I had some extra time for lunch, so I decided to enjoy some tempura. Normally, I imagine there would be a line, but I was able to walk in smoothly after 12:30. I chose the "Takara" lunch set, where they fry the tempura right in front of you. I started with shrimp and sandfish. The crispy and crunchy shrimp was small but had plenty of juicy flavor. I had one with salt and the other with tempura dipping sauce. The sandfish was light and fluffy, also very delicious. Personally, I prefer salt with my tempura, so I enjoyed the variety of salt options they had - seaweed salt, natural salt, and herb salt. Next, I had thick bell peppers, tender pumpkin, and sweet onions, all with salt. The high-quality sesame oil brought out the flavor of the vegetables. Lastly, I had mixed tempura. It was exquisite! The fresh and firm shrimp, when you take a bite, you can feel the texture and the sweetness and flavor of the vegetables from various angles. I took a bite with salt first, then dipped it generously in the tempura sauce on top of rice. It was the completion of an exquisite tempura rice bowl. All of this for 1630 yen. Along with the ambiance of the restaurant, it was a satisfying and luxurious lunch experience. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the Shinjuku main store on a weekend night. It had been a while since my last visit. I knew that dishes are served one by one at the counter and can be enjoyed more, but I wanted to take it slow and have a conversation, so I chose to sit at a table. We started with a toast with beer and then ordered the course meal. I wanted to try more tempura dishes than individual dishes, so I ordered the "Ume Course" for 6700 yen per person including tax. We started with seafood. The shrimp rolls were delicious with just salt, and the shrimp heads were perfect as a snack. The squid had a chewy texture. I prefer the flounder to be a bit thicker. The conger eel was fried well, giving it a crispy texture. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, and I especially liked the shiitake mushrooms. The rare konjac tempura was topped with miso and was very hot. It was so delicious that I wanted to order more. The scallops were half-cooked and also best enjoyed with salt like the other seafood. Finally, we had shrimp tempura over rice with red miso soup, followed by orange jelly for dessert. The age group of customers seemed older during the early hours, but it became more diverse with younger people as the night went on. I felt that this restaurant is loved by a wide range of age groups. Thank you for the meal.

Despite being 10 minutes before the last order, the restaurant was almost full. I ordered the "Katsura" course for 5000 yen. It started with shrimp, followed by sandfish, onion, shiitake mushrooms, conger eel, and tempura. The freshly fried tempura was delicious. Additionally, we had sashimi on a separate plate, which was just okay in terms of appearance and taste. The rice portion that came out first was too small, so I asked for more and ended up with more than double the initial amount. It would have been better if they had served that amount from the beginning. Overall, it was a good meal.

I ordered the Autumn Flavor Course Tempura for 5,700 yen ⭕ Lunch courses are easy to order for around 1,700 yen. The tempura had a crispy coating and was delicious. However, I felt that the presentation when served at the counter was sloppy. The shrimp was placed with the head facing the wrong way on the plate, and it was just placed in the corner of the plate. It's a shame because they serve delicious tempura, but the presentation doesn't do it justice.

Located conveniently across from Shinjuku Isetan, this tempura restaurant offers a lunch menu with relatively reasonable prices. The lunch options include the "Takara" set (1630 yen) and the "Oki" set (2650 yen) which comes with sashimi, as well as the "Tendon" (1460 yen). I ordered the Takara set. The restaurant has multiple counter seats and a relaxed atmosphere. The tempura ingredients included 2 shrimp, kisu fish, pumpkin, onion, and green pepper. The kisu fish, in particular, was thick and chewy, and very delicious. The meal ends with a kakiage tempura. The tempura can be enjoyed with 3 types of salt (natural salt, herb salt, seaweed salt) and tempura dipping sauce. Personally, I recommend the herb salt. The dipping sauce has a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness, and is delicious even when poured over rice. The seafood-packed kakiage tempura was satisfying when eaten with rice and sauce. Overall, I enjoyed the freshly fried tempura in a pleasant atmosphere at a reasonable price for lunch.

I want to eat tempura! I visited this famous restaurant where they bring freshly fried tempura to your table, so you can enjoy it slowly while drinking. There were many tempting appetizers, but I was too full to order more, which was a shame. It might be nice to just have a casual drink instead of a course meal.

A long-established tempura specialty restaurant with 130 years of history. I missed the lunch service when I visited, but if I had known, I could have come a little earlier. The tempura bowl (2 shrimp, 1 fish, 3 vegetables) comes with a small side dish, miso soup, and pickles for 2,020 yen. The "Hana" tempura set (7 pieces including 2 shrimp, 2 fish, 2 vegetables, and 1 oyster) comes with a small side dish, rice, miso soup, and pickles for 2,700 yen. The fish in the "Hana" set is smelt and squid. The vegetables include green pepper and pumpkin. The tempura bowl also has onions. Although the shrimp portion is a bit small, the fried food is excellent as expected from a long-established restaurant. Especially the fried oysters are delicious. The rice is a bit dry, and the miso soup is made with red clam broth. I would like to visit for lunch next time. The restroom is a traditional shared one for both men and women. I realized after leaving the restaurant that the smell of oil is quite strong.

The freshly fried tempura was very delicately seasoned. They have a unique way of eating at Funabashiya, with options like seaweed salt and herb salt for added flavor variations. The tempura bowl costs just over 2000 yen, making it a good value considering the competitive area of Shinjuku. The octopus and shad vinegar dishes were also of high quality.

I passed by this restaurant during lunch and wanted to eat tempura, so there were several lines but I waited in line and went in. I ordered a set of tempura with bottled beer, which included 2 shrimp, 1 fish, 3 vegetables, and kakiage, for 1630 yen. Since I was drinking beer, they fried the tempura at a slightly slower pace than the other customers, so I was able to enjoy the piping hot tempura at a leisurely pace, which was really nice. I believe that the timing of serving tempura at the counter is the most important, so I think it's amazing that they provide such service at a reasonable lunchtime price. It's no wonder there was a line. In the end, I had the kakiage as a tempura rice bowl and it was a very satisfying lunch. If you come to Shinjuku Sanchome, this is a restaurant you should visit. Thank you for the meal.

The last order was just in time, and both the staff and the chef were kind and quick. I could only eat quickly, but it was delicious! I ordered the seasonal course and felt the summer with dishes like bitter melon, dancing mushrooms, sweetfish, conger eel, and shrimp. Even the horse mackerel was delicious. I also had sake at the counter seat, and the pudding at the end was also tasty and carefully prepared.

I visited to satisfy my craving for freshly fried tempura at the counter after a long time. I opted for the peach course, which included 9 pieces of tempura and 3 additional dishes. The tempura was served at a perfect pace, matching my eating speed and alcohol consumption. I ended up staying longer than planned, enjoying the delicious tempura, especially the tender scallops. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I took my two children for lunch. I was worried about bringing a 3-year-old and a baby under one year old, but they let us in. A veteran staff member was working hard to keep the restaurant running smoothly. It seemed like they might be short-staffed. Since the table seating looked like it would take a while, I was asked if sitting at the counter would be okay, which I didn't expect. I was really happy with the counter seating. It was not only enjoyable to eat, but also to watch. Each dish was fried to perfection and delicious.

At Funaashiya, I finished shopping at the neighboring Bigro and lined up outside the store for opening time. They are guiding customers in one by one. Luckily, I was seated at a table. It's been a while. I debated between the tempura set meal and tempura bowl, but ended up choosing the tempura set meal. It tasted delicious, although the rice was a bit firm today. Overall, it was still delicious.

My sister-in-law's family, who temporarily returned from Miami, requested tempura for their next meal. Since Shinjuku is close by, the choice was between Funabashiya and Katsuna Hachi. The previous favorite restaurant, Tenchun, unfortunately closed this spring due to the effects of the pandemic. It was a disappointment. Following my wife's suggestion that Funabashiya has higher ratings, I took on the task of making a reservation, as I could call during the perfect time before the restaurant opened while working from home. I was a bit worried if a reservation for 6 people would be possible a week in advance, but they were able to accommodate us at 6 pm with the option of a table setup. I opted for a table as there were no tatami rooms available. The staff member who assisted me was very helpful and provided their name in case of any changes. Upon informing my wife of the reservation, she mentioned that the true charm of a tempura restaurant is having freshly fried tempura served right in front of you at the counter. So, the next day, I called to change the reservation to a counter seating for 6 people. They agreed but requested an earlier arrival time at 5:30 pm. We arrived at the restaurant the following day, and the head chef, a sharp-eyed older man, efficiently fried the tempura for 6 people. It was a delight to watch him work. The tempura, including shrimp, squid, flounder, scallops, and conger eel, was exquisite. Another staff member joined in later, and they both provided excellent service. The head chef was observant, and the female staff member promptly refilled our tea. Before we knew it, we had enjoyed 12 dishes in what felt like no time at all. The experience was over before we realized it, but tempura is meant to be savored quickly. Despite that, tempura is always a delightful experience. I've always thought so since my student days working part-time at Hage Ten in Ginza. I'm grateful to be Japanese. I forgot to mention, the service provided by the staff throughout the meal was excellent. Even the guests from afar seemed thoroughly pleased. Thank you, Funabashiya. It was a wonderful meal.

Since yesterday, the Kanto-Koshinetsu region has also entered the rainy season. For someone like me, who is short, chubby, and bald, a somewhat harsh season has arrived compared to midsummer. Why, you ask? It's because it's hot and humid, but the temperature is lower than in midsummer, so I can't turn on the air conditioning. It's a hellish situation, let me tell you. But I digress... Today, I had some errands to run so I took a half day off in the afternoon and met up with my wife in Shinjuku station to have tempura for lunch. I had heard of Funabashiya as the go-to place for tempura in Shinjuku since I was a young man, and I knew it was an established store, but I had no idea it was founded in the 19th year of the Meiji era... I had never really paid much attention to tempura itself, so it seemed like a good time to give it a try. I left the office around 1 pm and met up with my wife at a coffee shop in Shinjuku station, where we had a quick break before heading to the restaurant. When we arrived at the restaurant, it was full, so we had to wait outside for a bit, but we were able to get in fairly quickly. At first, I was thinking of getting a tempura bowl, but there was a set meal available for almost the same price, so both of us decided to go with that. In a few minutes, we were served rice, miso soup, and freshly fried tempura. First, we got two prawns, a smelt fish, a green pepper, and a pumpkin, followed by freshly fried onion rings and mixed tempura. The tempura was crispy and not too greasy. The different flavors of salt and the lightly seasoned tempura dipping sauce made everything delicious. The portion size was just right, and for around 1,600 yen, I thought it was quite a good deal. I saw the individual tempura menu displayed inside the restaurant, and if the set meal wasn't enough for you, adding extra items might be a good idea. I wished I could taste more of the umami and flavors of the prawns and smelt fish, but even without that, I thought that getting this level of tempura for around 1,600 yen was a good deal. This restaurant would be recommended for those who are looking to experience high-end tempura. Funabashiya is not bad at all, but it will help you understand how amazing high-end tempura can be. With a satisfied heart and stomach from the delicious meal, we left the restaurant, feeling happy and content. We'll definitely be back! Thank you for the meal. Today's bill: around 3,200 yen.

My wife and I had Sunday lunch at a tempura restaurant. I ordered the tempura set meal, while my wife had the tempura rice bowl. We also ordered additional tempura of young ayu fish and asparagus, bringing the total to around 7,500 yen. Since we were there, I decided to go for the 4,000 yen "pine" set meal. The tempura from a specialty restaurant truly is something else, providing a satisfaction that exceeds the price. It was my first time trying young ayu fish, and the slight bitterness was irresistible.

Today's lunch was at Funabashiya, where I had a tempura rice bowl. I also added some edamame and clams. Due to the heavy rain, there was no line when I passed by. The tempura included 2 shrimp, onion, bell pepper, pumpkin, and Japanese parsley. It came with pickles, a side dish, and miso soup with clams. I also added two seasonal tempura items. The edamame was delicious and the clams were plump and meaty. After eating this, I was already full and didn't have room for any desserts. #TokyoGourmet #ShinjukuGourmet #JapaneseCuisine #Tempura #TempuraRiceBowl #Clams #ShrimpTempura #Funabashiya #FunabashiyaShinjukuBranch

Just a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit!! I finally got to try the tempura restaurant Funabashi-ya that I've been curious about for a while. I went for dinner around 5 pm without a reservation. I ordered the seasonal delicacies course for 5700 yen and also requested firefly squid. I didn't order any additional items as they seemed a bit pricey. Overall, for this price, I was satisfied with the tempura I could casually enjoy! Thank you for the meal.

Lunch [Tabelog Tempura Top 100 2022] ■ Takara ¥1,650 (tax included) When it comes to traditional tempura in Shinjuku, a district filled with long-established eateries, "Tempura Funabashi-ya Shinjuku Main Store" stands out. Established in 1886, this three-story building is located in Shinjuku Sanchome. It has been selected as one of the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog. I visited during lunchtime on a weekday. Although it's a popular spot with long lines, I was lucky to get in without much wait. I ordered the "Takara" lunch set, which includes 2 shrimp, assorted seafood, 3 types of vegetables, and tempura, with unlimited rice and miso soup. The table was set with small dishes, rice, and red miso soup, and each freshly fried tempura dish was served one by one. In addition to the tempura dipping sauce, three types of salt - natural salt, herb salt, and seaweed salt - were provided. Personally, I liked the herb salt and seaweed salt. The rich flavor and slightly thick tempura batter paired well together. The tempura included 2 shrimp, whiting fish, bell pepper, onion, pumpkin, and tempura. The white rice was delicious. For ¥1650, enjoying hot tempura one by one from lunchtime is truly delightful. As I left the restaurant, a line had formed. It's a great place for a quick tempura meal. Thank you for the meal.

Located near the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, this tempura restaurant has a historical feel to it. The entrance exudes a sense of luxury, making it a bit intimidating for solo diners, but I mustered up the courage to visit. Opting for the more affordable option, I ordered the "Tenju" set for around 2300 yen. Sitting at the counter, I enjoyed the live tempura cooking experience, which kept me entertained until the dishes arrived. The restaurant seemed to be popular among foreign tourists, as I noticed quite a few non-Japanese diners. Next to me, a pair of Caucasian women were also enjoying their meal. The "Tenju" set came with vinegared dish, miso soup, and pickles, along with tempura items such as shrimp, mixed vegetables, and white fish - quite a luxurious spread. The tempura was delicious, and I was satisfied with the amount of food I got for the price. I would definitely want to visit this restaurant again when craving tempura.

For lunch, I went to Funabashiya. I ordered the Flower Course for 2700 yen with taranome (wild vegetable shoots) topping. The tempura included 2 shrimp, kisu (sillago fish), squid, green pepper, and pumpkin, along with mixed tempura. It came with rice, miso soup, and pickles. It was nice to see them fry the tempura right in front of me.