Tempura Kondo
A celebrated Ginza tempura counter known for delicate, vegetable-forward tempura.
The call
Worth it if you're traveling as a couple and you're traveling solo.
Short answer
Is Tempura Kondo worth it?
Tempura Kondo deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
Light, precise tempura fried to order at the counter — famous for its airy vegetables as much as its seafood.
- 02
A refined, course-paced experience rather than a quick bite.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Tempura Kondo is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Tempura Kondo is an easy yes.
Food is a reason to travel
Tempura Kondo rewards a trip built around food & drink.
You prefer local life to spectacle
Tempura Kondo rewards a trip built around local authenticity.
Think twice if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, skip Tempura Kondo.
You're watching the budget
Tempura Kondo can strain a tight budget. Go only when it is a priority.
You only have one day
Keep Tempura Kondo only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
History and culture matter to you
Tempura Kondo offers some history & culture, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
The plates that decide it
- The vegetable tempura, especially the signature sweet potato — the dish it's famous for
- The seasonal seafood tempura course — reliably excellent
- Tendon or tencha to finish — a satisfying rice course
Plan it well
- Cost
- Expensive (tempura course menus)
- Timing
- Lunch or dinner course
- Booking
- Reservation recommended
- Allow
- About 1.5–2 hours
- Accessibility
- Ginza; counter and table seating
Sources and method (2)
- Two Michelin stars (held consecutively since the 2008 Tokyo guide); chef Fumio Kondo also won the 2024 Mentor Chef Award. guide.michelin.com ↗
- Opened by Fumio Kondo in Ginza in 1991; his signature is a thick sweet-potato chunk fried slowly for about 30 minutes. nippon.com ↗