Tempura Tendon Tenya Philippines

Tempura Tendon Tenya located at SM Megamall is known as the most successful tendon restaurant chain in Japan. It recently opened its first store in the Philippines and aims to provide high quality and affordable tendon and tempura.

Tendon by definition is a shortened term for Tempura Donburi, a rice bowl topped with the goodness of tempura. Since majority of Filipinos loved the Japanese dish Tempura, combining it with rice in one filling bowl is undoubtedly a surefire hit.

History dictates that Tempura Tendon Tenya that hailed from Japan started way back 1982 when founder Mr Yoshio Iwashita opened its first outlet in the Yaesu underground Mall at Tokyo Station. Several years after its conception, Tempura Tendon Tenya now operates with numbers of branches in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and now, the Philippines.

Tempura Tendon Tenya prided itself with high quality Black Tiger Prawns raised in a sanitary aquaculture environment. They uses automatic fryer that functions on infrared heat technology to assure the consistency of their tempura. Specially formulated flour is used to create the light and crisp batter of their tempura dishes and then cooked using 100% canola oil.

Readily available in every table are set of condiment comprised of seasoning, pickles, and the Special Dontare Sauce which is known to make dishes at Tempura Tendon Tenya all the more delicious. 

There are few appetizer choices on the menu like the Isobe Cheese (Php185) an appetizer made up of cheddar cheese wrapped in roasted seaweed then fried tempura style. This is basically cheese tempura which is perfect not just for those who has affinity for anything cheese but for those who wants a different appetizer.

There is also the staple Japanese restaurant appetizers such as the Potato Salad (Php115) and Agadeshi Tofu (Php145). The potato salad was good but not mind blowing. I will appreciate it more if they could make the serving portion a little heftier instead of the little single scoop that don't give justice to its price. The Agadeshi however was suited to my liking. The quality of the tofu they use is just impeccable - silky and soft. I love that it is covered with the same batter they use with their tempura.

The choices for main dishes at Tempura Tendon Tenya is decently impressive. It is essentially divided into four categories; The Tendon, The Teishoku Set, The Soba/Udon Set, and The Tempura Basket.

The Tendon (Rice Bowls)

Tendon choices are basically the rice bowls which features different tempura toppings. Black Tiger Prawns are not the only ones making Tempura Tendon Tenya famous in its own rights since there are other things incorporated to the dish - all cooked tempura style such as salmon, squid, kisu (danggit), shrimp, kani stick, and vegetables. 

Picture below shows one of their best sellers, the Tendon (Php255) which is a hefty bowl of Japanese Rice topped with black tiger prawn, chicken, squid, kisu, green beans, and sweet potato. Served with miso soup on the side, this dish is also made all the more delicious with the Dontare sauce poured on top of it.

The Teishoku Set

The Teishoku Set is the classic Japanese set meal served with Japanese rice, potato salad, miso soup, tempura sauce, radish, ginger, pickles, and a basket of tempura depending on the diner's choice.

Teishoku Set choices includes the following:

All Star Tempura Teishoku (Php430)
Black tiger prawn, squid, salmon, kani stick, small kakiage, green beans, mushroom.

Jo Tempura Teishoku (Php420)
2 black tiger prawns, kani stick, small kakiage, green beans, sweet potato, and eggplant

Asakusa Special Tempura Teishoku (Php400)
3 black tiger prawns, small kakiage, green beans

Classic Tempura Teishoku (Php360)
Black tiger prawn, squid, kisu, small kakiage, green beans, and sweet potato

Photo below shows All Star Tempura Teishoku which I find really worth its price and calories accumulated. 

The Soba / Udon Set

Soba and Udon Set is a set meal served with high quality soba and udon imported from Japan. Diners have the option to go for Udon or Soba, hot or cold. This set is also served with Japanese rice, tempura sauce, radish, leeks, ginger, and the soup for the noodle.

Choices for Soba / Udon Set includes the following:

All Star Tempura Soba/Udon (Php455)
Your choice between Soba or Udon (hot or cold), black tiger prawn, squid, salmon, kani stick, small kakiage, green beans, mushroom.

Jo Tempura Soba/Udon (Php445)
Your choice between Soba or Udon (hot or cold), 2 black tiger prawns, kani stick, small kakiage, green beans, sweet potato, and eggplant

Asakusa Special Tempura Soba/Udon (Php425)
Your choice between Soba or Udon (hot or cold), 3 black tiger prawns, small kakiage, green beans

Classic Tempura Soba/Udon (Php385)
Your choice between Soba or Udon (hot or cold), black tiger prawn, squid, kisu, small kakiage, green beans, and sweet potato

Personally, I prefer the Soba/Udon Set since noodles can really add a filling factor to the meal. I tried on several visits both Soba and Udon, hot and cold choices. Among the four, I favored the Cold Soba noodle more.

Tempura Basket

Tempura Basket on the other hand is perfect for those who wants to have an additional tempura on their set meal or bowl. The choices are basically the same (All Star, Jo Tempura, Asakusa and Classic) with distinct deduction on prices.

Kiddie Meal

Kids will surely enjoy dining at Tempura Tendon Tenya as their food will be served on a specialized kiddie plates shaped like car, boat, and airplane. Kiddie Meal (Php255) includes Musubi rice, 2 black tiger prawn, kani stick, sweet potato tempura, fries, and yakult. They also have little toy gift for kids who will avail of this meal.

As of the time of writing, there are only two kinds of dessert at Tempura Tendon Tenya; the Fruity Juicy Pop (Php75) and the Japanese Cheesecake (Php115). I am not big on Popsicle but I find pleasure eating cheesecakes. Tempura Tendon Tenya's Japanese Cheesecake leans on the airy and puffy side of the deal. Although I favored the more dense ones just like the Hanjuku Cheese, Tenya's cheesecake isn't that bad either.

I've been at Tempura Tendon Tenya several times already sine my first visit left a great impression. And while I am so impressed with the quality of their food, what made me appreciate them more is the consistency of their food and good service.

Filipinos have great appreciation for tempura and that is obvious when you visit buffet restaurants wherein the tempura section is almost always the section which always ran out of food first. So I am guessing that Tempura Tendon Tenya is perfect for us. I am crossing my fingers for more branches soon. 

Tempura Tendon Tenya

4th Level SM Megamall Bldg. A
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Contact No.: (632) 837-5036
Facebook: /TenyaPhilippines
Instagram: @TenyaPH