Tendon Ginza Itsuki

I think this place is a 3.5 stars so I’m glad there is already a 3 star review. My 4 star will balance it right out to 3.5.
Passed by Tendon a bunch of times and always marveled at the ridiculous queue of folks waiting outside around the corner. I’m always amazed at the patience of Singaporeans to queue extensively for good food.
Walked by today and saw there were only 2 people in line and jumped at the opportunity to try Tendon.
Their operations are very efficient, a cashier takes your order while in queue and you’re seated as folks clear out. Food is ready within minutes of sitting.
There’s only 2 choices — Special or Vegetable. Each set comes with miso soup and the chawanmushi steamed egg appetizer. I was surprised at the quantity of food, it’s a LOT, and I have a voracious appetite.
Left very full. Everything was tasty. The tempura was a bit soggy as the other reviewer mentioned but not horrible.
I’d come back, only if there is no queue.

No Perfect Ten For This Don.
For months we had wanted to try this little Japanese restaurant at the corner of Tanjong Pagar.
A peep in reveals a small restaurant with mostly counter seating. How much more Authentic Japanese can it get?
The queue here is pretty crazy though.
Every time we walked pass, there were at least 20 people in the queue.
Don’t expect an extensive menu at Tendon though.
A brainchild of the Ramen Keisuke Group (which we do happen to like their Ramen quite a fair bit), the concept is simple. 2 choices (Special or Vegetarian) of rice topped with a tempura, drizzled with their speciality sauce, served with a mini chawanmushi and miso soup, all for $ 13.90 ($ 12.90 for the vegetarian option).
Finally having a day off for from work, we decided to try it for dinner. Arriving at 6pm, there were already 5 groups ahead of us (they open at 5.30pm for dinner). While queueing, it did suddenly hit me. What if the queues we saw were because of its value for money and because it was good? Unfortunately, it was the former.
Special Tendon Set.
There’s no denying the generosity of each set. Each set starts of with a mini chawanmushi and free flow of vegetables (it’s placed in a little container on the table).
The Don (rice bowl) itself came with a generous amount of tempura.
2 chicken fillets, 2 prawns, 2 pieces of string beans, a baby corn, a mushroom, a pumpkin and a soft egg that’s been battered and fried (10 pieces, maybe that’s where the name tendon came from).
The Vegetarian option comes with a pumpkin, Shiitake Mushroom, Lotus Root, Eggplant and other vegetables (4 pieces).
While the chawanmushi was good, the rice was decent and sauce complimenting the dish well, the star of the show, the tempura was a bit of a let down.
Unfortunately, it was more a case of quantity over quality.
While the vegetables were nicely battered, we felt that the proteins were too heavily battered.
Not only that, but, due to the speed that food is required to be churned out, the Tempuras weren’t given time to rest, making the flour fairly soggy when it reached the table (this could be seen because the cooking was done in front of us while we were waiting for food).
Out from the fryer, onto a drip pan, but before it really gets any time to rest and drain, it gets picked up and goes straight into the waiting rice bowl, drizzled with their house sauce and served to us.
Sad because the quality of the produce used was pretty decent. The chicken fillets were tender, the prawns were sweet, just that it was all masked under a thick soggy batter.
So if you’re looking for value than Tendon is the place to be but if you’re looking to fulfill your craving for beautifully battered, crispy tempura?
We’ll suggest other Japanese restaurants to satisfy your craving.
For the time being, I’ll be sticking to the Ramens from Keisuke instead.