Today I’m sharing my experience at Tendon Makino, a popular tempura rice bowl restaurant in Kyoto. Located in Teramachi Shopping Arcade near Kawaramachi, this spot offers good accessibility for travelers exploring Kyoto. I had marked it on Google Maps during my trip planning and finally got to visit.
Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi
Location: Teramachi Shopping Arcade, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Access: 4-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station
Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Weekday break: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Specialties: Tempura rice bowls (tendon), egg tempura, sea bream broth
Tendon Makino Operating Hours
11:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Weekday break time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
The restaurant maintains consistent hours throughout the week. Just note that weekdays have a break period in the afternoon. Plan your visit accordingly.
Wait Time
I visited around 5 PM on a weekday, just after the break time ended. The restaurant was nearly full, but there weren’t many people waiting ahead of me.
For the waitlist, there’s a handwritten sheet at the entrance where you write your name and party size. My wait was only about 10 minutes, which was quite short. By the time I finished eating, the line had grown considerably longer.
Menu
The menu is displayed outside the restaurant before you enter. The fact that Korean is included on the menu suggests many Korean visitors frequent this place, which was helpful.
They offer seasonal specials and more variety than I expected, making it difficult to choose. I noticed the prices have increased since I last checked online. Japan’s inflation seems as significant as Korea’s. Check current prices at the restaurant.
Interior
The restaurant has two floors. The first floor features counter seating, while the second floor has table seating. As a solo diner, I expected to be seated at the counter, but was guided to a table on the second floor. Having a spacious table to myself made for a comfortable dining experience.
My Order
I ordered Set B, which includes eel, shrimp, squid, and other items. The egg tempura comes highly recommended, so I added that to my order.
First, they served warm roasted soybean tea after I was seated.
I also ordered cold sake, which came in a cute glass bottle.
Shortly after, my tendon arrived. The egg tempura came on a separate plate.
I transferred some rice to the side plate and tried each tempura piece.
The batter was slightly thicker than expected, but combined with the sweet soy sauce and rice, it tasted good and made for a satisfying meal.
The eel wasn’t particularly thick or oily, but since tendon is naturally a fried dish, its lighter profile actually worked well.
The egg tempura came with an almost raw yolk. Breaking it and mixing it with rice created a nice, rich flavor.
I noticed small cubed pieces in the bowl, which I thought were potato tempura. They turned out to be squid tempura.
After eating most of the meal, warm sea bream broth is provided to pour over the remaining rice. Instructions at the table explain how to enjoy it properly.
I first tried just pouring the warm sea bream broth over the rice. While not intensely flavored, it was warm and clean-tasting. I was worried about fishiness, but detected none.
They also provide grated wasabi and shiso leaves to add to the broth, which adds interesting new dimensions to the taste.
Shiso has a distinctive aroma that some people love or hate, so I recommend tasting it first before adding. I don’t mind shiso, and found it pleasant with a milder fragrance than eating it alone.
That’s my review of Tendon Makino in Kyoto. The savory tempura bowl was good, and the warm sea bream broth finish made it feel complete. I’d like to try different menu items next time I visit.
