Mikawa Zezankyo
A renowned temple of tempura where master chef Tetsuya Saotome crafts exquisite Edo-style bites with decades of dedication.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Mikawa Zezankyo
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A renowned temple of tempura where master chef Tetsuya Saotome crafts exquisite Edo-style bites with decades of dedication.
"The tempura at Mikawa Zezankyo is truly a work of art—light, crispy, and bursting with fresh, seasonal flavors."
Book Counter Seats
Observe Chef Saotome and enjoy personalized service from the counter.
Respect Reservation Rules
Arrive on time; latecomers may not be served due to strict booking policies.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Japanese Tempura
Price
$$$
Phone
+81 3-3643-8383
Address
1 Chome-3-1 Fukuzumi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0032, Japan
Website
mikawa-zezankyo.jimdo.com/
Michelin Star
Excellent Cuisine, where diners can expect skilfully crafted and exceptional dishes
Insta-Factor
Medium
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Masterful Edo-Style Tempura
Experience flawless tempura by renowned Chef Tetsuya Saotome, showcasing meticulous technique and seasonal flavors.
Intimate Counter Dining
Immerse yourself in a minimalist setting with a focus on culinary excellence, watching master chefs at work.
Artfully Presented Dishes
Enjoy beautifully presented dishes bursting with fresh, seasonal flavors, a true work of art.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Counter Seats
Observe Chef Saotome and enjoy personalized service from the counter.
Respect Reservation Rules
Arrive on time; latecomers may not be served due to strict booking policies.
Opt for Omakase
Savor a variety of carefully selected tempura with the chef's choice menu.
New Year's Gift Card
Visit between Jan 1st-11th for a special gift card from Chief Saotome.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Counter Seats
Observe Chef Saotome and enjoy personalized service from the counter.
Respect Reservation Rules
Arrive on time; latecomers may not be served due to strict booking policies.
Opt for Omakase
Savor a variety of carefully selected tempura with the chef's choice menu.
New Year's Gift Card
Visit between Jan 1st-11th for a special gift card from Chief Saotome.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Mikawa Zezankyo is highly acclaimed for its masterful Edo-style tempura, with diners praising Chef Tetsuya Saotome's exceptional technique and the artful presentation of seasonal ingredients. While many find the experience transformative, some note that the atmosphere can feel rigid and tense, with occasional criticisms regarding service pace and the uni's preparation. Despite mixed feedback on ambiance, the quality of the tempura remains a strong draw for enthusiasts.
"Was very lucky that I could book a seat released by someone else just a few days before the solo travel. It was a good experience, guests were hosted in the owner’s small museum upstairs with lots of precious Japanese tea bowls, calligraphy pieces and art pieces, including a samurai outfit. It was a bit pity that most guests focus on selfie.
Food was undoubtedly great. The master chef’s technique was exceptional, very impressed by how he used a long pair of chopsticks to cut a piece of fish perfectly without the two pieces moving!!"
P C
"Average tempura with a tense atmosphere. Absolutely not worth almost $30k yen and certainly not the best tempura I had in Tokyo. I don't know how this is so highly rated on tabelog. Perhaps the concept of high end tempura is to blame (vs. high end steak or sushi where the freshness of the ingredients matter much more).
Additionally, the atmosphere was super rigid and very quiet. At this type of restaurant I expect some type of banter from the chefs, but not a word from them. I don't recommend this restaurant."
Christi Balaki
"When we visited in 2016, we had a private room and the most beautiful delicious food and romantic experience. This visit was our adult family of five at the counter where I hoped for a more lively experience witnessing the great chef and eating moments after each pieces preparation. However the service felt openly hostile to joy as our family was reveling in the experience and told to shush many times. Service felt rushed, with barely a moment between bites and strong worded orders of how to eat each piece, which required salt and which required sauce. We were disappointed."
Samantha Good
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are highly recommended and often required due to limited seating. Booking a counter seat is advised to watch the chef.
Omakase means 'chef's choice', offering a curated selection of the freshest seasonal seafood and vegetables prepared as tempura.
The restaurant has a minimalist and elegant atmosphere, so smart casual attire is generally appropriate.
Yes, the restaurant accepts both cash and card payments.
While the food is excellent, some diners have found the atmosphere to be tense for larger groups or families.
Diners particularly praise the shrimp, dragonet, asparagus, and eel tempura.
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Tetsuya Saotome produces flawless tempura, succulent morsels of premium seafood and vegetables served straight from his deep-frying wok to your plate. He follows the classic Edomae style, using only ingredients that (with a couple of exceptions) would have been available 150 years ago. He works solo, which is why he can only seat nine at his counter.
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Mikawa Zezankyo is a tempura restaurant where the head chef has been skillfully making his tempura for over fifty years. Both the restaurant and the food are artfully presented. Reservations recommended.
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The scene: A minimalist place with a single wooden table big enough to seat just nine lucky diners, the focus at Mikawa Zezankyo is squarely on the food. Each table affords a perfect view of the open kitchen where you can watch veteran tempura master Tetsuya Saotome work his magic creating bite-sized pieces of pure heaven, just like he has done for the past 30 years. From sweet, buttery prawns and wonderfully flaky white fish to deep, earthy mushrooms and bright, clean asparagus, all the seafood, fish and vegetables at Mikawa Zezankyo are coated in the perfect amount of tempura batter and lightly fried at the optimum temperature.
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Mikawa Zezankyo (みかわ是山居) is owned by one of the best tempura chefs in Japan, the chef Saotome who has a 60-year experience in cooking tempura and has been living his life for creating the finest tempura dishes. The restaurant received 1 Michelin star and it’s one of the highest scored restaurants on the Tabelog website. The omakase (chef’s choice) meal consists of a series of selected seafood and seasonal vegetable tempura pieces.
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Mikawa Zezankyo is a place where the tradition of Edo-style tempura is upheld in a calm and artful environment. The master chef Saotome meticulously prepares each piece of seafood and vegetables, cooking them to crispy, golden perfection. The restaurant offers a close-up dining experience at its nine-seat wooden counter, where meals are served directly from the copper pot to the plate.
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Mikawa Zezankyo is a famous tempura restaurant that Tetsuya Saotome called “legendary chef” shows his technique. The restaurant is 8 minutes walk from Monzennakamachi Station. There is only a menu, “omakase.” The owner chef Saotome offers various tempura using seasonal ingredients which he carefully selected.
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Tetsuya Saotome has been cooking tempura for more than 30 years. His old-style shop seats 12 and is renowned as one of the best tempura restaurants in Tokyo. The oil seems hotter than at Motoyoshi, which means the batter is crisper and darker and the sesame taste is slightly stronger.
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Tetsuya Saotome, the chef at Mikawa Zezankyo, is often referred to as the God of Tempura. I have heard that Jiro comes to this restaurant whenever he wants to eat tempura. And for good reason — this 70+ year old shokunin has been deep-frying since the age of 15!
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