Tempura Kondo
Tempura · Chūō, Tokyo
Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Book with PearlThe Read
Vegetable-Forward Edo Tempura
Price
¥¥¥
Chef
Fumio Kondo
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Tempura Kondo is the clearest case for booking in Tokyo's tempura category: two Michelin stars, a Tabelog score of 4.07, over five decades of craft behind the counter. Lunch (JPY 10,000–14,999) is the accessible entry point; dinner runs JPY 20,000–29,999. Book as far ahead as possible; with 20 seats and no walk-in culture, availability disappears fast.
About Tempura Kondo
Should You Book Tempura Kondo?
Yes; if tempura is on your Tokyo agenda at all, Tempura Kondo is the benchmark against which every other option gets measured. With two Michelin stars held consecutively, a Tabelog score of 4.07, Tabelog Bronze Award recognition every year from 2018 through 2026, consistent placement in the Opinionated About Dining Japan rankings (reaching #360 in 2024), this is not a venue you visit casually. Dinner runs JPY 20,000–29,999 per head; lunch is more accessible at JPY 10,000–14,999. The case for booking is strong. The case for skipping it is essentially nonexistent if you care about the format at all.
The Venue
Tempura Kondo sits on the 9th floor of the Sakaguchi Building in Ginza, three minutes on foot from Ginza Station (Exit B5). The room holds 20 seats arranged around a counter, which is the only format on offer; no private rooms. That counter orientation is deliberate: at a restaurant built around watching a craftsman work, proximity to the fryer is the entire point. The atmosphere is calm rather than hushed, precise rather than performative. There is no background noise to manage because the room is small enough, the energy focused enough, that distraction is not really a factor. This is a working counter, not a dining room dressed up to look like one.
Chef Fumio Kondo has been refining his approach to tempura for more than 50 years. His central argument, documented across La Liste (85 points in 2026, 86.5 in 2025) and the Michelin guide, is that tempura is primarily a vehicle for vegetables, not seafood. Fish is present, but vegetables take the lead, the technical foundation behind that choice is substantial: Kondo prepares ingredients immediately before frying, so that the moisture trapped inside the batter steams the produce from within rather than simply cooking it in oil. The result is that coating and ingredient finish as a single coherent thing rather than two separate components. It is a precise philosophy executed at a high level, it has been consistent for decades.
The Drinks Program
The drinks program at Tempura Kondo is built around sake and shochu, the kitchen's sourcing notes indicate a deliberate focus on both. The venue is listed as being particularly attentive to its sake and shochu selection, not a perfunctory list added for completeness, but a considered pairing framework that matches the precision of the food. Sake is the natural companion for tempura at this level: its clean umami and relatively low tannin profile does not compete with delicate batter or the intrinsic flavours of seasonal vegetables and fish. A well-curated nihonshu list in a Ginza counter of this calibre will typically include junmai daiginjo pours suited to the course progression, though the specific selections are not confirmed in our data. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, UnionPay); electronic money and QR code payments are not.
Booking Reality
Getting a table here is genuinely difficult. With 20 seats, two lunch sittings (12:00 and 13:30), and evening sessions running in two-hour blocks from 17:00 to 20:00, the available covers per service are limited. The restaurant is closed Sundays, occasionally closes on Wednesdays roughly once a month, is also closed on Mondays that follow a public holiday. Reservation changes or cancellations trigger a fee based on how far out the request is made, so treat your booking as fixed once confirmed. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, call ahead. Perfume is actively discouraged given the sensitivity of the food environment. Plan to book as far in advance as your travel schedule allows; last-minute availability at this level in Ginza is not realistic.
Who This Is For
Tempura Kondo suits a food-focused traveller who wants to understand the format at its most serious, not someone looking for a casual Ginza dinner. The lunch price point (JPY 10,000–14,999) makes it the more accessible entry, it is the logical starting point for a first visit. Dinner at JPY 20,000–29,999 is justified if you want the full course progression and more time at the counter. Groups up to 20 can use the space for private hire. Smaller parties, two to four people, work well at the counter format. The occasion most frequently cited by diners is a meal with friends, which tracks: this is a shared-experience setting rather than a romantic dinner destination.
Know Before You Go
Practical Details
- Address: 9F, Sakaguchi Building, 5-5-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza Station, 3-minute walk (Exit B5)
- Hours: Mon–Sat, lunch 12:00–15:00 (last order 13:30); dinner 17:00–20:00 (two-hour sessions). Closed Sundays; occasionally closed Wednesdays (approx. once/month)
- Lunch price: JPY 10,000–14,999 per head
- Dinner price: JPY 20,000–29,999 per head
- Seats: 20 (counter seating only)
- Private hire: Available for up to 20 people
- Payment: Credit cards accepted (Visa, MC, JCB, Amex, Diners, UnionPay). No e-money or QR payments
- Smoking: Non-smoking throughout
- Parking: Not available
- Booking difficulty: Near impossible without advance planning, reserve as early as possible
- Cancellation policy: Fees apply for date/time/guest count changes based on days remaining
- Note: Avoid strong perfume; call if arriving more than 15 minutes late
Awards and Recognition
- Michelin 2 Stars (2024, 2025)
- Tabelog Bronze Award: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2025, 2026
- Tabelog score: 4.07
- Tabelog Tempura 100 selection: 2022, 2023, 2025
- La Liste: 86.5 points (2025), 85 points (2026)
- Opinionated About Dining Japan: #360 (2024), #416 (2025)
Explore More in Tokyo and Japan
For other serious tempura counters in Tokyo, consider Tempura Ginya, Tempura Motoyoshi, Fukamachi, Seiju, and Edomae Shinsaku. For tempura beyond Tokyo, Numata in Osaka and Mudan Tempura in Taipei are worth tracking. Elsewhere in Japan, the broader fine-dining circuit includes HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa. See our full guides for Tokyo restaurants, Tokyo hotels, Tokyo bars, Tokyo wineries, and Tokyo experiences.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm · Tuesday: 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Location
- Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−5−13 Sakaguchi Bld., ９F
- Website
- tempura-kondo.com
- Phone
- +81 3-5568-0923
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Tempura Kondo presents a concentrated, counter-driven experience in Ginza: twenty seats on the ninth floor frame a single-chef operation where every decision is technical and deliberate. The room is quietly exacting rather than theatrical, and the kitchen’s focus on ingredient-led tempura — particularly a vegetable-forward approach within Edo tradition — lends the service an elegant restraint. Accolades from Michelin and other evaluators reinforce a sense of refinement; the effect is intimate and serious, the kind of place where precision and seasonality take center stage and the mood remains composed rather than loud or flashy.
Best For
This is a place for focused, celebratory dining rather than casual group outings. The compact counter and chef-directed sequence make it ideal for special occasions and close celebrations — couples, discerning solo diners or very small parties who want to watch technique unfold. Because the experience is built around a single operator and tightly ordered service, it rewards attention to pacing and an appetite for tasting-driven, ingredient-focused tempura. It is not suited to large, boisterous groups; instead it caters to guests seeking a refined, intimate meal in Ginza.
Ordering Tips
The menu is an argument about ingredients, so lean into the chef’s judgment: allow the counter sequence to dictate timing and portions. Prioritize the signatures — uni tempura, lotus root, sweet potato, kakiage and anago — and emphasize vegetable items where the kitchen makes its technical case. Ask about what’s at its peak that day, since seasonality is central to the approach, and expect each piece to arrive hot and precisely cooked. Given the single-chef format, trust the progression rather than trying to customize the sequence excessively.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Tuesday
- 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Wednesday
- 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Thursday
- 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Friday
- 12–3 pm, 5–8 pm
- Saturday
- 12–3 pm, 5–9 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Location
Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−5−13 Sakaguchi Bld., ９F · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Harutaka; Sushi, ¥¥¥¥
- L'Effervescence; French, ¥¥¥¥
- RyuGin; Kaiseki, Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
- HOMMAGE; Innovtive French, French, ¥¥¥¥
- Crony; Innovative, French, ¥¥¥¥
Restaurant context
How Tempura Kondo Compares
Within Tokyo's broader fine-dining tier, Tempura Kondo sits at a lower price point than most of its peers while delivering credentials that match them. Harutaka and RyuGin both operate at ¥¥¥¥, meaning dinner at either will run meaningfully higher than Kondo's JPY 20,000–29,999 ceiling. If your priority is value-per-credential; Michelin stars, La Liste points, OAD ranking; Kondo is the stronger argument at its price. RyuGin is the better choice if you want kaiseki's full seasonal sweep; Kondo wins if tempura is specifically the format you want to understand at depth.
L'Effervescence, HOMMAGE, and Crony are all French-influenced, placing them in a different decision category entirely. If you are building a Tokyo itinerary across multiple restaurant types and want to include one Japanese counter at the highest level, Kondo is easier to justify than a second French tasting menu. For travellers choosing between Kondo and Harutaka, the question is format: sushi counter vs. tempura counter, both at the top of their respective categories. Neither is a compromise; pick based on what you want to eat.
On booking difficulty, all five comparison venues are hard to secure. Kondo's 20-seat counter makes it no easier, but the structured session format (two lunch slots, staggered dinner blocks) at least gives you predictable windows to target. For a first-time visitor to Tokyo who wants one definitive counter experience in a Japanese format, Tempura Kondo at lunch is the most cost-efficient entry point across this peer group.
Explore Tokyo
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Tempura Kondo guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Tempura Kondo?
Book at least four to six weeks out, particularly for dinner. With only 20 seats and two fixed lunch sittings (12:00 and 13:30) plus two-hour evening sessions, availability disappears fast; especially for overseas visitors who can't call ahead in Japanese. If late arrival is a risk, note that the venue requires you to call if you'll be more than 15 minutes late, or a cancellation fee applies. Any change to reservation date, time, or guest count also triggers that policy.
What should I wear to Tempura Kondo?
No formal dress code is listed in the venue data, but the 9th-floor Ginza counter setting and ¥20,000–¥29,999 dinner price point suggest smart, understated attire is appropriate. One confirmed rule: avoid heavy perfume. The venue explicitly requests guests refrain from wearing excessive fragrance, which matters in a small 20-seat room where scent interferes with the food.
What are alternatives to Tempura Kondo in Tokyo?
For serious tempura at a comparable level, Fukamachi and Seiju are frequently cited alongside Kondo. Tempura Ginya and Tempura Motoyoshi offer strong alternatives if Kondo is fully booked. For a different cuisine altogether at a similar price tier in Tokyo, RyuGin (Japanese kaiseki) or L'Effervescence (French) address different formats but comparable seriousness.
What should a first-timer know about Tempura Kondo?
The format here is counter-based, 20 seats only, with structured two-hour sessions; this is not a drop-in dinner. Chef Fumio Kondo's approach centres on vegetables as the primary subject of tempura, so if you're expecting a seafood-heavy course, recalibrate. The restaurant holds two Michelin stars (2025) and a Tabelog score of 4.07, placing it among the most recognised tempura addresses in Tokyo. Come with a reservation and no perfume.
Is Tempura Kondo worth the price?
At ¥10,000–¥14,999 for lunch and ¥20,000–¥29,999 for dinner, Kondo is expensive but defensible given the credentials: two Michelin stars (2025), an 85-point La Liste ranking (2026), and consistent Tabelog Bronze awards from 2018 through 2026. Lunch is the sharper value if budget is a factor; the format is the same counter experience at roughly half the dinner cost. If you want Michelin-level tempura in Ginza at a sub-¥15,000 price point, lunch here is the answer.
Is the tasting menu worth it at Tempura Kondo?
The structured session format (two-hour sittings) is the only way to eat here, so there's no à la carte alternative to weigh it against. The question is whether the overall experience justifies ¥20,000–¥29,999 at dinner. Given the two Michelin stars, the 86.5-point La Liste score (2025), and Kondo's specifically documented approach; treating vegetables as the centrepiece of tempura; it delivers something with a clear culinary point of view. Diners who want variety and a longer arc of courses will find this more satisfying than a shorter kaiseki-style counter.
Is Tempura Kondo good for a special occasion?
Yes, with one caveat: there are no private rooms. The 20-seat counter is the entire restaurant, which makes it a strong choice for two people on a significant occasion but less suited to groups seeking privacy. Tabelog reviewers flag it specifically for friends occasions. For a group wanting exclusive use, the venue does allow full private buyouts for up to 20 people, which would need to be arranged directly.
