ordered the 1500 yen Matsugozan. It was simply delicious. The sashimi and tempura were both included, and the price was very reasonable! Even dessert was included, making it a great value. I ate the tempura as soon as it arrived, so I'll have to go back to take a picture (lol).

From the B4 exit of JR Keiyo Line Hatchobori Station, cross the signal in front and head left. The first shop you will see after crossing the bridge is this one. They operate as a normal tempura restaurant at night, but during the day, they offer a unique "Shokado Bento" (1000 yen) limited to 20 servings. The menu consists of grilled fish, side dishes, tamagoyaki, and tempura, giving the impression of a wide variety. The tempura, in particular, was skillfully made, but I wished they also offered tempura rice bowls.

Lunch on May 10, 2016 (Tuesday). Lunch in Shin-Kawa Ni-chome. If you want to go from Shintomi, where the office is located, to the corner where you went for lunch until yesterday (south side of Shin-Kawa Ni-chome), it is closer to cross the Kamejima River at Minami Takahashi. However, if you want to go to the corner you are planning to go today (around the center of Shin-Kawa Ni-chome), it is closer to go out to Kaji Bridge Street and cross the bridge. Today, Tokyo is cloudy. Well, in my life, there are some events that are strangely unexplainable, or rather, things that would not normally happen. I think it's not just me. I think it happens to everyone. I would like to introduce these "unexpected stories" from time to time. One of these stories is from about 29 or 30 years ago in early spring (March or April). I was walking in a town over a certain bridge over a river for a part-time job. That spring, I was working part-time for a theater company, and I happened to find a man's body floating towards the bridge from the upper right side of the river. But since this is a food review, I won't go into further details. Now, that certain river was the Kamejima River, and that certain bridge was the Takahashi Bridge. The reason why I remember it was this bridge is something I can't write about (laughs). But it was this bridge. After moving the office to the current Shintomi and occasionally coming to Shin-Kawa for lunch, I remembered. Almost a quarter of a century had passed since then. Well, today I passed by this restaurant around 11:37 and the curtain of this restaurant had just been put out, so I decided to go in. I chose the Tempura Set Meal (1000 yen) from the lunch menu. Other options included the Daily Special Set Meal (880 yen) with bonito tataki bowl and croquette, Fish Set Meal (880 yen) with grilled sardines and tofu, as well as Sashimi Set Meal (880 yen), Tempura Set Meal (880 yen), Tempura Rice Bowl (830 yen), Premium Tempura Rice Bowl (1100 yen), and Tempura and Pine Mushroom Rice Bowl (1500 yen). The non-tempura items came out first and I started eating, and then the tempura arrived. The tempura consisted of eggplant, green pepper, pumpkin, shrimp, and smelt. The vegetables I ate in the first half were fried perfectly and delicious. However, the shrimp and smelt I ate in the second half were a bit soggy. The sashimi was bonito and tuna, which was standard. The simmered dish included carrot flowers, pumpkin, and taro. I was quite happy that a chawanmushi (savory egg custard) was included. It was a satisfying and delicious lunch. On the way back, I crossed the bridge again. It's an unassuming and unremarkable bridge. Minami Takahashi Bridge is much more charming. I peek into the river. Nothing is floating. Nothing is flowing towards me. The scenery around the bridge has changed a bit since that day. The telephone box that was there at that time is gone. A police box that wasn't there at that time has been built. But what I find most mysterious and inexplicable is that almost 30 years later, I am crossing this bridge again.

I entered the restaurant in the evening and sat at a raised table. I started with a choice between Kirin and Asahi beer, and I chose Kirin since there used to be a Kirin brewery nearby. The draft beer was delicious and had a rich flavor. I ordered a 1,000 yen evening set which came with edamame, sashimi, and that was it. They were all tasty, but I ended up ordering a bottle of sake and some additional dishes like simmered bamboo shoots and assorted tempura. The cost-performance ratio wasn't great as I ended up spending a decent amount without eating much. The food was average, with the simmered bamboo shoots having a rich broth and showcasing the basics of Japanese cuisine. The owner and the waitress, who was dressed in traditional Japanese attire, were busy but provided attentive service. The waitress's polite and efficient demeanor left a positive impression. The restaurant doesn't have any special features, and the food is just average, but it's a good place to enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine while being served by a friendly waitress in traditional attire.

(2014.08.22) The purpose of the shop was supposed to open at 19:30, so I arrived about 15 minutes later. There were about 10 people in a group and a group of 4 customers who seemed to be working nearby. The shop is run by an elderly couple, so it can be quite challenging to handle that many customers at once. Unfortunately, I was told that it would take about an hour for my order to be ready, so I decided to give up for today. I then headed to a restaurant called "Tenmatsu," which I had heard of but never had the chance to visit before. The back of the restaurant had a raised seating area that could accommodate around 20 people, and there was a lively party going on there, making it a bit intimidating to enter. Since I had no other options, I decided to go in. During lunchtime, they offer a variety of set meals, but in the evening, the focus is on appetizers. I chose a set that included sashimi and tempura from the two meal options available. The sashimi served first was tuna and amberjack, and while the appearance of the tuna was not very appealing, the texture was excellent. The simmered vegetables that came with it were also delicious, so I had high hopes for the meal. The tempura batter was quite hard and crunchy, with pumpkin as the base and shrimp, smelt, and shishito peppers on top. Despite the high expectations I had due to the restaurant's name, the tempura was a bit disappointing. The batter seemed too hard, possibly due to the oil temperature not being properly adjusted. It's a shame because the ingredients used were of good quality. Perhaps other dishes on the menu are more worth trying than the tempura. The lady in a kimono who seemed to be in charge of serving was very pleasant and considerate, even though she was busy. She made sure to take care of us with tea and other things, making the dining experience enjoyable.

Shinkawa - A yellow tower apartment?! Somehow Estate is in front. A woman dressed in a kimono greets me. My family used to be in the Japanese food business, so kimonos make me feel at ease. There are tatami rooms, table seats, and counter seats with a large propeller on the ceiling. Yellow oshibori and tea are served. I ordered the tempura set meal! (<$10) The rice is a large serving and I wait for 4 minutes. Wow, it's luxurious! Sashimi (tuna, king mackerel), simmered vegetables (pumpkin, carrot, taro), chawanmushi, and pickles are also included! I can hear the sound of tempura being fried in the kitchen, which increases my appetite! The tempura arrives! Shrimp, smelt fish, green pepper, eggplant, pumpkin. The tempura has a traditional crispy batter and is piping hot. The woman who seems to be the proprietress offers me a second helping of rice, and the last piece of tempura, the shrimp tempura, is plump and delicious! With a free extra serving of rice, all of this for only $10 is a great deal! If you want to eat satisfying tempura in Shinkawa with attentive service, this is the place to go!

On August 20, 2013, I felt like eating fish for lunch, so I decided to try this place. The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere with a few tables and a counter. The waitress, dressed in a stylish kimono and apron, recommended sitting near the air conditioning. I ordered the tempura set meal for 1000 yen, which included rice, pumpkin and thick tofu simmered dish, tuna and amberjack sashimi, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), miso soup with seaweed, and tempura (shrimp, smelt, green pepper, eggplant, pumpkin). The tempura was freshly fried and delicious, while the other dishes were average. The sashimi was a bit watery, and the chawanmushi was too soft. The waitress bid me farewell with a smile and well wishes as I left. I felt taken care of by her hospitality. Overall, I left feeling satisfied.

The area around Shinkawa 2-chome is currently popular for its Italian restaurants. With menus full of foreign words, it's hard to know what to order. Women are lining up for lunch, but men quietly opt for the grilled fish set meal! Next to the crowded restaurant, I decided to have lunch at the tempura restaurant. Today's fish set meal for 750 yen was grilled mackerel with salt. Without hesitation, I ordered the fish set meal. As you get older, they say you should switch from meat to fish, and I understand why now. The food arrived in about 2-3 minutes. In addition to the grilled mackerel, there were chopped kombu tsukudani and pickled vegetables. It came with rice in a bowl and miso soup. However, the grilled mackerel was dry. Did they not reheat it after grilling it once? The fish was also dry. With the small portion and cold food, I couldn't enjoy the meal. Maybe I should have ordered the tempura set meal instead?