New in town: Tempura Tendon Tenya, Orchard Central — The next stop for your Japanese food fix

In times when one is in dire need of crunchy fritters, Japanese tempura (deep-fried battered vegetables and seafood) usually does the trick. Tempura donburi, or simply abbreviated as tendon, is a selection of vegetable and seafood fritters perched atop a full bowl of fluffy short-grain rice. If, like me, you enjoy a good tendon (tempura rice bowl), Tempura Tendon Tenya at Orchard Central is the place for you.

Slated to open 15 October 2020, this will be the Japanese chain’s first outlet in Singapore.

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Their menu offers the classic Tenya Tendon (S$8.50++), with deep-fried black tiger prawn, fish, squid and French bean tempura, paired with a warm bowl of white rice. Their signature tendon tare (dipping sauce) completes the meal.

Other more elaborate options include the Seafood Tendon (S$12.90++), Udon and Soba (S$11.90++ onwards). Whether you’re in the mood for rice or noodles, Japanese carbs with tempura is always a winning choice.

Even vegetarians will be happy to know of Tempura Tendon Tenya, with the Mushroom Vegetables Tendon (S$7.90) offering a tantalising selection of shiitake, shimeji and enoki mushrooms along with sweet potato, lotus root, pumpkin and french beans. I’m a big fan of sweet potato tempura for that delectable sliver of starchy sweetness along with its crunchy savoury batter.

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Of course, the only (albeit small) drawback from a delicious tempura rice bowl meal is the resulting thirstiness from all that deep-fried goodness. At Tempura Tendon Tenya, cool down after your meal with a Hokkaido Soft Serve (S$2++) that will refresh and quench your thirst.

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I’m looking forward to this new Tempura Tendon Tenya outlet at Orchard Central.

For the time being, I’m going to keep myself updated on their Facebook and Instagram in the hopes of perusing their full menu in advance. After all, I’m pretty sure I’ll be spoilt for choice once I get there.