Tempura Endo

You need to really like tempura! This was a nice one-​time experience but I was not blown away. The service was very attentive and friendly. It’s rather expensive and, while I found some pieces quite good, I didn’t eat anything that I would come back to eat again; however, there were others at the bar who seemed clearly very satisfied so it’s likely just an issue of personal taste.

This review is relative to other restaurants similar in price and format (i.e. Cyrus in Healdsburg, Mosu in San Francisco, Keiko a Nob Hill). I think they pride themselves in the use of the Kyoto style of tempura versus the inventiveness of each dish.
We went for the Ume menu. I would give 3 stars in terms of inventiveness. The highlight here is the tempura, but the ingredients were very simple. I was not wowed by the interaction of ingredients in each dish.
My favorite item was the Uni, and I wish I could just have 10 pieces of that. I wasn’t a fan of the fried potato with sugar. Neither was I fan of the cinnamon granita dessert. I would expect more inventive, elaborate dessert for such a price. I would have liked to see more sashimi in this menu, versus the fried corn, peas, and other veggies which were all served individually.
Ambience: I felt like a tourist in a foreign country. The waiters and hostess were going out of their way to educate me on the origins of this style of Tempura being served. I was sitting at the bar, and had to turn around a lot. I wouldn’t say that I recommend the bar unless you speak Japanese and would like to interact with the chef (who also only speaks Japanese). The bar is very well lit and I wouldn’t say it’s romantic, but it might be different in the main dining room.

Excellent high end tempura shop similar in experience and taste to the one in Kyoto where you are seated on the bar and the chef cooks in front of you. Each tempura piece is accompanied with different salt. Everything is crispy on the outside and tender inside and most importantly, not oily. Love the sweet shrimp, fresh uni, scallop with truffle and caviar, shrimp bread. Superb. But for about $ 500 after tax and tip for dinner for 2 (for the cheapest set menu) it would be a while before we return.

A restaurant solely dedicated to tempura??? High end, luxury, tempura…? Fascinating!
I guess in this day and age, specialization really is key!
Came during a weekday, we were the only party seated at that moment.
As a party of 4, we opted to sit at the bar. All the servers were very attentive.
The food was stellar!
But I must say, even though it is grade A quality oil that is being used, after eating over 12 items of all tempura. I did feel a bit heavy. — Not as heavy as I would if I had fried junk food, but still heavy. (But this could be because I do not incorporate a lot of fried foods in my normal diet)
I opted for the «take» menu course which included:
–Appetizer
Eggplant /​Ginger dashi gelee
–Amuse Tempura
Corn
Shrimp bread
–Sashimi
3kind of Today’s fish
–1^st Style
Live Scampi
King Crab
Sea Urchin
Sillago
Pea Croquette
Refreshment Tempura
Flambed Sweet Potato with Yuzu Granite
–2^nd Style
Scallop /​Truffle & Caviar
Sesame Tofu
Wagyu
Special Salada
–Tempura Bowl
Ten-​Don
Tsukemono
Miso-​soup
–Dessert
Sweets & Sherbet (Yuzu Sorbet)
Matcha by Tea-​Ceremony Style
The food was great, super fresh! — The tempura was very light, not greasy. — The various salt pairings that were included really brought the experience over the top.
Overall, great experience — wonderful service — impeccable quality — all about the details!
Side note:
–Heated toilet seats
–NO VALET PARKING

I first discovered this place after seeing that one of my friends had attended their invite-​only pre-​tasting. I was disappointed to see that they didn’t have Sunday openings and so I thought I wouldn’t be able to land this place for Valentine’s Day. I booked for the day before and forgot about it for a month. About two weeks before the reservation, I saw that they had prepared a special Valentine’s Day menu and I immediately called and reserved a spot. The staff called several times leading up to the actual dinner so that they could personalize the menus, check for any food allergies, etc.
We took one of the two available «private» tables because of the special event, otherwise I would have preferred to sit at the bar and watch our food being cooked. I thought that the food quality, textures, tastes, and variety were mostly great. I enjoyed the different types of salt and liked that you were able to add it at your own preference.
The shrimp bread tempura tastes like toast. The Hennessy flambeed sweet potato portion was quite large and I thought it felt like a filler. The tempura bowl also felt like a «we want to make sure you’re full for $ 300» dish. Kind of unnecessary as I was already stuffed at this point. Our dinner also included champagne pairings. Personally I don’t think champagne goes particularly well this meal and makes me feel all bloated and bubbly afterwards.
In any case, I cannot fault a place for originality and quality ingredients as I haven’t seen anything else like it in the US. I probably would not come back, but only because it’s one of those experiences you try once. At $ 800 for two people, I would rather spend that money at Urasawa as that is a life changing experience.

Finally we have a real Tempura restaurant in LA, is it the first in the US? This is not your typical tempura dish at regular sushi /​ramen joint. In Japan, there are tempura restaurants which serve nothing but tempura, they come in all kinds of vegetables, seafood and meat.
Tempura Endo gives you the same experience as if you are in Japan. Traditional tempura with super fresh ingredients cooked and served right away. They are all fried in oil but they use special kind of oil and with the right temperature, the food does not taste like anything oily and soggy. It’s super crips and fresh.
Although it’s a bit expensive, compared to some other «kaiseki» style restaurants, it’s quite an experience and it’s highly recommended.

Have you ever been to Kyoto and experience Japanese traditional food and hospitality? Now you can save your money and time because Tempura Endo is here in Los Angeles!
Usually when I have tempura for dinner, I end waking up with heavy feeling in my stomach the next day. However, at this place, tempura is not greasy at all, the butter coats each ingredient thinly, yet giving the nice crunchiness without diminishing the deliciousness. Dining experience here would never leave you heaviness on your stomach (maybe just lighter wallet, though…) :p
My favorites were: corn tempura, one of their signature tempura, it is very hard to find pure corn tempura without the use of any binding agent. Pea croquette, which had mashed peas inside, looking cute, sweet and yummy. Sashimi dish was unexpectedly exquisite as well. I didn’t have high expectation on their sashimi since this place specializing in Tempura, but oh my, they were so delicious. The abalone was very fresh (and I am not usually an abalone person.) and the toro, they literally melt in the mouth.
The highlights of the night, I would have to say their refreshment tempura, the flambed sweet potato with yuzu granite. It was simply just very satisfying and made me happy. Many people rave about their Wagyu tempura and I was excited about that, too, but it was very tiny and I took too much time taking pictures of it (I know, it’s my fault.) so I wasn’t able to experience Wagyu orgasm…: /​Hopefully next time.
Not only they import their tempura oil and many of other condiments such as Japanese pepper, this high-​end establishment is managed by Japanese chef and servers came all the way from their main restaurant in Kyoto. As my husband and I were leaving the restaurant, chef and servers came out thanking our visit and bowed to us. How authentic is that? It brought right back to my last trip to Kyoto.
«Ookini.» A thousand thanks for being here, Tempura Endo :)

To say I was impressed with my dinner last night at Tempura Endo would be a vast understatement. It was a dinner experience that I will never forget.
We arrived at 5pm as that was all they had available. There is no valet parking but there is a public lot a block away that is free after 6pm. We were seated at a few of the bar seats, overlooking the tempura grill.
We decided on the smaller set menu. It comes with many things, but what I specifically remember was the Eggplant salad to start followed by a piece of each of:
Shrimp tempura
Scallop tempura with black truffle and caviar
Sweet pea tempura
Sweet potato tempura
Corn tempura
Uni tempura
Tofu tempura
Halibut tempura with shiso
Tempura rice bowl with shrimp and vegetables
Tea service and a scoop of sorbet
This is a type of tempura that is from Japan and is very, very light. It is not oily or greasy, but gently cooks the vegetable or fish and gives it a subtle crunch on the outside. Each ingredient shines through and the little trays of salt give it that savory kick it needs. My dinning companions and I all had different favorites. Mine was the tofu. It was the best tofu I have ever had. I’ve had tempura in Tokyo and this was even better!
The areas that could be improved are dessert and drinks. The dessert was a small scoop of sorbet and I could have used a little more sugar. Drinks are mostly by the bottle as there are no wines by the glass. Other than these two things it was a perfect meal. Pricey, but perfect. I can’t wait to go back.

It was an extraordinary tempura experience we will not forget. Looking forward to going back…

This high end tempura place finally arrived in LA. Kyoto tempura kaiseki … Unlike any tempura in town, just like you are in Kyoto. Love it. The tempura are really good and the staffs are very nice.

The first night officially open I called to find out if I could come in, but unfortunately it was too late to stop by for my a la carte fine dining tempura eating experience. I was able to reserve a spot for the second night worried it would be difficult to get in to Tempura Endo in the coming weeks or months.
I trust my instincts when choosing where to eat in LA. After reviewing all the photos on IG, I knew I had to visit as soon as possible.
The restaurant is tiny. I walked in and noticed a private room and a small waiting area. I was promptly greeted by the ladies in kimono telling me to wait while they prepare my seat.
I was led to a private room towards the back where they have the 8-​seat chef’s table and behind the tea ceremony room.
After I was seated, they presented the menu and showed me the a la carte section. Most of the special items and some of the vegetables I wanted to try were sold out for the evening.
I chose about 7 items off the menu which they served one at a time, similar when you’re seated at the sushi bar. They prepare and cook the tempura in a pot in front of you.
This is not your average tempura. They have several pages explaining what goes into making your tempura. From the flour, oils, and water they use, it is unique to this restaurant in LA. The assorted salts in front of you are all interesting varieties such as the yuzu, matcha, truffle, rice, etc. One they serve the piece of tempura, the chef will tell you which salt to dip your tempura in.
The service and hospitality here is on another level, unlike any restaurant I’ve experienced in the United States or in Europe. Very formal, yet approachable. Mori Sushi was very similar in experience.
At 10 pm, I easily found free parking on the street. I recommend getting maybe 6 — 7 dishes off the a la carte menu. If you love the experience, do the tasting menu next if you’re unsure of paying the $$$$ tasting menu to get the entire experience including tea ceremony.

Tempura Endo has landed in LA and I am so excited to be one of the first to try out this high-​end tempura concept all the way from Kyoto. I always thought tempura to be fatty and gross until I tried the exquisite tempura of Endo. The oil used is top quality and the tempura is even surprisingly gluten free. I still cannot believe how light and crisp the tempura is compared to the usual heavy, greasy tempura served at most Japanese restaurants. I especially loved the wagyu, which was fried to a medium-​rare perfection that literally melts in your mouth. In fact, the uni, scallop, king crab and the veggies all melt in your mouth! Each tempura piece is paired with a special salt to heighten your taste buds. Definitely a foodie wet dream! The sashimi course was another highlight in between the tempura courses– the toro was magical! Following dinner, there is a traditional tea ceremony with a delicious cup of matcha served. I was even able to select my own cup for the ceremony– What a grand close! Excellent food, excellent service, and just an overall excellent experience!