Situated in a corner of Clarke Quay Central, Tendon Kohaku quietly makes its mark as a renowned tempura spot around the CBD. Upon finishing our recommendations on places to eat in Tokyo, our craving for tempura won us over, as we made our way to see what the hype around this place was about.
We first noticed the lunch sets, priced at S$15.80++, where you can order either the Half Kohaku Tendon and Prawn Tempura Udon; Half Kohaku Tendon and Prawn Tempura Curry Udon, or Karaage Don and Prawn Tempura Udon—all served with a side of Chawanmushi and pickled radish.
We got the Half Kohaku Tendon and Prawn Tempura Udon set, which came piled with vegetables, prawn, fish, and chicken tempura.
The tempura was not soggy nor oily, and kept a crisp batter while containing a soft chicken fillet or seafood filling. The udon on the other hand is less filling than the half tendon, so we would recommend getting that if you are looking for a light lunch but still craving assorted tempura.
The price point may seem slightly daunting, but we realised that you could also share the set, resulting in S$7.50 per pax. For days where you are on a budget, but unable to resist shared cravings, the set would be totally worth it.
We also ordered the Strawberry Latte for S$4, which we imagined would come in a little cup, but surprised us when it was served in a Whisky mug. If a café or drink store offered drinks at this price and portion, our team would easily become a regular.
Afterwards, we ordered the full Vegetable Tendon Set (S$20.80), which comprised Pumpkin, Babycorn, Shiitake Mushroom, Eggplant, Lotus Root, and many more vegetables. For those who are still looking to add some meat into their meal, you can order their tempuras as an à la carte.
In comparison to fast food tempura branches, the tendon sets at Tendon Kohaku feel noticeably more elevated. Presented with a flamboyant display, the pile of tempura resembled a mountain due to its sheer portion.
When tasting Tendon Kohaku’s vegetable tempura, the vegetables’ flavours still shined through while keeping its crispiness. Rather than feeling too heavy, the assortment stayed light on our palate until the very end. We also added on a prawn tempura (S$3.50), which complemented well with the soft rice and tendon sauce. Although the egg tempura (S$1.80) was not flavourful enough for us, we could see this suiting those with sensitive palates and prefer milder tastes.
After a satisfying meal at the restaurant, we finally understand why this place is a constant contender for best tempura. The next time you’re looking for affordable tempura in the CBD, you might want to consider this corner shop.
Tendon Kohaku
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📍 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Clarke Quay Central #B1-52/53, Singapore 059817
🕒 11.30 am–3.30 pm, 5pm–9.30 pm (Daily)
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Photos by Alexis Lee and Jae-Eryana Fitri
