Tendon Kohaku

After many reviews and having plenty of locations around the world, I finally came around to trying out this popular Japanese tendon restaurant! Tendon Kohaku serves up some piping hot tendons that are absolutely to die for! For those who don’t know, tendon is essentially a variety of deep fried items battered in tempura and served in a rice bowl. This place is definitely doing it right and sticking to the flavours of traditional Japanese tendon.

I had ordered their signature Kohaku Tendon and from the moment I took my first bite, I was transported back to my memories of Japan exploring and trying little mom and pop shops all over. The crunch on the tempura is just right, not too hard or soft. The ingredients themselves all each cooked to perfection. From the oozing yolk of the egg to the moist chicken that was cooked so well it was almost as tender as fish. By far the best part had to be their signature tendon sauce. It had the right balance of sweet, salty, spice, and a hint of sour that makes you want to keep eating. Normally, deep fried foods make you feel heavy and sluggish but after eating this Don, it seems so light that you don’t feel gross afterwards.

Of course I had other items on the menu as well including their signature Nagoya-style chicken wings which was also a force to be reckoned with in its own right. Having well balanced umami in its own special sauce and very lightly fried chicken wings that was crispy but still tender and juicy on the inside it hit home.

Then there was the Chawanmushi which was so silky smooth it practically melted in my mouth but sadly wasn’t seasoned at all. The Kabocha salad was subpar with the salad really just being a reinterpretation of a potato salad but way too sweet. And lastly the yuzu refresher drink was one of the best drinks I’ve had in a while! It felt extremely refreshing as the name implied and took me back to summer time.

All the dishes were all great in their own way but for me what’ll keep me coming back are those dons! Definitely give this place a try if you get the chance! Where do you go for rice bowls (don)? Comment below!

Crispiness: 8/10
Flavour: 9/10
Greasiness: 9/10
Sauce: 8/10
Affordability: $$
Overall: 8/10
Would I go back: Definitely!