Tendon, short for tempura donburi is a classic Japanese dish that features pieces of crisp tempura played over freshly steamed rice and drizzled with a soy-based dressing! It’s a fuss-free yet satisfying meal for any time of the day. If you’re craving a delicious hearty bowl of tempura donburi, here are the top 10 spots to get tendon in Singapore!
Tendon in Singapore
1. Tendon Kohaku
Tendon Kohaku’s main outlet is located on the second floor of Suntec City and has other outlets around Singapore such as the one in Boat Quay and Chinatown Point.
Tendon Kohaku is a personal favourite place of ours when we wish to satisfy our tendon cravings as they usually give generous portions of lightly battered tempura and a choice between fluffy Nanatsuboshi Hokkaido rice or 16 multi-grains rice mixed with Nanatsuboshi Hokkaido Rice. They have seasonal items on the menu too as well as promotions. Get the latest updates on their Facebook page.
2. Akimitsu
Yet another good Tendon place, Akimitsu has outlets in Changi, AMK Hub, Plaza Singapura, Westgate and more. Originating from Asakusa, Japan, this chain is an award-winning tempura & tendon restaurant with a long heritage.
Favourite menu items include it’s Signature Tendon, which features prawn, white fish, egg, seaweed, and assorted vegetables. There is also it’s Mixed Tempura Rice Set that comes with an additional item of golden mushroom tempura. Find out more on their website here.
3. Tenya Singapore
Japan’s No.1 Tendon chain restaurant, Tempura Tendon Tenya or popularly known as Tenya, can now be found at Orchard Central! Priding themselves in affordable and delicious tempura rice bowls, Tenya offers a variety of quality ingredients such as tempura Black Tiger prawn, Redfish, squid, pumpkin and French beans. There is also the option to enjoy your tempura with soba or udon noodles served hot or cold! They also offer sides such as Tori Karaage fried chicken, Truffle Fries, Hokkaido Soft Serve, or Matcha Azuki Cake. Read more here.
181 Orchard Road #B1-01 Orchard Central Singapore 238896
Tendon Ginza Itsuki (Tanjong)
4. Kogane Yama
Deriving its name from the Japanese translation of “golden mountain”, each Kogane Yama bowl is served to represent a golden mountain of crispy fried goodness. Each bowl can be “customised” by first choosing a base of either vegetable, chicken, prawn or mixed, and then choosing if you to have it with or without spice and if you want to add on a bowl of soup. They currently also offer takeaway and delivery options on their website. Find out more here.
Bugis Junction #02-50, 200 Victoria St, Singapore 188021
5. Tenjin
Tenjin specialises in serving up satisfying bowls of tendon which include generous pieces of seafood and vegetable tempura are served atop a bed of fluffy Hoshi-Jirushi rice from the Ibaraki prefecture. Located in town at Scott’s square, this restaurant follows a minimalist design, creating a welcoming environment to get tendon in Singapore.
Their premium tendon set is one of the few tendons in Singapore that offers diners anago (saltwater eels), crab leg, prawn, fish, vegetables and a free-range egg all in one bowl! They have five other variations on the menu and a variety of sides and drinks too. Find out more on their website here.
6. Tendon Ginza Itsuki
Located in Tanjong Pagar, Tendon Ginza Itsuki is the eighth concept outlet of famous ramen brand Keisuke’s. Like most Keisuke outlets, they tend to focus on a few specific items on the menu. At this outlet in Tanjong Pagar, they have a “special mix tendon” that comes with Prawn, chicken, a half-boiled Egg and Vegetables. They also have a vegetable tendon that is served with Pumpkin, Shiitake Mushroom, Lotus Root, Eggplant, and other vegetables. For those who enjoy pork, try the Buta Tama tendon which comes with tempura Pork Loin, Vegetable and a Half-boiled Egg. See their website here.
7. Ajifuku
Located at the DonDonDonki at JEM, Ajifuku has a range on unique tendons including an unagi don! With a mix of vegetables and pieces of unagi tempura, this isn’t a common item you will find in most tendon shops. Diners can also choose from classic tempura options such as prawns, mixed vegetables, kakiage and more. Other than tendon, feel free to add on a side of other yummy donburis such as their chicken katsu oyakodon. Find out more on their website here.
JEM #03-27/29
50 Jurong Gate Way Road
Singapore 608549
8. Don Meijin
One of the stores in Ramen Champion in Bugis+, Don Meijin first became known for its chilli crab tendon bowl. Each Chilli Crab Tendon comes with a generous portion of tempura, including prawns, salmon, pumpkin, asparagus, eggplant and kakiage and a heaping serving of chilli crab sauce.
They also serve a regular tendon which can be enjoyed in two ways. The first being the regular method of eating it with rice and the second one where you pour a flavourful dashi broth over the rice and add a variety of ingredients to it as well. Find out more on Ramen Champion’s website here.
201 Victoria Street, #04-10, Bugis+, Singapore 188067
9. Niku Kappo
If you’re not a fan of the prawns that usually comes in most tendons, Niku Kappo serves the dish of Niku Tendon consisting of chicken, pork belly, seaweed, vegetable, and egg tempura – all fried till golden brown. This is one of the more affordable tendons available and they also serve items such as curry Nanban, sushi and roast beef bowls. Their outlet is located in the basement of Ion Orchard. Find out more on their website here.
10. Tenshin
As much as tendons are enjoyed as a casual meal, if you wish to try an elevated version of a tendon, consider trying it at Tenshin. Tenshin brands themselves as the “first restaurant in Singapore to specialise in Japanese Tempura brought in from Japan to Singapore” This fine dining restaurant requires customers to arrive in a dress code and other than the classic tendon sets, there are also tempura courses and an omakase option where you can follow the chef’s recommendation. Reservations can be made via the number on their website here.
