Tempura Kanda

Book Before the Counter Fills: Tempura Kanda Earns Its Michelin Plate Two Years Running

Tempura Kanda at Eight Thonglor holds two consecutive Michelin Plate recognitions (2024 and 2025), which puts it in a small category of Bangkok restaurants where Japanese specialty dining meets sustained critical acknowledgment. If you are planning a celebration dinner or a focused special-occasion meal in Thonglor, this is the tempura counter to prioritise. The format is disciplined and the Sukhumvit 55 address keeps it accessible from most central Bangkok hotels.

The Case for Booking

Tempura as a format rewards patience and sequence. A well-structured tempura progression moves from lighter, more delicate ingredients toward richer, more substantial pieces, with the chef controlling both timing and temperature with precision. At Tempura Kanda, the Michelin recognition signals that this progression is being executed at a level that justifies the ฿฿฿฿ price tier. In Bangkok's fine-dining market, that tier typically runs from 2,500 to 5,000 baht per person, which places Kanda in direct competition with the city's tasting-menu restaurants, not just other Japanese specialists.

What separates a tempura counter from other tasting formats is the live, interactive quality of the experience. Each piece is fried to order, handed across the counter, and meant to be eaten immediately. That immediacy makes it a compelling choice for two-person dinners where conversation can pause naturally between courses, and a less obvious choice for larger groups where the rhythm can be disrupted. For a date or anniversary, the counter format works well. For a business dinner requiring extended discussion, consider a table-service alternative.

Google reviewers rate Kanda at 4.2 across 149 reviews, which, for a ฿฿฿฿ specialist restaurant in Bangkok, is a functional but not exceptional score. It suggests consistent execution rather than a venue that regularly exceeds expectations. That is useful information: book here when tempura specifically is the objective, not when you want the most memorable meal Bangkok can offer at this price point.

The Thonglor Location

Eight Thonglor at 88/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 is a mixed-use development in one of Bangkok's most concentrated dining corridors. The building hosts several restaurants, which means the surrounding block has foot traffic and the venue is findable without difficulty. Getting there by BTS, the Thong Lo station on the Sukhumvit Line is the practical choice, with the venue a short distance into Soi 55. Ride-sharing from central Bangkok hotels is direct. Parking exists within the development for those arriving by car.

The Thonglor address also situates Kanda within easy reach for guests staying along the Sukhumvit corridor. If you are at a hotel in Asok, Phrom Phong, or Thong Lo itself, this is a neighbourhood dinner, not a cross-city commitment. For those exploring Bangkok more broadly, our full Bangkok restaurants guide maps the dining geography across districts.

Booking and Practical Details

Tempura Kanda carries a Michelin Plate and operates in a format that typically runs a small number of seats, which means availability can tighten, particularly on weekends and public holidays. Reservations: Book at least one to two weeks ahead for weekday visits; aim for two to three weeks for Friday and Saturday evenings to avoid disappointment. Walk-in availability is possible but unreliable at this price tier. Budget: ฿฿฿฿, consistent with Bangkok's fine-dining range. Location: Building 36, Eight Thonglor, 88/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55, Watthana. Booking difficulty: Easy by Bangkok fine-dining standards, but do not leave it to the day before for weekend slots.

Comparing Tempura Formats

If you want to benchmark what Kanda's tempura counter experience looks like against the Japanese original, Numata in Osaka and Shunsaiten Tsuchiya in Osaka represent the specialist tempura tradition at source. Bangkok cannot replicate the ingredient sourcing of an Osaka tempura counter, and it does not pretend to. What Kanda offers is the structural logic of that format, executed consistently enough to earn two years of Michelin recognition in a city with no shortage of competition for the designation.

How It Compares: Bangkok Fine Dining at ฿฿฿฿

See the comparison section below for how Tempura Kanda positions against Bangkok's broader ฿฿฿฿ field.

If You Are Exploring Beyond Bangkok

For fine dining elsewhere in Thailand, PRU in Phuket is the reference point for farm-to-table tasting menus in the south, while Aquila in Chiang Mai covers the north. AKKEE in Pak Kret and Anuwat in Phang Nga are worth noting for regional cooking outside the capital. Ayutthayarom in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is the option for those making the day trip north. For a complete picture of what Bangkok offers beyond restaurants, see our guides to Bangkok hotels, Bangkok bars, Bangkok wineries, and Bangkok experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Tempura Kanda worth the price? At ฿฿฿฿, it is priced at the same level as Bangkok's Michelin-starred tasting menus. Two consecutive Michelin Plate recognitions confirm consistent quality, but a Plate is not a Star, which means you are paying top-tier prices for a venue that the guide considers well-executed rather than destination-level. Worth it if the tempura format is your priority. If you want maximum value at ฿฿฿฿ in Bangkok, Sorn or Sühring, both Michelin-starred, are stronger arguments for the price.
• How far ahead should I book? One to two weeks is sufficient for weekday visits. For Friday and Saturday, aim for two to three weeks. The venue is easier to book than Bangkok's starred restaurants, so last-minute weekday availability is plausible, but do not rely on it for a special occasion.
• Is Tempura Kanda good for solo dining? Counter-format tempura is well-suited to solo dining. You eat at the chef's pace, the interaction is direct, and there is no social pressure to fill silence between courses. Solo diners at Bangkok's specialist counters generally have a better time than solo diners at table-service tasting menus. This is one of the stronger use cases for Kanda.
• Does Tempura Kanda handle dietary restrictions? No specific dietary accommodation policies are confirmed in available data. For a counter-format restaurant where each piece is prepared individually, restrictions that involve cross-contamination or ingredient substitution can be complex. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if you have significant dietary requirements.
• What should a first-timer know? Tempura at this level is a counter experience: arrive on time, eat each piece as it is served, and do not expect the pacing of a Western tasting menu. The format is Japanese and sequential. At ฿฿฿฿ in Bangkok, you are committing to a full progression rather than a casual meal. First-timers who have not done omakase-style dining before should know that the kitchen sets the agenda, not the diner.