TOKYO: Tempura Kondo 2 stars Michelin

I haven't achieved much in my lifetime but, at least I can say, I've dined at the restaurant that rejected President Obama. 

So, the story goes that, Japanese prime Minister Shinzo Abe wanted to take Obama to Tempura Kondo but because the restaurant was already fully booked, the reservation request was turned down. Hence, PM Abe took Obama to Sukiyabashi Jiro instead. 

I remember Nick and I had a terrible time trying to find this place, but thankfully still made it in time for our dinner reservation ! 

We opted for the set menu. There's 3 option - 11000yen, 14000yen and 18000yen. 

11000 yen (FUJI)  

Tempura (Prawn x2, vegetable x4, fish x3)

Kakiage (mixture of bits of scallop and prawn friend in batter)

Fruits

14000yen (KAEDE)

Appetiser ( 2 japanese dishes, today's chef recommendation) 

Tempura (Prawn x2, vegetable x6, fish x3)

Kakiage (mixture of bits of scallop and prawn friend in batter)

Fruits

18000yen (YOMOGI)

Appetiser ( 2 japanese dishes, today's chef recommendation) 

Sashimi

Tempura (Prawn x3, vegetable x6, fish x4)

Kakiage (mixture of bits of scallop and prawn friend in batter)

Fruits

OF COURSE MY DARLINGS, always opt for the most expensive. 

So I've always believed, if you've painstakingly flown to another country, and with heaps of effort and some luck, manage to get a booking at a good restaurant, not going for the best is an insult to your core self. 

18000yen (YOMOGI) set:

Let the frying begin!

So the restaurant is divided into 2 sections - front and back. Front is where the main chef Fumio Kondo work his magic. The back is where his.. disciples slowly hone their skills. 

I've unfortunately only managed to sit at the back section, but I realised that those at the front section were all Japanese (must be his regulars hmm)

However, Nick on the other hand, who has been here couple of times, has managed to sit at the front section once. YESSSSSSSS. Will do another post on his experience another day.  

NUMBER 1 PRAWN HEAD. 

please everybody, rosuvastatin 20mg stat.

The above is some mountain flower that can only be found on snow mountain. So I asked the chef which snow mountain was it - FUJI?! 

I didn't know what mountain he said but it didnt sound like Fuji, meh ):

Don't know what happened to the rest of my fish pictures, I probably was so greedy I ate everything before getting a picture, ooops, soz. let's hope Nick does a better job haha.

Oh, Please definitely order an ala carte sweet potato at the start of your meal. This sweet potato was SO SWEET AND NICE. 

AMAZING KAKIEGE

Wish they served me musk melon instead, oh wells. 

I definitely definitely recommend everybody to try Kondo if you're after a good tempura meal. 

It's really a notch above the rest, the batter was crispy yet light. I have a really bad digestive system as I previously mentioned, and I get severe dyspepsia if things are too oily. And you would expect your stomach to be coated in oil after so much deep fried food, however, ZERO symptoms, not even an oily burp.

SUGOIIIIIII!

Sakaguchi Building 9F, 5-5-13, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Close every Sunday.

Lunch 12noon - 3pm

Dinner 5pm - 10 pm