Could this concept come about a year or two too late, when Tendon was all in the rage in Singapore?
That was when Tendon Kohaku expanded to be a market leader here; and newer players such as Kogane Yama started establishing themselves.
Tenjin is a Japanese tempura donburi concept by the Les Amis Group no less, situated on the third floor of Shaw Centre.
I think it does fill up this gap of Japanese tempura-style casual eateries at Orchard Road though.
While this is a relatively small space, there are various seating arrangements from a communal table in the middle, some banquette seats by the sides, as well as counter seating that offers a peek into the kitchen.
The good thing is: there wasn’t a heavy oily and greasy smell experienced in some of the other tendon eateries.
The menu is lean, serving mainly Tendon where crispy pieces of seafood and vegetable tempura are served atop a bed of fluffy Hoshi-Jirushi rice from the Ibaraki prefecture.
There are options of Yasai Bowl ($12.80) with five different kinds of vegetable tempura; Jo Bowl – prawn and vegetables ($14.80); and the more deluxe premium selection Toku-Jo Bowl ($22.80).
All tendons are served with miso soup and Kyabetsu salad, with choice of regular or spicy tare (sauce).
For a start, I had the Truffle Chawanmushi ($3.80) which was a wobbly-smooth cup of steamed egg custard topped with truffle, with a delicate faint aroma that didn’t ‘intoxicate’. Lovely.
The more affordable Jo Bowl ($14.80) contained prawn and vegetable tempura, complete with a freedom range egg.
Accordingly, these barn-laid eggs are from hens with plenty of space to roam, so the yolks would have that richer, orange colour.
This was quite a delightful bowl of tendon.
The tempura pieces had this crispy, golden-brown batter, yet the inside (especially the vegetables) remained moist and flavourful.
The normal tare wasn’t overly salty, and nicely complements the pieces. The spicy version – both the amount and level of spiciness, could have been slightly distracting though.
I also ordered the Toku-Jo Bowl ($22.80), filled with generous ingredients of anago (eel), crab leg, prawn and fish.
This is both a satisfying and filling both, and both seafood pieces of sweet eel and fish were fresh-tasting.
Taste and service wise, I think Tenjin is off to a good start. Hopefully they can keep the quality consistent.
Tenjin
Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road #03-08, Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6235 3312
Opening Hours: Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm Last Order 2.30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
Kogane Yama (Bugis Junction)
Tendon Kohaku X Man Man Unagi (Clarke Quay Central)
Kohaku Tendon 天丼琥珀 (Suntec City)
Japan Gourmet Hall SORA (Changi Airport T1
MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya
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