A long-standing tempura institution, Tsunahachi has established 23 restaurants (as of January 2022) across Japan since its inception in 1923. This Shinjuku venue, however, remains its flagship, having opened in 1964, the year of the first Tokyo Olympics. The restaurant is also one of the most spacious in the area, offering counter seats where you get to see the chefs in action as well as table and tatami-style seating for group dining.
Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi prides itself on sourcing fresh seafood daily from the Toyosu Market. It also uses premium sesame oil for frying, resulting in tempura that neither tastes or feels greasy.
Weekday lunch offers the best deals. The cheapest set will only set you back ¥1,870, which gets you two prawns, one type of seafood, three kinds of vegetables and a kakiage (fritter), all fried upon order and served piece by piece along with rice, pickles and miso soup. There are more elaborate lunch sets offering a wider selection of seafood.
Come dinner, the menu becomes more extensive, with prices ranging from ¥2,970 to ¥9,680. The five course options each come with rice, miso soup and pickles; the difference lies in the type and amount of seafood. Rest assured, you’ll always get the Japanese tiger prawns, with their plump flesh encased in light, crispy batter – just what Tsunahachi is known for.