Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Michelin-recognized tempura at budget prices.
A Michelin Bib Gourmand tempura counter in Shinbashi where the price is low, the kakiage-don is the draw, and the chef's warmth is part of the experience. For a relaxed celebration or a first Tokyo dinner with real quality at ¥ pricing, it earns a clear recommendation. Not suited to formal occasions or diners wanting a tasting-menu format.
If you want a celebratory lunch or dinner in Tokyo that feels genuinely warm rather than formally correct, and you want to spend a fraction of what you'd pay at a kaiseki counter, Tempura Kakiage Yukimura in Shinbashi is the right call. This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised spot built around a simple, honest credo: top-rate food at accessible prices. For solo diners, couples, and small groups who want real quality without a reverential atmosphere, it earns a clear recommendation. If you need a private room, a tasting-menu arc, or hushed formality, look elsewhere.
The room at Yukimura runs warm and lively. Chef-owner Tsuji Hiroyuki sets the tone himself: Michelin's own notes describe the atmosphere as "cheerful, fun, exciting," and the service as one that draws customers across every generation. That is not marketing copy — it reflects a genuinely counter-culture approach to fine tempura, where the chef trades jokes with guests rather than curating a performance of reverence. Expect noise, movement, and a convivial energy that makes it a better fit for a relaxed celebration than a business dinner requiring confidential conversation. If a quieter room matters more than the food quality-to-price ratio, that's worth knowing before you book.
The Shinbashi address puts it in a working neighbourhood of Tokyo — salaryman territory, not a tourist corridor. That context reinforces the atmosphere: this is a restaurant for people who eat well regularly, not one that performs its credentials for visitors. For a special occasion with a local feel, that works strongly in its favour.
Signature dish is kakiage-don: a bowl of rice loaded with shrimp tempura, and it is the reason most people come back. The menu extends to teishoku set meals and à la carte options, available at both lunch and dinner, which gives you flexibility in how much you spend. The price range sits at ¥ (the lowest tier), which is the core of the value argument here. Michelin's Bib Gourmand designation , awarded in 2024 , specifically recognises restaurants offering good cooking at moderate prices. At this tier, you are getting a Michelin-recognised kitchen for the cost of a casual lunch. That is a meaningful gap compared to the ¥¥¥¥ tempura counters in the city.
Chef Tsuji has spoken openly about the principle that guides his pricing: advice learned during his apprenticeship to offer top-rate food at third-rate prices. That philosophy is verifiable in the outcome , a 4.3 rating across 577 Google reviews, combined with Bib Gourmand recognition, is a consistent signal of quality across a broad audience. This is not a place coasting on a single review cycle.
The service at Yukimura is part of the product, not a layer on leading of it. The chef's personal warmth and the informal, joke-trading dynamic with guests is what makes the experience distinct from technically comparable tempura restaurants in Tokyo. At higher-priced tempura counters like Tempura Kondo or Tempura Motoyoshi, the service register is more formal and the experience is framed around craft and ceremony. At Yukimura, the service earns the price point precisely because it does not pretend to be something it is not. You are paying for honest food and genuine hospitality, and you get both. That trade-off is worth understanding before you book: if the formal arc of a high-end tempura omakase is what you are after, this will feel too casual. If you want quality without performance, it is well-matched.
For a special occasion that calls for warmth rather than grandeur , a birthday with friends, a first Tokyo dinner, a casual celebration , the service style here is an asset, not a compromise.
Booking difficulty is low. No phone number or website is listed in Pearl's current data for direct reservations, so checking third-party platforms or walk-in is the practical path. Given the Google review volume (577 reviews, 4.3 rating) and the Bib Gourmand profile, peak lunch periods and Friday evenings are likely to be the busiest windows. Arriving outside those windows improves your chances if you are going without a reservation. The address is 6 Chome-13-13, JP Plus Shinbashi 1F, Minato City , a ground-floor unit in Shinbashi, which is well-served by Tokyo's rail network.
Tokyo's tempura scene runs from budget-friendly neighbourhood spots to some of the most technically demanding counters in the world. Yukimura sits at the accessible end by price but not by quality signal , the Bib Gourmand puts it in recognised territory. For comparison, Tempura Ginya, Tempura Kondo, and Tempura Motoyoshi all operate at higher price points with more formal service. Fukamachi and Edomae Shinsaku are worth considering if you want other angles on Tokyo's deep fry traditions. If you are building a Japan itinerary beyond Tokyo, Numata in Osaka and Mudan Tempura in Taipei offer regional takes on the same craft.
For a fuller picture of dining in the city, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide. You can also explore Tokyo hotels, Tokyo bars, Tokyo wineries, and Tokyo experiences to build out your trip. If you are travelling beyond Tokyo, Pearl covers HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa.
Yes, by a clear margin. At ¥ pricing with a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) and a 4.3 Google rating from over 577 reviews, you are getting recognised quality at a fraction of what formal tempura counters charge. It is the better choice over a mid-tier restaurant with no award signal.
Yukimura does not appear to operate a formal tasting menu. The format is à la carte and teishoku set meals. If you want a tasting-menu arc through a tempura progression, Tempura Kondo or Tempura Motoyoshi are better-suited, at higher prices. Yukimura's value is in the set meals and the kakiage-don.
Yes, for the right kind of special occasion. If you want warmth, laughter, and genuinely good food at an accessible price, it works well for birthdays, casual celebrations, or a first-night Tokyo dinner. It is not suited to formal business meals or occasions that require a private, quiet room.
Order the kakiage-don , the shrimp tempura rice bowl is the signature dish and the reason to come. The room is lively and informal, the chef is known for engaging directly with guests, and the price will be lower than you expect for Michelin-recognised cooking. Come hungry and come ready for a convivial experience rather than a formal one.
Pearl does not have confirmed seating layout data for Yukimura. Given the neighbourhood tempura format and the convivial atmosphere described in Michelin's notes, a counter-style arrangement is common in this category, but this is not confirmed. Check on arrival or contact the venue directly.
No private room data is available. The convivial, informal atmosphere suggests the venue handles social groups well in spirit, but for larger parties (6+) it is worth confirming capacity in advance. No phone or website is currently listed in Pearl's data , third-party booking platforms are the practical route.
For a step up in formality and price: Tempura Kondo and Tempura Motoyoshi offer more structured tempura experiences. For a similar price tier with a different fry-focused approach, Fukamachi is worth considering. If you want to compare tempura outside Tokyo, Numata in Osaka is a strong regional option.
No specific dietary restriction data is available for Yukimura. Tempura as a cuisine is heavily seafood and vegetable-based, but the frying oil and batter are standard concerns for specific dietary needs. With no website or phone number currently listed in Pearl's data, contacting the venue through a third-party platform before your visit is the safest approach.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempura Kakiage Yukimura | Tempura | ¥ | Easy |
| Harutaka | Sushi | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown |
| L'Effervescence | French | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown |
| RyuGin | Kaiseki, Japanese | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown |
| HOMMAGE | Innovtive French, French | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown |
| Crony | Innovative, French | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown |
A quick look at how Tempura Kakiage Yukimura measures up.
Yukimura is a small ground-floor spot in Shinbashi, so large groups may find seating tight. The convivial, informal atmosphere makes it genuinely welcoming for groups of four to six, but if you are planning a party larger than that, check availability in advance through third-party reservation platforms. The ¥ price range makes it an easy group decision on cost.
Yes, if your idea of a special occasion leans warm and celebratory rather than formal and hushed. The Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) recognition confirms the food quality, and chef Tsuji Hiroyuki's joke-trading rapport with guests creates a genuinely festive room. For a milestone dinner requiring white-tablecloth formality, look elsewhere — but for a low-key celebration with serious food at ¥ prices, this is a strong choice.
Order the kakiage-don: it is the signature dish — a rice bowl loaded with shrimp tempura — and the reason most regulars return. The menu also runs to teishoku set meals and à la carte, so there are options beyond the don. Prices sit at the ¥ tier, so do not expect the spend of a Michelin-starred counter. The venue is on the first floor of a building in Shinbashi (6 Chome-13-13), and booking through a third-party platform is the safest approach given no direct website is currently listed.
Seating format details are not confirmed in Pearl's current data for Yukimura. The venue is described as a small, convivial room where the chef trades jokes directly with guests, which suggests counter or open seating rather than a formal dining room — but the specific layout is not documented. Check directly when reserving.
For a step up in formality and price within Tokyo tempura, Harutaka offers a more refined counter experience. If you want to stay in the accessible-price bracket but prefer a different format, neighbourhood teishoku spots across Shinbashi cover similar ground. For special-occasion dining at the high end of Tokyo's food scene, RyuGin or L'Effervescence operate at a completely different price point and format. Yukimura is the call when Michelin-recognized quality at ¥ pricing is the priority.
Yukimura does not operate as a tasting-menu venue. The format is à la carte and teishoku set meals, with the kakiage-don as the headline dish. The value case here is Michelin Bib Gourmand quality at ¥ prices — not a curated progression of courses. If a tasting format is what you are after, this is not the right venue.
Yes. Michelin's Bib Gourmand (2024) is specifically awarded to venues offering good food at moderate prices, and Yukimura's ¥ pricing puts it at the accessible end of Tokyo dining. Chef Tsuji Hiroyuki's stated philosophy — 'top-rate food at third-rate prices' — maps directly onto what the Bib Gourmand recognizes. For tempura and kakiage-don at this quality level, the value case is hard to argue against.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
